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[Closed] Applications for January-February 2021 session of "Exposing the Invisible" Investigative Institute

This call for applications is now closed: 11 December 2020 (midnight CET). - We are extending the applications deadline to our "Exposing the Invisible" Investigative Institute taking place on 25 January - 12 February 2021.

NOTE:

  • Already received applications are being reviewed right now and applicants will be contacted with feedback and/or for interviews shortly.
  • All new applicants by the 11 December deadline will be contacted for feedback and interviews starting from 15 December.

Join us for a three-week online workshop organised by Tactical Tech in January-February 2021 to work with civil society investigators across the European Union to enhance and share skills and techniques for secure investigations and digital research methods. We will explore new topics, address existing challenges and work together to develop new investigation resources and training curricula that you can take away and use in your own context.

Be part of it!

We are looking for participants based in EU member states who are experienced with conducting investigations locally and/or across-borders and have a passion to spread their knowledge and the belief that thoroughly documented investigations and evidence finding are vital for exposing wrongdoing, enhancing transparency and civic engagement.

Whether you are an independent investigative journalist, a citizen investigator, an activist or a member of an NGO/group conducting investigations, we are seeking your expertise and your involvement. Researchers, artists and technologists who use investigative skills and methods as part of their work are also welcome to apply.

We encourage you to apply if:

  • You are an investigator working in or with marginalised and disadvantaged communities,
  • You work on local/regional issues and have fewer opportunities to access international collaboration and skill-sharing events,
  • You have a proven track-record of conducting investigations and related actions/techniques, including (but not necessarily) with training experience,
  • You are an investigator who wishes to share skills and knowledge with others and possibly train or mentor emerging investigators later in the project.

What will we do?

Our project Exposing the Invisible has always centered around people's individual abilities to expose wrongdoing by using investigative techniques with a strong emphasis on safety and collaboration. Over the past eight years - through regular workshops, investigation camps and training institutes - we have helped develop a network of journalists, citizen investigators, artists, researchers, technologists and other active civil society members to exchange ideas, knowledge, skills and co-create new resources such as this online Kit for investigators. By being part of this project you will connect to this network, benefit from new collaboration opportunities, receive support and skills on issues related to safety and security for investigations, digital investigation techniques and methods to build and adapt investigative learning resources for others.

Throughout the workshop, you will also benefit from the skills and knowledge of your fellow participants as everyone will be actively involved in shaping the workshop agenda and running practical sessions with peers.

Part of the sessions will be dedicated to co-creation activities where we will work together to produce new learning guides, case studies, tutorials and training curricula to be made publicly and freely accessible after the workshop. The resources we will produce will be credited to all contributors and distributed under a creative commons license, which means you can help shape, use, share and adapt them post-workshop in your own work.

You can expect to be part of:

  • Training of trainers on topics such as safety and security for investigations, digital investigations, collaborative investigations, managing sources, databases, and much more.
  • Skill-sharing among participants.
  • Collaborative sessions to build training curricula and new resources you can use post-workshop in your own work.
  • Networking with peers and opportunities to start new collaborations across topics and borders.
  • A one-year project where you will meet, collaborate, learn and share as well as possibly train and mentor emerging investigators.

Workshop dates and planned structure

Workshop dates:

  • 25 January - 12 February 2021.

Online workshop sessions and events will take place four days a week during working days, in the mornings or afternoons (maximum 3.5 hours a day), and the final daily schedule will be decided following the application and selection process, based on participants' needs.

We aim to bring together 15-20 participants.

Language

The sessions will be in English and require a good command of the language.

To Apply

Applications closed

Selection process

Shortlisted applicants will be invited for interviews starting from 15 December 2020.

Contact

Please reach out to us with any questions about the application process and/or the project by writing to: eti-at-tacticaltech.org (GPG Key / fingerprint: BD30 C622 D030 FCF1 38EC C26D DD04 627E 1411 0C02).

About the project

The investigative institute is part of a one-year long project to engage, support and connect civil society investigators in the European Union, developed by Tactical Tech and funded by the European Commission. The project aims to strengthen digital safety and investigative skill-sharing among journalists, researchers, human rights defenders, citizen investigators, technologists and others as well as to mentor emerging investigators through collaborative workshops and joint development of new learning resources.

This project is supported by the European Commission (DG CONNECT)

European Commission

*This call reflects the author’s view and the Commission is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.

About us

Tactical Tech is an international NGO that engages with citizens and civil-society organisations to explore and mitigate the impacts of technology on society.

Exposing the Invisible (ETI) is a project of Tactical Tech that engages with different investigative techniques, tools and related safety aspects along with the individual practices of those working at the new frontiers of investigation. ETI's most recent efforts have been focusing on connecting and supporting civil society investigators across-borders and across-issues, and developing collaborative learning resources for investigators, such as Exposing the Invisible: The Kit.

Illustrations by Ann Kiernan

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