Dataharvest 2025 - the European Investigative Journalism Conference

Journalists are increasingly using laboratory analyses as part of their investigations. However, they often approach laboratories without fully understanding what this entails. In general, laboratory analyses can be used to trace the origin of goods (food, lumber, or steel) through methods such as DNA or isotopic analysis. They can also be used to analyse environmental matrices, such as water or soil, to detect pollutants. But how exactly does this process work? What are the right “research questions” to ask before contacting a laboratory? Which laboratory should you choose? How much does it cost? How long does it take to get results? And how relevant are these results to a journalistic investigation? These questions are often overlooked. It turns out that laboratory analysis is not a magic wand that can instantly solve an investigation.By the end of the session, participants will have learned simple but essential rules to ensure that laboratory analysis becomes a key component of their investigations—not just a superficial add-on.