Answer:
Investigative journalism is distinguished in that it publishes information on infractions that affect the public interest. Complaints are the product of the work of reporters in the result of the secret information disclosed to the editorial staff.
Even when investigative journalism was before the task of independent solitary reporters, with little or no support from their press bodies, recent examples have determined that teamwork is critical. Different types of knowledge are needed to produce well-documented and complete articles. These specific investigations reporters, chief information officers, specialized legal advisors, statistics analysts, librarians and news researchers. Knowledge of the laws on access to public information is essential to find potentially available and obtainable information under the "freedom of information" legislation and to anticipate legal problems that may arise when harmful information is published. New technologies are extremely valuable for discovering data and becoming familiar with reporters with any complex issue. Thanks to the systematization in electronic format of government documents and the availability of extraordinary amounts of information online, the computer-assisted report is very helpful.
Democracy and investigative journalism
Investigative journalism is important because of its multiple contribution to the exercise of democratic government. Its function may be in line with the model of the Fourth Power of the press. Under this model, the press must hold the government accountable by publishing information on matters of public interest, even when such information reveals abuses or crimes perpetrated by the authorities. From this perspective, the research product report is one of the most important contributions of the press to democracy; It is limited to the logic of limitation and balance of powers of democratic systems. It offers a valuable mechanism to monitor the performance of democratic institutions, in its broadest definition, which includes government entities, civic organizations and corporations.
The central position occupied by the media in contemporary democracies makes the political elite sensitive to the news, in particular to the "bad" news, which is often a public shock of products. The publication of news about political or economic misdeeds can provoke investigations in the congress and the courts.