SloveniaOwnership & classification
Founded: 2018
Ownership
Oštro is a non-profit center for investigative journalism for the Adriatic region, established on 30 March 2018 and founded by former Delo investigative journalist Anuška Delić, who is its editor-in-chief. It is run as an independent non-governmental/non-profit organization, not owned by any company, party or state; control rests with its own founders and editorial leadership.
Funding
Funded by public calls and grants, project tenders, and donations; named backers include the Open Society Foundations / Open Society Institute and the European Journalism COVID-19 Support Fund, supplemented by individual donations and Slovenia's 1%-of-income-tax donation scheme. Donor names are disclosed only on request or above a set threshold.
Affiliation & stance
Oštro produces non-partisan investigative and fact-checking journalism and is not aligned with any party or the state. As an independent non-profit funded by grants and donations with no party, state or corporate owner, it is correctly classed INDEPENDENT.
Editorial lean
- Our estimate
- Center
- Measured from coverage
- Lean Progressivebased on 9
80/100
Factual
67/100
Objective
11
Articles
11
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
The claim that young people with sexual dysphoria ugothave sex all at once is unfounded
The article discusses claims made by journalist Tadej Ian regarding the sudden onset of gender dysphoria among young people, which were later published by Nova24TV and Demokracija. It highlights the lack of sufficient academic knowledge about gender dysphoria in adolescents, emphasizing that current understanding is limited and that more research is needed. Dr. Maja Drobnič Radobuljac, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, explains that there is insufficient evidence to determine the causes or natural progression of gender dysphoria, and that treatment approaches remain uncertain. The European Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (ESCAP) has also noted that understanding gender dysphoria in children and adolescents remains incomplete, stressing the need for holistic care considering mental health, development, and individual circumstances. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies gender incongruence as a condition related to sexual health rather than a mental disorder, while the DSM-5 defines gender dysphoria as distress related to the mismatch between experienced and assigned sex. The article concludes by referencing ongoing research into the topic.
The allegations of the use of female surnames without faces in the spelling cannot be assessed unequivocally
The article discusses the debate over the usage of feminine forms of surnames in Slovenian grammar, particularly focusing on whether such usage is permissible under the current Slovenian Spelling Rules (Pravopis 2001). The discussion was sparked by a social media post by former Minister Žiga Turk, who criticized the use of non-adjectival forms of surnames as 'activist grammar' not yet recognized in the spelling rules. Experts from the Institute for the Slovenian Language at ZRC SAZU clarified that the 2001 spelling rules allow three ways of using feminine surnames, including the third-feminine declension. They emphasized that while this form is most common, other forms like the adjectival form (e.g., Fajonova) are still valid and not prohibited. Additionally, they noted that the proposed new version of the spelling rules (Pravopis 8.0) does not introduce new norms but aims to clarify existing linguistic practices.
The title of the article about the outbreak of the parasitic infection is click bait
The article discusses an outbreak of parasitic infection caused by Cyclospora, highlighting reports from the United States where over 7,000 cases have been confirmed since May 1st. The CDC has issued warnings about the seasonal increase in such infections, typically occurring between May and August. In Slovenia, the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) states that there has been no significant rise in Cyclospora infections recently, noting that such infections are rare in Slovenia and Europe. They mention past sporadic cases in 2016, 2018, 2021, and 2026, some possibly contracted abroad. NIJZ emphasizes that while gastrointestinal infections tend to increase during summer, most are viral or bacterial, and parasitic infections remain relatively constant throughout the year. They advise basic hygiene measures to prevent contamination.
Judgment is published on Janševa's prison compensation: 65,000 euros plus interest
The article reports on legal rulings related to former Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša, who was awarded compensation by the state for an unjust prison sentence he served in 2014. The total amount, including interest, amounts to over 110,000 euros, significantly less than the 900,000 euros he initially requested. The court decisions, issued in 2024 and 2025, were initially not made public but were obtained by Oštro under the law on access to information of public significance. Janša claimed the criminal proceedings were politically motivated to damage his reputation and discredit him. The court acknowledged these claims, noting that the prosecution was based on allegations of illegal gift forwarding, leading to a two-year prison sentence and a fine of 37,000 euros. He was released after the Constitutional Court temporarily halted the execution of the verdict in December 2014, later returning the case to re-trial, which eventually expired in 2015, formally clearing him of charges. Despite multiple attempts to continue the trial, higher courts did not allow this. In January 2018, he filed a lawsuit seeking compensation for the unjust conviction and defamation. The court awarded 2
The most interest in video disclosures and verification of election promises.
The article reports on a survey conducted by Oštro during national and local elections, asking the public about their interest in content types and the effectiveness of the project 'Oštrogled'. The survey involved 45 participants who tracked Oštro’s content during the election campaign, with 49% regularly following and 31% occasionally. Most respondents (60%) were most interested in video fact-checking during live debates, followed by traditional articles (25%). When asked what types of content they would like to see more of during local elections, 51% preferred video fact-checking, while 49% chose background explanations and live fact-checking. Over 78% rated the content as useful for understanding the election campaign, with 55% giving the highest rating. Respondents expressed interest in verifying fulfillment of campaign promises and previous mandate obligations, with 69% selecting this as the most interesting theme. They also suggested new content formats such as podcasts and evaluations of positive/negative impacts of mayoral projects. Social media platforms Instagram and Facebook were the most commonly used for tracking Oštro’s work.
The death rate from the COVID-19 vaccine in Sweden is not zero
The article discusses the mortality rate related to the COVID-19 vaccine in Sweden and Germany, based on data from the World Health Organization (WHO). According to WHO data, between December 16, 2020, and December 31, 2023, nearly 642 million people in the European region received at least one dose of the vaccine. The article references a Facebook post by the 'Association for the Protection of Interests of Vaccinated Individuals,' which raised questions about why Sweden has a lower death rate compared to Germany despite similar vaccination rates. Data from the Robert Koch Institute indicates that Germany used over 196 million doses during this period, while Sweden used around 28 million. The Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) analyzed reports of adverse effects linked to the vaccine, including deaths, but concluded there was no evidence of new safety risks associated with the vaccines.
The Pigeon Government did not legalize theft.
The article discusses the legal status of 'tatvina' (a form of minor assault) under Slovenia's new emergency measures law (ZNUZJV). Between November 27 and December 31 of last year, police handled 846 cases of tatvina under this law. Vinko Gorenak, a cabinet secretary, claimed on his blog that the 'Golobova government legalized tatvina,' suggesting that the government allowed such actions. However, Marko Balažic, a criminologist, explains that reclassifying minor tatvina from a criminal act to a traffic offense changes its legal definition and procedural handling. He notes that while anyone can detain someone suspected of a criminal act, only authorized persons can handle traffic offenses, which has led to debate over the legality and practical implications of this change. The Constitutional Court has been asked to evaluate the constitutionality of Article 12 of ZNUZJV, which defines the offense of tatvina.
Sara Stepanjan is petitioning for the opening of the UDBE archives
Sara Stepanjan, daughter of Armenian musician Agop Stepanjan, has called on the European Parliament, the European Commission, and Serbian authorities to open archives related to former Yugoslav security services such as the OZNA, UDBA, and KOS. She describes her family's experience during the communist regime, including her father's 1984 trial in Ljubljana, which she claims was politically motivated and lacked transparency. Her father was sentenced to nine years in prison for alleged espionage, while her mother was interrogated twice without charges. The family's ordeal occurred in 1984, just before the dissolution of Yugoslavia. Stepanjan highlights the lack of access to documents that could clarify historical injustices and calls for greater transparency. She recounts visiting archives in Belgrade in 2014 but received limited information, only learning the codename 'Tenis' associated with her father’s case.
Planet of Beauty manipulatively about the link between sunscreen use and skin cancer
The article published by Planet lepote claims that sun cream usage increases the risk of skin cancer, citing a study from the UK Biobank involving over 470,000 participants. It suggests that frequent sunscreen use correlates with higher risks of melanoma and other skin cancers. However, fact-checking by journalists at The Journal.ie clarifies that the study referenced was not conducted by the UK Biobank itself but was a clinical analysis based on Biobank data published in a scientific journal. Scientists note that DNA damage from UV exposure remains the main cause of most skin cancers, and while increased sunscreen use correlates with higher cancer risk, this could be due to users being more exposed to UV radiation or improper application. Experts at the Oncological Institute emphasize that proper use of approved sunscreens does not increase cancer risk and highlight genetic predisposition and UV exposure as significant factors.
The far right has opened the doors of the European Parliament to climate disinformation by the AllatRa movement
The article reports that the international movement AllatRa, described as having cult-like characteristics, held a conference at the European Parliament in February 2024 in partnership with Czech far-right MEP Ondřej Knotek. The event focused on the dangers of nanoplastics but was controversial due to AllatRa’s history of spreading climate disinformation and promoting conspiracy theories, including apocalyptic predictions and anti-Western narratives. The European Parliament clarified that the event was not an official parliamentary activity. Critics, including three MEPs from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, argued that AllatRa spreads pro-Russian views and has been banned in Russia for being 'extreme' and pseudoreligious. In past years, AllatRa has promoted false claims about climate change, attributing it to plastic pollution rather than greenhouse gases, and has linked environmental issues to alleged cosmic energy radiation. The organization has also been associated with figures like former US President Donald Trump and has received support from institutions such as the Vatican and the UN.