United StatesOwnership & classification
Founded: 1997
Ownership
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) is a US-based nonprofit founded in 1997 by journalist Charles Lewis as a project of the Center for Public Integrity. In 2017 it spun off into a fully independent 501(c)(3) organization. It is not owned by any company or individual; it operates as a self-governing network of more than 280 investigative journalists and over 140 partner media outlets across 100-plus countries, directed by its own staff and board.
Funding
ICIJ is funded entirely by philanthropic grants and donations, with major support from foundations such as the Adessium Foundation, the Bertha Foundation, the Open Society Foundations, the Luminate/Omidyar Network, and individual reader donors. It carries no advertising and is not financed by any government or political party.
Affiliation & stance
ICIJ has no party, state, church or commercial-owner control; it is a donor-funded nonprofit governed by its own journalists and board, best known for cross-border projects like the Panama Papers and Pluto/Paradise Papers. Its reporting and funder base lean center-left, but editorial independence from donors is its explicit policy, making it INDEPENDENT.
Editorial lean
- Our estimate
- Lean Left
- Measured from coverage
- Lean Leftbased on 8
60/100
Factual
70/100
Objective
11
Articles
11
reports
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Recent coverage
Senator questions Merck over patent strategy for blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda
Senator Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) is questioning Merck over its patent strategy for the cancer drug Keytruda, alleging that the company files excessive patents to maintain monopolies and prevent lower-cost competitors from entering the market. In a letter to Merck CEO Robert Davis, Hassan highlighted how these practices have delayed generic alternatives and kept prices extremely high, with the U.S. list price exceeding $208,000 per year of treatment. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) reported that Merck’s new injectable version of Keytruda could generate billions and extend market exclusivity until 2042, potentially blocking cheaper alternatives for decades. While Merck claims that multiple patents do not necessarily delay generics, ICIJ’s findings suggest that secondary patents may prolong the drug’s exclusivity, limiting patient access.
Businessman accused of masterminding Caruana Galizia assassination stands trial in Malta
Yorgen Fenech, a Maltese businessman and heir to a property empire, is standing trial for his alleged involvement in the 2017 assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Caruana Galizia was killed by a car bomb planted under her vehicle, an attack linked to her investigations into corruption in Maltese politics and business. Fenech, who was arrested in 2019, denies the charges of complicity and criminal association. He is the last of seven men to face trial over the case. The murder sparked international outrage, and a 2021 inquiry concluded that Malta’s former prime minister and cabinet created an environment of impunity that contributed to the lack of accountability for her killing. Five other individuals have already been convicted in connection with the assassination, while a sixth received a pardon in exchange for testimony. Caruana Galizia had been investigating a controversial power station deal involving Fenech at the time of her death.
Europol: EU Crime Networks Regenerate Fast
Europol released a report highlighting the adaptability of Europe's most dangerous criminal networks, which continue to evolve despite law enforcement efforts. The report notes that while 76% of previously identified networks are no longer considered major threats, 198 remain at high risk, and 533 new networks have emerged, totaling 731. These networks involve over 400,000 members from 118 countries and engage in serious crimes like drug trafficking, cybercrime, and human trafficking. Europol emphasizes that 85% of these networks use legal business structures to operate covertly, and criminal organizations now function like multinational corporations, leveraging digital tools and financial systems to evade detection. Officials warn that arrests alone cannot dismantle the criminal economy, urging a more comprehensive approach involving international cooperation, financial investigations, and collaboration with private sector entities.
Cyprus anti-corruption watchdog refers former president to prosecutors for alleged ‘abuse of power’
Cyprus' Independent Anti-Corruption Authority has referred former President Nicos Anastasiades to prosecutors over potential 'acts of corruption' and 'abuse of power' during his tenure. The authority claims Anastasiades may have improperly influenced investigations into political payments, intervened in a Russian oligarch's citizenship case, and obstructed an anti-money laundering probe linked to his former law firm. The referral follows a two-year investigation based on allegations from Makarios Drousiotis's 2022 book, 'Kratos Mafia,' which exposed alleged ties between Anastasiades and organized crime. The authority's 3,000-page final report included interviews with Anastasiades and Drousiotis, though the former denies wrongdoing and argues he was not properly informed of all accusations. The authority was established in 2022 under EU and U.S. pressure to combat corruption in Cyprus, a financial hub for Russian interests.
Lowering doses of cancer drugs could slash global health spending by $30B, new research shows
New research suggests that reducing the dosage of certain cancer drugs, such as Keytruda, could save up to $30 billion globally each year while improving patient access. Studies presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual conference indicated that lower doses may be equally effective. Merck & Co., the manufacturer of Keytruda, maintains that the FDA-approved dosages are supported by extensive clinical evidence.
Donate to ICIJ
This is a donation appeal from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) asking readers to support its journalism. It contains no news reporting, only a call to contribute funds.
Trump intelligence adviser previously helped father pursue millions from Kremlin-linked bank, leaked documents show
Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, a former Trump administration intelligence adviser, previously assisted her father in securing at least $12 million from a Russian investment bank linked to the Kremlin through her role as president of an offshore company. Leaked documents reveal her involvement in efforts to pressure the bank to honor a financial agreement related to shares in a Ukrainian agricultural firm. Kennedy claims her involvement was minimal and described it as 'pro forma.'
Chinese spies are posing as recruiters to target officials and journalists
The U.S. and its Five Eyes intelligence allies have issued a warning that China's military intelligence services are using online job platforms and networking sites like LinkedIn to recruit individuals with access to sensitive information. These operatives pose as recruiters and may offer financial incentives in exchange for intelligence on defense, trade, and other matters of interest to China. This follows recent experiences reported by investigative journalists, including those at the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), who received suspicious outreach after the IЦ
Mexico seizes suspicious Keytruda in raid to dismantle counterfeit medication ring
Mexican federal authorities conducted raids targeting a counterfeit medication ring, seizing vials labeled as Keytruda, a high-cost cancer drug manufactured by Merck. The operation was part of a broader effort involving multiple agencies, including the Secretariat of the Navy and the Attorney General’s office. Previous raids have uncovered similar counterfeit drugs, along with other illicit items such as weapons and cocaine. Merck has not confirmed if the seized vials were genuine or fake.
Fidelity opened account for Epstein, even as outrage grew
Fidelity Investments, one of the largest asset managers globally, opened a brokerage account for Jeffrey Epstein in April 2019, just months before his 2019 arrest on sex trafficking charges. According to a document reviewed by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), the account received over $5 million before being closed in late May 2019. This occurred amid growing public scrutiny of Epstein, fueled by a 2018 Miami Herald investigation that exposed over 60 alleged victims and subsequent legal challenges against the Justice Department's handling of his case. Fidelity did not comment on the matter, while the U.S. Justice Department initially released the information but later removed it, replacing it with a blacked-out version. The account was registered through Epstein's Virgin Islands-based Southern Trust Company and was flagged in a suspicious activity report (SAR) filed with the U.S. Treasury. Financial institutions are required to submit such reports when they detect unusual transactions, though these documents are typically confidential.
Patents, prices and court files: How ICIJ used data to investigate an industry that thrives on secrecy
This article discusses how pharmaceutical companies like Merck & Co. (MSD outside the U.S.) exploit the global patent system to maintain extended market exclusivity for drugs such as Keytruda, a blockbuster cancer treatment. By filing numerous patent applications for minor modifications—such as dosage adjustments, combination therapies, or 'product hops'—companies create a complex web of patents that delays the entry of cheaper biosimilar alternatives into the market. This strategy keeps drug prices artificially high, strains healthcare systems, and limits patient access. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) analyzed these practices as part of its Cancer Calculus project, revealing how patent thickets contribute to prolonged monopolies. Additionally, the article highlights the variability of Keytruda's pricing across different countries and notes the growing trend of patients seeking legal recourse to access the drug due to its high cost.
Overlooked
Under-reported & one-sided
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