Investigation involves examining all the evidence to reconstruct what happened in a given situation. It can also be used to identify issues or problems that need to be addressed in order to prevent future occurrences. For example, if a military aircraft crashes, the authorities may conduct an investigation to determine what caused the crash in order to avoid future accidents through policy changes, increased training, or inspections.
To be an effective investigative journalist, it is important to have a solid understanding of the research process and how to conduct interviews. This includes asking the right questions to gather information and being able to distinguish between factual statements and assumptions or emotional language. It is also helpful to read other examples of well written investigative journalism to gain a better understanding of the best practices in this field.
Another important aspect of an investigation is to consider how you will present your findings in a report. This will be seen by supervisors, C-level executives, and attorneys, so it is crucial to be accurate and professional. If spelling and grammar are not your strong suit, consider enlisting the help of a proofreader or taking a writing course. It is also important to double-check that all the details are correct, as a misplaced comma or missing word can turn your article into a wild goose chase and ultimately waste time, resources, and money.
Finally, when evaluating witness credibility, it is important to look for corroboration, demeanor, and a past record. This can be accomplished through interviews, documentation, and other sources of information.
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