Schedule

Get ready for an extraordinary event. This is our 14th global conference and we expect over 1,500 journalists from over 100 countries and territories. The conference is a chance to learn from the best in the business — winners of the Pulitzer Prize and other top awards, pioneers of data journalism, and fearless investigators who have exposed corruption and abuses of power almost everywhere. 

Here’s a look at the schedule. We’ve integrated more than 400 pitches and proposals, as well as what past attendees have told us they most valued. You’ll find more than 100 workshops, expert panels, networking sessions, and special events — with more than 300 speakers from around the world. This is not the final program, there are more sessions and speakers to come. And the timings of panels may be subject to changes.

Saturday November 22

4:30pm - 5:45pm
Tech
KLCC Level 3 - Room 305
The multi-billion dollar identity industry is turning people’s identities into a commodity to be extracted or traded. The rapid deployment of biometric technologies into the Global South is happening with little critical scrutiny, and the identity business is a major blindspot for investigative journalism. In this timely panel, veteran journalists dig into new technologies such as iris scans and fingerprint systems, and share practical techniques and sources for investigating biometric supply chains, large personal information databases, and the deals behind these procurements.
6:00pm - 7:15pm
Special Events
KLCC Level 3 - Conference Hall 1
The Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) is an international association comprising 263 member organizations in 97 countries. At each Global Investigative Journalism Conference, GIJN is pleased to hold a members meeting in which GIJN member organizations are welcome to participate. The GIJN Board of Directors and senior staff will share about GIJN's activities, answer questions, hear suggestions, and talk about what's next for the global network. - This meeting is for representatives of GIJN member organizations.

Sunday November 23

9:15am - 10:30am
Data
KLCC Level 3 - Room 303
The ability to expose abuse and oppression through data-driven investigations is deeply meaningful — and it all starts with spreadsheets. This hands-on workshop reveals advanced techniques for uncovering hidden information in your data, including mention of Google Sheets' unique features.
9:15am - 10:30am
General
KLCC Level 4 - Room 405
Public information access laws vary by country, but common strategies can help maximize the value of government-held data. This workshop covers essential techniques for identifying what public agencies possess, crafting strategic requests that yield results, and effectively utilizing obtained information for impactful investigations. Learn to navigate bureaucratic obstacles, appeal denials, and transform raw documents into compelling stories that serve the public interest.
9:15am - 10:30am
Human Rights
KLCC Level 4 - Room 403
The maritime industry’s lack of stringent regulation has created fertile ground for illicit trading to thrive. And in the harsh reality of human trafficking at sea, thousands of workers from the Global South are lured into modern slavery aboard "dark ships." Panelists share investigative techniques that cover how to connect with sources, verify data, and conduct field reporting to expose forced labor on fishing vessels, illegal recruitment schemes, and seafarer abandonment. Through case studies, participants learn to investigate the companies, ship owners, and regulatory gaps perpetuating maritime exploitation.
9:15am - 10:30am
Tech
KLCC Level 3 - Conference Hall 2
Investigative journalist and best-selling author Karen Hao conducted more than 300 interviews, including 150 with Open AI insiders, for her book Empire of AI, where she examines how the future of AI is being shaped. “Every single journalist has an AI story to tell in their region or on their beat. The AI industry is globe- and discipline-spanning, and affecting billions of people, often in harmful ways that desperately need to be brought to light,” Hao told GIJN. This session, moderated by Gina Chua, executive director of the Tow-Knight Center, Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, will provide more insights on AI and its impact, as well as a deeper understanding of the tech industry developing AI.
Speakers
Moderators
10:30am - 10:45am
TBA
10:45am - 12:00pm
Business & Finance
KLCC Level 3 - Conference Hall 2
Nobel Laureate and economics professor Joseph Stiglitz has emphasized media's crucial role for keeping our democracies and economies healthy. Viewing investigative journalism as a public good requiring public support, Stiglitz recognizes how financial investigations have exposed hidden mechanisms of the financial system and tax haven abuse.In this keynote conversation with distinguished journalist and academic Sheila Coronel, Stiglitz discusses the vital intersection between economic transparency, investigative reporting, and democratic accountability in our increasingly complex global financial landscape.
10:45am - 12:00pm
Data
KLCC Level 3 - Room 305
As social media companies dismantle online safety guardrails, investigating coordinated misinformation campaigns has become critical for journalists. Participants learn to archive content in bulk, analyze patterns indicating online coordination, and collaborate with communities to document misinformation's real-world impact. The session covers specialized tools for monitoring Telegram channels, collecting and analyzing data from messaging platforms, and uncovering influence operations designed to shape public opinion.
10:45am - 12:00pm
Data
KLCC Level 3 - Room 302
Maritime crime is a vast and often undercovered area of investigative journalism, in topics ranging from labor abuses to smuggling and environmental exploitation. But powerful new digital tools, satellite imagery, databases, and even marine hobbyist sites have transformed the ability of reporters to investigate ships, yachts, and fishing fleets. In this cutting-edge workshop, veteran researchers will share some of the latest tools and techniques for tracking marine vessels and their hidden owners.
10:45am - 12:00pm
Environment
KLCC Level 3 - Room 306
Crimes committed out on the ocean are notoriously difficult to investigate, yet urgent to expose. Illegal fishing alone generates $23 billion annually — the world's third-largest illicit trade after drugs and arms. Massive extractive industries operate with impunity, rapidly destroying marine ecosystems. This panel offers satellite analysis, vessel tracking, and supply chain reporting tips, as well as step-by-step approaches for tracking illegal activities, identifying perpetrators, and building compelling stories about crimes that happen far from public view.
10:45am - 12:00pm
Safety & Security
KLCC Level 3 - Room 304
In an era of increasing digital surveillance and authoritarian crackdowns on press freedom, journalists face unprecedented risks when crossing borders, covering protests, or working in conflict zones. The search and seizure of electronic devices has become a primary tool for intimidation, source exposure, and censorship. Through real-life case studies and hands-on scenarios, this session will offer preventative measures, response protocols during seizure, and demystify what happens to seized devices: how they're unlocked, searched, what data is extracted, and potential worst-case scenarios.
12:00pm - 1:30pm
KLCC Level 3 - Grand Ballroom
1:30pm - 2:45pm
Crime & Corruption
KLCC Level 3 - Conference Hall 3
Illegal online gambling generates low-risk revenue for organized crime, a growing channel for money laundering, brazen local government corruption — and yet it remains undercovered by watchdog journalists. Notable trends include the recruitment of intermediaries for money–hiding “mule accounts,” and a boom in illicit betting networks in Asia. In this techniques-focused panel, journalists will share expert tips on how to track the bets, the networks, and the harms, including useful tools, datasets, and source pathways.All sessions are first-come, first-serve. That means people who arrive first will get seats. Be aware that some sessions are in relatively small rooms and they will fill up quickly.
1:30pm - 2:45pm
Data
KLCC Level 3 - Room 303
Writing Python scripts to extract data from PDFs is always a challenge: misshapen tables, arbitrary form formatting, tiny text or low-quality scanned texts. This session introduces attendees to Natural PDF, a new Python library for wrangling data that's focused on usability and cramming in as many features as possible, allowing you to write your code just like you'd ask "real-language" questions. Participants will leave with a solid understanding of how to extract data from difficult (and simple) PDFs using Python, and is best for those with at least beginner-level knowledge of Python.
1:30pm - 2:45pm
Data
KLCC Level 3 - Room 302
Data journalism is transforming investigative reporting, offering powerful methodologies to uncover complex stories. This workshop explores essential techniques and tools designed to help participants develop a data mindset. You will learn to enhance your storytelling with compelling data narratives and the process of turning raw numbers into impactful investigations that resonate with audiences.
1:30pm - 2:45pm
Data
KLCC Level 4 - Room 410
Discover how to harness NotebookLM's powerful video analysis capabilities for investigative journalism. This practical workshop demonstrates how to process extensive video content, identify key patterns, establish meaningful connections across multiple sources, and extract actionable insights for your investigations. Learn to efficiently analyze hours of footage, transcribe content, and uncover hidden narratives that traditional manual review might miss.
1:30pm - 2:45pm
Documentaries
KLCC Level 4 - Plenary Theatre
Visual storytelling transforms complex investigations into compelling narratives that reach broader audiences. This panel features veteran video journalists sharing techniques for translating document-heavy investigations into engaging visual stories. Learn how to effectively use graphics, animations, and cinematography to explain financial crimes, data patterns, and corruption schemes. Discover strategies for maintaining journalistic rigor while creating accessible content that holds viewers' attention and drives impact.
1:30pm - 2:45pm
Environment
KLCC Level 3 - Conference Hall 1
Chinese infrastructure investments and supply chains in mining, fishing, and manufacturing span the world. But investigating their environmental impact, labor practices, and corruption is increasingly challenging. China's restricted press freedom, growing data opacity, and new laws limiting external access to investment information create significant reporting barriers. This session brings together journalists who have successfully investigated Chinese economic links in their regions, offering practical tools, methodologies, and alternative data sources. The focus is on presenting actionable techniques for remote investigation.
1:30pm - 2:45pm
General
KLCC Level 4 - Room 403
ProPublica (USA) and CORRECTIV (Germany) have pioneered crowdsourcing investigations, developing innovative techniques that transform audiences from passive consumers into active participants in accountability journalism. This session shares proven strategies, helpful tools, and lessons learned from successful crowdsourced projects. Participants will also learn practical newsroom strategies for leveraging audiences to enhance investigations, build community trust, and amplify impact while avoiding common pitfalls.
1:30pm - 2:45pm
General
KLCC Level 3 - Room 306
The current US administration's tariff regime, immigration policies, travel restrictions, and military operations are creating global ripple effects, so watchdog journalists need tools to track Washington's influence worldwide. This essential workshop guides international journalists through US governmental data, revealing funding, programs, and activities, as well as teaches you how to navigate databases showing federal expenditures, diplomatic initiatives, and policy implementations affecting local contexts and regions.
1:30pm - 2:45pm
Human Rights
KLCC Level 3 - Room 305
This panel brings together journalists and editors from across South Asia to reflect on recent events in the region and draw parallels from similar instances across the world on how censorship is imposed, how platforms comply, and how journalism becomes collateral damage. The session discusses how journalists can collaborate while reporting on conflicts to look beyond narratives that governments, corporate-controlled media outlets, or compromised big tech are trying to establish.
1:30pm - 2:45pm
Networking
KLCC Level 4 - Room 401
Our networking sessions are just that: informal meet-ups where you can introduce yourself, talk about your work, brainstorm, and find colleagues to collaborate with. Here is a chance to meet other journalists from around the world who are seeking partners for transnational reporting in a relaxed atmosphere.All sessions are first come, first served. Be aware that some sessions are in relatively small rooms and they will fill up quickly.
1:30pm - 2:45pm
Networking
KLCC Level 4 - Room 404
Our networking sessions are just that: informal meet-ups where you can introduce yourself, talk about your work, brainstorm, and find colleagues to collaborate with. Here is a chance to meet Ukrainian colleagues in a relaxed atmosphere and help strengthen Ukrainian-speaking investigative networks.All sessions are first come, first served. Be aware that some sessions are in relatively small rooms and they will fill up quickly.
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Co-hosts

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Malaysiakini