From OSINT to Aleph: What Journalists Learned at Next-IJ’s First Investigative Journalism Training

We’re excited to share that the first edition of the Next-IJ Training Programme has officially concluded, empowering 38 mid-career journalists and professionals from across Europe with cutting-edge skills to tackle corruption and complex investigations in the digital age.

Held virtually on Thursday, 26 June 2025, the intensive full-day programme was led by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) in collaboration with Transcrime-Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (UCSC) and the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD). The initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen cross-border reporting, enabling participants to follow financial trails, uncover hidden assets, and use open-source intelligence (OSINT) tools effectively and ethically.

Training Highlights

Throughout the day, journalists explored an array of digital tools and investigative techniques, focusing on how to dissect complex corporate structures, track illicit financial flows, and handle sensitive data responsibly.

Key highlights from the programme included:

  • How to ‘Follow the Money: David Illeski, reporter and researcher for OCCRP ID (Investigative Dashboard), shared actionable techniques for tracing wealth and identifying proxies to uncover corruption, drawing on real-life examples to dig into names, dates of birth, asset ownership, and social media footprints.

  • The Power of Public Records: Daniel Balint-Kurti, OCCRP editor, demonstrated how minute details in official documents can unlock critical revelations in large-scale investigations.

  • OSINT Fundamentals: Angus Peacock, a Latin America researcher at OCCRP, guided participants through the essentials of open-source intelligence, including geolocation, satellite imagery analysis, social media monitoring, and tracking vessels and aircraft.

  • Advanced Investigative Tools: Giovanni Nicolazzo, a Transcrime researcher, introduced DATACROS III – a sophisticated platform for identifying high-risk corporate ownership structures. He was joined by Massimiliano Càrpino, Transcrime’s Legal, Ethics & Compliance Advisor, who outlined the legal safeguards for responsible and compliant investigations.

  • Aleph for Investigative Research: Eric Barrett, Data Director at OCCRP, demonstrated Aleph, OCCRP’s powerful investigative platform that aggregates public records, leaks, and structured data for deep-dive analysis and allows users to map the relationship between different figures involved in a story.

What Participants Are Saying

The training featured interactive segments, allowing journalists to share their experiences – from managing uncooperative institutions to overcoming data barriers. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many participants praising the programme’s practical approach to showcasing different tools and methodologies.

One participant shared:

"I’m thrilled with the Next-IJ training programme, which equipped me with cutting-edge skills in investigative journalism”, “The competent presenters delivered engaging, practical sessions that made complex concepts accessible and inspiring”.

Another added:

"It’s an excellent opportunity. Particularly for me, as I am heavily involved in research related to ‘Follow the Money’ and OSINT techniques, it was very useful. Learning to use Aleph will help me simplify my work and access important documents more quickly."

Many cited the Follow the Money sessions and OSINT tools as the most valuable aspects of the training, particularly for those focused on financial transparency, public accountability, and illicit finance investigations.

Beyond the Training: A New Investigative Community

To keep the momentum going, participants joined a dedicated Signal group for ongoing collaboration, knowledge sharing, and peer support. It’s already becoming a hub for exchange, advice, and even cross-border partnerships.

Don’t Miss Out – July & September Cohorts Are Coming!

Missed the first training session? There’s still time to get involved.

📝 Register now for the July training: https://form.jotform.com/251242589308359

📆 Deadline: 5 July 2025

And if you can’t make the July session, don’t worry—the September cohort is coming soon. 👉 Applications for September will open at the end of July. Stay tuned and make sure you're signed up for our mailing list for updates!

This training was made possible thanks to the support of the Creative Media Europe programme from the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EECEA) of the European Commission. Next-IJ strengthens European journalists, newsrooms, and media outlets with cutting-edge tools and expertise to combat corruption, financial crime, and organised crime.

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