21st Century Muckrakers

‘These are tumultuous and frightening times for newspapers, but this kind of reporting is what we do best.’

A local Chicago investigative reporter uses shoe-leather techniques and digital tools to uncover health and safety violations and be sure the news is widely spread.

‘In many cases I had the budget to take chances and to not take no for an answer.’

The Chicago Tribune paid to have state-of-the-art testing done on products people eat and use and the results provided ‘clear reporting entry points into what are complex topics.’

‘Given my years of energy reporting in California, I could spot several warning signs early on; others took additional reporting to uncover.’

Investigative reporters in Sweden set out to tell the story of why and how illegal fishing of cod was happening—and what it meant to consumers and businesses in their country.

Fatima Tlisova witnessed the injustice of villagers being poisoned by pollution from a nuclear lab nearby; she reported their story in a place where journalists risk their lives for sharing…

‘Those of us who have been investigative reporters have a responsibility to ensure that local watchdogging remains robust in our industry.’

The articles about public health, safety and trust in this issue of Nieman Reports are a reminder of the essential role that watchdog reporting plays in our lives. Contemporary exposés…

In using EPA data, USA Today’s watchdog project empowered ‘parents to learn about the types and sources of chemicals that might be in the air near their child’s school.’