Investigative story template: evidence-led accountability journalism
Investigations live or die on structure and fairness. The template organises your finding, the evidence, the response of those named and why it matters to the public.
How it works
Open Investigative Story in your workspace and fill in what you know. Rough notes are fine; required fields are marked.
| You give | Example |
|---|---|
| Main finding / revelation | Official diverted $800,000 from the education fund |
| Evidence / documentation | Bank records, three whistleblowers, official budget documents |
| Subject response (optional) | Ministry denies wrongdoing / No response received |
| Public interest angle | Affected 500,000 students, diverted for personal gain |
| How you found out (documents, interviews, data) (optional) | Reviewed 40 payment vouchers from 2024–25; interviewed three officials who asked not to be named |
| Target length (words) (optional) | 500, 800, 1200, 1500 |
Press Write and the draft appears as it is written. Edit it, then save it, translate it, turn it into a script or social posts, or send it to your editor.
Fairness checks
- Always include the response of the people or organisations named; the draft flags it when missing.
- Keep the evidence specific: documents, dates, amounts.
- Have your editor approve before publishing: the team plan adds an approval step.
Accuracy first
Byline writes only from the facts you give it. It never invents quotes, sources or figures, and when something important is missing it marks the gap, like [CHECK: name of the spokesperson], for you to fill. You check every fact before publishing.
Questions
Is this suitable for legal-sensitive stories?
Byline helps structure the story; legal review stays with your newsroom’s lawyers and editors.
Is the Investigative Story template free?
It is included from the Solo Journalist plan. New accounts get a free trial with every template.
Which AI models can I use?
You can choose Claude, GPT, Gemini, Llama or Mistral, depending on your plan.
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