Investigative Index as Policy Radar

A curated annual index of longform investigations (by a single newsroom or coalition) functions as an early‑warning map of governance stress points by aggregating recurring targets (regulators, health systems, justice delays, corporate malfeasance). Tracking which beats and institutions repeatedly appear reveals where institutional capacity is failing or where reform pressure is building. — If adopted as a routine metric, these indices give policymakers, funders, and oversight bodies a near‑real‑time instrument to prioritize audits, legislative fixes, and resourcing where investigative pressure concentrates.