Performance of investigative journalism in Spain. The perception of its current state

Abstract

Introduction. The paramount relevance of Investigative Journalism, as a watchdog of the latent powers and supervisor of the actions from public representatives, requires a detailed knowledge of its needs in order to ensure its continuity and good health. Methodology. Based on the direct testimony of its protagonists, namely the professionals who daily perform it, a current and complete overview of their practice in Spain. Results and conclusions. The conducting of eleven in-depth interviews to a truly wide range of renown high-level professionals reveals that, the profession is still undergoing a difficult situation, with lack of means and very low earnings; moreover, it shows how both the rigor and the method are the key to face, with the greatest of guarantees, the accusations, allegations and pressures from the ones mentioned by these journalism professionals, at their regular activity. Finally, journalists were asked to provide solutions to the problems they themselves identified as limiting their work.