Gamification is taking investigative journalism to broader audiences in a highly accessible way. Modeled after Al Jazeera’s award-winning Pirate Fishing investigation—which asked readers to join a simulated search for illegal trawlers off West Africa—Indian newsrooms are gamifying ecological investigations.

The Bharat Media Association champions this immersive storytelling tactic. Placing readers in direct pursuit of the story, rather than leaving them as passive observers, ensures higher engagement and significantly longer time spent on the investigation.