NetherlandsOwnership & classification
Founded: 2019
Ownership
Lighthouse Reports is a not-for-profit collaborative investigative newsroom established in the Netherlands in 2019, registered as the foundation Stichting Lighthouse Reports with Dutch ANBI (public-benefit) status. It is governed as an independent foundation rather than owned by any company, family or state; it builds topic newsrooms and co-publishes with partners such as The Guardian, Der Spiegel, Libération and ARD.
Funding
Funded overwhelmingly by private philanthropic foundations (around 89% of income), with the remainder from other income; funders include the Open Society Foundations. In 2024 it reported roughly $2.4 million in income. It runs no paywall or advertising and takes no government funding.
Affiliation & stance
Has no party, state, church or commercial-owner control; it is a grant-funded non-profit foundation focused on transnational accountability journalism (migration, environment, AI/welfare systems). As an independently governed non-profit newsroom, it is correctly classified INDEPENDENT (lean CENTER_LEFT).
Editorial lean
- Our estimate
- Lean Progressive
- Measured from coverage
- Centerbased on 8
78/100
Factual
85/100
Objective
10
Articles
10
reports
Factual: How accurately its articles report the facts, judged against primary sources and the cross-outlet consensus. Only articles that cite their sources are counted.
Objective: How neutral the writing is — whether reporting keeps the writer’s own preferences and opinions out of the article.
Recent coverage
Do you need to go to journalism school? Part 2 (Teacher Edition)
This article features a discussion between two educators from different backgrounds, Lam Thuy Vo, an associate professor in data journalism at CUNY's Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, and Ron Haviv, a photojournalist and co-founder of The VII Foundation. They explore the value of formal journalism education in preparing students for the evolving media landscape, weighing the pros and cons of traditional training versus self-taught approaches. The conversation highlights essential skills for success in modern journalism, including adaptability, technical proficiency, and ethical reporting. The piece is part of a two-part series aimed at educators and students seeking insights into current industry trends.
Do you need to go to journalism school?
The article features a podcast episode titled 'Do you need to go to journalism school?' which explores whether formal journalism education is necessary in today's media landscape. The discussion includes perspectives from two early-career journalists: Laís Martins, an investigative reporter based in São Paulo, and Shoeb Abdullah, co-founder of the Bangladesh Protest Archive. The conversation is part of a two-part series examining different paths into journalism. The hosts are Beatriz Ramalho da Silva and Tessa Pang, with sound design and production credits provided.
Congo’s Hidden Uranium Exports – Responses from relevant companies
The article discusses concerns about hidden uranium exports from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), focusing on responses from Chinese and international entities. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated it is unaware of the issue and emphasized compliance with local laws and environmental protections. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) noted that uranium in cobalt exports is typically incidental and ends up in mining waste. CMOC, a Chinese company operating in the DRC, asserts that its cobalt hydroxide meets regulatory standards and does not exceed uranium limits. They claim no uranium contamination issues exist and that uranium removal is unnecessary. The article highlights discrepancies between reported data and company assurances, raising questions about transparency and regulation.
Reclaiming the migration narrative
The article discusses the challenge of reframing migration narratives in journalism, which are often dominated by fear and crisis rhetoric. It highlights interviews with three journalists, Sakhr Al-Makhadhi, May Bulman, and Coco Khan, who are working to present more balanced and humane perspectives on migration. The piece explores their approaches to shifting public discourse away from far-right framing toward a more nuanced understanding of migration issues. The article is presented as a podcast episode available on platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
Lessons from Local News
This article discusses strategies used by local news outlets to connect with their communities and provide impactful journalism. It features interviews with several editors and journalists from different organizations, including Moya Lothian-McLean from Mill Media, Juliana Mori from InfoAmazonia, and Pooja Prasanna from The News Minute. The piece highlights the importance of localized storytelling and community engagement in journalism. The hosts and production team are also mentioned, along with information on where listeners can find the content.
How can the media win back our trust?
The article discusses efforts by journalists across different media sectors to rebuild public trust in the media. It features an interview episode titled 'How can the media win back our trust?' where journalists share strategies such as personal engagement, transparency, and producing more in-depth stories. The discussion includes insights from Ed Lee of the New York Times Trust Team, independent journalist Joi Lee, and Isaac Saul of Tangle News. The conversation explores challenges and approaches to restoring audience confidence in journalism.
Rethinking journalism awards
The article discusses a podcast episode titled 'Rethinking Journalism Awards,' where hosts Beatriz Ramalho da Silva and Tessa Pang interview Jennifer Athanasiou-Prins, executive director of the European Press Prize, and Patrick Boehler, founder of the Gazzetta research lab. They explore topics such as the impact of journalism awards on the profession, challenges with current award categories, and potential reforms to better align awards with public service journalism. The discussion highlights the need for reimagining award structures to reflect journalistic values that serve society.
How to report on Sudan
The article discusses the challenges of reporting on Sudan's severe humanitarian crisis, emphasizing the urgency and difficulty of covering such issues. It features an interview with Lighthouse Reports editors and journalists discussing methods for gathering and verifying open-source evidence, conducting on-the-ground interviews with survivors, and using journalism to raise awareness and promote accountability. The piece highlights the importance of ethical and accurate reporting in contexts of conflict and human rights violations.
How to make an investigative podcast
The article discusses an episode of the Lighthouse Reports podcast titled 'How to Make an Investigative Podcast.' It features hosts Tessa Pang and Beatriz Ramalho da Silva providing a guide on creating investigative podcasts, based on their experience at the Global Investigative Journalism Conference in Malaysia. The episode covers topics such as finding compelling stories, crafting engaging narratives, and developing strong characters. Additional insights are provided by guests including Susanne Reber, Sue-Lin Wong, and Roby Alampay. The episode includes behind-the-scenes audio and other elements related to producing high-quality investigative content.
How to become an undercover reporter
This episode of Lighthouse Reports explores the process of becoming an undercover reporter through a discussion with experienced investigators. Hosts Beatriz and Tessa interview Lighthouse colleagues Crofton Black and Emmanuel Freudenthal, who share insights from their recent undercover investigation titled 'Surveillance Secrets.' They describe the development of a fictional character, Albert, a shady businessman, and the preparation involved in executing the operation. The episode also features Jean Peters of Correctiv, who recounts his experience infiltrating a secret meeting involving neo-Nazis and members of Germany’s far-right AfD party. Peters explains how he used a fake identity to pose as a wealthy guest and was followed by colleagues from a sauna boat. Additionally, Veena Holkar, director of the non-profit Wildlight, discusses why women often excel in undercover reporting. The episode provides practical guidance on conducting undercover investigations.