Which of the following is a challenge faced by investigative journalism?

• A. Platform competition
• B. Resource constraints
• C. Safety concerns
• D. Legal pressure

Answer: (B)

The main challenge being tested is the resource demands of doing investigative journalism. Investigations are long, complex projects that require time, money, and skilled staff to gather documents, analyze data, verify facts, and navigate legal or institutional hurdles. Securing sustained funding and editorial support is essential because breakthroughs often take months or even years, with no guarantee of publishable results at the end. When resources are limited, stories may never get off the ground, or they stall before reaching publication, which is a fundamental barrier to uncovering important truths.

Platform competition does affect how audiences encounter stories, but it doesn’t prevent the act of investigating itself. Safety concerns are real and can intensify the risk of reporting, yet investigators often proceed when resources are in place, and the risk is a factor of the work environment rather than the essential barrier to doing investigative reporting. Legal pressure matters because it can shape what can be published and force costly legal review, but without adequate resources to pursue and sustain the investigation, both the risk and the effort can’t be effectively managed.