case study

Investigative Business Research

Many businesses and media outlets turn to journalists for expertise in crafting well-written copy, but journalists provide more than text. They offer reliable and thorough investigative work for businesses needing to ensure the accuracy of their data and documentation — especially when it comes to financial dealings.

paydesk’s global network is the ultimate verification tool

Many businesses and media outlets turn to journalists for expertise in crafting well-written copy, but journalists provide more than text. They offer reliable and thorough investigative work for businesses needing to ensure the accuracy of their data and documentation — especially when it comes to financial dealings.

Though much can be learned about businesses through online research and digital technology, ensuring information is truly accurate can necessitate boots-on-the-ground investigative work and photographic evidence. First-hand, human inspection is the ultimate verification tool. To make this work on a global scale, businesses turn to paydesk.

paydesk is how businesses extend their global reach

It’s extremely cost prohibitive for any businesses to maintain their own global, investigative team. Such a team would need to be to be ready to deploy at any moment, knowledgeable about the location and culture where they plan to investigate and fluent in the local language. To effectively extend their investigative reach world-wide, businesses rely on paydesk’s global network of dedicated, professional journalists.

paydesk’s business clients receive journalist recommendations and can choose someone close to the location being investigated and equipped with the professional skills needed to take photographs and ensure detailed and accurate reports.

Maria Camila Peña is a Colombian journalist who also works as a business investigator for paydesk.

Maria Camila Peña

Colombian journalist

Business investigator for paydesk

“I conduct site visits of different companies around Colombia and then write the reports,” she explains. “These reports contains photos and texts with explanations of what I see.”

Maria’s investigative work​ ​involves handling legal documents, organising travel arrangements and hiring drivers to get her to each inspection site. “Once there, I take photos and mark the coordinates. I try to stay for 20 to 30 minutes so I can get different shots of the company, the nearby streets and the surrounding buildings.”

“This is an amazing opportunity for me,” stated Maria, “As a journalist, I cover travel and luxury topics. This fits in with that work. Sometimes, because of my other assignments, I need to be very organised with my schedule to accommodate these visits. But it always works!”

Maria is often contacted directly business clients to undertake an investigation. This can be done without any involvement from paydesk. The payment she receives, though, comes directly through paydesk’s fast and dependable monthly payment system. “The process is excellent! They pay me per month and always on time.”

paydesk makes the connection, the journalist takes it from there

Johnson Tamlyn

Type of investigation

“There are various types of investigations,” stated paydesk’s Johnson Tamlyn, “Business clients will specify to the journalist what type of investigation they need and any additional documentation they require.”​

Initially clients communicate with Tamlyn for recommendations whenever they need someone new to verify an address, but are free to work directly with anyone whom they’ve already built a working relationship.


paydesk arrange quick, local coverage by qualified professionals

Representing over 10,000 vetted media professionals in 175 countries, paydesk helps business clients arrange quick, local coverage by qualified professionals, no matter where the location. And paydesk’s easy, online platform helps business clients manage their entire workflow, from search to hire and pay.

Johnson Tamlyn

paydesk connect companies and professional journalists

“paydesk is an important resource for companies looking to connect with professional journalists throughout the world,” stated Tamlyn, “but the heart of our business is simply making the entire payment process easier for both businesses and journalists, like Maria.”

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