Dataharvest 2025 - the European Investigative Journalism Conference

An interactive session designed to demonstrate what readers (including you) see in charts and infographics, and what you might need to do to make your message clearer

Getting European data from EUROSTAT, the statistical office of the European Union, can be tricky, clicking through ever-increasing menus and confusing download buttons - but there is an easier way. Instead of manually downloading spreadsheets, we will learn how to use the API provided by Eurostat. Once you know how this works you will be able to adapt your knowledge to query data from other organizations including the OECD and the World Bank. We'll also learn how generative AI can help simplify querying data in this format by ensuring we use the correct syntax.Bring your own laptop: we will be using some Python: you will need a gmail account in order to access a copy of the script for the session. No other software is required.

The frequency of migrant crossings, and dangers faced by thousands of people continues to attract headlines across Europe. Here we take a deep dive into UNHCR and Frontex figures, plus data from the UK's Home Office.We will discuss the sources themselves, what they show, how they differ, their publishing schedules and their limitations. We will look at how to access the data, to visualise them, and to find other data with which to enhance these primary sources, not to mentions the stories these will yield!

Today, bad data holds the power to distort reality, spread misinformation, and manipulate public opinion. This session dives deep into how inaccurate, incomplete, and even deliberately manipulated data fuels the growth of information disorder. Participants will learn how to spot and verify flawed data, understand its far-reaching impact on trust in the media, and explore practical strategies to combat its spread.

The opioid crisis and the role of Purdue Pharma might seem like a US-based story. But there is much profit being made from pain in Europe, and new addicts are being created in the process. Paper Trail Media, in collaboration with The Examination, uncovered the opioid business on this side of the Atlantic, leading to a documentary aired by ZDF in Germany, and a front page story in the Washington Post. Find out how they did it – and how the story is still being uncovered in an area where data is sparse.

Satellite imagery is a powerful tool for data-driven investigations, but getting started can be tricky. In this session, you'll learn how to navigate the U.S. Geological Survey's portal to access free satellite imagery from around the world - as well as common limitations when working with the data format. Then, using the *terra* package in R, you'll be guided through loading and analysing this data to identify urban heat islands. You will leave with practical skills, fresh inspiration and the confidence to tackle your own spatial analysis projects.

Participants should have a working knowledge of R. To get the most out of the session, please come with R & RStudio (or another coding platform of your choice) already installed on your computer and a (free) account on the USGS Earth Explorer portal

Aleph is an open-source investigative tool, originally developed by a team at the OCCRP, but now developed by a wider open source community. In the last month, Alex and Simon (investigativedata.io) have developed new features for search and cross-matching within the open source software. It allows users to upload large quantities of documents and makes them fully searchable in several languages. In this hands-on session, we will show attendees ways of using the search feature as power users.

If you have not yet tried investigating in this part of the world, we will be looking at why it’s worth investigating property owners in Dubai, and how to do it. We will share tools and tricks we used in the Dubai Unlocked collaboration, and also discuss ways of identifying leads and developing a solid story about how the Emirates are used as a safe haven for criminals.