Last reviewed: Next review due:
Who this path is for
This path is for journalists who want to specialise in investigations — breaking stories through document analysis, OSINT, and source cultivation — and for general reporters who want to bring investigative techniques to their beat coverage.
UK investigative journalism operates under specific legal constraints: Defamation Act 2013, Contempt of Court Act 1981, Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (surveillance risks), and increasingly SLAPP threats. This path integrates those legal realities at each stage.
The six stages
Stage 1
OSINT
Open-source intelligence is the foundation of most UK investigations. Learn the key UK public registers and how to cross-reference them.
- Companies House: officer history, PSC register, filed accounts, dissolution history.
- HM Land Registry: title registers, price paid data, proprietor information.
- Charity Commission and OSCR: trustee details, accounts, regulatory decisions.
- BAILII: civil and criminal judgments involving the subject.
- Advanced Google search operators: site:, filetype:, inurl:, date range.
Stage 2
Document Analysis
Raw documents — filings, accounts, contracts, leaked records — are the backbone of investigative stories.
- Reading company accounts: understanding the notes, related-party transactions, auditor qualifications.
- Contract analysis: scope, value, break clauses, performance conditions.
- Metadata in digital documents: author, creation date, edit history, GPS data in images.
- Redaction reversal: identifying information obscured by poor redaction techniques.
- Document authentication: establishing a document is genuine before relying on it.
Stage 3
Source Protection
Protecting sources is a legal right and a professional obligation. It requires active, ongoing effort — not passive good intentions.
- Section 10 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981: the statutory source protection right.
- Signal and ProtonMail for encrypted initial contact.
- SecureDrop for anonymous document handovers.
- Metadata stripping from documents before storage.
- Compartmentalisation: limiting how many people know the source's identity.
Stage 4
Secure Handover
Getting documents and information safely is as important as what the information contains.
- In-person meetings in non-surveilled locations for the most sensitive material.
- Dead drops: leaving documents in agreed locations without in-person contact.
- Encrypted file transfer: OnionShare or Keybase for digital documents.
- Burner devices and SIM cards for contact with high-risk sources.
- Threat modelling: who is your adversary and what are their capabilities?
Stage 5
Verification
Every factual claim in an investigation must be verifiable from at least two independent sources or primary documents.
- The two-source rule: at minimum two independent sources for each key claim.
- Primary document verification: does the document match what the source says?
- Right of reply: always put allegations to the subject with sufficient time to respond.
- Reverse image search and geolocation for visual evidence.
- OCCRP methodology: cross-referencing across multiple jurisdictions and databases.
Stage 6
Publishing Under Legal Threat
The decision to publish is a legal and editorial decision. Understand your exposure before you publish.
- Pre-publication legal review: always for stories making serious allegations.
- Defamation defences: truth, honest opinion, public interest (s.4 Defamation Act 2013).
- Injunctions: understanding when a subject might seek to suppress publication.
- SLAPP awareness: documenting your editorial process creates a record against vexatious litigation.
- BIJ and NUJ both provide support for journalists facing legal threats.
Key investigative journalism organisations
Bureau of Investigative Journalism
UK-based investigative outlet; training programme and methodology guides.
OCCRP
Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project; cross-border investigation methodology.
ICIJ
International Consortium of Investigative Journalists; Pandora, Panama, and Offshore Leaks databases.
Related guides
Primary sources
Frequently asked questions
What training do investigative journalists in the UK receive?
Most UK investigative journalists learn on the job, often starting in regional or national print newsrooms before specialising. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (BIJ) runs training programmes and the Centre for Investigative Journalism (CIJ) holds an annual summer school. OCCRP and ICIJ publish methodology guides that are widely used for self-study.
What is the most important legal risk for UK investigative journalists?
Defamation is the most common legal threat. UK defamation law (Defamation Act 2013) allows claimants to sue in England and Wales, which has historically been a favourable jurisdiction for claimants. Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) are an increasing threat. Pre-publication legal review is essential for investigations making serious allegations.
How should I protect a source who has given me sensitive documents?
Use end-to-end encrypted communications (Signal) for initial contact. Arrange in-person meetings or dead-drop document handovers where possible. Do not retain documents on cloud services without encryption. If using digital documents, strip metadata before storage. The NUJ and BIJ both publish source protection guidance for UK journalists.
What is the difference between OSINT and FOI?
OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) involves gathering information from publicly available sources without formal requests. FOI (Freedom of Information) is a legal right to request documents held by public authorities. OSINT is immediate but limited to what is already public. FOI can unlock internal documents but takes 20 working days (minimum) and may be refused. Both are essential investigative tools.
What are SLAPPs and how do I protect against them?
Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) are legal actions used to silence or intimidate journalists through the cost and stress of litigation rather than on the merits of a case. The UK introduced anti-SLAPP measures in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023. Before publishing allegations, ensure your evidence base is solid, your story is in the public interest, and your legal review is documented.