Due to the nature of their work exposing wrongdoing and holding power to account, investigative journalists are vulnerable to attack: smears, intimidation, legal perils and outright violence.

Such threats multiply in countries where media freedom is under assault. In war zones, the dangers increase exponentially.

Yet the work continues — despite bombs, death threats, harassment and countless other ways to silence independent media. And increasingly, investigative journalists working in difficult environments find it pays to collaborate across borders.

This may mean publishing in other countries or teaming up with colleagues elsewhere. In extreme cases, it may mean relocating entire newsrooms to safer havens.

In this special edition of the IJ4EU Podcast to mark World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2022, host Timothy Large speaks with journalists from Russia, Ukraine, Serbia and Romania, all of whom have fostered resilience through cross-border collaboration.

These are tales of adaptation, ingenuity and survival.

The Investigative Journalism for Europe (IJ4EU) programme is Europe’s leading support scheme for cross-border journalism. Led by the International Press Institute, it provides grants and other assistance to journalistic teams collaborating internationally on stories in the public interest. Visit the IJ4EU website for more.

Credits:

Host: Timothy Large, IJ4EU programme manager at the International Press Institute

Guests:

• Roman Anin, founder of independent Russian investigative news site Important Stories (iStories)
• Oleg Oganov, editor of the Centre for Investigative Reporting in Mykolaiv, Ukraine
• Melinda Kertész, editor-in-chief of Transtelex, a Hungarian-language news site in Romania
• Dragana Obradovic, Serbia director, Balkan Investigative Reporting Network

Producer and editor: Timothy Large