Investigative Reporting That Holds Power to Account

What Investigative Reporting Achieves

Investigative reporting goes beyond the daily news cycle. It is a disciplined, methodical form of journalism that uncovers facts hidden from public view, whether through deliberate concealment or institutional complexity. At Mymspgoat, we practice investigative journalism as a craft rooted in patience, precision, and an unwavering commitment to the public interest.

Organizations commission investigative work for many reasons. A nonprofit might need to document systemic failures in a government program it serves. A media outlet might lack the in-house capacity for a months-long probe. A corporation facing unfounded allegations might want a credible, independent investigation that establishes the factual record. Whatever the motivation, the standard remains the same: every claim must be sourced, every conclusion must be defensible, and the final product must serve truth above convenience.

Our founder, Marc-Andre Tremblay, has spent years navigating the federal access-to-information system, cultivating source networks across the National Capital Region, and producing work that has prompted institutional responses. That experience forms the foundation of every investigation we undertake.

Our Methodology

Investigative journalism at Mymspgoat follows a methodology refined over years of practice. We begin with hypothesis development, formulating testable propositions based on available evidence rather than pursuing conclusions we want to reach. This distinction matters because confirmation bias is the enemy of credible investigation.

Our research toolkit includes database analysis, corporate registry searches, court record reviews, land title searches, financial disclosure analysis, and systematic interviews with both willing and reluctant sources. When digital records are involved, we follow forensic principles for preserving and documenting electronic evidence. Every step is logged in an internal case file that serves as the backbone of our fact-checking process.

We also maintain strict separation between the investigative function and any editorial opinion. Our reports present findings and let the evidence speak. If you need commentary or analysis layered on top, we can provide that as a clearly delineated companion piece, but it never contaminates the investigative record itself.

Source Protection and Confidentiality

Protecting sources is not a preference; it is a professional obligation. When someone shares information at personal or professional risk, their identity must be shielded with the same rigor we apply to verifying facts. At Mymspgoat, source protection protocols are built into every stage of an investigation.

We use encrypted communication channels for sensitive exchanges. Source identities are compartmentalized, meaning team members only know what they need to know. Notes and recordings are stored in encrypted archives, and we maintain strict policies about what can and cannot be discussed outside the team. Our client agreements include confidentiality provisions that protect both you and the people who help us find the truth.

If an investigation involves whistleblowers, we follow established frameworks for responsible disclosure, including verifying the authenticity and motivation of the source, corroborating their claims independently, and ensuring that publication does not expose them to retaliation that could have been avoided. Canadian law provides some protections for journalistic sources, and we structure our practices to take full advantage of those provisions.

Data-Driven Investigation

Many of the most significant investigative stories of the past decade have been built on data. At Mymspgoat, we combine traditional shoe-leather reporting with data analysis to uncover patterns that would be invisible through interviews alone. Whether the dataset is a spreadsheet of government contracts, a database of inspection records, or a collection of financial filings, we have the skills to clean, analyze, and interpret the numbers.

Data-driven investigation is particularly powerful for stories about systemic issues: patterns of spending, trends in enforcement, or disparities in outcomes across regions or populations. When the data tells a story, it carries a weight that anecdotal evidence alone cannot match. We present data findings in accessible formats, including tables, charts, and plain-language summaries, so your audience can grasp the significance without needing a statistics degree.

ATIP and FOI Requests

Access to Information and Privacy requests are among the most powerful tools available to Canadian journalists. They compel government institutions to release records that would otherwise remain hidden. However, the process is notoriously slow, often taking months or even years, and the results frequently arrive heavily redacted.

Our team has extensive experience navigating the ATIP system at the federal level and FOI regimes at the provincial and municipal levels. We know how to draft requests that are specific enough to yield useful records but broad enough to capture relevant material the institution might otherwise exclude. We also know when to challenge excessive redactions through formal complaints to the Information Commissioner.

If your investigation requires government records, we factor ATIP timelines into the project schedule from the beginning. In some cases, we can work with previously released records or use parallel research strategies to advance the investigation while we wait for formal disclosures.

Fact-Checking Standards

Every investigation we deliver has been subjected to a rigorous fact-checking process. Our standard requires independent verification of all factual claims through at least two sources, one of which must be a primary document or direct witness. Statistical claims are verified against original datasets. Quotes are confirmed with the speaker whenever possible, and attributed quotes are never fabricated or embellished.

Sarah Mitchell, our Managing Editor, oversees the fact-checking process and applies a structured checklist to every draft before it leaves our office. This checklist covers accuracy of names, titles, dates, and figures; consistency of the narrative with the underlying evidence; fairness to all parties mentioned; and compliance with Canadian defamation law. We also conduct a pre-publication legal review for investigations that carry litigation risk, and we can recommend media lawyers if your organization needs independent legal counsel.

Ethical Standards and Public Interest

Not every story that could be told should be told. We apply a public interest test to every investigation before we begin. The question is straightforward: will the public benefit from knowing this information? If the answer is no, if the investigation serves only private grievance or competitive advantage without broader significance, we will decline the assignment or help you reframe it.

Our ethical framework draws on the Canadian Association of Journalists' principles and the Society of Professional Journalists' code. We believe in minimizing harm, acting independently, being accountable for our work, and seeking truth with discipline. These are not abstract ideals. They guide concrete decisions about which sources to contact, how to present sensitive information, and when to withhold details that could endanger individuals without advancing the public interest.

When to Commission an Investigation

Clients come to us at different stages of awareness. Some already have strong evidence and need a professional team to structure and verify it. Others have only suspicions and need someone to determine whether there is a story at all. Both are valid starting points.

Consider commissioning an investigation when you have credible evidence of wrongdoing that needs independent verification, when institutional complexity makes it difficult for your own team to untangle the facts, when the stakes are high enough that errors in the public record could cause lasting damage, or when you need a report that will withstand legal and journalistic scrutiny. Our freelance writing services are available if your project ultimately requires a different format than a full investigation.

What to Prepare Before We Begin

• A written brief describing the topic, the questions you want answered, and any background context
• Copies of existing documents, records, or correspondence related to the subject
• Your preferred timeline and any hard deadlines driven by external factors
• A budget range so we can tailor the scope of the investigation to your resources
• Your publication goals: where and how you intend to use the final report
• Contact information for any sources you have already identified, with notes on their willingness to participate
• Any legal constraints or sensitivities we should be aware of before we begin outreach

Pricing

All prices are in Canadian dollars. HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) of 13% applies to all services. A 30% deposit is required to begin work. Minimum project value is 500 CAD. Two rounds of revision are included. A kill fee of 50% applies if you cancel after work has begun, though you may cancel free of charge up to 14 days before the scheduled start date. B2B clients benefit from Net 30 payment terms.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does an investigative project typically take?

Timelines vary significantly depending on scope and complexity. A focused investigation into a single issue with accessible sources might take one to two weeks. A multi-layered probe involving ATIP requests, extensive interviewing, and data analysis can extend to six to eight weeks or more. We establish realistic timelines during the briefing phase and keep you informed of progress throughout. If ATIP requests are involved, we will discuss strategies for advancing the work while waiting for government responses.

What happens if the investigation reveals findings that are inconvenient or unexpected?

Our obligation is to the facts, not to a predetermined narrative. If the evidence leads somewhere you did not anticipate, we will present those findings honestly and discuss the implications with you. You are never obligated to publish the results, but we will not suppress or distort findings to suit a preferred outcome. This independence is what gives our work its credibility and value. If you choose not to publish, the kill fee provisions in our contract apply.

How do you protect my identity as the commissioning party?

Client confidentiality is standard practice. Unless you choose to be publicly associated with the investigation, your identity as the commissioning party remains confidential. Our engagement agreements include non-disclosure provisions, and we structure our research to avoid revealing the origin of the inquiry. That said, we cannot guarantee absolute secrecy in all circumstances, particularly if the investigation becomes the subject of legal proceedings.

What factors influence the cost of an investigation?

The main cost drivers are duration, complexity, and travel requirements. An investigation that requires reviewing thousands of documents, conducting dozens of interviews, or traveling to multiple locations will cost more than one focused on a single institution in Ottawa. ATIP filing fees and any necessary legal consultations are billed separately. We provide a detailed estimate during the briefing phase and will not exceed the agreed budget without your approval.

Who owns the rights to the finished investigation?

Copyright transfers to you upon full payment of the final invoice. Until that point, Mymspgoat retains copyright. This arrangement protects both parties: you receive full ownership once the engagement is complete, and we retain rights in the unlikely event of non-payment. The specifics are outlined in our standard engagement agreement, which we review together before work begins.

Learn More

For a detailed look at how investigative budgets work and how to plan for your project's financial requirements, read our resource: Budgeting an Investigative Report. You can also visit our full list of services or review the general FAQ for answers to common questions about working with Mymspgoat.