On 25–26 September 2025, Athens hosted IJ4EU’s annual UNCOVERED Conference, bringing together around 130 investigative journalists, editors, and media professionals from across Europe, including some 80 current or former IJ4EU grantees, reflecting the network’s vibrant community of cross-border reporting. The conference took place as part of the iMEdD International Journalism Forum.
The conference featured a dynamic agenda designed to inform, inspire, and foster collaboration. Highlights included three Cross-Border Snapshot sessions, in which IJ4EU grantees shared 15 investigations in rapid-fire five-minute presentations. Each speaker distilled their work into the essential story and one big lesson, offering practical insights and sparking lively discussions with the audience.
Discussions also explored newsroom dynamics, including the session “Freelancers and Newsrooms: Can We Collaborate Better?”, moderated by Zlatina Siderova who was joined by Gian-Paolo Accardo, Natalie Donback, and Giacomo Zandonini, and a candid conversation on power dynamics in journalism with Timothy Large and Ruona Meyer. Participants gained new perspectives on improving collaborative practices and navigating challenges in investigative reporting.
Mentorship was another cornerstone of UNCOVERED 2025, with Power Chats giving participants the chance to sit down one-on-one with experienced mentors Adriana Homolova, Alexandre Brutelle, and Martina Mertens to discuss data journalism, environmental investigations, international collaborations, and public health reporting.
The conference also addressed the human side of journalism. In “Carrying the Weight: Facing Burnout and Trauma in Journalism,” Emma Thomasson guided participants through a reflective session on mental health, exploring the emotional toll that investigative work can take, reminding journalists that taking care of themselves is as important as reporting the story.
Meanwhile, the Open Mic session gave participants a unique, unfiltered platform to speak freely. With no scripts, attendees shared personal experiences, field stories, and unexpected insights. One of the open-miccers was even wearing bear hand gloves, recounting an investigation on the rising bear populations in southern Europe. Laughter, camaraderie, and peer-to-peer learning filled the room, underlining the value of the IJ4EU community.
A touch of friendly competition was added with the UNCOVERED Quiz Challenge moderated by Timothy Large, where participants tested their knowledge on cross-border investigations and journalism oddities from video games set in Greece to Simpsons episodes eerily predicting government surveillance. Winners walked away with IJ4EU-branded t-shirts, celebrating their sharp minds and enthusiasm.
To relive the highlights, explore our photo gallery from UNCOVERED 2025 here.
2025 IJ4EU Impact Award
UNCOVERED 2025 concluded with the IJ4EU Impact Award ceremony, held as part of the iMEdD International Journalism Forum on 26 September. The celebration honoured some of the most compelling cross-border investigations of the past year, recognizing journalists whose work has had a tangible impact on European societies.
Discover the outstanding investigations and the journalists behind them here.
What is UNCOVERED?
UNCOVERED is the annual conference of the Investigative Journalism for Europe (IJ4EU) programme. It is an opportunity to showcase the best investigative journalism that Europe has to offer and to discuss the challenges faced by those working to shine a light on stories affecting millions across the continent and beyond. The conference is organised by ECPMF, together with IJ4EU consortium partners the International Press Institute, the European Journalism Centre, and Arena for Journalism in Europe. It is funded by the European Commission.
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