The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists was founded in 1997 by American journalist Charles ‘Chuck’ Lewis. It was launched as a project of the Center for Public Integrity. Under that stewardship, ICIJ investigated issues that didn’t stop at national frontiers, including cross-border crime, corruption and holding the powerful to account.
These investigations exposed smuggling by multinational tobacco companies and by organized crime syndicates; the dealings of private military cartels, asbestos companies, and climate change lobbyists; and broke new ground by publicizing details of Iraq and Afghanistan war contracts. Our more recent investigations on the global offshore economy, including the 2017 Pulitzer Prize winning Panama Papers, have sparked resignations, arrests and policy changes in dozens of countries.
To extend its reach and impact even further, ICIJ spun off from the Center and became a fully independent news organization in early 2017.
In July 2017, ICIJ was granted 501(c)(3) nonprofit status by U.S. tax authorities.
True to ICIJ’s collaborative style of working, the organization is governed by three committees: a traditional board of directors with a fiduciary role; an advisory committee made up of supporters and experienced investigative journalists; and the ICIJ Network Committee, which serves the membership of ICIJ’s global network.
A working body of ICIJ members who represent the ICIJ members, setting principles and best practices, priorities and activities, liaising with the board and giving advice to ICIJ’s leadership team on adding or excusing members.
ICIJ’s global member network is more than 220 investigative journalists strong. We have members in 83 countries and territories who work collaboratively on cross-border investigative projects.