UNCOVERED - Investigative Journalism for Europe: Full Schedule

Thank you for coming - find the conference review here!

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Join us at our conference, participate in a workshop for digital security, network with practitioners and politicians, and learn about the impressive investigations of the IJ4EU grantees.

We will assess the challenges that investigative journalism faces in Europe today and the conditions – political, legal, and financial – that are necessary for investigative journalism to flourish. Find out why investigative journalism is in everyone’s interest – and how we can protect it in a climate where economic needs and political interference are the new normal.

Two years ago, the European Parliament initiated a special fund to be spent exclusively on cross-border investigative journalism, the #IJ4EU. The grants from this fund, launched by the ECPMF and managed by International Press Institute (IPI), were awarded to twelve transnational teams from across Europe. The UNCOVERED conference will give a stage to grantees to present the results of their work.

The event takes place under the patronage of the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Mr Michael Müller.

Places are limited! Please register and please cancel your registration if you can’t come to free up your seat.
Please note: We will take photos and videos of the speakers and audience, which may be posted on our website and social media channels.

9:00am CET

Workshop I: Digital Security for Investigative Journalists (beginners)

Limited Capacity seats available

We offer a FREE workshop on digital security by an experienced trainer before (Thursday morning: beginners) and after (Friday afternoon: advanced) the conference, for investigative journalists and investigative journalism supporters.

Registration required (conference@ecpmf.eu or via tickets)! You may take part on both days (but we would like to have homogenous groups).

Update: the workshop is fully booked. There is a waiting list.

Speakers

Daniel Moßbrucker

Journalist, Security-Trainer

Daniel Moßbrucker ist freier Journalist und Trainer für digitale Sicherheit. Als Journalist veröffentlicht er regelmäßig zu den Themen Überwachung, Datenschutz und Internetregulierung in verschiedenen überregionalen Medien. Moßbrucker ist zudem ausgebildeter Trainer und bildet... Read More →

Thursday January 31, 2019 9:00am - 12:30pm CET
Europäisches Haus (European House) Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Workshop

12:00pm CET

Registration + Coffee

Please come early to register for the conference. Please bring your ID/passport for the security check to enter the building.
Please note: We will take photos and videos of the speakers and audience, which may be posted on our website and social media channels.

There will be no lunch served on Thursday.

The event takes place at the European House in Berlin, with the kind support of the Representation of the European Commission in Germany.
The event takes place under the patronage of the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Mr Michael Müller.

Moderator of the Day: Nora Wehofsits

Thursday January 31, 2019 12:00pm - 1:00pm CET
Europäisches Haus (European House) Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Registration/Reception

1:00pm CET

Day I Introduction: Welcome to Berlin!

The event will take place at the European House in Berlin, with the kind support of the Representation of the European Commission in Germany.

Speakers

Richard Kühnel

Head of representation EC Germany, European Commission

Thursday January 31, 2019 1:00pm - 1:15pm CET
Europäisches Haus (European House) Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Remarks

1:20pm CET

KEYNOTE - Why Investigative Journalism Matters in Europe

The IJ4EU fund, an initiative of the European Parliament and the European Commission, was established to provide public support for investigative journalism in Europe. Pavla Holcová, a member of the independent jury that awarded the inaugural IJ4EU grants to 12 cross-border projects in Europe, shares why we should all care about investigative journalism – and ensure that it is properly funded.

Scott Griffen from IPI, which managed the IJ4EU fund, will briefly introduce the fund and the keynote.

Moderators

Scott Griffen

Deputy Director, International Press Institute (IPI)

Scott Griffen is deputy director at the International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, publishers and journalists defending press freedom since 1950. He is the author of numerous IPI reports on diverse topics related to press freedom and independent journalism and... Read More →

Speakers

Pavla Holcova

Founder, Czech Centre for Investigative Journalism

Pavla Holcova is the founder of the Czech Center for Investigative Journalism, where she has investigated cases concerning Serbian organized crime suspects, Montenegrin secret service investments in Prague, money laundering, and offshore companies. Before founding the Czech center... Read More →

Thursday January 31, 2019 1:20pm - 1:45pm CET
Europäisches Haus (European House) Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Keynote

1:45pm CET

IJ4EU Case Study: The Daphne Project

The Daphne Project set out to prove that killing a reporter won’t kill the story. After the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in October 2017, journalists from across Europe united under the leadership of Forbidden Stories to finish the stories Daphne couldn’t – and help track down those responsible for her killing. Hear what motivated Forbidden Stories, a 2018 IJ4EU grantee, to start the project, and how they coordinate an international investigative team.

https://www.investigativejournalismforeu.net/projects/daphne-project/

Speakers

Laurent Richard

Founder, Executive Director, Forbidden Stories

Laurent Richard is a French award-winning investigative journalist and 2017 Knight-Wallace fellow. He is co-founder of the highly reputed inquiry magazine Cash Investigation broadcast on French public television.Among others stories, Richard oversaw for Premières Lignes Television... Read More →

Thursday January 31, 2019 1:45pm - 2:15pm CET
Europäisches Haus (European House) Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Session/Panel, Case study

2:15pm CET

IJ4EU Cross-Border: Revealing What Others Want to Hide

Investigative journalism reveals information that others would rather be kept hidden. Two IJ4EU grantees share their insight after conducting cross-border investigations into two tension-filled subjects: climate change denial and the financing of far-right parties.

Climate Change Denial Networks in Europe – This month-long investigation tracked down climate change deniers in political parties, think thanks, and parliaments across Europe. “The network of climate change deniers is broad – and doesn’t want to be revealed.” https://www.investigativejournalismforeu.net/projects/climate-change-denial-networks-in-europe/

EU Funding for the Far Right – As the 2019 EU Parliament elections approach, a multicounty investigation is shedding light on the contradictions of nationalist politicians who criticize the expenses of the European Union, but push the bloc’s expense rules to obtain funding for themselves.
https://www.investigativejournalismforeu.net/projects/eu-funding-for-the-far-right/

Moderators

Scott Griffen

Deputy Director, International Press Institute (IPI)

Speakers

Annika Joeres

Correctiv

Annika Joeres arbeitet in Frankreich für die Investigativredaktion correctiv.org und Zeitonline und als Kommentatorin für Arte. 2020 erschien ihr Buch die "Klimaschmutzlobby" (zusammen mit Susanne Götze), 2022 "Klima außer Kontrolle - wie sich Deutschland schützen muss".Zuvor... Read More →

Guillaume Krempp

Investigative Journalist, Rue89 Strasbourg

I am working in a local and independent newspaper called Rue89 Strasbourg. I am particularly interested in in-depth investigation concerning the identitarian groups in France, but also social movements such as the "yellow vests" and the problematic of mobility in rural areas. THe... Read More →

Thursday January 31, 2019 2:15pm - 3:00pm CET
Europäisches Haus (European House) Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Session/Panel

3:00pm CET

BREAK

enjoy some coffee and tea...while chatting.

Thursday January 31, 2019 3:00pm - 3:30pm CET
Europäisches Haus (European House) Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Break

3:30pm CET

DISCUSS: How to Create an Enabling Environment for Investigative Journalism

What do we need to create and ensure an enabling environment for (cross-border) investigative journalism and free media in Europe?

- how do we create the necessary political conditions, many of which need to be guaranteed by the EU and its member states
- what legal frameworks are in place and where are we lacking legal safety for investigative journalists and whistleblowers
- how can we ensure the physical and psychological safety of investigative journalists
- what other measures need to be taken or can be created?

The panel discussion will be moderated by an investigative journalist and representative of international networks, Margo Smit.

Moderators

Margo Smit

ombudsman, GIJN/ICIJ

Margo Smit is news ombudsman since August 1, 2015, overseeing the journalistic output of the Dutch public broadcasters at NPO since january 1, 2017.Smit has been working in journalism since 1989. She was successively a desk editor at commercial and public broadcasters, parliamentary... Read More →

Speakers

Margit Stumpp (tbc)

Spokesperson for Education/Media Politics /Digital Infrastructure, German Bundestag

Margit Stumpp (born 13 April 1963 in Mengen, Upper Swabia) is Member of the German Bundestag for the Green Party (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) since 2017. For her faction she is spokesperson for education and media politics as well as for digital infrastructure. She studied precision... Read More →

Jeanny Gering

Project Manager, Dart Center for Journalim and Trauma

Jeanny Gering is Program Manager at Dart Centre Europe and Germany Country Contact. The Dart Centre is a project of the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University in New York and is dedicated to promoting ethical and innovative approaches to the coverage of trauma and violence... Read More →

Dr Justin Borg-Barthet

EU law senior lecturer, University of Aberdeen

Justin is a Senior Lecturer in EU law and private international law at the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. Since the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia, Justin's research has focused on the identification of gaps in EU private international law which result in the suppression... Read More →

Tabea Grzeszyk

Journalist and Founder, Hostwriter

Tabea Grzeszyk is a freelance journalist (German National Radio) and co-founder & CEO of Hostwriter.org, an open-source network that helps journalists to easily collaborate across borders. The platform connects more than 5,400 colleagues from 150+ countries for mutual support and... Read More →

Thursday January 31, 2019 3:30pm - 5:00pm CET
Europäisches Haus (European House) Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Session/Panel, panel discussion

5:00pm CET

IJ4EU Testimonies: Tracking Migrant Children and EU Funding for Autocrats

Two IJ4EU projects set out with something to find: one aimed to find the estimated 10,000 child migrants who disappeared after arriving in Europe; another sought to follow a suspected money trail from the EU to Eastern European countries with poor human rights records.

The first project is Lost in Europe, an initiative of the Netherlands-based Small Stream Media and journalists from Belgium, Italy, the UK and Greece. The second project was jointly launched by the Danish investigative news platform Danwatch and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

Listen to both projects share the successes of their cross-border search.

https://www.investigativejournalismforeu.net/

Speakers

Geesje van Haren

Investigative Journalist, Small Stream Media

Geesje van Haren established Verspers.nl in 2005. VersPers is a training and publication platform for investigative journalists, with a large network of publication partners and extensive experience in training creative investigative journalism skills. Geesje van Haren initiated and... Read More →

Jesper Nymark

Executive Director, Danwatch

Jesper Nymark is the executive director & editor for the Danish investigative media and research-centre Danwatch that over the last ten years has produced award-winning in-depth journalism on global issues.Danwatch’ journalistic focus ranges from corruption, tax-heavens, investments and shipping, to ITC-, textile and food-production as well as the agro-industry, especially regarding comp... Read More →

Thursday January 31, 2019 5:00pm - 5:45pm CET
Europäisches Haus (European House) Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Session/Panel, Case study

5:45pm CET

Remarks & See You Tomorrow!

Henrik Kaufholz is the Chair of the Executive Board of the ECPMF. He works for Politiken and Scoop in Denmark.

Speakers

Henrik Kaufholz

Chair Executive Board, European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

Henrik Kaufholz works as a staff reporter at Politiken in Copenhagen since 1974. He was a correspondent in Bonn 1980-85, Moscow 1995-97 and Berlin 1997-2002. From 1991 to 1995 he was a travelling correspondent in the Balkans. Kaufholz has lectured journalism in Denmark, Sweden, Norway... Read More →

Thursday January 31, 2019 5:45pm - 6:00pm CET
Europäisches Haus (European House) Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Remarks

6:00pm CET

Evening Reception/Get Together: Stay and Have a Drink With Us

Let us know if you can stay with us for the evening reception on Thursday night (see: Tickets or contact conference@ecpmf.eu). We will provide some food and drinks and would be delighted to have a chat.

Thursday January 31, 2019 6:00pm - 9:00pm CET
Europäisches Haus (European House) Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Break, Evening reception

9:00am CET

Registration + Coffee

Please bring your ID/passport for the security check to enter the building.
Please note: We will take photos and videos of the speakers and audience, which may be posted on our website and social media channels.

The event takes place at the European House in Berlin, with the kind support of the Representation of the European Commission in Germany.
The event takes place under the patronage of the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Mr Michael Müller.

Friday February 1, 2019 9:00am - 9:30am CET
Europäisches Haus (European House) Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Registration/Reception

9:30am CET

Day II: Welcome Back

Let's recap and continue!

Moderators

Nora Wehofsits

Advocacy Officer, European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)

Speakers

Dr Lutz Kinkel

Managing Director, European Centre for Press and Media Freedom

Lutz Kinkel represents and manages the ECPMF. Lutz worked in German press for more than 20 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 Masters... Read More →

Friday February 1, 2019 9:30am - 9:40am CET
Europäisches Haus (European House) Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Remarks

9:40am CET

KEYNOTE - On the Impact of Cross-Border Investigative Journalism

Georg Mascolo, Germany, is the head of the Joint Investigative Group of Süddeutsche Zeitung and the German public broadcasting companies NDR and WDR. He also acts as a Terrorism Analyst for public television.
Previously, he worked for nearly 25 years for the SPIEGEL Group. From 2008 until 2013, Mascolo was editor-in-chief of Der Spiegel Magazine. He is also a member of the Core Group of the Munich Security Conference.
He has been the Dean of the Bucerius Summer School on Global Governance since 2017. In 2014, he was awarded “Political Journalist of the Year” by the influential professional journal “Medium Magazin”.

Speakers

Georg Mascolo

Süddeutsche Zeitung

Georg Mascolo ist Autor bei der Süddeutschen Zeitung. Zuvor leitete er den Rechercheverbund von NDR, WDR und Süddeutscher Zeitung. Davor arbeitete er fast 25 Jahre beim Spiegel-Verlag, fünf Jahre davon als Chefredakteur des Nachrichtenmagazins.

Friday February 1, 2019 9:40am - 10:10am CET
Europäisches Haus (European House) Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Keynote

10:10am CET

IJ4EU Uncovered: Investigating Under Pressure in the EU

Even within the EU, which supposedly guarantees its citizens full access to fundamental rights, press freedom faces significant challenges. Two cross-border IJ4EU projects share their experiences operating in EU member states Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania:

Misuse of EU Funds in Romania and Bulgaria: RISE Project Romania and BIVOL Bulgaria have teamed to “investigate the unseen corrupt organizations that are siphoning off European taxpayer money”.
https://www.investigativejournalismforeu.net/projects/misuse-of-eu-funds-in-romania-and-bulgaria/

Hungarian Football Funds: The Hungarian government is showering football academies and stadiums in Hungarian-speaking areas abroad with money. Átlátszó and its Romanian partner, Átlátszó Erdely ask: is it Orbán’s love for the sport, or is there some other motivation?
https://www.investigativejournalismforeu.net/projects/investigating-hungarian-public-money-in-the-football-clubs-of-neighboring-countries/

Moderators

Cecilia Anesi

Legal Representative, IRPI

Cecilia Anesi is a reporter with and founder of the Investigative Reporting Project Italy (IRPI), a centre for investigative journalism in Italy. Before creating IRPI, she co-authored the investigative journalism documentary Toxic Europe which won the Best International Organised... Read More →

Speakers

Atanas Tchobanov

editor, Bivol

Journalist and editor in chief of Bivol.bg - Bulgarian investigative web site. Research engineer data analyst in CNRS, France

Attila Biro

reporter, RISE

Zoltán Sipos

Manager and Editor-in-Chief, Átlátszó Erdély

Zoltán SIPOS is the manager and editor-in-chief of Átlátszó Erdély (atlatszo.ro), an investigative journalism outlet focusing on issues regarding the 1,2 million Hungarian community living in Transylvania, Romania... Read More →

Friday February 1, 2019 10:10am - 10:45am CET
Europäisches Haus (European House) Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Session/Panel, Case study

10:45am CET

IJ4EU Speed Slam: Listen, Ask, Connect

Five IJ4EU cross-border investigative teams will present their projects, first in a brief introduction on stage. Next, teams will join different tables with conference participants for a chance to speak over coffee more in-depth about the experience, findings and impact of the investigations. You'll have the chance to rotate!

1. Failed Child Services in Greece and Cyprus (Augustine Zenakos and Yannis-Orestis Papadimitriou, The Manifold): https://www.investigativejournalismforeu.net/projects/failed-child-services-in-greece-and-cyprus/

2. The Militarization of Patriotism in Central Europe (Eva Kubaniova, VSquare): https://www.investigativejournalismforeu.net/projects/patriotism-militarized/

3. The Invisible Border Project: The EU’s Biometric Frontiers (Ludovica Jona)

4. I Spy: Russian Spies in the EU (Inga Springe, Re:Baltica): https://www.investigativejournalismforeu.net/projects/i-spy-russian-spies-in-the-eu/

5. “Cancer Tourism” in Central and Eastern Europe (Boróka Parászka, Romanian Public Broadcasting Company – Marosvásárhelyi Rádió): https://www.investigativejournalismforeu.net/projects/cancer-tourism-in-central-and-eastern-europe/

Speakers

Ludovica Jona

Investigative Journalist, Freelance/Il Fatto Quotidiano

Ludovica Jona is a freelance journalist and a communication expert based in Rome. She has a degree in Political Science and a specialization in International Relations and Multimedia communication at the Fondazione Lelio Basso Journalism School. Member of the Italian Journalists Association... Read More →

Eva Kubaniova

reporter, V-Square

Yannis-Orestis Papadimitriou

Journalist, The Manifold

Journalist from Greece and a member of The Manifold, a team of investigative journalists based in Athens, Nicosia and London whose work has been featured in Al Jazeera English, Deutsche Welle and the Columbia Journalism Review, among others. Co-creator of The Manifold Files, a digital... Read More →

Boroka Paraszka

Journalist

Editor of Romanian Public Broadcasting Company – Hungarian chanel (Marosvásárhelyi Rádió), working for Hungarian investigative sites, journals (Átlátszó.hu, 168 óra weekly, Magyar Narancs weekly). Main areas: health – and social politics, minority rights, war and conflict... Read More →

Inga Springe

Re:Baltica

Inga Spriņģe is an award-winning Latvian investigative journalist, broadcaster and co-founders of the non-profit Baltic investigative journalism center Re:Baltica. In 2010/2011, as a Fulbright/Humphrey scholar Spriņģe spent a year in the University of Maryland, working as an intern... Read More →

Augustine Zenakos

Journalist, The Manifold

Member of newly created investigative team of journalists, The Manifold. Formerly, chief editor of Unfollow magazine. In the past, feature writer and columnist for To Vima newspaper, co-publisher of a. the athens contemporary art review, and co-director of the Athens Biennale.

Friday February 1, 2019 10:45am - 11:45am CET
Europäisches Haus (European House) Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Networking session

11:45am CET

Straight Talking: How to Finance Investigative Journalism

Invest in investigative journalism: How can we finance investigative journalism without compromising the independence of those who are doing the investigating? Dare we bite the hand that feeds?

Are philanthropy and foundations a solution or part of the problem? Where do we need more political will, at the national and the EU level?

We discuss with funding experts, a MEP from Hungary who helped the IJ4Eu grant to come to life and a network of investigative journalists.

Mod: Sanita Jemberga (Re:Baltica)
Speakers: Ides Debruyne (Journalismfund), Benedek Javor (MEP), Elisa Simantke (Investigate Europe)

Moderators

Sanita Jemberga

Executive director and editor, Re:Baltica

Sanita is award-winning Latvian investigative journalist who has worked in the press and television since 1996. After the leading Latvian daily newspaper Diena was sold to local oligarchs in 2009, Sanita left and together with others from editorial team became one of the four founders... Read More →

Speakers

Ides Debruyne

managing director, Journalismfund.eu

Ides Debruyne is co-founder and managing director of Journalismfund.eu and chair of Scimingo.eu.

Benedek Javor

MEP/Group of the Greens, European Parliament

As a member of the Hungarian and European Green Party, Benedek Jávor is part of the European Parliament since 2014. He also serves as the Greens' transparency spokespersoon.Benedenk Jávor's work includes promoting the protection of whistleblowers at the European level. He has played... Read More →

Elisa Simantke

Journalist/Editorial Director, Investigate Europe

Elisa Simantke is the Editorial Director of "Investigate Europe" - an investigative cross-border team with members from all over Europe. IE publishes investigative reports with media partners in up to 18 countries europe-wide. The team is mainly funded through several European foundations... Read More →

Friday February 1, 2019 11:45am - 1:15pm CET
Europäisches Haus (European House) Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Session/Panel, panel discussion

1:15pm CET

Farewell: Recommendations & Closing Remarks

Speakers

Dr Lutz Kinkel

Managing Director, European Centre for Press and Media Freedom

Barbara Trionfi

Executive Director, Austria, International Press Institute (IPI)

Barbara is executive director at the Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists dedicated to safeguarding and fostering media freedom and promoting quality, independent journalism.Barbara joined IPI in 2000... Read More →

Friday February 1, 2019 1:15pm - 1:30pm CET
Europäisches Haus (European House) Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Remarks

1:30pm CET

Lunch

Friday February 1, 2019 1:30pm - 2:30pm CET
Europäisches Haus (European House) Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Break, lunch

2:30pm CET

Workshop II: Digital Security for Investigative Journalists (advanced)

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Daniel Moßbrucker

Journalist, Security-Trainer

Friday February 1, 2019 2:30pm - 6:30pm CET
Europäisches Haus (European House) Unter den Linden 78, 10117 Berlin, Germany

Workshop