In a GIJN webinar, a panel of journalists working on stories from Venezuela, Mexico, and Peru shared methods, tools, and security protocols with reporters from across the globe who want to track organized crime’s finances and operations.
The Mexican filmmaker Santiago Maza has a new documentary called “State of Silence,” which explores the perilous situation facing investigative journalists in his home country.
At the Centre for Investigative Journalism’s 2024 Summer Conference, UK veteran investigative journalist Martin Tomkinson shared stories from London’s Fleet Street newspaper industry heyday, and tips for up-and-coming investigative reporters.
As well as playing an outsize role in exposing state capture and toppling South Africa’s former president, this newsroom is a champion for investigative journalism in the region — from supporting regional outlets to fighting for legislative changes.
At IRE24, investigative reporter Jeremy Jojola shared his practical advice on how to use ChatGPT for contact searches and quick document analysis to find new sources and save time at the start of an investigation.
From mapping the impact of organized crime to digging into embezzlement and public contracts, data journalism is helping outlets across the region carry out innovative projects that reveal the stories hidden in large volumes of data.
Investigative podcasts from the region have successfully managed to mix traditional reporting with one of the continent’s oldest genres: narrative journalism.
When the award-winning Folha de São Paulo journalist did an investigation into election disinformation, she became a target herself.
As organized crime in the region metastasizes, investigative journalism is rising to the challenge, using innovative ways to cover ever-changing threats.
As one of the most respected journalists in Latin America, Carmen Aristegui has investigated political corruption and forced disappearances, never shying away from tough subjects.
CLIP was founded by three leading journalists who shared the conviction that to mirror the transnational challenges journalists face in Latin America, the stories had to be cross-border too.
We asked GIJN’s Latin America members what characteristics define investigative journalism in the region, and about their greatest challenges.
Small amounts of failure in the open source field are inevitable, and somewhat expected. But they will also help you become a better open source analyst and investigator.
A recent IRE conference panel focused on new money laundering strategies that make hiding illicit assets increasingly difficult to track.
Mineral extraction plays a dominant role in many economies and in the lives of billions of people. How can reporters dig into the benefits and costs?
Featuring a broad array of tools, techniques, and resources to help watchdog reporters dig into almost any campaign or election.
GIJN has compiled a comprehensive list of national, regional, and global reporting grants and fellowships focused on opportunities available to international journalists.
New sources have emerged that can help investigative journalists hold to account those responsible for emitting methane gas, a major cause of global warming.
A guide to prominent journalism awards and competitions of special interest to investigative journalists.
Carbon offsets are truly an international climate change story with potential for cross-border collaboration between journalists.
Empower the World’s Watchdog Journalists
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The Helpdesk gives you access to hundreds of tipsheets and experts worldwide
After a three-day secret trial, a Russian court sentenced Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich to 16 years in prison for espionage, charges that both he and the Journal have vehemently denied. Gershkovich has been in Russian custody for the past 16 months, having been detained after reporting on the struggles of the Russian defense industry in the wake of the country's invasion of Ukraine. At no point has the Russian government produced any public evidence that Gershkovich is a spy or linking him to a foreign government's intelligence agency.
Carlos Martínez, journalist at GIJN member El Faro, recently won the 2024 Maria Moors Cabot Prize, which has recognized outstanding reporting in the Americas since 1938. Martinez is the third member of the Salvadoran news outlet to win the award, following El Faro Editor-in-Chief Carlos Dada, who was honored in 2011, and current Executive Editor Óscar Martínez, who was recognized in 2016. In a statement about Martínez's reporting, the Cabot Prize jury wrote: “His coverage of the expansion of gang activity is mandatory reading for anyone who wants to understand how criminal networks are devastating Central America, and how their influence is spreading across Mexico and the United States."
More than 70 media and civil society organizations spanning 27 countries — including the Associated Press, BBC, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, as well as the IWMF and GIJN — have signed an open letter asking Israel to allow journalists access to Gaza. The letter points out that no independent media access has been permitted since the start of the war in October 2024, allowing disinformation to flourish, putting domestic journalists in danger, and making information from Gaza hard to obtain and verify. The letter was coordinated by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).
Source: International Press Institute
The International Press Institute is calling for a "swift, independent, and thorough investigation" into the recent killing of journalist Víctor Alonso Morales Culebro in the southern Mexico state of Chiapas. Morales Culebro, 39, was the publisher of the Facebook news site Realidades, which covered local politics and ongoing security issues in the region. He went missing on June 27 and then his body, which showed evidence of being tortured and shot, was discovered a day later. Mexico remains among the deadliest countries in the world for journalists, with nearly 50 members of the media killed there since 2000.
The Pulitzer Center is now accepting applications for the third cohort of its AI Accountability Fellowship program. This program, launched in 2022, has so far supported 18 journalists across five continents and offers up to US$20,000 in financial support as well as peer networking, mentorship, and in-depth reporting training over a 10-month period. Fellows engage in monthly virtual meetings to review progress on their reporting and share knowledge and collaborate. The deadline to apply is August 10, 2024.
The 2022 shooting death of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif was ruled unlawful and unconstitutional by a Kenyan court. Sharif, a well-known news presenter and investigative reporter, had fled his home country earlier that year to avoid arrest after critical coverage of Pakistani's political establishment. He was shot dead at a roadblock checkpoint by Nairobi police who initially claimed the killing was a case of mistake identity, but a separate Pakistani investigation concluded the killing was a "planned assassination." A potential criminal probe into the police officers involved is still ongoing.
GIJN member Forbidden Stories joined with 50 journalists from 13 news outlets to publish "The Gaza Project," an in-depth investigation into the alleged military targeting and killing of journalists working inside Gaza. Since the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, press freedom advocates estimate that more than 100 journalists have died inside that Palestinian territory. According to Forbidden Stories, "the Gaza Project reveals a damning array of evidence against the Israeli government and calls into question their army’s denials about targeting the press since the war began."
Chinese investigative journalist Huang Xueqin, a prominent voice in China's #MeToo movement, has been sentenced to five years in prison for “inciting subversion of state power.” Huang reported on gender-based harassment in the media industry and put forward the first #MeToo case in one of China’s most prestigious universities. RSF says that she has endured prolonged questioning in the "'tiger chair,' a notorious torture tool." “Huang Xueqin was only serving the public interest by shedding light on social issues and should never have been detained, not to mention tortured or sentenced to such a heavy prison term," said RSF's Asia-Pacific bureau director Cédric Alviani.
The 35th edition of the IWMF Courage in Journalism Awards, the principal award dedicated to women and nonbinary individuals’ contributions in the field, has recognized journalists from Ecuador, Myanmar, Palestine, and the US for reporting under duress. This year’s Wallis Annenberg Justice for Women Journalists Award, given annually to a journalist who is unjustly jailed, detained, or imprisoned, went to Burmese documentary filmmaker Shin Daewe, who was sentenced to life in prison after she was arrested for receiving film equipment. Other honorees were Lauren Chooljian (US), Maha Hussaini (Palestine), and Mónica Velásquez Villacís (Ecuador).
Source: Institute of Mass Information
A group of more than 70 Ukrainian independent media organizations issued a statement of support for Texty.org.ua. Following Texty's nodal analysis piece last week examining political and media figures in the US that have opposed military aid to Ukraine or expressed sympathy for Russia's invasion, the Ukrainian data journalism site was verbally targeted by numerous US conservatives, including GOP Members of Congress who threatened the site's funding, while X owner Elon Musk said Texty should be listed as a "terrorist" organization. "A coordinated attack on independent media undermines the core principles of a democratic society," the statement said.
When the award-winning Folha de São Paulo journalist did an investigation into election disinformation, she became a target herself.
As one of the most respected journalists in Latin America, Carmen Aristegui has investigated political corruption and forced disappearances, never shying away from tough subjects.
As a member of The New York Times Visual Investigations team, Muyi Xiao reports on her native China using a combination of remote tools and interviews.
Bolot Temirov has led fact-checking and investigative journalism efforts to uncover high-level corruption inside Kyrgyzstan.
From mapping the impact of organized crime to digging into embezzlement and public contracts, data journalism is helping outlets across the region carry out innovative projects that reveal the stories hidden in large volumes of data.
Belarusian journalist Alina Yanchur shared the investigative methods adopted by those who have to work without access to state-published information.
Small newsrooms need to focus on the importance of data use more than ever — but they often face numerous hurdles, including a lack of funding and limited human resources.
A Mongabay senior editor shares tips for unlocking the full capabilities of Global Forest Watch, a free-to-use online platform that she says has been instrumental in her reporting.
As well as playing an outsize role in exposing state capture and toppling South Africa’s former president, this newsroom is a champion for investigative journalism in the region — from supporting regional outlets to fighting for legislative changes.
CLIP was founded by three leading journalists who shared the conviction that to mirror the transnational challenges journalists face in Latin America, the stories had to be cross-border too.
Facing attacks and threats from politicians and partisan media, the outlet has turned to innovative reporting formats to increase audience engagement and public interest in watchdog journalism.
The goal of Forbidden Stories is to send a strong signal to those who oppose press freedom and want to act with impunity that killing a journalist won’t kill the story.
Our first regional spotlight series celebrates the achievements of our members in Latin America and others reporting from the region. These articles tell the stories of reporters across the continent, digging into the investigations that matter, and detailing how outlets are creating innovative reporting projects amid their own specific local challenges.
Global elections in the year ahead will affect more citizens than in any previous year, and will likely reset humanity’s liberty compass for years ahead. This ongoing project will feature an updated elections reporting guide, stories on cutting-edge tools for investigating campaigns and candidates, and lessons learned from the best in local watchdog reporting from […]
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, GIJN has published a series of stories and tipsheets for investigative journalists covering the war. This includes a wide range range of topics, from tracking Russian assets to investigating war crimes.
The 13th Global Investigative Journalism Conference (#GIJC23), held in Gothenburg, Sweden from Sept. 19 – 22, 2023, gathered more than 2,100 journalists from 132 countries to hold workshops, share innovative methods, and celebrate a community increasingly facing censorship, corporate hacking, and authoritarian threats. This project is a compendium of GIJN’s coverage of the conference panels.
In today’s global landscape, tracing the path of illicit money has become a critical skill for reporters. Join GIJN for a webinar tailored for investigative journalists who have unraveled intricate webs of misconduct that start in Latin America but impact communities around the world. This session delves into stories about deforestation, drugs, and mining, providing […]
How reporters have covered illicit money flows, drug trafficking, and environmental crimes when webs of misconduct start in Latin America but impact communities around the world.
Africa is home to a substantial amount of the global mineral wealth. The continent, according to the Natural Resource Governance Institute, holds about 30% of the world’s oil, gas, and mineral resources. This includes up to 92% of the world’s platinum and chromium reserves, 56% of cobalt, 54% of manganese, and 40% of its gold. […]
Seven months into the conflict between Israel and Hamas, journalists carrying out their work in the region have faced unparalleled challenges. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, as of April 9th, preliminary investigations show at least 95 journalists and media workers were among the more than 34,000 estimated killed since the conflict began on […]
