Service 01
Investigative reporting that withstands scrutiny
Some stories require more than a phone call and a press release. Investigative reporting demands weeks of methodical work: pulling documents, cultivating sources, cross-referencing records and building a narrative that holds up under legal review. At Seideldexa, this is the core of what we do.
Our investigations are grounded in primary evidence. We work from court filings, corporate registries, financial disclosures, internal communications and on-the-record interviews. Every claim in a finished piece can be traced back to a documented source. That discipline is what separates investigative journalism from opinion writing, and it is the standard we apply to every project regardless of scope or budget.
Our Process
Four phases from brief to publication
1. Scoping and hypothesis
We begin with a confidential discovery call to understand the subject, your angle and what you already know. Within 48 hours you receive a written scope proposal that outlines the hypothesis, the reporting plan, estimated timeline and a fixed-price quote. No work begins until you approve the scope and sign the engagement agreement.
2. Document collection and source development
The bulk of investigative work happens here. We file access-to-information requests, pull corporate and court records, analyze financial data and conduct background interviews. Sources are developed through methodical outreach, not cold calls. Progress updates are shared at agreed intervals without compromising sensitive leads.
3. Verification and drafting
Every factual claim is verified against at least two independent sources before it enters the draft. We apply a layered fact-checking protocol: primary documents first, then corroborating records, then on-the-record confirmation. The first draft is delivered for your factual review with a full source annotation.
4. Revision and delivery
Two rounds of revisions are included. We address factual corrections, structural feedback and editorial adjustments. The final package includes the publication-ready text, a source index, supporting documents and archive-grade backup files. Legal review coordination is available as an add-on.
Who commissions investigative reporting
Our clients include independent publishers, non-profit organizations, advocacy groups, labour unions and legal teams. Some come to us with a tip that needs professional verification. Others have a subject they know deserves public attention but lack the in-house resources to investigate it properly.
We also work with established newsrooms that need additional investigative capacity for a specific project without hiring permanent staff. In these cases, we operate under your editorial direction while maintaining our own verification standards. The work product is yours upon full payment; we retain no publication rights.
How a typical project unfolds
A standard investigation runs two to four weeks from signed agreement to final delivery. During that period, you will receive progress updates at intervals agreed in the scope document. These updates summarize what has been confirmed, what remains open and whether the timeline is tracking as planned.
We do not share unverified information in progress updates. If a lead looks promising but unconfirmed, we note that investigation is ongoing without speculating about where it might go. This protects both editorial integrity and source confidentiality. Complex investigations involving multiple jurisdictions, large document sets or reluctant sources typically run four to eight weeks. We never extend a timeline without discussing it with you first and explaining the reason.
What to prepare before the discovery call
You do not need a finished brief to approach us. Many projects begin with a question, a suspicion or a document that does not add up. That said, the more context you can provide at the outset, the faster we can scope the work accurately.
Helpful materials include any existing documents related to the subject, names of key individuals or organizations, previous coverage or reporting on the topic, your publication timeline constraints, and any legal sensitivities we should be aware of. If you are concerned about confidentiality before the engagement is formalized, we can execute a mutual non-disclosure agreement before the discovery call. Read our guide on preparing for an investigative interview for practical advice on handling sensitive source material.
What is included in every investigation
Dedicated reporting team
A lead investigative reporter and a research analyst assigned to your project from scoping through delivery.
Document analysis
Systematic review of public records, corporate filings, court documents, financial disclosures and regulatory databases relevant to your subject.
Source development and interviews
Professional outreach, background conversations and on-the-record interviews with relevant parties, conducted under journalistic ethical standards.
Multi-source fact verification
Every factual claim verified against a minimum of two independent sources. Full source annotation provided with the draft.
Publication-ready deliverable
Final text formatted and structured for your publication platform. Word document, HTML or plain text as specified in the scope agreement.
Source index and documentation
A comprehensive index of all sources cited, including document references, interview dates and verification notes for editorial and legal review.
Two revision rounds
Factual corrections, structural changes and editorial adjustments addressed across two rounds at no additional cost.
24-month secure archive
All project files, correspondence and raw materials archived in our local secure infrastructure for 24 months after delivery.
Deliverables and file formats
The primary deliverable is a publication-ready text document in the format of your choice: Microsoft Word (.docx), rich text (.rtf), HTML or plain text. The document includes all editorial elements such as headlines, subheadings, pull quotes and suggested image placements.
Alongside the main text, you receive a source index that maps every factual claim to its supporting evidence. This index is essential for legal review and serves as a permanent record of the investigation's evidentiary basis. Where applicable, we also provide copies of key source documents, redacted as necessary to protect confidential sources. Raw interview recordings are available upon request when the interviewees have consented to their release.
What is not included
Our investigative reporting service covers research, verification and written deliverables. The following are outside the standard scope and available as separately quoted add-ons:
- Legal review and pre-publication legal opinion (we can coordinate with your counsel or recommend media lawyers)
- Photography, videography or multimedia asset creation (available through our podcast and audio production service for audio-based projects)
- Distribution, syndication or media outreach after publication
- Ongoing monitoring or follow-up reporting after the initial project is delivered
- Translation services (we can recommend qualified translators for multi-language projects)
Investigative reporting pricing
All prices are in Canadian dollars and include Ontario's 13% Harmonized Sales Tax (HST registration: 725891403RT0001). Pre-tax amounts are shown for budgeting and accounting purposes.
| Package | Timeline | Price (excl. HST) | Price (incl. 13% HST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short investigation | Up to 2 weeks | $3,097.35 | $3,500.00 |
| Standard investigation | 2-4 weeks | $6,017.70 | $6,800.00 |
| Complex investigation | 4-8 weeks | $11,061.95 | $12,500.00 |
| Rush surcharge | Expedited delivery | +35% on any package above | |
A 30% deposit is required on all investigative reporting packages, as each exceeds the $2,000 threshold. The deposit secures your project slot and covers initial resource allocation. The balance is invoiced upon delivery of the final work product. Business clients on approved credit receive Net 30 payment terms.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see the evidence before the story is published?
Yes. The draft we deliver for review includes a full source annotation. Every factual claim is linked to the supporting document, interview record or public filing that backs it. You see the evidentiary basis alongside the narrative so you can assess both the story and its foundation before approving publication.
How do you protect confidential sources?
Source protection is a non-negotiable practice. We use secure communication channels, segregate sensitive materials from general project files and never reveal a confidential source's identity to anyone, including you as the client, unless the source has given explicit written consent. Our archive infrastructure is maintained locally, not on third-party cloud platforms.
What happens if the investigation does not produce a publishable story?
It happens. Not every investigation produces a publishable result, and we will never fabricate or inflate findings. If the evidence does not support the initial hypothesis, you receive a detailed research memo documenting what was investigated, what was found and what remains inconclusive. This memo itself often has value for organizational decision-making even when it does not become a public story.
Do you handle access-to-information requests?
Yes. Filing and tracking access-to-information (ATI) and freedom-of-information (FOI) requests is a routine part of our investigative process. We handle the filings, follow up on delays and analyze the records when they arrive. Note that government response timelines are outside our control and can affect the overall project schedule.
Can you coordinate with our legal team before publication?
Absolutely. Pre-publication legal review is a standard practice for sensitive investigations. We routinely work with media lawyers and can coordinate directly with your legal counsel to address defamation risk, privacy considerations and regulatory compliance. Legal review is quoted as a separate add-on because the scope varies widely by project.
What is the difference between the short and complex packages?
The packages reflect the depth of investigation required. A short investigation typically involves a single subject, a limited number of sources and publicly accessible records. A complex investigation spans multiple entities, jurisdictions or datasets, may involve reluctant or hostile sources and often requires access-to-information filings with government response wait times. During the discovery call, we assess which package fits your project and provide a recommendation in the scope proposal.
Have a subject that needs investigating?
Contact us for a confidential discovery call. We respond within 48 hours.
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