GIJC 2025 Events

GFMD will organise three events at the 2025 Global Investigative Journalism Conference (20-24 November 2025, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Side Events – 21 November (Afternoon)

co-organised by the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) and DW Akademie

Two one-hour back-to-back sessions.

From principles to practice: Making the case for funding journalism and media development

Venue: TBC

Date: November 21st 2025

Time: afternoon - TBC

Duration: 1 hour

Registration: due to limited room capacity to attend please register here.

Background: Major donors are slashing media development funding, from USAID across donors in Europe to philanthropic institutions, reprioritising them with a focus on security and economic development rather than human rights. In this context, protagonists in media development are called upon to stand together. How can we join forces to make the case for funding of media development and public interest media?

Meeting objective: This interactive session aims to explore practical ways to strengthen advocacy and fundraising for media development. Participants will discuss experiences of using traditional arguments — including the value of media support from a human rights perspective — as well as non-traditional arguments, such as those based on economic and security considerations. They will share lessons learned and review tools and resources for programme design and advocacy. Specifically, participants will be familiarised with the TED Toolkit developed by the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) for the Team Europe Democracy Initiative and with DW Akademie’s State of Media Development Report. Both are based on the OECD’s Development Co-operation Principles for Relevant and Effective Support to Media and the Information Environment. They provide insights into advocacy messaging, case studies and hard numbers that can be used to convince current and prospective benefactors.

These efforts build upon initiatives such as the Media Viability Manifesto, the EU Multiannual Financial Framework submission, or the recently adopted M20 Johannesburg Declaration. The aim of all these efforts is to remind funders and donors of the importance of information integrity and independent journalism as a public good.

Draft agenda

Moderators and facilitators:

• Laura Moore, Head of Research and Evaluation, DW Akademie

• Dennis Reineck, Senior Consultant, DW Akademie

• Tom Law, Deputy Director, Global Forum for Media Development

Time	Segment	Description & speakers
0:00–0:08	Welcome & session overview	• Outline session goals • Provide brief context on funding challenges and explain the session flow.
0:08–0:35	Interactive segment: “Sharing the experience”	Facilitators: Tom Law & Dennis Reineck • Participants share experiences of approaching donors and funders • Highlight lessons learned
0:55–0:55	Tools for advocacy and action	• Overview of tools reflected on during the interactive section • Highlights from the State of Media Development Report and TED Toolkit
0:55–1:00	Conclusion	• Final participant comments and feedback • Closing remarks

Winning allies, unlocking funds: How journalists can advocate for support from global finance institutions

Venue: TBC

Date: November 21st 2025

Time: afternoon - TBC

Duration: 1 hour

Registration: due to limited room capacity to attend please register here.

Session focus:

The session will focus on strategies and tactics for arguing for strengthening the capacity of investigative journalists and media organisations to combat illicit finance by:

• Exploring new approaches and strategies for funding investigative journalism, including innovative sources beyond traditional donors.

• Examining modalities for collective action within the investigative journalism community, including collaboration across networks, joint initiatives, donor engagement strategies, shared advocacy tools, and collective documentation of investigative impact.

• Identifying major gaps in models of current funding, advocacy, and collaborative approaches, and proposing actionable solutions.

• Linking investigative journalism to FFD4 Outcome Document commitments and follow-up activities.

• Discussing tools, case studies, and strategies to engage states, international organisations, and donors in supporting investigative journalism.

Who should attend: This session is particularly relevant for journalists, investigative media networks, and media support organisations working on IFFs, transparency, accountability, and public engagement in development financing.

This working meeting builds on the Financing for Development Conference (FFD4) and its final Outcome Document, the Sevilla Commitment, which recognizes the media’s essential role in exposing illicit financial flows (IFFs). FFD4 was a pivotal global policy process addressing transparency, accountability, and public engagement in development financing. Our community successfully advocated for recognition of the media’s role and the resources needed to support it.

Draft agenda

Moderator: Mira Milosevic, Executive Director, Global Forum for Media Development

Time	Segment	Description & speakers
0:00–0:05	Welcome & session overview	Outline session objectives.
0:05–0:25	Where is the funding for investigative journalism?	Explore innovative approaches to support investigative journalism, including strategies for securing both traditional and non-traditional donor support. Participants share experiences and lessons learned.
0:25–0:45	Collective issues require collective approaches	Discuss how investigative journalism networks can work together to advocate for increased funding. Explore collaborative strategies such as donor engagement toolkits, joint initiatives, op-eds, and investigative journalism impact repositories.
0:45–0:55	Using policy processes to advance investigative journalism	Explore how global policy frameworks, including FFD4 commitments, can support advocacy for investigative journalism and how can existing funders support this work.
0:55–1:00	Key takeaways & closing reflections	Summarise key insights, actions, and next steps for collective advocacy.

Pre - conference day events

GFMD Steering Committee meeting

20th November 2025 – 10:00–17:00

This meeting will bring together the outgoing and newly-elected Steering Committee of the Global Forum for Media Development. Every four years GFMD members elect a representative cohort of 17 delegates who are responsible for major strategic and policy matters, GFMD memberships issues, and oversee the work of the GFMD Secretariat. A new GFMD Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and Treasurer will be elected at the meeting to serve from 2025 to 2029.

If you or your colleagues will be attending GIJC25, please let the GFMD Secretariat know in order to coordinate opportunities to connect and collaborate during the conference.