It has been a big 12 months for ICIJ, and an even bigger 12 months for collaborative, cross-border journalism. The model pioneered by ICIJ has shown that, in spite of growing financial pressure on media organizations, it is still possible for newsrooms to work together to produce groundbreaking investigative stories with global reach.
At the core of our mission is journalism that has an impact, that holds the powerful accountable. We believe that, by encouraging and nurturing collaboration, we can break down the barriers that might otherwise hold back investigative reporting – whether it be a lack of newsroom resources, or the challenges of chasing stories across national borders.
At the beginning of the year our investigation on the use of offshore tax havens by China’s wealthy elite led to one of the biggest censorship efforts in China’s history as the Chinese government attempted to block all access to the story online. ICIJ.org remains blocked in China today.
Just weeks ago we began publishing the Luxembourg Leaks project, which reveals for the first time how some of the world’s biggest multinational companies used subsidiaries in Luxembourg to avoid billions in taxes – all with the approval of the Luxembourg government.
A donation to ICIJ can help us continue telling stories that matter, in the depth they deserve.
Since then we’ve seen the issue raised at the G20 world leaders’ summit, debated during an emergency session of European Parliament, and even taken to a vote on whether newly-elected European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, a former Luxembourg prime minster, was fit to continue as leader. LuxLeaks has been cited as a key driver in a renewed push for corporate tax reform from politicians of all persuasions across Europe. And there’s still more to come.
But ICIJ’s model of journalism wouldn’t be possible without your help. We are a small, nonprofit outfit that relies on strong support from a community that cares about the future of journalism.
A donation to ICIJ can help us continue bringing together journalists from around the world to tell stories that matter, in the depth they deserve.
Any gift, no matter how small, will make a difference. And from now until the end of the year, your donation will be matched, dollar for dollar (up to $15,000), by one of our board members.
You can also help out by signing up to our mailing list, following us on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Google+), and sharing your favorite ICIJ investigations with your family and friends.
To all of you reading this, thank you for following ICIJ’s work, and for your ongoing support.
And please, do stay tuned for more.