ABSTRACT

In a leading article for the BSA’s (British Sociological Association) Newsletter, Ivor Gaber (2003), freelance journalist and Emeritus Professor of Broadcast Journalism at Goldsmiths College, University of London, suggested that sociologists might improve their skills of interpretation and communication by developing closer relations with journalism. In this chapter I will explore some of the broader implications of this position. In particular I will be reflecting upon and exemplifying issues that have emerged through my own field work and that of colleagues, researching the governing body of world football, FIFA (Sugden and Tomlinson 1998, 1999, 2003), and investigating the underground economy that has grown up around the same game in the UK (Sugden and Tomlinson 2002). Much of this output inhabits a grey area between investigative journalism and investigative sociology. Trying to make sense of the differences and similarities between the two professions raises a series of epistemological and ethical issues. The remainder of this chapter explores these and related methodological concerns.1 In doing so I raise more questions than provide answers, but I hope what follows at least provides the impetus for lively debate.