Rtbf Investigation

Editorial tone

Thorough, accessible, Belgian-francophone. #Investigation is RTBF's investigative flagship — RTBF's answer to French Envoyé Spécial. The tone combines francophone journalistic tradition with Belgian thoroughness. Stories are made tangible through those affected, but remain fact-based. No sensationalism, but also no dry tone — the balance between journalistic rigour and emotional accessibility is the hallmark. Belgian domestic politics, economic scandals, and cross-border topics form the core. Reporters are visible and guide the audience through the investigation.

What this format covers

• ●Belgian domestic politics — corruption, institutional failure
• ●Economic scandals and corporate misconduct in Belgium and the EU
• ●Justice and police — errors, abuses, scandals
• ●Consumer protection — health, food, finance
• ●Environmental scandals and industrial pollution in Wallonia
• ●EU institutions and Brussels as power centre
• ●Cross-border crime and drug trafficking

What this format does NOT want

• ●Topics without Belgian connection or Belgian interest
• ●Science documentaries without investigative core
• ●Nature and wildlife films
• ●Historical documentaries
• ●Auteur film or aesthetic documentaries
• ●Opinion formats or activism
• ●Topics without clear evidence

Visual expectations

Journalistically professional in francophone style. Reporter-led investigation on location. Confrontational interviews with those responsible. Documents and data visually presented. Those affected tell their stories. Undercover footage where legally and ethically defensible. Graphics for connections, money flows, and networks. The look is professional-journalistic, not cinematic. Pacing is tight — 50 minutes must land.

Expected exposé structure

1. Title (clear, direct)
2. Logline (What is being exposed? Who is affected?)
3. The revelation — what is new?
4. Evidence — documents, witnesses, data
5. Those affected — concrete cases
6. Those responsible — who profits?
7. Social relevance for Belgium
8. Reporter and team

Example productions

• #Investigation: Les milliards perdus de l'Etat belge (2022)
• #Investigation: PFAS — la contamination invisible (2023)
• #Investigation: Drogue — les nouvelles routes (2023)
• #Investigation: Les oublies du systeme de sante (2022)
• #Investigation: Lobbying a Bruxelles (2021)
• #Investigation: Justice en crise (2023)