How to become an undercover reporter

How to become an undercover reporter

From Backlight by Lighthouse Reports

December 3, 2025 · 37 min · Season 4 · Episode 2

About this episode

This episode explores the intricacies of undercover reporting through real-life investigations and expert insights.

You’ve seen it in movies, but what does undercover reporting actually look like in real life? In this episode of Backlight, we go behind the scenes of two undercover investigations and explain everything you need to know: from how to build your cover identity to what planning an undercover operation really looks like. Beatriz and Tessa talk to their Lighthouse colleagues, Crofton Black and Emmanuel Freudenthal, about their recent undercover investigation, Surveillance Secrets. They walk us through the creation of their character, a shady businessman named Albert, and the prep work in their back office before the big day. Next, they speak with Jean Peters, a senior reporter at Correctiv, about how he infiltrated a secret meeting with neo-Nazis and members of Germany’s far-right party, AfD. He talked us through the process of creating a fake persona while his colleagues followed him from a sauna boat. Finally, they speak to Veena Holkar, director of the non-profit organisation, Wildlight, who explained why it’s crucial to master your gear before going undercover and why women often make the best undercover reporters. Investigations mentioned: Surveillance Secrets Secret plan…

People in this episode

Hosts: Beatriz Ramalho da Silva, Tessa Pang

Guests: Crofton Black, Emmanuel Freudenthal, Jean Peters, Veena Holkar

Topics covered

  • undercover reporting
  • investigative journalism
  • character creation
  • far-right infiltration
  • reporting techniques

Keywords

  • undercover reporter
  • investigative techniques
  • fake persona
  • neo-Nazis
  • journalism

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Correctiv, Wildlight

Books & works: Surveillance Secrets

Places: Germany

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