Fact check: What are some notable examples of The Guardian's investigative journalism?

1. How The Guardian turned leaked troves into political detonations

The Guardian repeatedly led or partnered in massive data-driven exposes that forced political consequences. The Panama Papers and Pandora Papers revealed offshore structures tied to heads of state and officials, prompting resignations and international outrage; the Pandora Papers specifically implicated 35 world leaders and over 300 public officials ^{[1] [7] [2]}. The Paradise Papers similarly mapped elite use of tax havens and prompted inquiries into figures from multiple countries ^{[3] [8]}. These projects show a consistent pattern: large, collaborative leak investigations translate into policy pressure and high-profile political fallout, according to accounts across the dataset ^{[1] [2] [9]}.

2. National accountability: wind of change from Windrush to Grenfell

Domestically, The Guardian’s investigations into the Windrush scandal and Grenfell Tower fire produced tangible institutional reactions. Windrush reporting exposed wrongful classification and deportations of Caribbean-born UK residents, triggering apologies, policy shifts, and compensation schemes as the Home Office faced scrutiny for ignoring warnings ^{[4] [10] [11]}. Coverage of the Grenfell inquiry documented alleged systematic malpractice among manufacturers and contractors and stressed the need to implement 58 recommendations to prevent recurrence, framing reporting as part of the accountability process ^{[12] [13]}. These pieces reflect investigative reporting aimed at systemic reform rather than only headline revelations ^{[4] [12]}.

3. Surveillance and data: Snowden to Cambridge Analytica as systemic alarms

The Guardian’s early role publishing Edward Snowden’s NSA disclosures established it as a primary outlet exposing state surveillance: reporting showed collection of phone records, PRISM access, and GCHQ interceptions at summits, reshaping public debate on intelligence powers ^{[6] [14]}. Later, the Cambridge Analytica files exposed commercial-scale data harvesting of 50 million Facebook profiles and algorithmic political targeting, spotlighting private-sector threats to democratic processes and prompting calls for regulation of online political advertising ^{[15] [16] [17]}. Together, these investigations demonstrate The Guardian’s sustained focus on how both state and corporate actors gather and weaponize data, as documented in the analyses ^{[6] [15]}.

4. Press malpractice: how phone hacking became a red line

The Guardian’s coverage of the News of the World phone-hacking scandal traced a pattern of illegal newsgathering and institutional cover-ups, culminating in high-profile resignations and the closure of a national tabloid. Reporting from 2009–2011 exposed hacking, police bribery, and undue influence, and later retrospectives continue to analyze the scandal’s reach and reforms ^{[5] [18] [19]}. These accounts portray The Guardian as a watchdog exposing not just single incidents but an ecosystem of media malpractice, which in turn prompted industry changes and legal consequences documented across the sources ^{[5] [18]}.

5. Patterns, collaborations and criticisms across the record

Across these examples, a clear pattern emerges: The Guardian often leads or joins collaborative investigations, uses leaked datasets or whistleblowers, and pursues long-form follow-up to push for accountability. Collaborative models—ICIJ partnerships on Pandora/Panama/Paradise and joint work with BBC—underscore cross-border journalism’s role in exposing transnational wrongdoing ^{[1] [9]}. The dataset also notes recognition and awards for investigative work, while separate entries highlight ongoing inquiries and institutional responses that the reporting triggered ^{[20] [11]}. The materials collectively depict The Guardian as an active participant in both uncovering wrongdoing and sustaining public and legal scrutiny in the years covered ^{[20] [13]}.