Abstract: The study examines the transformation of journalistic investigation genre using the example of Russian media. The researchers are focused on the problems of journalistic investigation transformation from the perspective of problem-thematic trend. On the basis of the current practice analysis of one Russian TV channel, there are the following most frequent and intensively developing journalistic investigations: political, social, economic, criminal one. The political and social investigations are highlighted especially. The researchers explain this by new demands of the audience interested in the actual results of investigative journalist operation. The researchers identified the audience preferences in the process of consumption of the genre of journalistic investigation according to a number of criteria: age, gender, thematic preferences, TV program and TV channel choice motivation. Considering journalistic investigation as the result of an a journalist active intervention in addressing the most pressing issues of public life, the researchers identify the features of the modern period of investigative journalism genre development. The key feature is the close interdependence from the factor of audience/auditorium preferences. Highlighting the criminal, political and social forms of investigative journalism is conditioned by the increased attention of the audience to these topical trends. This helps to develop a new autonomous genre species the thematic investigative journalism.