Gradually, Then Suddenly

On the pace of change from an interview with investigative journalist Inga Springe:

"It might take maybe five years for something to happen, like I've been reporting about corrupt custom service guy for five year, and nothing changed. He was only promoted, because governing politicians were supporting him. But then, political situation changed, and there were all the evidence for the new government actually to use against this corrupt guy. And then, there was criminal investigation, and he was convicted. Sometimes it takes a lot of time, but still these 'aha!' moments, this is the one which really drives me. And when you publish, and you can see some impact. It always depends how much time it will take. But that's the next thing, which also is very, like, satisfying."

So much work is planting seeds. It can take years, even decades for radical ideas to one day seem inevitable, for lost causes to become common sense, impossible cases become moot.