You may already be familiar with the terms “private investigators” and “investigative journalists”. Common assumptions about these two terms are that the former is like a Sherlock Holmes character while the latter has to do something with TV and newspaper reporting. Sorry to break your bubble, but this is not really what these two said occupations do.
If you want to know who private investigators and investigative journalists really are and what are the differences between them are, keep reading this article!
Who Is a Private Investigator?
A private investigator or detective basically investigates legal, financial, and personal matters and gathers relevant evidence in order to support the case.
They offer a wide range of services such as collaborations with police or intelligence, investigations on cyber-crimes, searching for missing persons, conducting surveillance, and helping in criminal and civil liability cases.
In order to qualify for a private investigator, every country has different requirements. You usually need to have at least a bachelor’s degree in a similar field or get training from a detective institute.
In addition to this, private investigators also need to possess certain skills to execute their job duties more effectively and properly. For instance, surveillance skills, interviewing skills, observation skills, computer skills, organization skills, etc.
What Is Investigative Journalism?
Investigative journalism is a type of journalism in which journalists dig cases like corporate frauds, crimes, corruptions, and civil wrongdoings deeper to unveil the truth.
At times, investigative journalism is used interchangeably with the terms “watchdog reporting” or “accountability reporting.”
Investigative journalists’ job is really different from TV reporters’ job. TV reporters simply give statements or record statements based on what they hear during a press conference or from a witness.
Whereas, on the other hand, an investigative journalist doesn’t simply create a report or publish an article on the basis of hearsay. Instead, they go beyond this and do further research in order to separate facts from lies and assumptions.
For example, an investigative journalist may work closely with the CEO for years with the main objective to uncover corporate frauds and create a report which is based on facts and solid evidence.
What are the Differences between Private Investigators and Investigative Journalists?
Both these terms are like the tip of an iceberg. They may look quite similar in nature of their work, however, when seen from the bottom they both are quite different from each other.
Most of the common differences between private investigators and investigative journalists are listed below:
Investigation Techniques Involved
It’s quite clear that both individuals are involved in investigating a specific case, and they need to investigate more systematically and intensively. However, the techniques used may slightly vary.
In terms of investigative journalists, they see documents as the leading path to make the case easier. They start off by following the paper trail because this gives them a background and detailed context regarding the underlying matter. Before interviewing an individual, they see papers as the most accurate and relevant source to kick-start their investigation.
Documents could include citations that help them dig deeper, or they may contain stamps or signatures of an authorized person, which gives them a lead on their case.
Interviewing people allows investigative journalists to ask questions and get answers. These people can also provide them with history and background, which wouldn’t be otherwise possible. They can interview all kinds of people, ranging from government officials and relatives or friends of a politician to victims and eyewitnesses of a crime or disaster.
Journalists also take help from the digital world, AKA the internet. The Internet contains a plethora of information and resources such as articles from reporters or databases of government and corporations which can help them connect the dots of a story. Therefore, they possess top-notch online research methods and skills.
Lastly, they can also do fieldwork in order to make the research findings more realistic and accurate. At times, they may not even expose their true self and work undercover.
In regards to private investigators, their investigation techniques are based more on an individual. Some of them look for evidence using computers, while others do fieldwork.
Private investigators mostly rely on interviewing people or conducting surveillance to reveal the truth. They may also run background checks on an individual such as personal and employment info or social media accounts and search a computer or non-computerized databases.
The Purpose
An investigative journalist works in the public interest or to make society a better place. They usually don’t work under a company, instead, they work independently or may work in groups as well.
However, their main objective is not to earn a profit, but to show the reality to citizens of a country behind the false claims in the media and articles or reports.
On the other hand, although private investigators can work as freelancers, they mostly work for an agency. Their motive is to present facts to the person they are working for in exchange for a fee. This is the main source of income for them.
The Outcome
Both private investigators and investigative journalists may prepare a report to submit their findings, however, the methods may vary.
An investigative journalist can choose to publish a book or an article online for people to read and know the truth behind all the wrongdoings. They are not obliged to send it to a specific person, as they are merely working in the public interest.
Whereas, a private investigator submits their findings in the form of a report to the person they are working for.
Working Hours
A private investigator doesn’t have to work at strict times, but this doesn’t mean that they are free from work whenever they want. Sometimes, they even need to follow someone at nighttime or early morning.
Depending on the person they are working for, they may usually need to complete the investigation within a month.
As opposed to this, an investigative journalist doesn’t have any working hours because they are not working under a company. In order to write a report or book along with extensive research, it can take them several months.
Hence, investigative journalists invest a lot of time, effort, and resources to unfold the events.