Career as Investigative Journalist
Investigative Journalism the first the kind of journalism which uncovers or unveils the information that is hidden or concealed either deliberately by someone in position of great power and authority or due to information overload and unavoidable circumstances in the public domain. This type of journalism slightly differs from the usual journalism and requires specific methodology and techniques that can take years to master. It puts the journalist at a position of risk which makes the job difficult yet exciting.
Investigate journalism is one of the most stressful fields as this requires extremely long working hours and carry a certain amount of risk to the life of journalist. However, the challenging work environment pushes the journalists to reach their utmost potential and achieve great success and prosperity in life. They become an instrument to spread awareness in the society by unveiling the scams and frauds. The impactful and thrilling work leaves the journalists with a high degree of job satisfaction.
These highly skilled individuals have excellent analytical skills, mindful and critical thinking, leadership skills, team management, situation control ability, survival techniques and obviously they are outstanding communicators. They required to stay up today with the latest news and events going on in the society and look for clues. They must seperate facts and evidences from theory and assumptions and find relevant information to get to th bottom of anything remotely suspicious.
Investigative Journalists can work for media firms or as a freelance journalist. There are various fields to pursue as an investigative journalist such as Politics (keeping checks on the politicians and uncovering their agendas and the internal functioning of the politics), International Affairs (dealing with the international issues, global conflicts, foreign relations, situation of war etc.), Broadcast and Print Media (when investigative journalists typically use these media channels to disseminate the information and findings amongst the general public.)
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Eligibility Criteria
An Investigative Journalist's jobs involves meticulous working and knowledge of media industry, media planninf, research work, inquiry and interview practices, survival skills, knowledge and and the ability to tackle life threatning situations, leadership qualities, etc. Candidates who want to pursue their career as Investigative Journalists must fulfil the essential eligiblity criteria mentioned below:
Eligiblity Criteria for Investigative Journalist-
- The candidate must have a bachelor's degree in Mass Communication, Broadcasting, Communication, Journalism, Political Science or related fields. A master's degree is preferred.
- Candidates must have a 2-3 years of working experience in the related field.
- The candidate must have a solid knowledge of various fields of society such as government, economics, defence, laws and ethics, etc.
- Writing Skills
- Interviewing Skills
- Persistence
- Critical Thinking
- Source Protection
- Data Analysis
Types of Job Roles
Investigative Journalists have several roles and responsiblities as a part of their diverse job. It is important for them to handle their job role with utmost precision in order to uncover the truth carefullt and safely. The truth spreads awareness in the society. Investigative Journalists are responsible for addressing the conceled information by getting to the bottom of matters. This job comes with certain responsiblities which may include,
- Conduct research: They are required to conduct in death research on their assignment or task. The proper research is led by enquiry fac checking etc to get the complete information about the assignment. This is not a day job it can take months to separate facts from myths.
- Proofreading: The investigative journalist in the print industry must always proofread their findings for spell check and grammatical mistakes before sending it to the director. There should not be any scope of mistake in their work.
- Taking calculated risks: The role of investigative journalist is to highlight the truth but in order to do that, it is not advisable to take extreme degree of risks which may be fatal for the journalists. They must always take calculated risks and must have a whole rescue team ready in case of any mishap.
- Awareness: They should stay up to date with all the events happening around them and must have the complete knowledge and information about them. They cannot afford to have half knowledge about the facts. It is important for them to be aware and have a mind of their own to judge situations.
Admission
To land a job as a Investigative Journalism the candidate should preferbly have a bachelor's or master's degree in the relevent field. Some of the courses which can be pursued after completing the 10+2 qualification are mentioned below:
Bachelor's Degree Programs for Investigative Journalism-
- B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) Mass Communication
- BA in Political Science
- Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication
Master's Degree Programs for Investigative Journalism-
- Master of Journalism
- MA in Journalism and Mass Communication
- Master of Arts in Journalism and Communication Studies
- Master of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication
Some of the colleges offering relevent courses are mentioned below:
- Indian Institute of Mass Communications
- Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication
- Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi University
- Jamia Millia Islamia
- Indian Institute Of Journalism And New Media
- Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University
- Amity University
- MICA Ahemdabad
- St. Xavier's College
- Indian Institute Of Journalism And New Media
- Savitribai Phule Pune University
- Christ University
Exam
The various subjects taught during the courses leading to Investigative Journalist's jobs are:
- The Mass Media Industry
- Introduction to Marketing Principles & Concepts
- Public Relations
- Marketing Equipment & Tools
- Content Creation, Design and Strategy
- Advertising & Publicity
- Brand Management
- Regulatory Laws, Licenses and Permissions
- Organisational Behaviour
- Possibilities of Augmented Reality & Virtual Reality
- Communication & Presentation Skills
- Effective Communication Skills
- Creative Writing
- Financial Management for Marketing and Advertising
- Media Planning and Buying
Prep Books
- The Perfect Study Resource for Jamia Millia Islamia by Arihant Publication
- Mass Communication: Principles and Concepts by Seema Hasan
- Handbook of Journalism and Mass Communication by Vir Bala Aggarwal & VS Gupta
- Media Planning & Buying Principles & Practice In The Indian Context - by A. Menon
- The Indian Media Business (English, Paperback, Kohli-Khandekar Vanita)
- The 22 Immutable Laws Of Marketing (English, Paperback, Ries Al)
FAQ's
Investigative Journalism means the unveiling of matters that are concealed either deliberately by someone in a position of power, or accidentally, behind a chaotic mass of facts and circumstances and the analysis and exposure of all relevant facts to the public.
When working on investigative stories, I adopt a meticulous research process. I begin by identifying a topic of public interest, followed by a comprehensive examination of available public records, documents, and databases. I conduct interviews with sources who possess insider knowledge, carefully verifying their credibility. I also leverage online platforms and social media to gather information. Throughout the process, I maintain a critical perspective, connecting dots, and piecing together information to unveil hidden truths.
Accuracy and credibility are paramount in investigative journalism. I adopt a rigorous fact-checking process that involves verifying information through multiple independent sources. I also consult experts to validate complex data or claims. Additionally, I maintain a transparent approach by citing sources and providing evidence whenever possible to allow readers to assess the validity of the information.
