Nonprofit media organization CORRECTIV, through its network CORRECTIV.Europe, is dedicated to strengthening local investigative journalism across Europe. Local media play a crucial role in keeping societies well-informed, yet they are under increasing pressure. “We had spoken with thousands of citizens and listened to what was really happening in their lives.”

Groundbreaking investigation

For CORRECTIV, 2024 was a year of deeper engagement with the public. A major turning point was their groundbreaking investigation into a secret gathering of far-right extremists, where plans for mass deportations of German citizens — including migrants and people with migration backgrounds — were discussed.

David Schraven, editor-in-chief and co-founder of CORRECTIV, explains: “Coordinated efforts attempted to discredit our publications, while social media was flooded with disinformation, amplified by algorithms. Our response was simple: we fought back with facts. We published two books on the investigation and took them on the road. More than 150 events later, we had spoken with thousands of citizens and listened to what was really happening in their lives.”

Looking for a scapegoat

The conversations led to surprising insights. David continues: “What we discovered was that negativity about migration often wasn’t about migration itself. Instead, people were struggling with rising costs of living and looking for someone to blame — either the government or migrants. People were angry because even the cheapest butter got more expensive. We also found that young people are increasingly shifting toward right-wing ideologies, and that young voices are largely absent from media coverage.”

Listening to the public

Joanna Krawczyk, managing director of CORRECTIV.Europe, adds: “These public discussions were essential. As investigative journalists, we had become disconnected from our audience. Digital bubbles have replaced face-to-face interactions, and people no longer know who produces news or how it’s made. The second election of Trump was a wake-up call: many in the media, and in civil society, wanted to believe Kamala Harris would win.”

“They were wrong because they hadn’t been out on the streets of small towns, listening to people. We’ve gone back to the basics, rebuilding our connection with the public. Our German network of over 2,000 local journalists plays a key role in this. Now, we’re applying these lessons to CORRECTIV.Europe, a newsroom and network for local media across the continent.”

Recipes for local journalism

CORRECTIV.Europe was founded to strengthen local investigative journalism in Europe and foster better connections between journalists and their audiences. Joanna explains: “We support and connect local investigative journalists across Europe, enabling them to uncover wrongdoing on a meta level and cover socially relevant issues in their communities. More than 320 local journalists and news organizations are part of our network.”

“Together, we develop ‘recipes’ for local stories with a pan-European angle — these can include datasets on specific topics, innovative research methods, ideas for community engagement, access to expert sources, media conferences to learn and meet peers, specialized training sessions or – soon to be introduced – tools for crowdsourced local investigations.”

The pancake index

Journalists in the network collaborate on stories that matter to their local audiences. Joanna notes: “As a member of our newsroom, you can connect with journalists from across Europe, exchange ideas, and receive support from the CORRECTIV.Europe team for your investigations. One of our recent projects focused on local pollution. Using the data we provided and expert interviews, local journalists were able to identify those responsible in their regions.”

David adds: “Listening to local journalists often brings unexpected insights. For example, the price of butter turned out to be a hot topic everywhere. This led to the creation of the ‘Pancake Index’, a metaphor for comparing the cost of living. Pancake recipes vary across European regions, but ingredients like butter, oil, and flour are universal. By analyzing their prices, we can better understand the economic situation in different areas. Local media can then translate this into stories that directly impact their audiences.”

More relevant to readers

Joanna stresses that the clock is ticking for local media. “Local news outlets across Europe are facing an existential crisis. Yet they remain a cornerstone of democracy. Nearly half of Europeans read local news at least once a week. Our local focus brings journalism closer to people, step by step bridging the gap between news producers and their audiences.”

Why we support CORRECTIV. Europe

Ebru Akgün, our program manager for Informed Society, explains why we support CORRECTIV.Europe: “We believe in the power of local investigative journalism. Local journalists have an unmatched understanding of their communities and report on issues that directly impact people’s daily lives. A well-functioning democracy requires power to be held accountable from the ground up, ensuring that citizens are well-informed.”

“CORRECTIV has extensive experience in building strong journalistic networks and developing innovative investigative methods that can be applied internationally. With CORRECTIV.Europe, they are now bringing this approach to a local level across Europe.”