COLPIN 2024: Celebrating Latin America’s Investigative Journalism in Madrid

At the 2024 Latin American Conference of Investigative Journalism (COLPIN), which took place from October 23-26 at the cultural center Casa de América in Madrid, journalists from Latin America and Europe, as well as Africa, exchanged ideas, strengthened connections, and discussed future collaborations.

This vibrant gathering brought together reporters from diverse backgrounds to share techniques and insider tips on the most impactful investigations from 2024. The event was organized by the Press and Society Institute (IPYS, for its acronym in Spanish) and the Association of Investigative Journalists of Spain, with the support of the Spanish newspaper El Confidencial, the Rey Juan Carlos University, and other partners.

IPYS celebrated the 15th edition of the COLPIN, an event that has been key to promoting and advancing investigative journalism in Latin America.

More than 400 journalists from 24 countries attended. Speakers shared information, behind the scenes, and resources tied to investigations done in Latin America and Europe. Some of those were done under difficult circumstances tied to press freedom challenges, as well as risks, including journalists who have continued doing their investigations in exile. In addition, advanced open source investigation techniques were used to document human rights abuses and corruption cases.

Marianela Balbi, one of Venezuela’s leading investigative journalists, gave the keynote speech. Some of the issues she addressed were censorship, reporting from exile and the increase of news deserts in the region.

Healthcare, environment, human rights, corruption, surveillance, organized crime, as well as historical events were at the heart of the investigations presented at the conference.

Journalists attending COLPIN from Latin America and Africa also explored topics that could be investigated across the two regions. During a session organized by GIJN, Beauregard Tromp, convener of the African Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC), highlighted the value of expanding the collaboration across the regions. Common topics as well as resources that could help expand cross-regional investigations were presented.

GIJN Executive Director Emilia Diaz-Struck, OCCRP Africa Editor Beauregard Tromp, GIJN Spanish Editor Andrea Arzaba, and GIJN Francophone Africa Editor Maxime Koami Domegni (left to right) took part in a 2024 COLPIN panel on the opportunities for cross-border collaboration between Latin American and African investigative reporters. Image: Courtesy of COLPIN

GIJN also joined a panel on investigating digital threats, and election disinformation, and one on networks that support Investigative Journalists around the World.

One of the highlights of the conference was the announcement of the Javier Valdez Latin American Awards for Investigative Journalism and the API Awards from Investigative Journalism in Spain. The gala took place at the CaixaForum in Madrid.

The first-place Javier Valdez Award was given to the television report Operación Cacería (in English: Operation Hunt) by journalist Ricardo Calderón, which detailed the kidnappings executed by the Venezuelan regime against opponents.

Santiago O’Donnell, one of the members of the jury, said about the investigation: “It is very hard to have secret documents from antagonistic countries. This is a story as well told as it is documented.”

Redes de Nicotina: Nuevos Productos, Viejas Estrategias (in English: Nicotine Networks: New Products, Old Strategies) was awarded second place for a collaborative investigation by a team from five Latin American countries.

Third place was shared between Caso Hermosilla: el audio que sacudió al país (in English: The Hermosilla Case: the audio that shook the country) by Chilean journalist Nicolás Sepúlveda from CIPER, and Rehenes de la Ley (in English: Hostages of the law), an investigation that dug into the practices of Sippenhaft in Venezuela. The awards were given to reporters Patricia Marcano and Joseph Poliszuk from Armando.Info

At the ceremony, the Association of Investigative Journalism of Spain (API) also presented their national awards. The API Local Journalism Award went to Estafa en la tienda de congelados (in English: Scam in the frozen food store), published by Lara Graña in Faro de Vigo.

Pablo Almoguera from El Confidencial received a special mention in the Local Journalism Award category for El comisario, su confidente y un triángulo a martillazos: corrupción y celos en Fuengirola (in English: The commissioner, his confidant and a hammer triangle: corruption and jealousy in Fuengirola).

In the Data Journalism category, the winner was Radiografía de la Sanidad Española (in English: X-ray of the Spanish Health Service), for an investigation carried out by RTVE, the Spanish Radio and Television Corporation.

Andrea Arzaba is GIJN’s Spanish editor and also serves as director for its Digital Threats project. As a journalist and media professional, Andrea has dedicated her life to documenting the stories of people in Latin America and Latinx communities in the United States. Her work focuses on issues around freedom of expression, climate change, migration, and women’s leadership.