In September 2020, our Exposing the Invisible (ETI) team started a European Commission (DG CONNECT)-funded pilot project to organise activities for investigative journalists, citizen investigators, activists, researchers and others in European Union member states to receive training in safe online and offline investigative techniques and tools and to co-develop high quality self-learning and training resources.
For one year, between September 2020 and August 2021, Exposing the Invisible ran a series of online Investigative Institutes, developed new resources and curricula on safe online and offline investigative methods and tools, conducted training of trainers and connected civil society investigators across the EU to share skills and spark new ideas and projects across borders and across issues of public interest.
A particular focus of this pilot project has been on groups and areas where independent investigative journalists, citizen investigators, activists and other engaged civil society members have less access to capacity building and collaboration opportunities and where collaborative investigations are under-resourced, less developed or at risk.
See the Project Resources Page
Concretely, our activities and results consisted of:
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Two series of three-weel long online Investigative Institutes for Experienced Investigators (hosted in November-December 2020 and January-February 2021) with experienced investigators across EU Member States to share skills, start building new investigative learning resources, become mentors to others, and network for stronger and safer investigative collaboration across issues and borders.
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An online four-week long Investigative Institute for Emerging Investigators (in May 2021) for a new generation of investigators to adopt and enhance online and offline investigative methods, skills and resources, connect with others across-borders and topics, and acquire safer collaborative techniques to expose issues of public interest. The focus of this Institute was on supporting and connecting investigators from and working with marginalised, under-resourced and under-represented communities.
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Development and online publication of self-learning resources (guides, articles tutorials, curricula, videos) to increase the understanding and knowledge of using online and offline investigative methods and safe collaboration techniques. These resources are published on our websites: Exposing the Invisible and Exposing the Invisible: The Kit.
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The "Investigation is Collaboration" online conference hosted on 2-6 August 2021.
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An Exposing the Invisible Podcast Series featuring 10 episodes of long-form interviews with individual investigators in which they relate their experiences, inspiration and motivation to investigate - episodes released in stages throughout Fall and Winter 2021.
For more updates about the results and resources produced and disseminated as a follow-up to this project, please join our monthly newsletter.
To contact our team with questions about this project, please email us at: eti@tacticaltech.org (GPG Key fingerprint: BD30 C622 D030 FCF1 38EC C26D DD04 627E 1411 0C02)
- Additional details about this grant can be found on the European Commission’s website.
- Details about all the other awarded projects are available here.
This project is supported by the European Commission (DG CONNECT)
This text reflects the author’s view and the Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.