The Detail is an investigative news and analysis website dedicated to in-depth reporting on issues of vital public interest.
Our not-for-profit platform, established in 2011, is a multi-award winning digital media organisation committed to delivering challenging journalism.
The Detail's core areas of investigation include health, education, politics, justice & crime, government accountability, and the legacy of conflict in Northern Ireland.
We draw funding from philanthropic, public and private sources, with current project funders including our parent company Below The Radar Ltd and Porticus. We have also previously received funding from St Stephen's Green Trust, BIG Lottery NI, Atlantic Philanthropies and the Community Relations Council.
We can then maximise our ability to fuel progressive debate by providing our work for free to the public and by cooperating with other media outlets.
Media platforms can request permission to republish our content by contacting Claire Simpson on [email protected] and giving prominent reference to The Detail as being the source of any republished content.
We are dedicated to fair, accurate reporting, but we are not neutral on the issues of the day, in that we believe public service journalism should promote accountability, equality and good government.
We want to challenge dominant narratives that are at odds with the facts, by producing reports and analysis that can change the conversation.
We adhere to the Editors' Code of Practice and to the NUJ Code of Conduct.
If you see something in a Detail story that you think is incorrect, please contact Claire Simpson at [email protected] or should you wish to complain to the Independent Press Standards Organisation, you should follow this link.
Pitch Us
The Detail is looking for investigations and features focused on Northern Ireland and border issues, covering the environment, immigration, housing, criminal justice, health, education, and wider social injustice. Stories on underreported topics are also welcome.
We want to see stories about groups of people and their experiences, backed up by data and appropriate photographs.
Studies have shown that so many people are turned off from news because they feel hopeless, so don’t just give us stories but also include potential solutions.
Ideally, the piece would highlight a widespread problem, offer solutions, and tell readers how they can help.
Please do not send pitches which have been generated by AI.
What we pay
- Investigations/features - £400 for approximately 1,800 words.
- Long reads and special investigations will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
What we want in your pitch:
- A clear three-sentence outline of what the story is about, including if it is time-sensitive.
- A sentence on why this investigation/feature is new.
- A list of proposed interviewees, including individual case studies and experts.
- Relevant statistics/trends and links to same.
- Proposed solutions and ‘what readers can do’ links.
- Examples of previous work.
How to pitch:
- Email The Detail’s deputy editor Claire Simpson [email protected] and write PITCH in the subject line
- Please note that the deputy editor may not respond to every pitch