The Evolution and Agenda of Investigative Journalism in the Arab Levant Countries

This study examines the evolution and agenda of investigative journalism in the Arab Levant region, including Palestine, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, during the period between 2006 and 2024. Using the quantitative content analysis approach, 357 investigative articles were sourced from major journalism platforms. The agenda-setting theory is used in explaining how the agendas of investigative journalism were shaped in politically unstable regions with high levels of censorship and varying levels of press freedom. The results show an overall increase in investigative journalism articles in 2014, with major peaks in 2022 and 2024. Lebanon had the highest number of reports published, with articles mostly revolving around human rights, followed by Palestine, Jordan, and Syria. Themes include human rights, institutional corruption, and political and financial corruption, with social, legal, and economic issues standing out. Personal interviews and the application of government data are major methods used, with visual data such as photographs and videos adding depth to investigation reporting. Expository and narrative journalistic approaches are mostly used, often to verify the report’s hypothesis. Although this study does not quantify audience or policy data, these digital platforms were essential in promoting policy changes and increasing public awareness.