Best Investigative Journalism

Serial revolutionized the true-crime podcast genre with its in-depth exploration of the 1999 murder of Hae Min Lee and the subsequent conviction of Adnan Syed. The first season, meticulously researche...

Rotten is a Netflix docuseries that investigates the dark side of the food industry, exposing corruption, fraud, and environmental damage within various food supply chains. From honey to shrimp to avo...

Collective (2019, continued relevance) follows a team of investigative journalists in Romania as they uncover widespread corruption and fraud within the country's healthcare system following a tragic...

Lawrence Wright's 'Going Clear' is a meticulously researched exposé of the Church of Scientology, drawing on extensive interviews with former members and internal documents. Wright details the organiz...

Michelle McNamara's 'I'll Be Gone in the Dark' is a gripping account of her relentless pursuit of the Golden State Killer. Its part memoir, part investigation, and showcases McNamara's unique writing...

Darknet Diaries is a podcast that explores the dark side of the internet, featuring true stories of hackers, cybercriminals, and security breaches. Host Jack Rhysider interviews individuals involved i...

Dorothy Allisons 1996 memoir recounts her brothers false confession to a murder and her subsequent decision to take the blame to protect her family. The book is a harrowing exploration of poverty, abu...

Serial, initially a groundbreaking podcast, has continued to produce exclusive content on Spotify. Each season investigates a different true crime case, employing meticulous research and compelling na...

Root of Evil is a limited-series podcast that unravels the dark secrets of the Hodel family, connecting them to the infamous Black Dahlia murder of 1947. Hosted by Billy Corben, the podcast combines a...

Navalny (2022) chronicles the story of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who survived a poisoning attempt and subsequently investigated his attackers. The film is a gripping and suspenseful ac...

Blake Stilwells The Outlaw Ocean is a gripping work of investigative journalism that exposes the dark underbelly of the worlds oceans. Stilwell chronicles the stories of pirates, illegal fishers, and...

A Plastic Ocean follows a team of divers and journalists as they investigate the global plastic pollution crisis. The documentary reveals the shocking scale of plastic waste in the oceans and its deva...

Marlon Halls 2019 book investigates the 1990 murders of five children in the Bronx, a case plagued by police corruption and racial bias. Halls meticulous reporting and interviews with key figures shed...

Josephine Tey's 'The Daughter of Time' is a unique historical mystery that challenges conventional wisdom about Richard III. Inspector Alan Grant, confined to a hospital bed, becomes fascinated by a p...

The original British miniseries State of Play is a gripping exploration of the intersection between corporate interests, political scandal, and the decline of traditional journalism. It excels at weav...

The Sharper Edge is a gripping documentary series that reimagines the true-crime podcast format as a visual experience. The series investigates the case of a man convicted of murder, exploring the fla...

While not directly about a cult, Nina Burleigh's 'A Bright Shining Lie' reveals a culture of manipulation and groupthink within the Nixon White House, exhibiting parallels to cult dynamics. The book d...

Alan Moore and Eddie Campbells 'From Hell' is a meticulously researched, sprawling examination of the Jack the Ripper murders. Rather than a simple whodunit, the book explores the social, political, a...

Going Clear is a powerful HBO documentary that investigates the Church of Scientology, exposing its secretive practices and alleged abuses. Based on Lawrence Wright's book, it features interviews with...

Frontline is a long-running PBS documentary series that investigates a wide range of historical and contemporary issues. While not strictly a historical drama, many episodes delve into significant his...

This book investigates the connection between Pete Rose, baseball's all-time hits leader, and Andy Warhol, the pop art icon. It delves into Rose's gambling addiction and its impact on his career and r...

The Rachel Maddow Show, available as a podcast, features Rachel Maddows in-depth reporting and analysis of political and historical events. Maddow is known for her meticulous research and compelling s...

This gripping British miniseries masterfully weaves together the worlds of politics, journalism, and corporate interests. It follows a newspaper investigation into the death of a researcher, which lea...

Ghost Fleet investigates the illegal fishing operations that plague the South China Sea. The documentary exposes the use of 'ghost ships' vessels that have been abandoned or stolen to illegally harv...

Frontline is a French historical drama series set during the French Revolution. The series follows a young nobleman who is forced to fight for his survival as the aristocracy is overthrown. The show e...

The Loudest Silence, a 2019 Netflix miniseries, tells the true story of a Swedish journalist who uncovers a decades-old sexual abuse scandal involving prominent figures. The series is praised for its...

Uncover, a Spotify Original, presents investigative journalism stories that explore complex social issues. The podcast's production quality is high, and the storytelling is both compelling and informa...

Dateline NBC is a long-running newsmagazine program that frequently features true crime stories. While not exclusively focused on true crime, its extensive catalog of investigations covers a wide rang...