Budapest 14-15th June 2013

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Policemen posted at every 100 metres along the river bank, roads closed and the hotel surrounded by sandbags, the ominous sights welcoming some of Europe’s leading investigative journalists and the delegates attending CIRCOM’s seminar hosted by MTVA in Budapest. Fortunately, these defences were not for us but to prevent the dangers of flooding from the River Danube - only 30 metres away from our hotel.

The torrent of water that was passing our hotel reflected the flow of information that we received during this fascinating and important seminar. It was opened by Prof. Gavin MacFadyen, Director of the Centre for Investigative Journalism, London. He was followed by a presentation from 3 investigative reporters from eastern Europe, Filip Cerny (Czech Republic), Rosen Tsvetkov (Bulgaria) and Tamas Novak (Hungary). Ashok Ahir, the former Political Editor of BBC Wales delivered a session on investigations in political reporting and the day was concluded with an insight into data journalism from Juliet Ferguson from the Centre of Investigative Journalists.

The next day an intriguing insight into the making of a 6 part series of investigations into one company was provided by the Prix CIRCOM Investigative Journalism and Grand Prix winner Joachim Dyfvermark from SVT, Sweden. The seminar closed with a major contribution from Nils Hanson, Editor in Chief of Sweden’s leading investigative programme “Uppdrag Granskning”, who gave the delegates the tools to avoid being the subject of investigations themselves.

The 22 delegates from 12 countries who attended the seminar appreciated greatly the programme content and the opportunity to listen and to learn from some of Europe’s leading practitioners in this important genre.

Thanks must go to MTVA in Hungary, and in particular to Ildiko Komaromi, who provided excellent facilities, support and hospitality in order to make the seminar the success that it was.

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