watchdog journalism
Investigative press oversight
Watchdog journalism is reporting that monitors powerful institutions—government, corporations, public figures—to expose wrongdoing, corruption, or abuse of power.
The metaphor casts journalists as guard dogs alerting the public to threats: The paper's watchdog journalism uncovered millions in misappropriated funds.
The term emphasizes accountability over neutral reporting.
- exposéInvestigative journalism piece
- muckrakingInvestigative reporting on corruption
- transparencyState of being see-through
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
- fact-checkingConfirming accuracy of claims
reporting · freedom of the press · whistleblowing · Watergate · courage · truthfulness · anti-corruption efforts · democratic oversight · integrity · impartiality · investigative reporting · follow the money · smoking gun · paper trail · press freedom · editorial · tipster · press
- media ethicsmedia ethics, media bias, journalistic ethics, journalistic integrity, code of ethics
- press freedomfreedom of the press, press freedom, media freedom, press rights, editorial freedom
- journalismreporters, interview, editors, student editors, school paper
- news medianews agency, newspaper, documentary, article, news photo
- alternative mediaalternative media, alternative weekly, underground press, zine, zines
- media trialstrial by media, media circus, trial coverage, media frenzy, court reporting
watchdog journalismpublic relations
Organizational reputation management
propaganda · puff pieces · advertorial · corporate communications · sponsored content
watchdog journalismregurgitation
Ejecting swallowed material
infotainment · tabloid journalism · sensationalism · clickbait · pack journalism