Investigative journalism
IJ - careful with exposure to gov. Officials
OCCRP and the USAID controversy
In 2024, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) faced attacks in the French press after it was revealed that part of its funding came from USAID.
Critics portrayed the outlet as compromised, despite its strong record of independent investigations.
The controversy forced OCCRP to publicly defend its editorial independence, with GIJN and others issuing statements of support.
This case illustrates how even transparent, lawful donor support can be weaponised to undermine credibility — and why risk assessments, visibility waivers, and clear communication about editorial firewalls are vital components of a “do no harm” approach.
Editorial firewalls in donor-funded media
Clear contractual clauses, side-letters, or public statements can establish an editorial firewall between funding and content.
These provisions make explicit that donors cannot influence editorial choices, story selection, or investigative priorities. Communicating this firewall — both internally to staff and externally to audiences — helps safeguard trust.
The OCCRP/USAID controversy shows that even lawful, transparent funding can be weaponised by critics; editorial firewalls and proactive communication strategies reduce the risk that support will be seen as editorial interference.
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