by Alison Myers

Created on: May 23, 2008

Investigative journalism involves reporters researching topics such as crime or political corruption in society. The results of such exposes often lead to politician resignations, terminations of employment, and damaged reputations for the person or people the story centers around.

Investigative journalism can come in the form of watchdog journalism. Watchdog journalism holds public officials and institutions accountable for actions that most affect political and social life. It can also be a form of advocacy for consumer rights.

Watchdog journalists are not always professionals. In 2004, bloggers proved that sources from Dan Rather's CBS story about President Bush's military days were not authentic and could not be verified. The scandal came to be known as "Rathergate".

Today, the rise of technology keeps investigative journalism alive and well. Mainstream newspapers and television outlets may have investigative news teams, not-for-profit organizations practice and promote responsible investigative journalism, and journalism students are more involved in the craft.

Here are some key dates in the evolution of investigative journalism:

1890-1914:

In the late 19th century and into the 20th century, investigative journalists were initially known as muckrakers and pushed for societal reform. They exposed societal issues such as child labor and sometimes wrote in a sensationalist manner; known as yellow journalism. President Theodore Roosevelt coined the term in 1906.

One of the best known muckrakers of this time was reporter turned novelist Upton Sinclair. In 1906, Sinclair published The Jungle, a book about the corruption of the meat packing industry. The working conditions were unbearable and exploited women and children. He believed that the mainstream political parties offered little means for progressive change.

The Jungle was an immediate best seller and the meat industry felt the impact. American meat sales went down 50% and Roosevelt passed legislation for additional meat inspection and certification.

1917-1950s:

Floyd Dell and other investigative journalists were found to be in violation of the Espionage Act during World War I. The Espionage Act made it illegal for journalists to publish material against the American war efforts.

The Red Scare, or McCarthyism, poised more problems for investigative journalists. Reporters could not ask too many questions or they were thought to be communists. The government's motives made it difficult for any media bias and punished

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