We are glad to announce the birth of the first centre for investigative journalism in Italy, the Investigative Reporting Project Italy (IRPI).

IRPI was born due to the fortunate meeting of its founders at the seventh Global Investigative Journalism Conference (GIJC). From then on, eight Italian journalists began networking to establish an organisation dedicated to investigative journalism, the first of its kind in Italy. 

IRPI’s members are Guia Baggi, who provided the spark for IRPI after getting inspired by her MA thesis on non-profit investigative journalism organisations from around the world; Leo Sisti, former investigative reporter at ‘L’Espresso’ newsweekly magazine and member of ICIJ; Cecilia Anesi and Giulio Rubino, both journalists and videomakers, co-authors of the documentary ‘Toxic Europe’; Lorenzo Bodrero, expert of organised crime; Cecilia Ferrara, expert of organised crime and the Balkans;Guido Romeo, editor of the science section of the Italian edition of Wired and expert of datajournalism; Alessia Cerantola, expert of Far East Asia; Mara Monti, financial reporter of ‘Il Sole 24 Ore’.

IRPI’s founders believe the cross-borderness of investigative journalism is the future. IRPI wishes to assure transnationalism in investigations both through the choice of topics and through the construction of a wide network of international contacts.

IRPI will have an Italian soul, but express itself globally. In fact, foreign collaborations in inquiries are not only welcome, but also recognised as crucial. Moreover, by offering a fixing service for foreign media and reporters, IRPI aims at creating a new market space in the currently stagnating Italian one.

IRPI has received the support of a number of high-profile investigative reporters: Mark Lee Hunter, an American IRE award-winning investigative journalist and scholar based in Paris - professor at the Insead Business School; David Leigh, editor of the investigative section of The Guardian; Charles Lewis, founder of the Center for Public Integrity and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) in Washington, currently professor at the American University School of Communication; Serena Tinari, an award-winning reporter of RSI, the Swiss public broadcaster in Italian language; Milena Gabanelli, editor of RAI’s TV show ‘Report’, one of the most authoritative investigative show of the Italian public television.

Our hope is that of receiving the support and collaboration of other reporters and centres for investigative journalism, both for investigations and other kind of projects related to investigative journalism.

Team of IRPI