GIJN Webinar: Lessons Learned from Investigating the 2024 Elections

The 2024 elections marked a seismic year for democracies worldwide, presenting investigative journalists with unique challenges and opportunities. From disinformation campaigns and voter suppression to political financing and accountability issues, investigative journalists played a pivotal role in uncovering hidden truths and holding power to account. In this webinar, a distinguished global panel will reflect on the lessons learned during this critical election year and explore the evolving investigative methodologies required to navigate the complex dynamics of election reporting. Participants will gain insights into what worked, what didn’t, and how investigative journalism can remain resilient in the face of growing threats to democratic processes.

In this GIJN webinar, three senior reporters based in countries that have faced key elections during 2024 will discuss innovative techniques, cross-border collaborations, and the critical importance of investigative journalism in fostering transparency and accountability in elections. The panel will address why investigative journalists should remain hopeful and how their work is more essential than ever to protect the integrity of democracies worldwide.

Poonam Agarwal is an acclaimed investigative journalist from India with extensive experience covering elections, corruption, and systemic abuse. Known for her impactful work in digital and video storytelling, Agarwal has broken critical accountability stories and trained journalists in innovative election reporting techniques.

Ewald Scharfenberg is an award-winning investigative journalist and co-founder of Armando.info, a leading investigative journalism outlet in Venezuela. Scharfenberg has reported extensively on political corruption and disinformation in one of the most challenging media environments in the world, using cross-border collaborations to uncover systemic abuse and fraud.

Thandi Smith has worked for Media Monitoring Africa for about 12 years and is currently Head of Programmes for the organization. She has worked extensively to safeguard the integrity of journalism in the face of evolving technological and political challenges, playing a key role in ensuring transparency and accountability during elections in Africa.

The moderator is Sheila Coronel, director of the Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism at Columbia Journalism School and a pioneering investigative journalist from the Philippines. Co-founder of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, Coronel has exposed corruption and abuse of power across Southeast Asia. She is a leading expert in investigative reporting and has mentored journalists globally.

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Sign up for the webinar here!

Date: Tuesday, December 10, 2024
Time: What time is it in my city?