At the European Center for Investigative Journalism (ECIJ), transparency is not just a buzzword — it is the foundation of our credibility, our methods, and our relationship with the public.
We exist to demand openness from those in power. We can only do so credibly if we practice what we preach.
What transparency means to us in practice
1. Open about our funding
ECIJ is funded exclusively by donations, grants from independent foundations, and occasional journalistic prizes. We do not accept money from governments, political parties, corporations, lobbyists, or individuals who could reasonably be seen as having a stake in the subjects we investigate.
– We publish an annual financial summary (income sources by category, major donors if they consent to be named, expenditure breakdown) on our website.
– Full donor list (with amounts where donors agree) is available upon request for amounts above €10,000.
2. Methodological transparency
Whenever possible and consistent with source protection, we publish detailed methodology notes for our major investigations:
– Types of documents analysed
– Number of sources interviewed
– Verification procedures
– Participating journalists and media partners
– Tools and databases used
These notes appear at the bottom of published stories or in dedicated “How we did it” sections.
3. Funding of individual projects
For every major cross-border investigation we clearly state:
– Which foundations or donors specifically supported that project (if they agree)
– Whether any participating media outlet received separate funding for their part of the work
This helps readers assess potential influences.
4. Corrections policy
We correct errors promptly and transparently:
– Minor factual corrections are updated in the article with a note at the top (“Updated [date]: corrected X to Y”).
– Significant errors receive a standalone correction notice linked from the original story and announced in our newsletter.
– We keep an archive of all corrections going back to our founding in 2019.
5. Governance and decision-making
– Editorial independence is enshrined in our statutes. No donor, no matter how large, has any say over story selection, framing, timing, or conclusions.
– Our small core team makes editorial decisions collectively, with input from regional coordinators and network journalists.
– We have an informal external advisory board of senior journalists and media lawyers who review our major projects for ethical and legal risks (their names are public).
6. Source protection & whistleblower safeguards
While protecting sources is our highest priority (and sometimes limits what we can disclose), we are transparent about the security measures we offer:
– Encrypted submission channels (Signal, SecureDrop when fully implemented, ProtonMail)
– Metadata stripping protocols
– No logging of source IP addresses on tip lines
– Legal support network in case sources face retaliation
7. Our own data & privacy practices
See our separate Privacy Policy (linked in the footer of every page). We keep only the minimum data needed, never sell it, and give users full control.
Why this level of transparency matters
In an era of declining trust in institutions — including media — we believe the only way to rebuild confidence is to let people see exactly how the sausage is made. When we demand asset declarations, lobbying registers, conflict-of-interest rules, and open tender processes from politicians, we must hold ourselves to at least the same standard.
If you ever have questions about our funding, methods, partnerships, corrections, or anything else, email transparency@ecij.org. We answer honestly and publicly whenever possible.
Transparency is how we earn the right to ask uncomfortable questions of the powerful. We will never stop demanding it — starting with ourselves.
