Key Insights from Recent Corporate Inquiries
In a series of groundbreaking investigations, journalists have shone a light on various issues plaguing society, from corruption and exploitation to environmental threats.
The Reveal Center for Investigative Reporting has exposed shady dealings by Ericsson, a Sweden-based global telecom corporation, in Iraq. The ICIJ's investigation found that Ericsson made tens of millions of dollars in suspicious payments in Iraq over nearly a decade. The individuals involved in the corruption case, which includes company executives and intermediaries, participated in bribery schemes to secure contracts, although specific names have not been publicly detailed.
Meanwhile, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, in collaboration with Brazilian magazine piauí, has exposed how illegal farming and deforestation in Brazil's Amazon are supplying the global beef industry. JBS, a global beef giant, has been found to have purchased over 21,000 cattle from such sources. Deforestation in the Amazon poses a significant threat to indigenous peoples, the area's biodiversity, and efforts to mitigate climate change. Cattle ranching is responsible for 90% of Amazon deforestation, according to expert estimates.
In the United States, the U.S. Census Bureau offers extensive demographic data, and ProPublica publishes many data sets as well. The Center for Public Integrity has highlighted the increase in guest workers in the U.S. performing low-wage labor in the 2010s, with the number tripling during this period. However, U.S. Labor Department investigations into cases of wage theft have not kept pace with the rise in guest workers, raising concerns about wage exploitation.
The ICIJ's investigation also raises questions about the U.S. Department of Justice's decision to settle corporate criminal cases using deferred prosecution agreements. The largest political donation ever recorded in U.S. history, $1.6 billion, is now controlled by one of the country's most influential, conservative figures.
Journalists are encouraged to follow the money and investigate the finances and tax filings of local non-profit political groups in their coverage area. ProPublica has reported on a secretive billionaire who donated $1.6 billion to a dark money group, enabling a tax avoidance of up to $400 million.
Government data sets can provide story ideas for journalists, such as bills introduced to Congress, toxic air pollution hotspots in the U.S., and news stories about hate crimes. The reporters made their data and code available to the public and published a Spanish version of the True the Vote story.
Allan de Abreu and the OCCRP used satellite imagery to illustrate the extent of one farm's impact on deforestation between 2004 and 2020, providing a simple yet powerful tool for other journalists to replicate in their coverage areas. The Reveal Center for Investigative Reporting's investigation into True the Vote illustrates how the organization enriched its founders while leading an anti-democracy crusade to challenge the results of the 2020 Election.
These investigations serve as a reminder of the importance of journalism in holding power to account and shedding light on issues that might otherwise remain hidden.
