Where Investigative Journalism Meets Code and Innovation
Imagine this: You’re not just coding, but cracking global abusive power structures. You’re building tools that empower journalists to expose the secrets of the powerful – from offshore scandals to international arms trafficking. This is the world of Ștefan Cândea, a trailblazer in cross-border investigative journalism who wields tech and research as a force against injustice.
Johannes Wiek invites you and the entire CODE community – plus friends from our wider network – to an exclusive Fireside Discussion with Ștefan Cândea. Ștefan will dive into real-world examples from his work: how journalists and technologists collaborate to combat data feudalism, ensure equitable tech control, and develop investigative toolkits for the post-Snowden era. Then, it’s your turn: join an open discussion and grill him with your questions! How do we shape future collaborations? How can your skills in Software Engineering or Interaction Design drive societal impact?
Ștefan Cândea isn’t your average journalist – he’s a tech visionary with a Harvard Nieman Fellowship and a PhD in Cross-border Investigative Journalism. As co-founder of the European Investigative Collaborations (EIC) network, he’s forged partnerships with heavyweights like Der Spiegel, Mediapart, The Washington Post, Reuters, and Bloomberg. His track record? Uncovering organized crime in Eastern Europe, exposing illegal adoption rings, and contributing to groundbreaking projects like Secrecy for Sale(part of the Offshore Leaks). For two decades, he’s fought for press freedom as Romania’s correspondent for Reporters Without Borders (RSF). And the best part? He’s building Media Labs and eDiscovery tools that break down barriers to collaborative investigations – a perfect match for CODE students passionate about AI, data analytics, and interdisciplinary projects!
This is your chance to connect with a true changemaker in a relaxed, fireside chat format. Whether you’re into tech ethics, building tools for data journalism, or curious about cross-disciplinary spaces, this event blends learning, research, and practice the CODE way: hands-on, innovative, and collaborative.
Note: Due to the sensitive nature of the information Ștefan will share, this event is in-person only. Video and audio recordings are strictly prohibited.
Recommended reading to prep (optional):