New support for investigative journalists in Northwest Russia
SCOOP Russia is a peer-to-peer programme which supports and develops investigative journalism in Northwest Russia
The success of the investigative journalism support network SCOOP covering Eastern Europe and the Caucasus has prompted IMS to develop a comparable support structure for regions of Northwest Russia. The SCOOP Russia programme provides training, practical resources and individual awards to enable journalists to conduct concrete investigations and thereby strengthen investigative journalism in Russia.
The SCOOP Russia programme has been developed with coordination between media partners in Scandinavia and Russia including International Media Support (IMS), the Danish Association for Investigative Journalism (FUJ), the Fojo Media Institute (FOJO), the Swedish Association of Investigative Journalists (FGJ) and the Regional Press Institute (RPI) based in Russia.
The origin of SCOOP Russia
SCOOP began in early 2003 to foster peer-to-peer support among investigative journalists in Eastern and Southeastern Europe. Since then many investigative reports have been published in media all over the region.
In the Russian Federation, as in other transition countries, the media cannot consistently monitor and analyse public life usually due to a lack of financial resources and the influence of outside vested interests. Additionally, there is little media development work in Russia today and many training institutions, such as the Faculty of Journalism in Archangelsk University, do not include investigative journalism as part of the curriculum.
SCOOP Russia is targeting those male and female journalists and media outlets that wish to pursue journalistic investigations but cannot due to a lack of resources. Through a combination of coaching, financial support and access to a global media network, SCOOP Russia will work to spread the advance of investigative journalism in the region.
Scope of SCOOP
SCOOP Russia will initially be launched in four different regions of Northwest Russia. These focus areas include Kalingrad, Petrozavodsk and Murmansk, the city of St. Petersburg and the areas surrounding St. Petersburg. Journalists from these four areas will receive an individual award to conduct a local investigation and a local media expert to advise and counsel them during their reporting.
The investigations must reveal new and important information of interest to the public, and the journalists must have access to relevant sources and key information to the stories. Finally, the investigation must be based on publishing agreements with at least one media outlet.
SCOOP Russia seeks to build a greater capacity for investigative work in the country as well as to establish new interest and appreciation for the role of media as society’s watchdog.
Click here to read about the application process and to apply. Deadline for applications: February 6
