An undercover report is a form of investigative journalism in which the journalist conceals their identity and purpose while gathering information, usually by recording audio or footage with a hidden camera. It is often used to uncover evidence of corruption, unethical practices or criminal activity that would be impossible to acquire through regular reporting methods. The technique can be life-threatening and ethically fraught, but when executed well it can add depth to long-form investigations by exposing the human impact behind societal issues.
Journalists who choose to go undercover should carefully weigh the costs and benefits, making sure that their pursuit of truth does not jeopardize the principles journalism stands for. Moreover, they should only turn to undercover work as a last resort after they have exhausted all other avenues for obtaining information.
GIJN’s new guide to undercover reporting offers practical tips from seasoned journalists and showcases successful examples that have shaped perception and prompted change. The authors highlight the need for safety measures, an emergency plan and a team that will support you during the undercover period. This team should include an editor, a lawyer specializing in media and publication cases, a trusted colleague, and someone outside your reporting organization who can be a sounding board and help you keep focused on the bigger picture during a stressful time.
Among the best known examples of undercover reportage are Mother Jones’ Shane Bauer’s Goldsmith Award-winning investigation, My Four Months as a Private Prison Guard, and Hunter S. Thompson’s Ten Days in a Mad-House, an account of his years embedded with the Hells Angels motorcycle gang to expose their mistreatment of mental patients. More recently, BBC News journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas spent two years undercover to document bribery in Kenyan and West African football.
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