Wanted: explosive research projects for the Investigation Award 2020
Zurich, 16. January 2020
After the success of the first edition in 2018, Public Eye is now holding its Investigation Award every two years. Human rights violations, environmental pollution, murky deals or corruption – up to 9 March, media professionals from around the world can once again submit projects on the activities of Swiss companies in developing countries, hoping to obtain research grants of CHF 10,000 each.
With the launch of the Investigation Award on its 50th birthday, Public Eye fulfilled a longstanding desire. The over 50 applications submitted for this first edition clearly showed how many important ideas are out there. But it also revealed the extent to which many reporters, correspondents and civil society actors lack the resources necessary to undertake costly research. The two winning projects in 2018 were testament to the value of investing in such research, leading Public Eye to continue the award by holding it every two years.
Anyone who conducts professional research, from media professionals to representatives of NGOs or academic institutions, are invited to apply by 9 March 2020. The journalistic work must be as yet unpublished and shine a spotlight on human rights violations, environmental crimes, corruption or illegitimate financial practices of a Swiss company or individual. You can find further details on the competition in the official call for projects and the rules.
The submissions will be assessed for the CHF 20,000 grant by the same high-level body comprised of Head of Research at Tamedia Oliver Zihlmann, Africa specialist and ICIJ reporter Will Fitzgibbon and the New York-based journalism professor Anya Schiffrin. The remaining three members of the six-person panel come from Public Eye.
Public Eye’s Investigation Award seeks to contribute to well-founded, engaged and innovative research and journalism. The prize also mirrors the organisation’s tradition of investigative journalism: our campaign and lobby work has always been based on careful documentation of grievances that need to be addressed by policy change.
Click here for more information or contact:
Oliver Classen, Media Director, +41 44 277 79 06, oliver.classen@publiceye.ch