Possibilities and Limits of Investigative Journalism.between superficial reports of complaints, the challenge of intersubjectivity and citizenship

Abstract

This study proposes a reflection on the challenges of practicing investigative journalism on Brazilian
news portals. Starting from the analysis of the use of parameters described in the Manual for
Investigative Journalists in Estadão reports, we seek to understand this modality beyond superficial
reports of complaints and the use of methods based on exact sciences, but as a driver of human,
intersubjective journalism and multiperspective. The results point to a similarity with the journalism
routinely practiced in newsrooms, with the prevalence of official sources, objective reports based on
information obtained from open databases and little concern with the plurality of voices.
This emphasizes the need for journalists to use the specificities of the area to overcome possible
barriers and fulfill their role as interpreters, trainers and social mediators, in search of
differentiated, critical and citizen journalism.