How do New York Times journalists use technology in their jobs and in their personal lives? Jennifer Valentino-DeVries, an investigative reporter, discussed the tech she’s using.

What are your most important tech tools for doing investigations, and how do they fit into your reporting process?

People seem to think that investigative reporting involves secret techniques. But it is actually not that mysterious. The big “secret” is that I get time to do these stories — so I can sift through thousands of records, or contact dozens of people before finding one who will talk with me.

One of my favorite tools for investigations is an updated version of an old-school newsroom feature: the New York Times tip line. (Please take this as a hint to send me your tips.)