At least 1750 participants from about 150 countries have registered to attend the 12th Global Investigative Journalism Conference-GIJC which will be held online for the first time due to a surge in Covid-19 cases globally.
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This international gathering of investigative journalists which will take place from 1 to 5 November this year was organized by the Global Investigative Journalism Network-GIJN in concert with the Judith Neilson Institute of Journalism and Ideas and other partner organizations.
With practical panels and workshops, this international event in investigative journalism focuses on the latest investigative techniques, data analysis, online research, cross-border collaboration, and more by the best journalists in the field.
In his opening remarks, David Kaplan, Executive Director of the Global Investigative Journalism Network-GIJN has said the killings of journalists are actually down but the tactics have changed.
“The attacks on journalism itself appear to have increased. They are no longer trying to kill journalists, but they are trying to kill journalism. Even in countries believed to be relatively secure, we have our backs to the wall. But those who believe in free and independent media are pushing back and there is hope out there,” he has said.
He has added that democratic governments, development agencies, the UN and the Nobel committee all recognize that investigative journalism is as important as economic development and education towards a collective future.
This five-day online conference coincides with the International day to End impunity against Journalists which is celebrated on November 2nd each year.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres urges Member States and the international community to stand in solidarity with journalists around the world today and every day, and to demonstrate the political will needed to investigate and prosecute crimes against journalists and media workers with the full force of the law.
The GIJN Executive Director says the attacks against journalists in general and investigative journalists in particular “are too many and too severe for us to ignore.”
David Kaplan, Executive Director of GIJN:
“They are no longer trying to kill journalists, but they are trying to kill journalism ”
“We take this day seriously.90% of murders of Journalists have gone unsolved. This has to change,” says David Kaplan.
The Global Investigative Journalism Conference which is held every two years, is the world’s largest international gathering of investigative reporters.
Since 2001, over 8,000 reporters have been trained, headline-making collaborations sparked and investigative reporting spread worldwide
This year´s conference will be entirely held online and the next one will be held in-person in October 2022 in Sydney, Australia.
These conferences are widely credited with playing a key role in the rapid global expansion of investigative reporting over the past 20 years.
By focusing on skills and training, they have helped spread state-of-the-art investigative reporting, data journalism, and cross-border collaboration around the world.
GIJN’s membership comprises 211 nonprofits in 82 countries. Its mission includes sponsoring global and regional conferences, training, providing resources and advice, building networks, and promoting best practices in investigative and data journalism.
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