A powerful tool for impactful journalism, going undercover is a controversial investigative technique that involves concealing one’s identity to gather information or evidence about misconduct, illegal activities, unethical behavior, or societal issues. In countries without public record transparency or strong source protection laws, undercover reporting is often one of the few ways journalists can uncover important facts and expose wrongdoing.
Going undercover can be a risky and dangerous endeavor that can lead to serious legal action, imprisonment, or even death. GIJN’s resource guide, written by a team of international journalists, provides advice for those interested in using this investigative technique. The document outlines how to plan, execute, and report on undercover investigations. It also covers a number of ethical considerations that must be carefully weighed before embarking on this type of work.
Journalists must be willing to weigh the benefits of exposing crucial truths against the risks of harming individuals and deceiving others in the name of impactful journalism. This can be an especially difficult challenge when a journalist’s goal is to uncover widespread misconduct or systemic problems that would not be visible through traditional methods.
In such cases, the ethical guidelines that journalists must adhere to are particularly important. Kroeger explains that a good rule of thumb is to “do no harm.” For example, if an undercover investigation will involve infiltrating a mental health facility or elder care facility and taking a bed that could be used by someone who needs it, it may not be ethical to do so.