Due to the nature of their work exposing wrongdoing and holding power to account, investigative journalists are vulnerable to attack: smears, intimidation, legal perils and outright violence.
Such threats multiply in countries where media freedom is under assault. In war zones, the dangers increase exponentially.
Yet the work continues — despite bombs, death threats, harassment and countless other ways to silence independent media. And increasingly, investigative journalists working in difficult environments find it pays to collaborate across borders.
This may mean publishing in other countries or teaming up with colleagues elsewhere. In extreme cases, it may mean relocating entire newsrooms to safer havens.
In this special edition of the IJ4EU Podcast to mark World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2022, host Timothy Large speaks with journalists from Russia, Ukraine, Serbia and Romania, all of whom have fostered resilience through cross-border collaboration.
These are tales of adaptation, ingenuity and survival.
Europe’s best cross-border investigative journalists got together in Berlin, Germany on 31 March and 1 April 2022 for IJ4EU`s annual UNCOVERED Conference. You can find the key moments of the event bellow.
Event Recap
Solidarity with Ukraine. This is the first and last sentence of this conference.”
Against the backdrop of Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, and the incalculable damage it is inflicting on the country’s journalists and media workers, ECPMF’s Managing Director, Dr. Lutz Kinkel, opened the 2022 IJ4EU UNCOVERED Conference with a message of solidarity. This was echoed by opening statements from Jörg Wojahn, Head of Representation at the European Commission; Scott Griffen, Deputy Director at IPI; and Lars Boering, Director at EJC.
Keynote Address – Anna Babinets, Ukrainian investigative journalist and editor at OCCRP
“We are professional investigative reporters but for a month we were preparing for the war.”
Anna Babinets, Ukrainian investigative journalist and editor at OCCRP (photo: ECPMF Andreas Lamm)
The opening remarks were followed by a keynote address from Anna Babinets, Ukrainian investigative journalist and editor at the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).
Ukrainian journalist @Anna_Babinets – @OCCRP & @Slidstvo_info – is presenting her keynote about the resilience of investigative journalists, especially under the conditions under which she & her team have found themselves with the invasion of #Ukraine.https://t.co/mD618nwDoD
— European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (@ECPMF) March 31, 2022
The keynote mused on the resilience of investigative journalists – in particular during times of conflict and hardship – as Anna reflected on the challenges of continuing her work during the war while also looking after her young family. As the role of Ukrainian investigative journalism began to blur with war journalism, Anna spoke about how her team would continue their in-depth investigative work regardless of the circumstances:
“We do everything to make our dreams true. I want to be an investigative journalist. I hope one day my daughter will see her dad, her grandparents, and her classmates. Glory to Ukraine.”
Day 1 – Investigating Europe’s “near abroad”, countering SLAPPs, and funding investigative journalism
The first of the conference’s panels,Looking East: Investigating the EU’s “Near Abroad” provided a deep-dive into several IJ4EU grantees’ cross-border investigations linked to Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. During the session, moderated by Timothy Large, IJ4EU Programme Manager, International Press Institute, audience members heard from Roman Dobrokhotov, Editor-in-Chief at The Insider, and Sanita Jemberga, Executive Director at The Baltic Center for Investigative Journalism.
Sanita Jemberga, Timothy Large and Roman Dobrokhotov (left to right – photo: ECPMF Andreas Lamm)
— European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (@ECPMF) March 31, 2022
After hearing about IJ4EU grantees’ investigations, UNCOVERED moved onto a discussion on SLAPPs and how best to protect journalists from them. The panel, moderated by Greenpeace’s Charlie Holt, featured ARTICLE 19’s Sarah Clarke, ECPMF’s Flutura Kusari, investigative journalists Saranda Ramaj, and Pia Lindholm, Deputy Head of Unit for Civil Justice, Directorate-General Justice and Consumers of the European Commission. Although the panel struck a bleak note, highlighting the severity of SLAPPs’ impact on the work of investigative journalists, Flutura Kusari brought her intervention to a close with an uplifting and defiant promise:
Sarah Clarke, Flutura Kusari, Pia Lindholm, Saranda Ramaj and Charlie Holt (left to right – photo: ECPMF Andreas Lamm)
“We make sure that we name and shame every bad lawyer that enables powerful people to go after journalists. We can’t do much but we’ll make sure that in every event and every publication, we will name them. Let me promise publicly: We will continue to name and shame.”
In 20 minutes, the use of #SLAPPs to target and restrict journalists and media workers across Europe will be discussed in line with the latest developments in the legislative process to protect #MediaFreedom.
— European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (@ECPMF) March 31, 2022
The final panel discussion of the day,New Donor Strategies: How to Fund Your Investigation?, was moderated by ECPMF’s managing director, Dr. Lutz Kinkel. The session also featured input from Ebru Akgün, Ekaterina Mandova of Civitates, and Nikolaus von Peter, Political Advisor to the EU Commission Representation in Germany. During the discussion, audience members heard about existing and upcoming EU Commission funding opportunities for journalism, the identity crisis facing modern media, and how sustainability-oriented funding can help independent media weather the ongoing storm. Specifically, Ekaterina Mandova outlined Civitates’ solution:
“Journalism is going through an identity crisis. When we talk about sustainability, we shouldn’t just think about the money. At Civitates, we want to provide our partners with breathing space by providing core support and by creating reliable networks.”
— European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (@ECPMF) March 31, 2022
IJ4EU Impact Award
The first day of UNCOVERED 2022 ended on a high, with the IJ4EU Impact Award Ceremony. During the ceremony, three investigative teams were awarded €5,000 for excellence in cross-border investigative journalism. Selected by an independent jury, the winning investigations were:
The Pegasus Project
Frontex Complicit in Pushbacks
The Logbook of Moria
The IMPACT award winners 2022 (photo: ECPMF / Andreas Lamm)
First prize went to The Pegasus Project, a collaborative investigation into the global misuse of the Pegasus spyware against civil society around the world led by The Forbidden Stories consortium and Amnesty International. Speaking on behalf of the team, investigative journalist Frederik Obermaier said:
“This was one of the most challenging investigations – and one really close to my heart”.
The jury also gave an honourable mention to a fourth investigation, Cities for Rent.
In 30 minutes, #IJ4EU Impact Award Ceremony is starting in Berlin!
10 investigations were shortlisted for this year's #IJ4EU Award. An independent jury has chosen 3 winners, each will receive a €5,000 prize for further investigations ?
— European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (@ECPMF) March 31, 2022
Day 2 – EU migration policy, digital surveillance, and protecting freelancers
The second and final day of UNCOVERED 2022 opened with introductory remarks from Věra Jourová, Vice President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency. Vice President Jourová spoke about the value of cross-border investigation and how the European Media Freedom Act could serve as a pillar to protect it. This was summed up in one particular quote:
“By working together across borders, media are stronger. We have seen the incredible results of cross-border investigations. I also believe that such networks and solidarity make it more difficult for states to interfere. The EU is committed to supporting investigative journalism because this is what democracies should do.”
Vice President of the European Commission @VeraJourova started Day 2 of the UNCOVERED Conference by offering her congratulations to the winners of the 2022 #IJ4EU Award! Follow Day 2 below ⬇️https://t.co/Qsxx2Xllry
— European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (@ECPMF) April 1, 2022
The first panel of the day,Dangerous Journeys: The Dark Side of EU Migration Policy, explored the harrowing tales of migrants in Europe, as uncovered by teams of investigative journalists. The session was moderated by Lars Boering, Director at EJC, and featured input from investigative journalists Geesje van Haren and Annie Hylton, as well as writer and documentary producer Judith Chetrit.
Underage migrants convicted of human trafficking. Families unable to identify loved ones who perished en route to Europe. Cross-border tragedies fuelled by private and public funds. #IJ4EU grantees look at failures of EU migration and asylum policy: https://t.co/altBSUty82pic.twitter.com/MxrjkgLL4l
— European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (@ECPMF) April 1, 2022
UNCOVERED then continued withSurveillance: Is Pegasus the Tip of the Iceberg?, a panel moderated by Jamie Wiseman, Advocacy Officer at the International Press Institute. During the discussion, Frederik Obermaier, Investigative journalist with Süddeutsche Zeitung and Lisa Dittmer, Advocacy Officer for Internet Freedom at RSF Germany discussed their experiences with Pegasus spyware, its impact on investigative journalism, and what journalists can do to protect themselves. Central to the discussion was the notion that Pegasus, and spyware more generally, poses a serious threat to investigative journalism, as encapsulated in the following quote from Frederik Obermaier:
“I myself started – even in encrypted communications – to use codewords with colleagues and not to put their names in there… That tells you a lot about the state of the surveillance industry and the global threat. Pegasus is a weapon to silence journalists.”
— European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (@ECPMF) April 1, 2022
The final panel of UNCOVERED 2022 shone a light on one of the most pressing issues facing journalism today – the safety and wellbeing of freelancers. Moderated by Scott Griffen, Deputy Director of IPI,Duty of Care: Who’s Responsible for Protecting Freelancers?, outlined the key challenges facing the most vulnerable group in news media and what can be done to support them. The discussion took on a particularly pertinent tone, given the high number of young, often inexperienced freelancers, travelling to Ukraine to cover the ongoing conflict. The panel, made up of Gürkan Özturan, Media Freedom Rapid Response Project Coordinator at ECMPF; Renate Schroeder, Director at the European Federation of Journalists; and Anastasia Kirilenko, Russian freelance journalist, reflected on the dire state of freelance journalism today. Unfortunately, several interventions from panellists revealed that many freelancers accepted their hardships as par for the course, as illustrated in a quote from Gürkan Özturan:
“Sadly we have been hearing that “it comes with the job” – when you get beaten at a protest, when your newsroom says you must give up your gear, when you get traumatised or harassed online. No, this does not “come with the job”.
Freelance journalists are the least protected group in the field of media. In 20 miutes, @scott_f_griffen, @obefintlig, @renatemargot & @anastasiaki will cover obstacles encountered by freelance investigative journalists in Europe.
The IMPACT award winners 2022 (photo: ECPMF / Andreas Lamm)
Three teams win €5,000 each at Europe’s only award devoted to cross-border investigative journalism.
The Investigative Journalism for Europe (IJ4EU) fund announced on Thursday three winners of its annual IJ4EU Impact Award celebrating excellence in cross-border investigative reporting.
Selected by an independent jury, the winning investigations were:
The team behind each investigation receives €5,000. The jury singled out a fourth investigation — Cities for Rent — for special commendation.
First prize went to a team led by Forbidden Stories, a network of journalists whose mission is to protect, pursue and publish the work of other journalists facing threats, prison or murder.
IMPACT award winners 2022 – The Pegasus Project – Frederik Obermaier received the award for the investigative team in Berlin (photo: ECPMF / Andreas Lamm)
“The Pegasus Project is a successful and massive journalistic undertaking that revealed how governments all over the world spy on journalists, politicians and activists using the so-called Pegasus spyware developed by the Israeli technology organisation NSO Group,” said jury chair Attila Mong, a Hungarian freelance journalist who serves as the Europe representative of the Committee to Protect Journalists.
“The jury valued that the project is a prime example of cross-border investigative journalism at its best. Building on a powerful leak of 50,000 phone numbers, a great team of reporters from all over the world came together, and with an elaborate methodology, produced a high-quality investigation on a global topic, creating global impact. The result of their work is also vital for the future of journalism.”
‘Showcase systemic problems’
Julia Vernersson announcing the IMPACT award winner during UNCOVERED conference (photo: ECPMF / Andreas Lamm)
Julia Vernersson and Can Dündar announced the winners during a ceremony on March 31 at UNCOVERED, the annual conference of the IJ4EU programme.
The IJ4EU Impact Award recognises the best investigative journalism carried out by teams collaborating across frontiers in EU member states.
IMPACT award winners 2022 – Frontex Complicit in Pushbacks – the investigative team behind the story at UNCOVERED conference in Berlin (photo: ECPMF / Andreas Lamm)
“Frontex Complicit in Pushbacks picked a highly relevant topic for our common European future, managed to coordinate a large cross-border team of journalists, and revealed a systemic European problem: how the European Coastal and Border Guard Agency, Frontex, is complicit in the illegal pushback campaigns by the Greek authorities at the Greek/Turkish borders,” Mong said.
“The investigation showed that Frontex’s involvement is not only illegal, but it also violates international and European law. The jury found it exemplary how the team applied a human rights perspective to the issue, and prioritised human stories to showcase systemic problems.”
‘Journalistic scoop’
Solomon, an Athens-based journalistic non-profit, snatched third prize with an investigation into Europe’s most notorious refugee camp.
IMPACT award winners 2022 – The Logbook of Moria – Nico Schmidt received the award for the investigative team in Berlin (photo: ECPMF / Andreas Lamm)
“The Logbook of Moria started very locally when in 2020 a reporter — in what was then Europe’s largest refugee camp outside the village of Moria on the Greek island of Lesvos — saved the personnel’s logbook from the ashes of the fire which destroyed the camp,” Mong said.
“This journalistic scoop, the discovery of the logbook documenting the tragic daily realities of the unaccompanied minors living there, however, became the foundation of a European cross-border investigation. The jury appreciated how the team elevated these dramatic daily local testimonies into a documentation of the continent’s handling of refugees. The Logbook of Moria is the draft for one of the saddest chapters of Europe’s history.”
The jury gave an honorary mention to an investigation into corporate landlords coordinated by Arena for Journalism in Europe, a Dutch-based foundation dedicated to cross-border collaborative and investigative journalism.
IMPACT award honorable mention 2022 – Cities for Rent – Jose Miguel Calatayud received the award for the investigative team in Berlin (photo: ECPMF / Andreas Lamm)
“The team behind the Cities for Rent project investigated how following the financial crisis in 2008, housing in Europe became an attractive investment for many international and local corporate landlords, and how this investment boom and the resulting higher rents affected average people, who very often could not afford to stay in their homes,” Mong said.
“Using a large set of data, lots of different sources and analysis, the team demonstrated how international cross-border investigations can connect the dots and show the big picture behind individual stories and come up with conclusions that can directly feed into policymaking.”
Journalism in the public interest
In addition to Mong, the jury members were Silvia Chocarro, head of protection at ARTICLE 19; Boryana Dzhambazova, a Bulgarian freelance journalist; veteran Turkish reporter Can Dündar; and Julia Vernersson, managing director of Hostwriter.
Now in its third year, IJ4EU provides grants and other forms of support to teams of journalists or news outlets in Europe investigating topics of public interest across borders.
To date, the IJ4EU fund has disbursed more than €2.5 million in grants to high-impact, cross-border projects.
To be eligible for the IJ4EU Impact Award, teams need not have received support from the fund, but two of the top four — Frontex Complicit in Pushbacks and Cities for Rent — were grantees during the second edition of the programme.
Frontex, the EU’s fastest-growing agency, is responsible for policing the EU’s external borders. In recent years, it has been hit by allegations of complicity in human rights abuses and revelations of secret meetings with arms lobbyists, which it then lied about.
Host Timothy Large takes you behind the scenes of two cross-border investigations from the 2020/21 Investigative Journalism for Europe programme that thrust Frontex into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
One is the Frontex Files, which showed the power of both freedom-of-information requests and late-night satire. The other is Frontex at Fault, which used open-source intelligence to prove the agency took part in illegal maritime “pushbacks”.
Together, the investigations forced an EU agency with the size of Moldova’s GDP to account for its actions before the European Parliament, the European Commission and others with an interest in the protection of human rights at Europe’s borders.
Think organised crime in Italy, and chances are you think of the Cosa Nostra, Camorra or Ndrangheta. But the newest kids on the mafia block come from China — and they’re expanding their influence across Europe.
Host Timothy Large interviews Italian journalist Davide Del Monte, who leads a cross-border investigation into the criminal activities of the main Chinese criminal group in Europe. It’s a tale of violence, political connections and dirty business.
Lisa Dittmer is the Advocacy Officer for Internet Freedom at Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Germany. She champions freedom of information and media freedom in digital and security policy, covering topics such as online censorship, cyber-surveillance, and platform regulation. She previously worked on digital policy issues at Wikimedia Deutschland and studied international relations and conflict studies in the UK and France.
Lutz Kinkel represents and manages the ECPMF. Lutz worked in the German press for more than twenty years, giving special focus to the areas of politics and media. He was an editor at Spiegel-Online and tagesschau.de and more recently head of the stern-online office in Berlin. He did his master’s degree at Hamburg University in history, politics and economics. His dissertation examines the life of Nazi film director Leni Riefenstahl. Lutz teaches journalism at the Akademie für Publizistik, Hamburg.
Julia Vernersson is Managing Director of Hostwriter, an award-winning global network that helps journalists collaborate across borders. She has a background in international organisations working with media, freedom of speech, and activism and founded the organisation Kulturlabor Trial & Error. In 2021 Hostwriter launched the feminist cross-border newsroom UnbiastheNews.org, to support journalists experiencing structural barriers in the field, working towards a more equitable and inclusive world of journalism.
Can Dündar has been working as a journalist for the last forty-two years, for several newspapers and magazines. He produced many TV documentaries focusing particularly on modern Turkish history and cultural anthropology. He worked as an anchorman for several news channels. He stepped down from his post as the editor in chief of the daily Cumhuriyet in August 2016, after he was imprisoned due to his story on the Turkish Intelligence Service’s involvement in the Syrian war. He was sentenced in absentia to twenty-seven years in jail in December 2020. He found #ÖZGÜRÜZRadio (WeAreFree) in Berlin in 2016. He has been a columnist for Die Zeit since August 2016. He has made documentaries for ARTE, ZDF, DW, and written more than forty books, some of which were published German, English, French, Italian, Spanish, Albanian, and Chinese.
Boryana Dzhambazova is a freelance journalist, based in Sofia, Bulgaria. She has been reporting on a wide range of topics — from economic and political developments to social affairs and human rights issues. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, the Economist, and Politico Europe, among others.
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