2016 Jakarta World Forum on Media Development

Since the last World Forum on Media Development in 2012, investigative journalism has made headlines by uncovering stories with remarkable international impact: The NSA Files, the Panama Papers, YanukovychLeaks, and many others. Local groups and transnational initiatives have bloomed seemingly everywhere, giving new meaning to collaborative news production and proving that in a globalized world, the media play an indispensable role in scrutinizing corruption, crime, and politics, and in pushing the agenda for transparency and accountability. It has also shown that deep inquiries and print journalism are not dead. Indeed, investigative journalism has never been so exciting and impactful. Small amounts of international assistance have produced returns on investment in the billions of dollars in fines and settlements, not to mention lives saved. Despite all this, the field remains risky and chronically underfunded, and strives to find sustainable business models. Investigative reporting deserves better recognition as a journalistic practice that works primarily for the a public interest. What can be done to better support its development?