More than 1,500 journalists and experts from over 135 countries and territories attended the 14th Global Investigative Journalism Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in November 2025. Image: GIJN
Project
GIJC25
The 14th Global Investigative Journalism Conference (GIJC25) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, assembled more than 1,500 journalists from over 135 countries and territories to hold workshops, share best practices, and build a community increasingly confronting funding crises, disinformation campaigns, digital surveillance, and authoritarian threats. This project is a compendium of GIJN’s coverage of the conference.
GIJC25
At GIJC25, Nobel Prize Laureate Maria Ressa Calls for ‘Radical Collaboration’ to Combat Disinformation and Preserve Press Freedom
In her keynote address, the Rappler CEO issued an urgent call for the investigative reporting community to embrace creative solutions in pursuit of the facts and a sustainable future.
Awards, Grants, & Fellowships GIJC25
Brave Investigations from Nigeria, Egypt, Peru, and Mexico Honored at GIJC25’s Global Shining Light Awards
These three winners and recipient of a special citation represent outstanding journalism from developing or transitioning countries, carried out under threat or in perilous conditions.
GIJC25
From Mentoring to Refusing to Stay Silent: Strategies for Women in Investigative Journalism
Women investigative reporters face harassment, surveillance, and personal risk. Here are practical strategies to confront these challenges from female journalists on the front lines.
Climate GIJC25
Overcoming Four Big Challenges to Investigating the Water Crisis
Journalists reporting on water scarcity often confront the same four barriers: lack of transparency, limited access to sites and sources, complex and unwieldy data, and a resistant media environment.
GIJC25
Best Reporting and Business Practices for Freelance Investigative Journalists
At GIJC25, veteran freelancers from Africa, Asia, and Europe shared tips for finding funding, managing security, and negotiating with editors over rates, commissions, and deadlines.
GIJC25
Strategies to Investigate the Biometric Technology Boom in the Global South
A panel of three investigative reporters shared practical tips to dig into the rapid deployment of biometric systems in Africa and beyond.
GIJC25
Newsroom Instincts, Scholarly Patience: How to Conduct Ethnographic Journalism
Ethnographic journalism blends anthropological theory and immersive fieldwork to report on marginalized communities, but its relationship with traditional journalism remains contested.
GIJC25
Expert Advice to Keep Your Sources and Whistleblowers Safe
Keeping your sources, your data, and yourself safe during investigations is a complex undertaking. Four veteran journalists offer their tips on how to do so.
GIJC25
When to Go Undercover: Ethical Questions and Strategic Steps for the AI Age
Undercover specialists warn that investigative tactics must be a last resort—especially in the AI age, where metadata, surveillance, and deepfakes raise new ethical and safety risks.
GIJC25
An International Prosecutor’s Mission to Wrest Stolen Global South Assets from the West
The former lead Rwanda genocide prosecutor explains old flaws and new solutions for the international criminal justice system.
GIJC25
Investigating in the Face of Repression: Advice from Peru’s Gustavo Gorriti
Effective investigative reporting under repression requires methodical safety planning, disciplined self-care, and an active defense of one’s work and reputation, according to this renowned investigative journalist.
GIJC25
Journalism In Exile: Reporting, Sourcing, and Managing Everyday Life Away From Home
Forced to leave their homes and homelands, exiled journalists spoke about finding ways to continue their journalism in the countries where they have sought refuge.
GIJC25
5 Tips on How to (More) Safely Investigate in Authoritarian States
Four journalists working in authoritarian countries or regions where democracy is backsliding offer their advice on how to deal with the reporting challenges.
GIJC25
How to Investigate the Impact of Global Energy Companies on Local Public Health
Multimedia investigations across Africa and the Middle East highlight the links between environmental damage and public health, while seeking to expose who is responsible.
GIJC25
Strategies for Covering Asia in a Shrinking Civic Space for Independence and Accountability
An All-Asian GIJC25 keynote panel discussed how the continent’s reporters have bravely exposed corruption scandals while facing exile, harassment, attacks, and threats of imprisonment.
GIJC25
Tips for Identifying New Funding Sources for Investigative Journalism
Nonprofit news outlets must put extra emphasis on audience engagement, out-of-the-box solutions, and communicating to potential donors their unique value to democracy.
GIJC25
Pivoting to Podcasts? How Print Journalists Can Become Audio Storytellers
Narrative podcasts have become a transformative tool for investigative reporting. At GIJC, editors and producers unpacked how journalists can tap into its power.
GIJC25
Investigating Illegal Mining: Tips on Angles, Sourcing, and Post-Publication
Experts on reporting on illegal mining in Zimbabwe, Brazil, and Turkey shared tips on building sources on the ground, establishing trust, and telling a well-rounded story.
GIJC25
Reporting on War Crimes in Ukraine’s Occupied Territories
Ukrainian newsrooms combine OSINT, satellite imagery, and intercepted conversations to report on frontline regions that are off limits due to the war.
GIJC25
Investigating Global Health: Impact from Corporations
A pre-conference panel hosted by The Examination connected the deadly impact of corporate practices to the chronic diseases killing millions of people each year.
GIJC25
GIJC25 Kicks Off with Global Summit on AI and Tech Reporting
New tools and innovative approaches are needed to investigate the recurring problems and real-world impact of AI and emerging technologies.
GIJC25 Reporting Tools & Tips
Chasing Oligarchs Across Borders
Journalists detailed how they build dossiers on oligarchs, mine corporate and sanctions databases, and use leaks – all while managing legal and security risks.
GIJC25
Innovative Strategies to Fight Electoral Disinformation Campaigns
At GIJC25, experts from Venezuela, Ghana, and India highlighted AI tools and collaborative strategies that exposed electoral disinformation campaigns.
GIJC25
The Business of Faith: How to Investigate Cults and Religious Groups
Tackling religion stories can require creative ways to overcome lack of access, and how to seek help during difficult times.