Uncovering the Story: Inside the First Next-IJ Investigathon
The first Next-IJ Investigathon in Milan has concluded, but the investigations it set in motion are only just beginning.
From 14 to 16 January, more than 30 investigative journalists from across Europe, joined by students from the UCSC School of Journalism, gathered at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC) to work on concrete, data-driven investigations. Participants spent three days collaboratively testing hypotheses, mapping networks, and developing cross-border story ideas grounded in data and editorial strategy, using analytical tools such as OCCRP’s Aleph Pro and Transcrime’s DATACROS.
What is an Investigathon?
An Investigathon is an intensive, collaborative format designed to prepare and launch real investigative reporting, not simulations. Participants work in cross-border teams on high-priority topics, collectively sifting through data, sources, and tools to identify story angles that can be pursued independently or collaboratively after the event.
The goal is twofold: to respond to urgent investigative challenges and to spur innovation in the use of data, technology, and collaboration in public-interest journalism. Each Investigathon also plays a strategic role within the Next-IJ programme by helping identify the topic for an upcoming official cross-border pilot investigation.
Three investigation tracks
This first Investigathon focused on three thematic workstreams, each selected for its relevance across multiple European contexts and potential for cross-border collaboration. Participants mapped transnational networks, clone websites, and certification claims, with access to investigative tools making these investigations possible. As one participant from Armenia put it,
“Gaining access to DATACROS was a highlight for me, as it is an essential resource for in-depth research. Additionally, I developed new technical skills in utilising the Aleph platform, specifically learning how to better navigate and query its databases for complex investigations.”
Working with real datasets allowed participants to move quickly from theory to practice:
“The research sessions were incredibly helpful, especially having people around who you could immediately turn to for help or quick questions.” - participant from Austria.
The collaborative environment allowed teams to combine local knowledge with shared data analysis, helping identify patterns that would be difficult to spot from a single-country perspective. Participants analysed company ownership, tenders, and supply chains, comparing registry access and data availability across countries. The diversity of perspectives proved crucial:
“I particularly enjoyed the group work. It was very interesting to collaborate with participants from so many different countries, which brought a great variety of perspectives to the table.” - participant from Armenia.
Tools and investigative methods
A core element of the Investigathon was hands-on work with investigative tools and workflows, supported throughout by editors, researchers, and technical experts. Participants worked extensively with Aleph Pro and DATACROS, alongside other databases and open-source tools.
OCCRP’s Aleph Pro is an investigative data platform that helps reporters follow the money by providing access to a vast archive of government records and open databases. While much of the archive is restricted for data protection reasons, OCCRP grants access to journalists and activists on a case-by-case basis. Beyond document search, Aleph Pro supports structured data analysis, allowing users to upload files, explore links between people, companies, and transactions, extract and analyse text, and manage private investigations.
DATACROS is a next-gen tool for investigating complex organised and financial crime schemes, already adopted by journalists, law enforcement agencies and public authorities across Europe. It allows users to access and cross-reference datasets, unravel and visualise complex ownership structures, and identify suspicious links and high-risk entities employing research-based anomaly indicators. In the Datacros III project phase, funded by the EU and coordinated by Transcrime, new datasets and AI functionalities are being integrated.
Short refreshers at the start of the event were followed by long, uninterrupted research blocks, allowing teams to test tools directly on their investigations.
As one participant from Austria noted:
“It was great that we had proper time blocks for research. Sometimes you are deep into a topic and in a flow, and you really do not want to stop. A single 90-minute session would not have been enough, so I was very glad that we even had a three-hour block at one point.”
Another participant from Georgia highlighted:
“I gained practical skills in using new investigative tools and workflows shared by OCCRP investigators, especially techniques for efficient data cross-checking and verification. I also picked up tips on structuring leads, organising findings, and moving faster from raw data to publishable story angles, helped by detailed feedback from editors during the sessions.”
Having mentors available throughout the process made it easier to troubleshoot, refine search strategies, and rethink investigative approaches in real time.
Collaboration at the centre
Beyond tools and data, participants repeatedly highlighted the value of working together in person, sharing unfinished ideas and learning from each other’s methods.
“The networking opportunities were the most valuable aspect for me. Building connections with professionals from different regions and backgrounds provided a great platform for future collaboration and knowledge sharing.” - participant from Armenia.
The Investigathon format encouraged openness and experimentation, helping teams move faster and think more ambitiously about cross-border investigations. Collaboration proved effective even when participants were working beyond their own national contexts:
“Group work was really inspiring and efficient – people were very engaged, even if they knew that they may not be able to cover their own country. The participation of students enriched the sessions; they were very hands-on and proactive.” - participant from Malta.
The format also deliberately fostered transgenerational exchange, allowing early-career journalists to work alongside experienced investigators. Reflecting on this dynamic, Laura Silvia Battaglia al-Jalal, editor-in-chief of Catholic J-School Publications and investigative reporter, said:
“Organising and hosting an Investigathon with experienced professionals, like OCCRP colleagues, is a perfect learning opportunity: first, to immediately familiarise trainee journalists with data journalism; second, to develop a transgenerational perspective on investigative hypotheses, also drawing on the perspective of Gen Z.”
Students described the experience as both demanding and formative. Several noted that working alongside experienced reporters gave them a clearer understanding of the time, patience, and collective reasoning required for investigative journalism, from extracting information from large datasets to debating investigative hypotheses and shaping stories and formats collaboratively.
What’s next? From Investigathon to investigation
Many of the investigations launched during the Investigathon are continuing beyond Milan. Updates on their progress will be shared on the Next-IJ website in the coming months as these story ideas develop into published investigations. Reflecting on the event, OCCRP’s Editor-in-Chief Miranda Patrucic emphasised:
“It was inspiring to see so many journalists from across Europe and beyond engaging deeply with topics of crime and corruption, exploring data and connecting with each other. This level of cross-border collaboration is the engine of investigative reporting. All the participants worked impressively to generate genuinely exciting leads. We look forward to the next steps to develop the best ideas into stories published by OCCRP and media around Europe.”
The next Investigathon is scheduled for autumn 2026 and will be open to selected participants from the Next-IJ online trainings (of which three more will be held this spring). Dates and calls for applications will be announced soon.
The Investigathon was hosted by Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, with Next-IJ led by OCCRP, Transcrime, and GFMD. Next-IJ is supported by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) of the European Commission, strengthening investigative journalism across Europe through tools, training, and cross-border collaboration.
