Investigations can bring changes to the legal system, public sentiment, and institutional power structures. But oftentimes, the very people who are at the center of investigations and who have the most to lose by being exposed in journalists’ writing, are the ones who may never see the work and in the worst case scenario, be adversely impacted by the exposure and attention that investigations can bring. These issues persist as the public further loses trust in media organizations. But a growing number of journalists are digging deeper, not just to write about underserved and marginalized communities, but to also serve them vital and necessary information that is helpful to them.
From conducting needs assessments and polls with imprisoned people or undocumented migrants, to packaging stories in different formats that can reach communities in more effective ways, engagement reporters and other practitioners are finding new and creative ways to bake trust-building and service-oriented journalism into their work. Hear from editors and reporters on how they build trust with communities over time and how they make sure they package their investigations into formats that reach their subjects — from translations of content to finding ways to engage them in your process.
