The new European Commission's focus for the next five years will be on boosting industry's "competitiveness". This entails a radical deregulation agenda for rules that industry perceives as burdensome. Von der Leyen's deregulation agenda was heavily inspired by corporate lobbying campaigns. Last year, the chemical industry led on the Antwerp Declaration, a wish list of industry to slash regulations. This is now followed by the 'Clean Industrial Deal' which is pushing fossil gas for hydrogen, and ignores the other planetary crisis: pollution and biodiversity decline. CEO has compiled an initial list of more than 15 different tools for systemic deregulation. These create more hurdles for new progressive EU regulation, and create escape routes allowing companies to avoid regulation, as well as new hurdles for national level regulation. A good example are the Omnibus proposals, the first of which diluted sustainability reporting rules that had only recently been agreed. We'll share our insights on these new developments in the deregulation agenda, assess what's at stake, and how to build stories around them, at the European level and in your country.
I'M WAITING FOR THE SPEAKERS TO CONFIRM THE TITLE AND DESCRIPTION Far-right and other extremist networks in Europe organise themselves and coordinate their activities across borders by using different technological and strategic means, and pursuing different social and political goals. In this session, two (or three, or four) journalists will explain the diverse methodologies they employed to investigate how powerful hardliner networks operate in Europe.
Brecht Castel will describe how he and his colleagues used OSINT techniques to uncover how Active Clubs -- which mix fitness and martial arts with far-right ideology -- recruit and radicalise their members online. And Gabriela Keller will explain how she and her colleagues investigated how the international religious right has built cross-border alliances with civil society and political actors, with the aim of influencing policy and restrict women's reproductive rights.
By attending this session, you will learn different approaches to think of and plan a collaborative investigation into the activities of extremist networks.
Whistleblowers can be vital sources for journalists, and their information has initiated some of the biggest investigations. But whistleblowers are running big risks – from personal safety to legal threats. What do you do as a journalist if you are approached by a whistleblower? How do you get and verify the information you need while still keeping your source secret and safe? And what protection exists for these people who shed light on conditions that were meant to be kept hidden? Join this conversation between a journalist with long experience of working with whistleblowers and secret sources and a specialist in the protection and legislation around whistleblowing.
We all know that oligarchs, gangsters and shady politicians use shell companies and trusts in offshore jurisdictions to hide their ill-gotten gains. Just because they hide their cash doesn't mean we can't find their companies! This session will show you the tools available to help you crack open those nests of shell companies. Come join us on this wild ride through an offshore maze
The European Ombudsman investigates cases of maladministration within EU institutions, acting on their own initiative or in response to complaints from EU citizens - often journalists. In this session, the new European Ombudswoman, Teresa Anjinho will share her position on transparency issues, and will discuss, with three experienced journalists working on EU-related topics, a wide range of pressing issues. How will journalists’ concerns related to the treatment of the freedom of information requests be addressed? What are possible solutions to the loopholes in the current EU Transparency register? How can the transparency of EU spending be improved, including oversight over RRF money and the proposed Defense fund? Come to the session and join the discussion!
Privacy rights under GDPR are often seen as an obstacle to investigative journalism. In this session we focus on the great opportunity to access information which GDPR gives us. While national laws on the right to access information are for everyone, GDPR is about individual control over information. When you learn to make use of this regulation, you can access information from big tech companies, from consumer clubs, and even religious sects.
Satellite data has become a powerful resource in investigative journalism—but using it effectively comes with technical, ethical, and practical challenges. This session draws on several recent investigations to highlight how journalists are incorporating satellite imagery and geospatial data into their reporting.
We’ll explore how radar-based analysis was used to document destruction in Ukrainian cities, and how satellite-derived location data revealed movement patterns of German intelligence service employees. These examples show not just what’s possible, but also what can go wrong—and how journalists adapted when it did. From sourcing the data to picking the right tools and interpreting results responsibly, the session offers real-world insights into the craft of satellite-aided investigations.
No technical background is required. This isn’t a hands-on workshop, but a behind-the-scenes look at how satellite data fits into newsroom workflows.
