IRE Radio Podcast | Afflicting the Powerful

What happens when you investigate the leader of your own country? There’s perhaps never been a more relevant time to ask that question. On this episode, we’ll hear from two journalists who went up against some of the most powerful people and institutions in their own backyards. Rita Vásquez of Panama’s La Prensa and Vlad Lavrov, a staff writer for the Kyiv Post in Ukraine, discuss how they contributed to the massive Panama Papers investigation and offer tips for journalists wanting to afflict the powerful in any country.

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EPISODE NOTES

Looking for links to the stories and resources we discussed on this week's podcast? We've collected them for you.

• “The $50 million secret” by La Prensa (English translation)
• “President Poroshenko’s Secret Offshore Deals, Revealed,” the original broadcast aired on Ukrainian TV (with English subtitles)
• IRE members only: Download “The Panama Papers: Politicians, Criminals and the Rogue Industry that Hides Their Cash,” a 2016 tipsheet by Michael Hudson from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.
• IRE members only: Download the 4th Quarter 2016 IRE Journal to read more about how the Panama Papers investigation came together.

CREDITS

Blake Nelson reported this story and illustrated our episode artwork. IRE Web Editor Sarah Hutchins edits the podcast. We are recorded in the studios of KBIA at the University of Missouri.

MUSIC

Dulce Beat (Podington Bear) / CC BY-NC 3.0
Euphoric (Podington Bear) / CC BY-NC 3.0
Data Volume (Podington Bear) / CC BY-NC 3.0
Three Colors (Podington Bear) / CC BY-NC 3.0
Night Owl (Broke For Free) / CC BY-NC 3.0