Investigative

         An investigative documentary is when a reporter deeply investigate one topic that would interest the audience. The topic would often be the same kind of issue that hard news would feature, the information would be primary as it is a first hand investigation and the audience are lead as new discoveries on the issue are made such as first hand interviews, document analysis, look into public records and social and legal issues. There would be no need to build a rapport as the presenter will have very brief interviews to find information quickly.

            The questions would be serious with factual and informing answers, they can be closed and open depending on if the interviewee is avoiding the question or not, or if they want the answer to be explained in more detail. It can help to ask suggestive questions if the topic is about a certain person, they may buckle under the pressure of the fact that a “rumour” has been found and it takes one slip to conclude that it is the truth.

            The structure of investigative documentaries would have an introduction including what the programme is trying to find out or what information will be revealed. The more information the audience are given the more developed the story becomes as the facts are collected, also half way through the programme there may be a short summary to what has been discovered so far. There will be one key question about the issue which will be answered by the end of the programme.

            The purpose is to inform and educate the audience and get answers which everyone has been asking about the situation or to open the minds to different possibilities about that issue as certain conspiracies may be uncovered.