Research led by University of Amsterdam media scholar Alice Fleerackers examines how journalists scrutinize science through investigative watchdog reporting, revealing the labor-intensive challenges of this critical form of journalism.

Based on interviews with 21 journalists in Canada and the United Kingdom, the study found that watchdog science journalism requires extensive document review, data reconstruction, and source interviews, often spanning weeks or months. “This work requires much more than a single phone call to an expert and a quick quote,” the research notes.

Journalists face significant obstacles, including time constraints that conflict with lengthy investigations, budget limitations and a lack of in-house expertise, legal and reputational risks, and institutional gatekeeping by universities and communications departments. The study also found that practical feasibility sometimes supersedes public interest in editorial decisions, particularly in resource-constrained newsrooms — meaning that even when research integrity issues like fraud and data manipulation are newsworthy, many investigations never reach publication.

The researchers recommend that media organizations allocate dedicated time and training for specialized investigative work, and that funders, universities, and research integrity bodies support journalists through collaborations and grants.

Journal: Science Communication
Article Title: Holding Science to Account: A Qualitative Study of Practices and Challenges of Watchdog Science Journalism
Publication Date: July 14, 2026

Source: EurekAlert