How Has Investigative Reporting Declined In Terms Of Quality?

In recent years, there has been a clear change of emphasis in the content of investigative reporting. Traditions of expose journalism and the techniques of investigative journalism have come together to pursue "the bimbo-and-bingo" interests of the tabloid press in producing sensational stories involving a variety of people in the public eye, such as the alleged affairs of David Beckham and Rebecca Loos.

Market driven forces have caused a shift from hard to soft journalism. There are masses of magazine programmes on consumer advice with exposes on domestic and lifestyle themes like holidays, food and personal finances. The key issues have shifted from international and national policy issues to the sensationalism of domestic and consumer events. Techniques of investigations by TV journalists have tended to move away from the pursuit of alleged criminals by the likes of Roger Cook, to the secret four lives of Donal MacIntyre, befriending football hooligans for the purposes of exposing them.