Most respondents claimed that resources for investigative journalism were too scarce, although all respondents stressed its importance. Some of them underlined how – rather than viewing investigative journalism as a specific function separated from other forms of news journalism – it should form a part of everyday journalistic culture. Many respondents also noted that journalists themselves could be more active in pursuing their own ideas and investigative stories.
The editors-in-chief interviewed maintained that ad hoc provisions for in-depth investigations were available when necessary. Public service broadcaster Yle, which also possesses a specific investigative group, has exceptional resources for investigative journalism in the form of documentaries and other current affairs programming. Some newspapers, such as HS,have also experimented with independent units dedicated to investigative journalism. However, since it was found that the unit had become too disconnected from the daily process of newsgathering, investigative journalism is now integrated with daily news journalism.
The Finnish Association of Investigative Journalism (Tutkiva) was founded in 1992 to promote critical and thorough reporting within Finnish media.[i] The association tries to facilitate investigative journalism by spreading information on good practices and about research methods, principles of transparency, sources, and source criticism by organising discussions and training, and also by awarding an annual prize for investigative journalism: “Lumilapio” [the Snow Shovel] prize.[ii] Based on the interviews, however, it seemed there were, in fact, less resources for investigative journalism today than ten or fifteen years ago.
[i] https://www.tutkiva.fi/kategoria/yleinen/
[ii] https://www.tutkiva.fi/kategoria/lumilapio/
