Investigative Journalism Network

Since its launch in 2017, the EBU’s Investigative Journalism Network has grown to include dozens of reporters from media organizations across the EBU’s membership.

Its primary mission is to identify and support investigative journalism initiatives by connecting network members with each other throughout the membership, with the ultimate goal of enriching their reporting, sharing sources and intelligence and increasing the impact of important stories with public service value across Europe. It also serves as a platform to exchange ideas through workshops (both in-person and online) and provides networking opportunities between reporters from different newsrooms. 

Sharing best practices and solutions to common challenges is an important component of the network, which is always on the lookout for stories of cross-border impact and collaboration opportunities, as well as appropriate training and workshop ideas.

The most recent workshop, which was open to all EBU Members, was held in October 2023 in Bari, in the sidelines of the Prix Italia. It was attended by 26 investigative journalists (from 17 organizations) who pitched stories which in their view would benefit from collaboration among EBU Members. Following that, story groups were formed for reporters to share research and news content on several of these stories. 

In early 2023, the Network published “The Missing Children of Ukraine”, an in-depth investigation into the forced transfer of hundreds of children from occupied Ukraine to Russia. The story was first released by the core members of the Investigative Journalism Network. After an initial embargo, a version was made available to all Eurovision News Exchange members. As of December 2023, the story has been relayed more than 1000 times by 87 channels from 40 EBU Members.

This was followed by an investigation into the harsh living conditions and Russia's aggressive assimilation policies in the illegally annexed territories of Ukraine, "Russification in Occupied Ukraine". Based on eyewitness accounts, expert interviews and evidence from social media, this investigation reveals incidences of torture, coercion, deportation, cultural erasure, and military indoctrination, contravening international law and in some cases amounting to possible war crimes. The story has been shared over 800 times, on 36 channels of 16 Members. 

The Investigative Journalism Network also assisted in the distribution of an in-depth investigation into the explosion at the Nord Stream pipeline in May 2023. Collaboratively conducted by Denmark's DR, Norway's NRK, Sweden's SVT, and Finland's Yle, the investigation was broadcast on more than 50 channels affiliated with 30 member organizations.

Activities are managed by a Steering Committee, which is an expert group reporting to the EBU News Committee. The Steering Committee has the following EBU Members:

BBC, DR, FT, NRK, RTBF, RTE, RTVE, VRT, YLE, and ZDF.

It is chaired by Pilar Requena, Head of Investigative Unit, RTVE. The EBU Project Manager is Belén López Garrido, News Editor at Eurovision News. 

How to join

The Investigative Journalism Network is open to all EBU Members, subject to Steering Committee approval. Eligible members must meet the criteria laid down by the Steering Committee, which include adhering to the EBU’s Core Values of Public Service Media and demonstrating expertise in investigative journalism.

Find more information about our Public Service Journalism Initiative.