An undercover report is an investigative technique where a journalist assumes an alternative identity to uncover information that would otherwise remain hidden from public view. This form of journalism may be used to expose misconduct, illegal activities, unethical behaviour, or societal issues that the public has a right–and often a need–to know about.
While this form of reporting can be controversial, it also enables journalists to access stories that would be difficult or impossible to obtain through more traditional means. For example, the investigative series My Four Months as a Private Prison Guard and Patryk Szczepaniak’s work posing as a temp worker in industrial baking companies enabled them to document workplace abuses.
Before embarking on an undercover project, journalists should carefully consider the ethical implications. They should only resort to this method when other avenues have been exhausted. They should also make sure that they are adequately prepared by consulting a lawyer specializing in media and publication law (the exact legal details vary greatly from country to country). They should document all the attempts they have made to acquire information through professional and legitimate methods, which could help them defend their actions in case of future legal action.
Journalists should also make sure they have a safety plan in place, including an emergency escape route, an editor to oversee the project and act as a go-between with subjects, enough money for emergencies, and tracking devices for extreme undercover scenarios such as embedding in human trafficking rings. Finally, they should regularly debrief with their editors about the tough decisions that need to be made on a day-to-day basis.
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