First Look: IJ WEEK World-Class Speakers and Cutting-Edge Sessions

With just 12 weeks left until the kickoff of IJ WEEK on October 26, the full program is taking shape. We’ll have more than 100 speakers from all around the world, featuring panel discussions with world renowned journalists exposing authoritarian regimes, workshops on telling investigative stories through maps and audio, experts talking about how to investigate tech, and fundraising and sustainability advisors discussing the future of funding. And in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the first International Gathering of Investigative Journalists, IJ Week will also feature the participation of Brant Houston (United States) and Nils Mulvad (Denmark), who co-organized that first event and later co-founded GIJN together with representatives from other organizations from around the world.

To give both those already registered and prospective attendees a glimpse at the event schedule, we’re also offering a first look at some of the 35 panels, workshops, and networking sessions (see list below) . These will be organized around 13 tracks, including crime and corruption, tech reporting, nonprofit journalism models, data, as well as topic-focused investigative reporting sessions on the environment, working in exile, and human rights. There’s something for everyone.

“We are excited to launch this initiative, as it is an important way to honor the courageous investigative journalism work done worldwide, while also empowering our community with the latest resources, methods, and tips that allow us to continue holding power to account,” said GIJN Executive Director Emilia Díaz-Struck. “We are immensely proud to see how the investigative journalism movement has grown in 25 years, expanding cross-regional connections and knowledge sharing across over 100 countries around the world, which has resulted in impactful and relevant investigations for citizens in different countries and regions.”

GIJN serves as the international hub for the world’s investigative reporters. Our core mission is to support and strengthen investigative journalism around the world — with special attention to those from repressive regimes and marginalized communities. Today, with a staff based in over 20 countries, GIJN works in a dozen languages to link together the world’s most enterprising journalists, giving them the tools, technology, and training to go after abuses of power and lack of accountability.

Note: If you need support to attend, we have a limited number of available tickets for you. Please fill in this form by September 15.

Ticket sales for the event will end on October 11 at midnight EST.

Follow this link to register for the event.

Confirmed Speakers

• Jazmin Acuña, El Surtidor (Paraguay)
• Poonam Agarwal, Freelance (India)
• Roby Alampay, Puma Podcast (Philippines)
• Diego Arguedas Ortiz, Freelance (Costa Rica)
• Dinesh Balliah, Wits Centre for Journalism (South Africa)
• Rozina Breen, Pulitzer Center (United Kingdom)
• Fabio Cervi, Earshot (United Kingdom)
• Gina Chua, Tow-Knight Center at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY (Singapore)
• Sheila Coronel, Columbia University in the City of New York (Philippines)
• David Dembélé, Malian Network of Investigative Journalists (RMJI) (Mali)
• Folaranmi Folayan, Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (Nigeria)
• Bridget Gallagher, Gallagher Group LLC (United States)
• Gabriel Geiger, Lighthouse Reports (Brazil / Greece)
• Alia Ibrahim, Daraj (Lebanon)
• Malek Khadhraoui, Inkyfada (Tunisia)
• Kuek Ser Kuang Keng, Pulitzer Center (Malaysia)
• Sherry Lee, The Reporter (Taiwan)
• Andrew Lehren, Mongabay (United States)
• Pierre Leibovici, Disclose (France)
• Caline Matar, Earshot (Lebanon)
• Mira Milosevic, Global Forum for Media Development (Serbia)
• Zahra Nader, Zan Times (Afghanistan)
• András Pethő, Direkt36 (Hungary)
• Susanne Reber, Piz Gloria Productions (Canada)
• Athandiwe Sawa, All Protocol Observed (South Africa)
• Sandrine Sawadogo, L’Economiste du Faso (Burkina Faso)
• Francisca Skoknic, Centro Latinoamericano de Investigación Periodística (Chile)
• Sue Valentine, Independent media consultant (United Kingdom / South Africa)
• Natalia Viana, Agência Pública (Brazil)
• Margot Williams, Freelance (United States)

Confirmed Sessions and Workshops

• Mapping Analysis Using QGIS
• Funding Investigative Journalism: What’s Working Now
• Investigative Journalism in Authoritarian Contexts
• Listening to the Evidence: How Sound Is Reshaping Investigative Journalism
• Investigative Podcast Workshop
• Investigating Tech
• Connecting with the Audience: Strategies for Investigative Journalism
• Holding Power to Account from Exile
• Thematic Networking Sessions, including about: Climate Change, Cross-Border Collaborations, Supporting New Generations of Investigative Journalism

Cancellation policy: Cancellation requests must be sent via email to academy@gijn.org. Until October 20, 2026, tickets will be refunded, except for the processing fees (GIJN’s processing fee and Stripe fee). After that date, requests for refunds will be considered on a case-by-case basis.