Geospatial Espresso: Do we need a Satellite for Journalism?

​☕ What would a satellite for journalism look like?

​Satellite imagery has become a critical layer for investigative reporting — from documenting conflict damage to verifying events in inaccessible regions. For the first time, events on the ground could be independently observed from space.

​Yet this visibility is increasingly constrained. Access to high-resolution data is often restricted in active conflict zones, and the technical barrier to working with available data remains high. What journalists can see from orbit is no longer guaranteed.

​Vertical52 is currently preparing a feasibility study for dedicated satellite capacity for journalism and public-interest reporting — with the aim of safeguarding independent access to space-based evidence.

​This informal morning meet-up at Caffè della Penna is designed to gather input for this work. What kind of access is missing? Where do current providers fall short? And what would journalists actually need from a satellite system built for their purposes?

​At the same time, journalists working on concrete stories are equally welcome to bring their current challenges — whether it is finding suitable imagery, interpreting what they are seeing, or understanding what is and is not possible with satellite data. The session is meant as both a space for forward-looking discussion and a practical exchange.

​The format is deliberately open and collaborative -part discussion, part hands-on support - more helpdesk than panel.

​Coffee and croissants are on us.

​Vertical52 is a journalist-led initiative working with satellite data in investigative reporting. We collaborate with newsrooms on accessing and making sense of geospatial information in complex reporting environments.

​Please register so that we know how many espressi to order!