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The 20th International Congress of Investigative Journalism, organized by Abraji (the Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism), will take place from July 10 to 13 at ESPM in São Paulo. Celebrating two decades of history, the event has become one of Brazil’s leading spaces for professional development, networking, and exchanging experiences among journalists, and will welcome journalists from various countries to join panels and roundtables. The goal is to address urgent and relevant topics in investigative journalism, including artificial intelligence and COP30 (the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference), which will take place in November in Belém, Brazil.
Confirmed international guests include Emília Diaz-Struck (USA), Jonathan Soma (USA), Karen Gil (Bolivia), and Nicolás Sepúlveda (Chile). One of the most prominent names is Chilean journalist Nicolás Sepúlveda, from The Clinic. Sepúlveda is widely recognized for his high-impact investigative reporting, which has uncovered major corruption cases and human rights violations in Chile. He was responsible for revealing the “Hermosilla Case”, which uncovered a corruption scheme that shook the country’s political, business, and judicial elite.
The episode happened in 2024, when CIPER released a leaked audio recording of a conversation between renowned lawyer Luis Hermosilla, his colleague Leonarda Villalobos, and businessman Daniel Sauer, who was under investigation for fraud. In the recording, Hermosilla refers to the payment of bribes to prevent Sauer’s arrest. The scandal triggered a wave of investigations and became one of Chile's most significant corruption cases since the country’s return to democracy in 1990.
Journalist Emília Diaz-Struck, from the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN), will also be present at the Congress. Diaz-Struck is a leading figure in Latin American investigative journalism, known for her participation in international projects with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) — some of which have won the Pulitzer Prize, such as the Panama Papers. She is a professor at Central University of Venezuela and co-founder of the investigative website Armando.info.
The event will also feature Jonathan Soma, a programmer and professor at the Columbia Journalism School. The New York professional is the co-founder of the School of Data, a platform offering training in data journalism. He is also one of the leading experts on artificial intelligence, one of the main themes of both the Congress and the Data Sunday program.
The diversity of perspectives and experiences promises to enrich the discussions and offer attendees a broader view of the transformations journalism is currently undergoing. In addition, the event will be an opportunity for students, reporters, editors, and researchers to connect and reflect together on the future of the profession.
The full schedule — including session topics, other guest names and timetables — will be published soon on the Congress website.
Get to know some of the confirmed international journalists
Emília Diaz-Struck
Emília Diaz-Struck, Executive Director of GIJN and former data editor at the ICIJ, is a leading figure in investigative and data journalism in Latin America. She has taken part in award-winning investigations such as the Panama Papers and Pandora Papers, collaborating with journalists in over 110 countries. She is also a professor at Columbia University.
Jonathan Soma
Jonathan Soma is a programmer and educator who has collaborated with major outlets such as ProPublica and The New York Times. His work focuses on making inaccessible data accessible. He is also the creator of award-winning projects and co-founder of Brooklyn Brainery, a space dedicated to collaborative learning.
Karen Gil
Karen Gil is a Bolivian investigative journalist, filmmaker, and actress specializing in human rights with a focus on women and Indigenous peoples. She is the director of the La Brava digital magazine and a mentor in both the Human Rights Journalism Program and the Escazú Agreement Program. In 2016, she received Bolivia’s National Journalism Award for her “Ser autoridad mujer en una Bolivia machista" report.
Nicolás Sepúlveda
Nicolás Sepúlveda is an editor at The Clinic and has contributed to international media outlets such as Televisa and Pipeline Production. He specializes in investigating political and business corruption, as well as irregularities in the Armed Forces and the Carabineros. Winner of multiple awards, including Journalism of Excellence in 2019 and 2022, Sepúlveda also teaches investigative journalism at the University of Chile and the University of Santo Tomás.
Services
20th International Congress of Investigative Journalism
Venue: ESPM - Álvaro Alvim Campus
Rua Doutor Álvaro Alvim, 123 - Vila Mariana - São Paulo
Date: July 10-13, 2024
Registration will be open soon.
This article was produced by students from ESPM-SP's investigative journalism workshop, in partnership with Abraji.
Credits for the cover image: Luciana Vassoler/Abraji
