In recent years, journalists at Peruvian investigative site IDL-Reporteros have dug into corruption scandals that implicated presidents, politicians and judges. Their work has led to legal investigations and reform, but also to online attacks and protests against their own team, as well as efforts to get them to reveal sources.
On Sept. 28, they were recognized with the first place Global Shining Light Award in the small outlets category for the reports “Car Wash”/”White Collars” (Lava Jato/Lava Juez).
“IDL-Reporters was one of the first media outlets to report on the bribes of Brazilian construction company Odebrecht and its complex corruption network,” GIJN wrote. “As IDL-Reporteros doggedly continued reporting the case, their journalists uncovered another major story: corruption at the highest levels of Peru’s courts.”
IDL-Reporteros won the Global Shining Light Award in part for its investigations into the Peruvian judicial system. (Screenshot)
Journalists Gustavo Gorriti, Romina Mella Hernánd P. Floríndez, Rosa Laura and Margot Desautez worked on the “Car Wash” series. For the “White Collars” series, the team included Gorriti, Mella, Floríndez, Laura, Desautez, Patricia Mayorga, Cruz Silva and Luis Miguel Purizaga.
The Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) announced the awards at its conference in Hamburg, Germany. Winners were selected from 12 finalists, but an initial 291 entries from around the world were received, according to the organization.
The Global Shining Light Award “honors investigative journalism conducted in developing or transitioning countries, done under threat, duress, or in the direst of conditions.”
Other winning investigative reports came from Rappler (the Philippines); Africa Uncensored (South Sudan); Daily Maverick, amaBhungane, News24, OpenUp, Finance Uncovered (South Africa); and OCCRP (Azerbaijan).
The GIJN is an "international association of journalism organizations that support the training and sharing of information among investigative and data journalists -- even in repressive regimes and marginalized communities."
