Episode Details

Who can afford investigative journalism? And should we care about who pays for it?

This week Unearthed, the journalism team of Greenpeace, revealed a sting operation against The Institute for Economic Affairs, the right wing think tank. An undercover reporter recorded the IEA's director suggesting that it could help potential donors meet British government ministers. The Guardian ran the story on its front page. Are Unearthed's reporters journalists or activists?

Jane Martinson is joined by Damian Kahya, Head of News and Investigations for Unearthed, Claire Newell, Investigations Editor at The Telegraph, and John Sweeney, a veteran of many BBC investigations.

Also in the programme, Dame Frances Cairncross, chair of a government review and public consultation into the "sustainability of high-quality journalism" and Caitlin Webb, local democracy reporter in Maidstone.

Presenter: Jane Martinson Producer: Richard Hooper.