How Did Investigative Journalism Emerge On Television?

In terms of the broadcast media, World in Action became Britain's first weekly current affairs series on British TV focusing on in depth investigations. Programmes such as Panorama and TV Eye followed suit. Locally, the regional press got involved as, during the 60s and 70s, local authorities had no strategic area plans, had loose controls on borrowing and expenditure, and no effective means of accountability. Due to these factors, corruption flourished. This greatly encouraged investigative journalism.

Later, Channel 4's Cutting Edge, ITV's Big Story and the BBC's Inside Story, along with exclusively investigative programmes such as the Cook Report and Undercover Britain, are just some examples of often prime time programmes devoted to investigations in the mid 90s.

Nowadays however, the series undercover reporting of Roger Cook and the like has given way programmes such as the BBC's Watchdog, story telling the "holiday from hell", and Neighbours from Hell, programmes whose titles speak for themselves.