Investigative journalism is not an easy career; often, reporters will uncover hidden truths, corruption, or abuses of power that someone or an institution wants kept secret. Although investigative projects may take from a few months to a few years, student journalists can build these important skills early in their careers.
Isabel Cleary, investigative reporter at NBC4, and Rochelle Alleyne, investigative reporter at WBNS-TV, both based in Columbus, Ohio, stressed the importance of obtaining documents through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Alleyne broke down her February 2026 story that examined Les Wexner’s congressional deposition in the House’s Jeffrey Epstein investigation, though he has not been accused of any crime. She wanted to give an inside look into the real world of investigative journalism. Wexner, the billionaire retailer known for brands including Victoria’s Secret, employed convicted sexual offender Epstein as his financial manager.
Investigative reporters speak about their work to SPJ 2026 attendees. Photo by Kallie Bourgeois.
The speakers explained the difference between FOIA and a public records request, adding that the two often get confused.
Governed by federal law, FOIA allows anyone, including non-citizens and foreign corporations, to request records. FOIA typically takes 20 business days from receipt to determine whether to grant or deny a request, but is usually extended. Alleyne said that journalists should call and introduce themselves when filing a FOIA, be persistent and follow up if their request is denied.
“Sometimes you want to get the documents first before doing interviews, and then two months later when the documents come in, and this isn’t really anything, then you don’t have to do the interviews,” Cleary said.
They also provided resources including FOIA Advisor, Bloomberg’s FOIA Files Newsletter, the National Security Archive, FOIA Advisory Committee and the FOIA Project.
Because public records law varies by state, anyone can request documents from local and state governments. For public records, timelines vary by state. A resource that covers all 50 states, PublicLegal offers its “One-Stop Access to Current U.S. State and Federal Law Repositories.”
Cleary advised journalists to connect with local and state record keepers, know state laws for public records, be persistent and make sure the local records keeper understands the laws too.
Cleary shared she wished she would have pushed back on public records requests when she was a student journalist.
“In the beginning, I would kind of just accept defeat when someone denied it, and now, looking back, I’m like, ‘Oh, no, they should have given me that. Like, they owed me that,’” she said. “So make sure you know your public records laws. If you don’t take the time to look and if you get a denial, look at why and what you can say back, because more than likely you deserve that record.”
Both speakers shared two stories that can be investigated in any market, along with what records to request.
The first pitch was the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in schools. Items you can request include school district AED reports from the state DOE, state high school athletic association bylaws, the specific location of AEDs in your school district and a review of state law.
They also noted the increase in Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) theft, advising attendees to contact Jobs and Family Services in their state and connect with local social workers to see whether their clients have been targeted. Speakers also shared a data visualization conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service.
They offered two avenues for stories about data centers in communities. Quick stories involve asking questions surrounding the number of centers or development plans in your state or area of coverage, any petitions pending for or against them, proposed legislation to regulate or ban them and who is involved in approving them.
For more in-depth stories, the speakers said journalists should look at the impact on natural resources like the community’s water supply, concerns about the strain these centers will put on the power grid and the long-term effects on the state.
The use of Flock cameras, an automated license plate reader that is used to capture, track and catalog vehicle data on public streets, was also another story pitch. Journalists can check which agencies in your state have them, what their contracts look like, when they were implemented in the community and what cases were solved using Flock.
“Sometimes you do spend months investigating something, and it turns out to not be worth it, and that can be really frustrating, but do not let that get you down,” Cleary said. “In the beginning, make sure you’re vetting your sources before you invest that time. Try to get the beginning things where it’s like, you know, vetting the sources to make sure you want to interview them; try to get those documents and that data.”
When choosing to turn stories into investigations, Cleary said she uses a spreadsheet with ideas, a synopsis, notes, what the story needs and how much more needs to be done. She also conducts weekly meetings with her boss, works ahead most days with stories and always looks for the investigative angle in general assignment stories.
Alleyne added that she stays organized using calendars, sticky notes and spreadsheets to keep track of a story timeline. Take advantage of tip lines, assignment desk calls and social media tips, she added.
When investigating a powerful institution or person who may not want you to ask tough questions, journalists can protect themselves by keeping open lines of communication with their boss and the person in charge. In Cleary’s experience, she usually goes with a photographer to interviews.
“They need to know what you’re doing, because at the end of the day, there is a lawyer you have to report back to,” Cleary said. “If it is a sketchier situation, just don’t go alone.”
Featured photo by Kallie Bourgeois.