Global Investigative Journalism Conference Will Feature Pulitzer Center Staff and Partners

Several Pulitzer Center staff members and grantees will participate in panels at the 2023 Global Investigative Journalism Conference on September 19-22 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

The GIJC is the world's largest gathering of investigative reporters and editors, featuring networking opportunities, workshops, training, and panels.

The Pulitzer Center will be represented at the following panels:

Tuesday, September 19

"The Investigative Agenda for Climate Change Journalism," 9:00am GMT+2 (Gustavo Faleiros, Jelter Meers)

This is an invitation-only workshop set up by GIJN. Entry is limited only to those who have been invited and received an email confirming that they have access to it. If you haven't received such a confirmation email, sorry, you won't be allowed into the venue. We will issue a report later based on recommendations of the participants.

"What Does AI Have to Do with Investigative Journalism? Everything!", 10:00am GMT+2  (Marina Walker)

If we follow the headlines, AI is either going to kill us all or solve all our problems. Meanwhile, in the real world, algorithms deployed in hospitals, schools, courts, and even refugee camps are creating new forms of discrimination and exclusion among the most vulnerable citizens. Actual, life-changing harm, not doomsday futuristic scenarios. In this talk, we will reflect on the responsibility of investigative reporters to hold AI and its makers to account and will take inspiration from journalists who are "co-opting" AI for good to tackle big data investigations.

Note: Entry to the pre-conference day venue is limited only to those who have received an email from [email protected] confirming that they have access to the pre-conference day. If you haven't received such a confirmation email, you won't be allowed into the venue.

For those confirmed for the pre-conference: All sessions are first-come, first-serve. That means people who arrive first will get seats. Be aware that some sessions are in relatively small rooms and they will fill up quickly.

Thursday, September 21

"Holding Algorithms Accountable Through Collaboration," 10:45am GMT+2  (Boyoung Lim, Fellows/grantees: Lam Thuy Vo, Gabriel Geiger, Garance Burke)

Governments and corporations worldwide are quietly deploying AI technologies that can discriminate and harm the most vulnerable members of society. Yet the impact of predictive and surveillance technologies on communities around the world often goes unreported and remains invisible. How can we bridge the gap? What is the best way to investigate AI?

In this panel, three journalists will share their experiences on how cross-border collaborations helped them follow the money, obtain never-before-released public records, and dissect algorithms that were built on biased data. Their projects uncovered the global misuse of COVID-19 surveillance technologies; revealed how citizens across Europe are at risk of losing their social benefits to flawed fraud detection algorithms; and investigated how the AI industry is repeating the patterns of colonial history in the Global South.

All sessions are first-come, first-serve. That means people who arrive first will get seats. Be aware that some sessions are in relatively small rooms and they will fill up quickly. For best results, bring your own laptop if you want to follow the workshop.

"Climate: Investigating Causes," 1:30pm GMT+2 (Gustavo Faleiros, Fellow Elisângela Mendonça)

Hear from some of the world’s most imaginative climate change journalists. Mongabay’s Rhett Ayers Butler presides over a newsroom producing a constant stream of articles on climate change worldwide. Mendonça recently has connected the production of the anti-aging cure collagen with deforestation in Brazil. Emilio Godoy’s multi-faceted portfolio includes investigations of gas leaks and of the role of banks in climate warming.

All sessions are first-come, first-serve. That means people who arrive first will get seats. Some sessions are in relatively small rooms and they will fill up quickly.

"Environmental Investigations: Forensic Work with Geo Data," 3:00pm GMT+2 (Gustavo Faleiros, Kuek Ser Kuang Keng, Jelter Meers, Fellow Fernanda Wenzel)

Using high-resolution satellite images and data on deforestation and land properties, Brazilian journalist Fernanda Wenzel has published reports showing the step-by-step process of land grabbing over time. Her project, in the series Ladrões de Floresta (Forest Thieves), published by The Intercept Brasil in partnership with RIN, overlays such information as deforestation data, property holdings, and various environmental crimes by Brazilian authorities. Gustavo Faleiros and Kuek Ser Kuang will explain the methodology of the investigations, featuring the Rainforest Investigations Network's most commonly used tools and databases, such as QGIS, where most geospatial analyses were performed.

All sessions are first-come, first-serve. Be aware that some sessions are in relatively small rooms and they will fill up quickly. For best results, be sure to bring your own laptop if you want to follow the workshop.

"Basic Principles for Mapping Data Using QGIS," 4:30pm GMT+2 (Kuek Ser Kuang Keng, Fellow Andrew Lehren)

This hands-on class will deepen your reporting skills by using QGIS, a free, popular mapping program. More than pretty pictures, mapping programs help you uncover stories and discover important patterns. Crime, health, and environment are just some beats that benefit by knowing mapping skills. In this class you will get familiar with using QGIS and start doing fundamental analysis using real-life data.

Before the class, we ask that you install QGIS onto your laptops. You can do that here: https://www.qgis.org/en/site/forusers/download.htmlAlso download the data we will use for the sessions here: https://tinyurl.com/m37uwrmw

All sessions are first-come, first-serve. That means people who arrive first will get seats. Be aware that some sessions are in relatively small rooms and they will fill up quickly. For best results, be sure to bring your own laptop if you want to follow the workshop.

Friday, September 22

"Investigating Environmental Crime," 9:15am GMT+2 (Madeleine Negeunga)

Environmental crime is the world’s fourth largest form of organized crime, behind only drug trafficking, counterfeiting, and human trafficking, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. This is a rich field for journalists, with stories ranging from local polluters and corrupt officials to international smugglers and money launderers. There are no shortages of angles: endangered species trafficking, deforestation, toxic waste dumping, carbon credit fraud... Come hear three senior journalists reveal how they dig into the finances, fixers, and supply chains of a multi-billion criminal industry.

All sessions are first-come, first-serve. That means people who arrive first will get seats. Be aware that some sessions are in relatively small rooms and they will fill up quickly.

"Using QGIS for Mapping," 9:15am GMT+2 (Kuek Ser Kuang Keng, Fellow Andrew Lehren)

This hands-on class will deepen your reporting skills by using QGIS, a free, popular mapping program. More than pretty pictures, mapping programs help you uncover stories and discover important patterns. Crime, health and environment are just some beats that benefit by knowing mapping skills. In this class you will get familiar with using QGIS and start doing fundamental analysis using real-life data.