Investigation Journalism - is it dying or dead?

*Biggins* · 12-11-2009, 08:48

The more I scan the printed newspapers and see the like of Jordan rubbish and Strictly boring Ballroom gossip, I keep asking myself is investigation journalism dying or dead?

It seems to me that only a few papers now print even fewer articles that have and substance and research beyond what the fcuk Britney is wearing (or not!) or how brain dead (or "vacant") is skank Paris Hilton and who she is banging this week!

What the hell has happened to the good years of investigative journalism?
Bring back Woodward and Bernstein to teach the mob today how to be a decent journalist. If half their likes existed today, there would be a LOT less of the crap being pulled by our crooks in white collars!

All we are getting today is the latest regurgitated news as events unfold - which is fair enough to some extent - but in an era of the internet, hell, I know about current events happening before the newspapers are printed the next day so 90% of their article are null and void to surfers interest alone!

Is there any one decent newspaper out there today that can really be called a newspaper worthy of having decent investigation journalists? I despair!
Its all just dumbed down fodder for the sheep population!

*Wazdakka* · 12-11-2009, 09:13

It's unfortunate to say, but in the age of free information investigative journalism just doesn't pay off.
However, often pandering to the celebrity obsessed, fickle, unwashed masses does.

It's actually becoming a serious problem in a few places.
Investigative journalists are probably the one crowd of people who keep a close eye on politicians.
We almost rely on them to tell us if an elected official is abusing their power, embezzling ect..

I was in SanFrancisco a few months ago and due to the economy a lot of their local newspapers have shut down.
Apparently most of the local politicians are basically going un checked and having a field day.

**humanji** · 12-11-2009, 09:52

To be honest, it's probably for the best. Think about all the corruption that's going on around us that we're fully aware of. Nothing really ever comes of it and you don't see many being brought to justice. Finding out that there's even more corruption going on that nobody will be arrested for would just be depressing.

**dr.bollocko** · 12-11-2009, 09:58

OMG!
AMY WINEHOUSE GOT A BOOB JOB!

*Wazdakka* · 12-11-2009, 09:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by humanji

To be honest, it's probably for the best. Think about all the corruption that's going on around us that we're fully aware of. Nothing really ever comes of it and you don't see many being brought to justice. Finding out that there's even more corruption going on that nobody will be arrested for would just be depressing.

Ahh The Ostrich approach to life.

Cant say I agree with you..

But I can say that if I ever become an elected official..
I want my entire constituency to be made up of people like you.

phasers · 12-11-2009, 10:00

I spend my days reading about Jedward tbh

minidazzler · 12-11-2009, 10:00

Who needs investigative when you can just believe what blogs say and take them at their word.

Much more convienient!

super_furry · 12-11-2009, 10:16

At least the Sunday World is still presenting us with a seemingly never-ending stream of Batman villians each week.

Palmerstown_guy · 12-11-2009, 10:24

We are not allowed to be intelligent and thoughtful in today's Ireland.

The press just lives off the American gossip machine most of the time which is sad.

$hifty · 12-11-2009, 10:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggins

I know about current events happening before the newspapers are printed the next day so 90% of their article are null and void to surfers interest alone!

Thats the problem, though. It's a hell of a lot cheaper to host a news website or to syndicate a news story from Reuters or whatever than it is to pay for a journalist and his expense account to spend a month digging up dirt and getting the real scoop. You're giving out about it and yet you're part of the problem. When's the last time you bought a paper? How do you expect these journalists to be paid if you get all your news for free on the web?

lucylu · 12-11-2009, 10:32

investigative journalism now resorts to trawling through Bebo or Facebook pages of victims, their relatives , perpetrators of crimes or tragedies.
The only genuine investigate journalism appears to be on Prime Time.

**humanji** · 12-11-2009, 10:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wazdakka

Ahh The Ostrich approach to life.

Cant say I agree with you..

But I can say that if I ever become an elected official..
I want my entire constituency to be made up of people like you.

You wouldn't need people like me. This is Ireland. You can be as corrupt as you like and tell everyone about it. Nothing will ever happen to you as long as you're wealthy. That's why there's little need for investigative journalism. Once people can be made accountable for their actions then there's a need. Until then, it's a pointless exercise.

AnonoBoy · 12-11-2009, 10:33

Sometimes I wonder if there's any actual regular journalism going on let alone investigative.

gerry28 · 12-11-2009, 10:37

Yeah and even the broad sheets are dumbing down.

I used to enjoy reading the sunday independant. But for the las t year article after article has been populist drivel about the need for public sector pay cuts.

Brendan oconnor and the rest of them must be laughin at their employer.... getting paid to regurgitate the same old rubbish week after week!!!

not bakunin · 12-11-2009, 11:46

I don't think that it's all that fair to claim that investigative journalism is nearly dead. Fair enough pop culture "icons" seem to have been filling reams of newsprint recently, but maybe you arn't looking in all the right places.
Also, investigative journalism is completely different to writing a news story or a feature piece. There are many legal loopholes which the journalist has to consider before anything can go to print. Investigative stories will often take months of pinstaking detail. I'm fairly sure that there are plenty of cases where good stories had to be scrapped due to legal constraints.

Here are a few examples of good investigative journalism recently:

-The Tribune's revealing and questioning of John O'Donoghue's lavish expenses account.
-Still on the Bull, the Sunday World recently revealed how he had been in a state car which was caught doing 200kph near Castleisland in 2000. O'Donoghue told the Dail that he had not been a passenger in the car, despite the claims of the Garda that stopped the car. That Garda was later froced to resign, after he was "hounded" by management. O'Donoghue is now sueing the paper.
-Various English papers, left by The Gaurdian revealing the circumstances in which Ian Tomlinson died
- http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090622/bauer some stories like that.

That's all I can think of right now, yeah it's not Watergate, but that was setting the bar fairly high to be fair!

12-11-2009, 08:48	#1
Biggins Quis custodiet ipsos custodes Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: I currently move around (work) Posts: 8,359 Adverts \| Friends	Investigation Journalism - is it dying or dead? The more I scan the printed newspapers and see the like of Jordan rubbish and Strictly boring Ballroom gossip, I keep asking myself is investigation journalism dying or dead? It seems to me that only a few papers now print even fewer articles that have and substance and research beyond what the fcuk Britney is wearing (or not!) or how brain dead (or "vacant") is skank Paris Hilton and who she is banging this week! What the hell has happened to the good years of investigative journalism? Bring back Woodward and Bernstein to teach the mob today how to be a decent journalist. If half their likes existed today, there would be a LOT less of the crap being pulled by our crooks in white collars! All we are getting today is the latest regurgitated news as events unfold - which is fair enough to some extent - but in an era of the internet, hell, I know about current events happening before the newspapers are printed the next day so 90% of their article are null and void to surfers interest alone! Is there any one decent newspaper out there today that can really be called a newspaper worthy of having decent investigation journalists? I despair! Its all just dumbed down fodder for the sheep population! __________________ This country needs a new revolution! Last edited by Biggins; 12-11-2009 at 09:19.

12-11-2009, 09:13	#2
Wazdakka Percussive Maintenance Expert Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Several Degrees South Of Sanity Posts: 2,353 Adverts \| Friends	It's unfortunate to say, but in the age of free information investigative journalism just doesn't pay off. However, often pandering to the celebrity obsessed, fickle, unwashed masses does. It's actually becoming a serious problem in a few places. Investigative journalists are probably the one crowd of people who keep a close eye on politicians. We almost rely on them to tell us if an elected official is abusing their power, embezzling ect.. I was in SanFrancisco a few months ago and due to the economy a lot of their local newspapers have shut down. Apparently most of the local politicians are basically going un checked and having a field day. __________________ ()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

12-11-2009, 09:52	#3
humanji Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: with ceiling cat Posts: 7,630 Adverts \| Friends Mod: Conspiracy Theories	To be honest, it's probably for the best. Think about all the corruption that's going on around us that we're fully aware of. Nothing really ever comes of it and you don't see many being brought to justice. Finding out that there's even more corruption going on that nobody will be arrested for would just be depressing. __________________

12-11-2009, 09:58	#4
dr.bollocko Moderator Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 13,078 Adverts \| Friends Mod: Ranting & Raving, SaG, The Thunderdome	OMG! AMY WINEHOUSE GOT A BOOB JOB! __________________ PM me for access.

12-11-2009, 10:00	#6
phasers Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Hell Posts: 7,908 Adverts \| Friends	I spend my days reading about Jedward tbh __________________ its ya boy cj aka boogie.. im jus on this joint to meet a couple of people.. really only females.. ima cool dude n i jus b chillin.. im in2 my music n %#&@$!.. ima star in the makin, feel me.. lol.. but chea, jus holla at me if u diggin me or if u jus want conversation... -boogie

12-11-2009, 10:00	#7
minidazzler Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Cork. Posts: 6,485 Adverts \| Friends	Who needs investigative when you can just believe what blogs say and take them at their word. Much more convienient! __________________ MLIA\|skippy\|badass\|Postsecret\|FML\|Lolocaust When life gives you lemons.....Ask for salt and TequilaLady time!!

12-11-2009, 10:16	#8
super_furry Registered User Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 5,936 Adverts \| Friends	At least the Sunday World is still presenting us with a seemingly never-ending stream of Batman villians each week. __________________ 14/12/2007 SRFC

12-11-2009, 10:24	#9
Palmerstown_guy Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 98 Adverts \| Friends	We are not allowed to be intelligent and thoughtful in today's Ireland. The press just lives off the American gossip machine most of the time which is sad.

12-11-2009, 10:32	#11
lucylu Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 406 Adverts \| Friends	investigative journalism now resorts to trawling through Bebo or Facebook pages of victims, their relatives , perpetrators of crimes or tragedies. The only genuine investigate journalism appears to be on Prime Time.

12-11-2009, 10:33	#13
AnonoBoy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 6,340 Adverts \| Friends	Sometimes I wonder if there's any actual regular journalism going on let alone investigative. __________________ This is Random.

12-11-2009, 10:37	#14
gerry28 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 437 Adverts \| Friends	Yeah and even the broad sheets are dumbing down. I used to enjoy reading the sunday independant. But for the las t year article after article has been populist drivel about the need for public sector pay cuts. Brendan oconnor and the rest of them must be laughin at their employer.... getting paid to regurgitate the same old rubbish week after week!!!

12-11-2009, 11:46	#15
not bakunin Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: The Basilica of Goo Posts: 175 Adverts \| Friends	I don't think that it's all that fair to claim that investigative journalism is nearly dead. Fair enough pop culture "icons" seem to have been filling reams of newsprint recently, but maybe you arn't looking in all the right places. Also, investigative journalism is completely different to writing a news story or a feature piece. There are many legal loopholes which the journalist has to consider before anything can go to print. Investigative stories will often take months of pinstaking detail. I'm fairly sure that there are plenty of cases where good stories had to be scrapped due to legal constraints. Here are a few examples of good investigative journalism recently: -The Tribune's revealing and questioning of John O'Donoghue's lavish expenses account. -Still on the Bull, the Sunday World recently revealed how he had been in a state car which was caught doing 200kph near Castleisland in 2000. O'Donoghue told the Dail that he had not been a passenger in the car, despite the claims of the Garda that stopped the car. That Garda was later froced to resign, after he was "hounded" by management. O'Donoghue is now sueing the paper. -Various English papers, left by The Gaurdian revealing the circumstances in which Ian Tomlinson died - http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090622/bauer some stories like that. That's all I can think of right now, yeah it's not Watergate, but that was setting the bar fairly high to be fair! __________________ Ed: Rip up the streets? HST: With jackhammers. Ed: With jackhammers?

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