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Within the 2026-27 cycle, Investigative Journalism for Europe (IJ4EU) is providing €1.6 million in grants to support investigative journalism projects across Europe. This suggests that investigative reporting can be an expensive process that takes months, and sometimes years, to complete. This guide covers how to define investigative reporting and how to carry out and fund an investigation. It is about journalistic investigative reporting.
TL;DR: Investigative reporting is original research that uncovers hidden information. It can take months to complete, so an investigative report rarely gets funded through advertising. Most investigative reporting in Europe is funded through grants, foundations, and reader donations. This guide explains what investigative reporting is, how investigative reporters carry it out, and how to fund it.
What Is Investigative Reporting?
Investigative reporting is original research that uncovers information of public interest that someone has an interest in keeping secret. The definition of investigative reporting usually has three criteria to meet: the information should be new, relevant to the public, and previously hidden. The reporter does the uncovering. A leak alone is not considered investigative reporting, because the value comes from verifying the information within the documents.
Investigative reporting can also be defined by its process. Many journalism courses teach it as a method, so the work is judged by how it was researched and checked, not by whether the writing sounds neutral or opinionated. Under this definition, investigative reporting results in a published investigative report.
What Makes It Different From Regular News?
Investigative reporting differs from regular news in its time, sources, and risk. Regular news stories begin when an event happens. Investigative reporting begins with a suspicion that needs to be verified, so it can take weeks, months, or years to complete. The table below shows the differences.
Factor | Daily News Reporting | Investigative Reporting |
Timeframe | Hours to days | Weeks to years |
Information source | Provided to the reporter | Researched by the reporter |
Starting point | An event has happened | A suspicion needs verifying |
Typical cost | Usually covered by the newsroom budget | Special funding needed |
Legal risk | Low to moderate | Often high, requiring legal review |
Likelihood of publication | Almost certain | Not guaranteed |
Investigative reporting is one of the few types of news that may not result in a story at all. An investigative reporter may spend a year on a lead and find nothing publishable. This helps explain why funders support the process.
What Do Investigative Reporters Do?
Most investigative reporters follow a broadly similar process. Real projects involve circling back, but the general steps are:
- Form a hypothesis.
- Gather documents and records.
- Request information through official channels.
- Verify findings using open sources.
- Interview people with knowledge of the matter.
- Challenge the subject with your findings.
- Complete a legal review.
- Publish.
Many people find that the most surprising step is challenging the subject (step 6). This is standard practice and helps the team avoid mistakes.
How are Investigations Funded in Europe?
Most investigative reporting in Europe requires a combination of funding sources, because the work must be paid for before anything can be produced. Within the 2026-27 cycle, IJ4EU offers two options. The Investigation Support Scheme provides up to €50,000 per project, and the Freelancer Support Scheme provides up to €20,000. Since it began in 2018, around €6 million has been awarded in grants. The next call opens on 1 December 2026.
Readers may wonder whether funding can influence a story. IJ4EU uses an arm's-length approach so that funders do not make editorial decisions, but readers should check how any funder manages this. Teams preparing to bid can use our guides on how to apply for grant funding and how to write a grant proposal.
Can I Fund an Investigation?
Yes. Some organizations are set up to receive donations. Bellingcat is a charitable foundation registered in the Netherlands with ANBI status, which means it has public benefit status in the Netherlands. It reports that around half of its funding comes from private and public foundations, while the rest comes from workshops, individual donations, and lotteries. This makes it a hybrid model.
Many investigative reporting teams have a project page for a specific investigation. The page should include:
- No guarantee of an outcome
- A budget
- Milestones
- What happens if the story does not hold up
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Ending Note!
Investigative reporting can be defined as original research that uncovers hidden information in the public interest. It is an expensive process, and most investigative reporting in Europe is funded through grants and donations. Investigative reporting is not the same as an investigation report produced for an employer or regulator. If you need to define investigative reporting for a class or an argument, the three criteria above give a reliable starting point.
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What is the difference between investigative reporting and an investigation report?
Investigative reporting is journalistic. Investigative reporters conduct original research intended to inform the public. An investigation report is a formal document produced by an employer, auditor, or regulator, often after a complaint or audit. To define an investigative report in this sense, look at its purpose.
How long does an investigation take?
Most investigations take several months, which is why grant schemes often set a timeframe. Some take years. An investigation can take longer if records are slow to arrive or a legal review raises new questions. Investigative reporters rarely publish until they have tested their evidence by getting a response from the subject.
How is investigative journalism funded in Europe?
Investigative reporting is funded through foundations, EU-supported schemes such as IJ4EU, lotteries, and individual donors. Anyone asking what investigative reporting in journalism is should start with the definition of investigative reporting above. Check how each team funds its investigations, since newsrooms combine funding sources in different ways.
Can I donate to a single investigation?
Yes. Many teams have a project page for raising funds for a specific investigation, and some also offer memberships. The page should include a budget and explain what will happen if the story does not hold up. Whether you receive tax relief depends on your country and the status of the recipient, so check with a qualified adviser in your country.
Mehak loves to work in a positive environment with a cup of tea. She has gained experience in writing on various niches, but crowdfunding is what excites her the most. The best part she finds about crowdfunding is that it helps a lot of people in need. Her hobbies are reading, writing, and sketching.