Second Next-IJ Cross-Border Investigative Training (22 April 2026)
Are you a mid-career investigative journalist based in Europe? This opportunity is for you!
Applications for the April Edition of the Next-IJ Cross-Border Investigative Training!
🔥 Sharpen your cross-border investigative skills through expert-led, hands-on sessions designed for collaborative journalism during the second Next-IJ training of the year
Join us for a free, full-day intensive online training session tailored for European mid-career journalists tackling complex, cross-border investigations.
📅 Wednesday, 22 April 2026
🕘 09:15–17:00 CEST
📍Online
Registration has now closed.
Who Can Apply
We’re looking for mid-career professionals working in journalism (freelancers are encouraged to apply) who meet the following criteria:
Location: Applicants must be based in or professionally affiliated with a Creative Europe country (EU member states plus Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, Armenia, and Tunisia).
❗Please note that the U.K., Switzerland, and Türkiye are NOT current members of Creative Europe.
Background: Applicants who have a strong background in investigative journalism, data journalism, and/or in-depth reporting. Participation in investigative projects will be considered a plus.
❗Please note that journalism students are NOT eligible unless otherwise indicated in your application (i.e., an experienced journalist seeking a higher degree, etc.).
Inclusion: We actively encourage applications from individuals of all genders and from underrepresented communities to foster a diverse and inclusive network.
Language Proficiency: Applicants should have a professional working proficiency in English.
What You’ll Need to Apply
To complete your application, please submit:
A short statement of interest (150-200 words)
Your CV
A brief description of the investigative topics or cross-border issues you are currently working on or interested in (100-150 words)
1-3 links to published work
Why Apply?
Delivered by investigative experts from the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and Transcrime – Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, the training focuses on the latest techniques, tools, and cross-border strategies used in real-world investigations. You’ll learn how to:
🔍 Follow the money
🕵️ Track assets across borders
🏢 Uncover hidden corporate ownership
📊 Navigate and analyse complex datasets using Aleph Pro and DATACROS
⚖️ Handle data in a legal and ethical way
Whether you’re chasing complex financial trails or uncovering international corruption, this programme will sharpen your skills and expand your investigative toolkit.
What You’ll Gain
Advanced investigative training: Focused on the latest technologies and ethical considerations.
Mentorship: Guidance from OCCRP’s global network of editors and reporters.
Certification: An official OCCRP-issued certificate upon successful completion.
Networking: Access to a growing network of peers working on impactful stories.
A chance to attend an in-person Investigathon: Selected participants will be eligible to attend an in-person live collaborative investigation event – more details to follow.
About Next-IJ
Next-Level Data and Tools for Investigative Journalism (Next-IJ) is an EU-supported initiative designed to offer new, innovative training solutions for investigative reporting by equipping journalists with cutting-edge tools, advanced data analysis capabilities, and enhanced cross-border collaboration networks.
Next-IJ is organising three training sessions this year aimed at empowering European journalists, newsrooms, and media outlets with a combination of advanced tools (including artificial intelligence), data, training, legal and ethical guidance, and hands-on investigation opportunities to uncover and investigate corruption and organised and financial crime in multilateral cooperation and partnerships.
Partners
Next-Level Data and Tools for Investigative Journalism (Next-IJ) is led by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC) – through the Joint Research Centre on Innovation and Crime (Transcrime) and the School of Journalism – and the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD). The initiative is supported by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EECEA) of the European Commission.
Last updated