INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, AND JOB REQUIREMENTS

Published: Oct 30, 2025 - The Investigative Reporter has experience in professional writing and long-form investigative journalism, with a strong background in uncovering systemic inequities and criminal justice issues through in-depth research and analysis. This role requires exceptional investigative and analytical skills, including data verification, document review, and interviewing affected individuals, policymakers, and community leaders to provide balanced, human-centered narratives. The Reporter also needs initiative, independence, and the ability to craft clear, compelling stories that connect local experiences to broader civil rights and policy implications.

Essential Hard and Soft Skills for a Standout Investigative Reporter Resume
  • Investigative Research
  • Data Analysis
  • Report Writing
  • Multimedia Production
  • Digital Publishing
  • Policy Analysis
  • Fact-Checking
  • Visual Storytelling
  • Social Media Strategy
  • Public Records Management
  • Editorial Judgment
  • Source Development
  • Community Engagement
  • Deadline Management
  • Team Collaboration
  • Accountability Journalism
  • Story Development
  • Ethical Journalism
  • Public Engagement
  • Communication Skills

Summary of Investigative Reporter Knowledge and Qualifications on Resume

1. BA in Journalism with 3 years of Experience

  • Prior experience as an investigative reporter at a local TV station.
  • On-camera experience working in a major market.
  • Exceptional reporting, writing, and interviewing skills.
  • Ability and willingness to use the latest technology and production techniques to shoot, write, edit, and publish content under deadline.
  • Ability to uncover stories through investigation and research.
  • A collaborative self-starter.
  • Successful in creating and maintaining reliable contact relationships.
  • Strong organizational, research, and journalism skills.
  • Exceptional written communication, transforming complex data and legal material into accessible narratives.
  • Integrity and ethical grounding when handling sensitive information and vulnerable sources.

2. BA in English with 6 years of Experience

  • Experience as a news writer with a background in enterprise or investigative journalism.
  • Knowledge and demonstration of creativity, editorial judgment, journalistic ethics, and libel law.
  • Solid understanding and demonstration of multimedia file formats and strong computer skills.
  • Working knowledge of federal, state, and local laws impacting operations.
  • Knowledge and proficiency in posting content to television station websites.
  • Skilled in producing in-depth stories from concept to completion, including research, sourcing, fact-checking, and final editing.
  • Ability to leverage data analysis and public records to support investigative reporting and fact-based storytelling.
  • Knowledge of video and audio editing software for multimedia storytelling (e.g., Adobe Premiere, Audition).
  • Awareness of social media best practices for real-time reporting and audience interaction.
  • Must be a team player and adapt to developing situations quickly..
  • Must be an excellent conversational writer with solid news judgment and a positive attitude.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

3. BS in Digital Media with 4 years of Experience

  • Proven reporting experience.
  • Demonstrate solid news judgment.
  • Understanding of laws and ethics of consumer-solutions journalism.
  • Familiarity with data journalism tools for analyzing public records, consumer data, and financial disclosures.
  • Understanding of media law, including defamation, copyright, and fair use principles.
  • Knowledge of SEO and audience engagement strategies for digital storytelling.
  • Experience conducting in-depth research and interviews to uncover consumer trends, scams, and market issues.
  • Experience developing story pitches based on data analysis, audience insights, and emerging consumer concerns.
  • Must be a team player willing to collaborate.
  • Must value a diversity of voices to build strong journalism.
  • Excel under pressure.

4. BA in Communication Studies with 5 years of Experience

  • Writing experience and proven track record of watchdog journalism.
  • Strong writing and copyediting skills.
  • Advanced knowledge of social media and customer feedback tools, including how to respond and engage customers on digital platforms in the public space.
  • Deep understanding of and curiosity about engaging and maintaining digital subscribers.
  • Exceptional planning and organizational skills with self-motivation and self-direction.
  • Good industry knowledge.
  • Effective written and verbal communicator and able to get along with diverse personalities.
  • Able to multitask and excel under intense deadline pressure in a rapidly changing environment.
  • Can know how to use time efficiently in a 24-hour news environment.
  • Ability to work collaboratively within a cross-functional environment.
  • Strong database skills.

5. BA in Political Science with 7 years of Experience

  • Experience as an investigative reporter or editor at a daily newspaper, broadcast station, online or digital news outlet, or an AP bureau or regional desk.
  • Must have demonstrated excellence as an investigative reporter or editor.
  • Deep record of delivering exclusive and distinctive spot news and enterprise stories rooted in investigative techniques.
  • Deep understanding of public records laws, FOIA procedures, and open-data research techniques.
  • Familiar with digital forensics, data scraping, and verification tools for investigative reporting.
  • Awareness of global press freedom issues, journalistic safety, and legal considerations in high-stakes reporting.
  • Understanding of data visualization, interactive storytelling, and investigative documentation tools (e.g., Excel, SQL, Python, Tableau).
  • Advanced-level professional competency in written and spoken English, and/or professional competency in a language.
  • Strong organizational skills with the ability to juggle multiple projects across formats and deliver success on complex, challenging story lines.
  • Able to explain complex stories in clear and compelling ways and do so swiftly and accurately on tight deadlines.
  • Able to work effectively as a member of a team.
  • Strategic thinking and innovation in developing new storytelling approaches for investigative work.

6. BA in Media and Cultural Studies with 3 years of Experience

  • Experience as a journalist.
  • Seasoned on-air presence and personality.
  • Experience in photojournalism, editing, and content management systems.
  • Knowledge of ENPS, Edius, and Axis graphics.
  • Understanding of the tenets of professional journalism.
  • A portfolio with examples of consumer, investigative, and breaking news reporting.
  • Ability to generate creative, engaging, content-driven live shots.
  • Strong social media skills, including an active news presence on Twitter and Facebook.
  • Good organizational skills and the ability to work under constant time pressure and deadlines.
  • Ability to calmly handle live, breaking news situations and changing events.

7. BA in Sociology with 6 years of Experience

  • Reporting experience or investigative reporting experience with the clips to back up that experience.
  • Experience in navigating data and public records and finding compelling, people-driven stories in the documents.
  • Sound news judgment.
  • Knowledge of AP style and a sound ethical approach to journalism.
  • Understanding of data-cleaning, analysis, and visualization tools used in investigative journalism (e.g., Excel, SQL, Tableau).
  • Familiar with freedom-of-information processes and records-request best practices at local, state, and federal levels.
  • Knowledge of audience engagement strategies to broaden the reach and impact of investigative stories.
  • Experience conducting deep-dive research into government databases, court filings, and business records to uncover hidden connections.
  • An aggressive spirit and a willingness to doggedly ask hard questions of people in power.
  • Ability to connect with people in the community in a way that, first and foremost, builds relationships and trust and, second, encourages them to tell their stories.
  • Ability to work well with a team of reporters, photojournalists, and editors, but also to function independently on demand.
  • Ability to work some nights and weekends in a newsroom that also tries to foster work-life balance in a career that often demands flexible scheduling.

8. BA in International Relations with 4 years of Experience

  • Experience with CAP, LexisNexis, and NICAR.
  • Understanding of the tenets of professional journalism.
  • Knowledge of laws regarding privacy, trespass, libel, and open meetings.
  • Knowledge of ENPS, Edius, and Axis graphics.
  • Strong organizational skills and the ability to work under deadline pressure.
  • Strong writing and oral communication skills.
  • Knowledge of multi-platform news gathering tools and resources, including digital media.
  • Active social media presence.
  • Demonstrated track record for acting on viewer tips, breaking stories, and exposing corruption that results in positive change.
  • Reputation as a team player, values working collaboratively.
  • Membership in Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE).

9. BS in Social Informatics with 5 years of Experience

  • Investigative reporting experience.
  • Must be able to develop and maintain sources.
  • Dynamic live television and storytelling skills.
  • Strong social media skillset for both research and promoting stories, as well as gathering viewer input.
  • Knowledge of the FOAI (Freedom of Information Act) process, computer-assisted reporting, and data-driven reporting.
  • Familiarity with legal issues related to investigative television news reporting.
  • Strong writing skills and knowledge of current events.
  • History of award-winning investigative journalism.
  • Ability to utilize data visualization and digital mapping tools to translate complex findings into engaging visuals for broadcast.
  • Ability to coordinate multi-platform story rollouts to maximize reach across television, web, and social media channels.
  • Sharp editorial judgment under pressure, with the flexibility to pivot coverage quickly during developing stories.

10. BA in Political Communication with 6 years of Experience

  • Strong writing and editing skills and excellent news judgment.
  • Unwavering commitment to accurate, ethical journalism.
  • Expert-level understanding of public records law and how to use it.
  • Ability to acquire and analyze data.
  • Fluency in the science of readership and engagement, including an understanding of metrics/analytics programs.
  • Understanding of SEO and other optimization opportunities, and a demonstrated ability to learn new skills in social and digital media.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, including empathy and the ability to take and give constructive criticism.
  • Ability to engage with readers and develop sources on social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
  • Ability to correctly identify the audience for selected stories.
  • Skilled in editing video (using phone).
  • Ability to work collaboratively on projects ranging from podcasts to video to enterprise stories.
  • Ability to work comfortably in a job that will be fast-paced, data-driven, shaped constantly by feedback and experimentation, and always evolving.
  • A way with headlines and an understanding of what works well on different platforms.
  • An interest in telling stories using a variety of media, and an enthusiasm for learning new skills and technologies.
  • An understanding of AP style.

11. BA in English with 4 years of Experience

  • Previous anchoring experience.
  • Proven on-air experience.
  • Previous live shot experience.
  • Experience working in a team environment.
  • Ability to demonstrate enterprise reporting and creativity in storytelling.
  • Solid understanding of newsroom operations, editorial hierarchy, and broadcast production workflows.
  • Experience in writing, editing, and voicing broadcast scripts that are clear, concise, and engaging for viewers.
  • Awareness of journalistic ethics, media law, and FCC compliance standards.
  • Familiar with teleprompter systems, newsroom automation software, and non-linear editing tools.
  • A self-starter who can generate their own story ideas daily.
  • Exemplary communication skills, both written and verbal.
  • Ability to maintain an active social media presence to build brand and solicit original story ideas.

12. BA in Journalism with 6 years of Experience

  • Professional writing experience.
  • A background in investigative journalism with an extensive publication history.
  • Understanding of the range of civil rights and civil liberties issues and their implications, particularly in the area of criminal justice.
  • Experience with or knowledge of the country's criminal justice system.
  • Excellent research skills and investigative experience with an aptitude for engaging with local organizations, community groups, and the general public to identify compelling stories.
  • A rock-star writer with an established track record for producing clear and compelling content, distilling complicated narratives, issues, and data sets down into values-based, human-centered stories that inspire people to take action.
  • Experience producing long-form investigative pieces that examine systemic inequities and policy impacts within communities.
  • Ability to conduct interviews with affected individuals, policymakers, and community leaders to provide balanced perspectives.
  • Ability to manage multi-source investigations involving extensive document analysis, data verification, and on-the-ground reporting.
  • Strong analytical thinking for connecting local narratives to larger policy implications.
  • Initiative and independence in developing original investigative ideas aligned with social impact.