Last year the NYT reported on how SEAL Team Six stormed into North Korea, accidentally murdered a bunch of fishermen, punctured their lungs so their bodies would sink & then stormed out. Trump is now trying to force one reporter to reveal his sources: www.nytimes.com/2026/08/01/u...

Justice Dept. Subpoenas Times Freelancer in Effort to Identify Sources (Gift Article)

A previously undisclosed subpoena, involving reporting on a failed SEAL Team 6 mission in North Korea, reflects the government’s expanding campaign to investigate leaks of secrets.

nytimes.com

I first got 1000+ pages of court documents from Miller & Moreno's custody case. Anybody can request these from Cuyahoga County. I reviewed those by myself, one by one—no AI involved!—and the filings pointed to police reports. I then sought those out separately and spent days combing through them.

Surely, Google will recognize this new feature is akin to unleashing an atomic bomb of disinformation and decide to deactivate it. Right?

Joseph Cox@josephcox.bsky.social · 5d ago

Took me seconds to make an image showing 'protesters' around Google buildings, using Google Earth's new AI generation tool. You can make bomb blasts, protesters, drone strikes, nuclear plants. How on earth did Google think this was a good idea www.404media.co/google-earth...

New from 404 Media: Google Earth has introduced an AI feature that lets anyone fabricate completely bullshit satellite images. In our own tests, we added a “bomb blast and crater” to an area of Los Angeles. This is a misinformation time bomb, will 100% be abused www.404media.co/google-earth...

Think you're good at visual investigations? Try this 'OSINT mindset' quiz up @gijn.org today, shared with us by our partners at @tcij.org. (Note: We were originally going to make this an "open answer" test, but decided that it might be too hard, so it's now multiple choice.) Good luck!

Do You Have ‘the OSINT Mindset’?: Try Our Quiz for Those Who Like ‘a Little Light Online Sleuthing’

The most important thing to learn if you wish to integrate elements of OSINT into your investigative practice is the overall mindset behind the approach.

gijn.org

Trump State Dept. really hitting the trifecta here: 1) embarrassing itself with all-too-symbolic ignorance… 2) due to cavalier use / over reliance on AI… 3) betraying disrespect / disregard of a global public health crisis.

US government map of Africa mislabels every country at global conference

A U.S. government map of Africa mislabeled every country during a State Department presentation at ‌a global conference taking place in Brazil this week, causing a stir among attendees who took screen...

reuters.com

Today at @gijn.org: we have a step-by-step tutorial from @occrp.org's Marc Hofer on how to use the new Aleph Pro investigative data platform in your reporting.

Aleph Pro Tutorial: How to Get the Most from OCCRP’s Updated Investigative Data Platform

A step-by-step guide to using Aleph Pro, the latest iteration of OCCRP’s data platform, offering access to a massive trove of property and financial documents, as well as other records.

gijn.org

Our latest feature @gijn.org: inside the harrowinginvestigation by @direkt36.bsky.social of the state surveillance of Hungary's opposition party, Tisza, and how the backlash to the revelations fueled Viktor Orbán's defeat.

‘I Didn’t Really Sleep’: Inside the Investigation That Helped End Viktor Orbán’s Rule

Investigative outlet Direkt36’s high-risk exposé of the Fidesz party’s secret operation to bring down the opposition party helped unseat Orbán after 16 years of illiberal rule and media capture.

gijn.org

This is/was still a 100% unacceptable and bullshit intimidation move by the Trump administration. All part of an ongoing and premeditated attack on press freedom.

Anna Bower@annabower.bsky.social · 2w ago

BREAKING: Justice Department agrees to withdraw subpoenas issued to New York Times reporters in leak investigation related to new Air Force One jet. Withdrawal of subpoenas follows hearing before NY federal judge, who indicated he was inclined to quash the subpoenas.

New UNESCO report: independent journalism isn't just a democratic good; it's a high-return public investment. $1 in journalism → $100+ in public savings Disinformation costs societies $355–516B/year Funding healthy media = 0.1% of global GDP Read more: https://bit.ly/4pA8rT3

Editors at the French investigative media outlets Disclose and Rembobine are expanding the idea of how to achieve investigative impact, partnering with NGOs and mainstream news outlets to give their reporting a longer life and greater reach. Read more about their innovative approach at @gijn.org ⬇️

How to Make Investigations Matter More: A Q&A with the Authors of ‘The Guide to Impact Journalism’

In investigative journalism, many newsrooms have begun implementing an “impact strategy.” How can they do better and what is the goal?

gijn.org

UAE was infamously the host of #COP28, where the BBC and Centre for Climate Reporting revealed the UAE's ADNOC was also planning a number of side meetings and deals with other countries to grow its fossil fuel industry. @gijn.org got the backstory about how they got the scoop ⬇️

How a Small Nonprofit Newsroom Broke the Oil Deal Pitching Scandal at COP28

Based on a leaked trove of briefing documents, this exposé revealed the COP28 host country's plan to push for lucrative oil and gas deals at the world’s premier climate change conference.

gijn.org

Semafor@semafor.com · 2w ago

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company plans to invest $6.2 billion to develop natural gas at its offshore Umm Shaif field, alongside France’s TotalEnergies, Italy’s Eni, and China National Petroleum Corp. The project is expected to produce more than 600 million cubic feet of gas a day from 2030.

In this week's @gijn.org masterclass video, @grist.org editor-at-large Tristan Ahtone talks about the investigative value of historical documents and research archives when trying to expose systemic inequity and natural resource theft, particularly those that affect Indigenous communities.

Using Archives in Investigative Reporting

In this GIJN Academy masterclass, Tristan Ahtone, editor-at-large at Grist and member of the Kiowa Tribe, shares techniques for using historical archives as accountability tools.

gijn.org

Cryptocurrencies have become a go-to platform for businesses & wealthy individuals to funnel money and buy influence over politicians—or to launder illicit funds. So @gijn.org, in partnership with @icij.org, has launched a new reporting guide for investigating crypto that offers step-by-step tips.

Reporter’s Guide to Investigating Cryptocurrency

ICIJ and GIJN collaborated on this guide to help reporters kick-start their investigation or deepen their knowledge of the crypto industry.

gijn.org

✨ This year marks 25 years since the first international meeting of investigative journalists, GIJC. Join us starting October 26th to celebrate this anniversary with #IJWeek to network, fundraise, and learn. Early bird tickets on sale now! https://twp.ai/E5DMyv

Very cool profile today on the @gijn.org homepage, about @streetpress.bsky.social, a scrappy investigative site in France that has made investigating the far right in that country its stock in trade. They've managed to keep all their reporting free to access while exposing creeping RW extremism.

How StreetPress Became France’s Far-Right Investigations Engine

Launched with just a €5,000 loan in 2010 by three journalists in their twenties, this scrappy investigative outlet now plays an outsized role in setting the national news agenda.

gijn.org

The @nytimes.com provides a behind-the-scenes Q & A with the editor who led its coverage of Graham Platner's relationships with women. I think this is a best practice for all investigative news orgs — to let readers get a better sense of all the work that goes into corroborating sensitive reporting.

How The Times Reported the Graham Platner Story

Two senior editors discuss the difficult effort to track down allegations against the leading Democrat for Senate in Maine and the questions that soon followed.

nytimes.com

An absolute escalation in the attack on Press Freedom: Trump subpoenad NYT reporters for their reporting. “The appearance of federal law enforcement agents on the doorstep of news reporters should shock the conscience of any American who believes in the Constitution & the press freedom it protects.”

Times Journalists Subpoenaed as Trump Escalates Pressure on Media

The Justice Department is seeking to compel testimony from reporters who wrote about the new Air Force One. The Times called the move a “brazen act.”

nytimes.com

Our latest Top 10 in Data Journalism looks at the weird trend of stoppage time goals in recent World Cups, foreign networks fueling Sudan's civil war, the twin shocks (& likely undercounted death toll) of Venezuela's earthquakes, and how behemoth SUVs are killing more US pedestrians, plus more.

Late World Cup Goals, Foreigners Fueling Sudan’s War, Venezuela’s Deadly Double Earthquake, and Fatal SUV Blindspots

Also highlighting the civilian casualties of the first 40 days of the US-Iran war, why carbon capture won’t solve climate change, and the 370,000-plus prisoners still awaiting trial in India.

gijn.org

Interesting data points in this WSJ profile of a longtime Costco worker. The company has: -very low 7% turnover after 1 year on the job -top hourly pay is $33/hour -share price has grown 2000% since 2008 But this anecdote showing how benefits = employee loyalty stood out www.wsj.com/business/ret...

More @gijn.org coverage of #IRE26 — a dispatch on best practices for editing investigative podcasts. Tips include: -Record ~everything~ -Archival events (backstory) = great context -Never type while recording (transcribe later) -Log all audio in a single folder -Look for twists & turns in the story

Expert Tips for Editing Investigative Podcasts

In a session on editing investigative podcasts at IRE26, veteran audio journalists offered several key lessons for producers and reporters new to investigative podcasts.

gijn.org

Read our profile of one of @gijn.org's newest members, The Black Sea, which is pushing back against the atrophying of independent, investigative journalism in Turkey. "We are a very resilient organization… The fact that we survived this long is our superpower.”—TBS board member Zeynep Şentek.

The Black Sea: How Investigative Journalism Endures in Turkey

The investigative outlet focusing on the Black Sea region and Turkey is not quite exiled media, not quite traditional newsroom, but a collaborative group focused on abuses of power.

gijn.org

Time will tell on how this turnaround works out in practice, of course, but still… it's exceeding rare that you see public media issue such a clear mea culpa for its state capture and acting as a tool for authoritarian propaganda.

OSINTRadar@osintradar.bsky.social · 4w ago

After 16 years of Viktor Orbán's rule, Hungary's state television has suspended its news broadcasts for restructuring. The main state TV channel, M1, displayed a black screen with the following message: "Public media must not lie. We apologize for doing so for many years."

Podcasts are a powerful platform for investigation. But what if you're looking for ones that go behind the scenes, to reveal reporting how to's, best practices, and lessons learned? Check out this @gijn.org feature, with 13 great audio series that will make your journalism sharper and stronger.

Listen Up: Podcasts for Investigative Journalists

We have rounded up the podcasts that go behind the scenes of major exposés, in which reporters dive into how they did their investigations or offer tips for journalists in similar fields.

gijn.org

As Europe recovers from the heat this week, temps will hit 100+F all across the US—so time to share GIJN's Guide to Investigating Extreme Heat. Storylines to explore include: -Medical consequences -Infrastructure (failures) -Labor conditions -Impact inequities -Agriculture -Planning and mitigation

GIJN Guide to Investigating Extreme Heat

The negative effects from higher temperatures can be seen everywhere, offering many opportunities for investigative journalism.

gijn.org

Calling everyone in the #datajournalist 📊📈🗂️🗄️🔍community! Next Tuesday, @gijn.org will host all 10 winners of this year's Sigma Awards, in a fun and informative lightning round session where each team details their methodologies and best reporting tips. Learn more and register for the webinar below ⬇️

The Data Investigator’s Toolkit: Lessons from 2026’s Sigma Award Winners

In this fast-paced session, all 10 winners of the 2026 Sigma Awards will briefly showcase the data journalism approaches and breakthroughs that helped them uncover complex stories.

gijn.org

JUST IN: NYT v Sullivan escapes unscathed at #SCOTUS as justices deny review of dismissal of law prof Alan Dershowitz's libel suit v. CNN. Justice Thomas joined by Gorsuch again complain that Sullivan standard is made up, but can't get votes for cert. Doc: www.documentcloud.org/documents/28...

DershSCOTUSOpn062926

documentcloud.org

The long tail of history (& #datajournalism accountability). When the US National Archives recently digitized its list of German Nazi Party members, its user interface still made it difficult to use. So news daily @zeit.de saw an opportunity, & used AI to build a simple search tool on top of it.

One Name at a Time: How Die Zeit Built a Searchable Database of Nazi Party Members

An online tool set up by the German newspaper, Die Zeit, in cooperation with archives in Germany and in the United States allows people to search several million Nazi Party membership cards.

gijn.org

Today's SCOTUS ruling on Roundup lawsuits makes it that much harder to sue agri-chemical companies over exposure, but veteran investigators at #IRE26 explained how reporters can still push for accountability of these companies by fairly and ethically covering the links between pesticides & cancer.

Tips to Investigate Links Between Pesticide and Cancer

At the 2026 IRE conference, veteran reporters shared tips on how to get around the problems of causation and toxicology jargon in data-driven investigations about pesticide exposure.

gijn.org

The DOJ withdrew the demand for Nakashima to testify to a grand jury, along with other subpoenas for WSJ reporters. Incredibly rare to demand reporters' testimony and for good reason: To refuse would likely land them in contempt, and face possible jail time. Huge risk to 1st Amend. & newsgathering.

DOJ issued, then withdrew subpoenas to force Post, WSJ reporters to testify

Subpoenas for reporters to appear before a grand jury are exceedingly rare. The journalists have not testified.

washingtonpost.com