Investigating Investigative Documentaries

Abstract

According to UNESCO’s definition, “Investigative Journalism means the unveiling of matters that are concealed either deliberately by someone in a position of power, or accidentally, behind a chaotic mass of facts and circumstances - and the analysis and exposure of all relevant facts to the public.” This paper examines investigative TV documentaries that use audio and visual as a genre of investigative journalism. Obviously, investigative documentaries are no different than print media in the context of assuming a role of unveiling the truths hidden behind social events into the public sphere, but the range of targets and approaches fundamentally differ due to the characteristics of the medium. The 1970s saw the organic integration of camera (visual) and microphone (audio), which made it possible to record the real world by freely anatomizing the subjects. Since then investigative documentaries have been cultivating epoch-making expressions as a vital function of television. It also means that creators have been pursuing publicness, which can be described as “publicness free from any domination,” by never forgetting to have reflexive views. Nevertheless, investigative TV documentaries that have been established in this way are now called “out of date” in terms of both content and platform, and, indeed, the number of documentary production is declining. But is it right to treat this just as a come-and go issue? The author explores the theme by revisiting how investigative documentaries were established and what they have achieved.