Also called: Open-Source Investigator
Uses satellite images, social media videos, and geolocation to verify what really happened.
A visual investigations journalist matches mountain ridges in a video to satellite maps to prove where it was filmed, and builds 3D reconstructions of events.
Approximate; few but growing roles at major outlets.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Journalism plus digital research skills.
Ways in: 4-year college, Self-taught. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Journalism, Geography (GIS), International Relations.
Growing faster than average. Deepfakes and viral misinformation are increasing demand.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI helps geolocate and spot fakes, but proving what really happened in footage needs skilled human checking.
Classes: Geography, Journalism, Computer applications, AP World History.
Official data: O*NET occupation 27-3023.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.