Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Investigative journalism projects from Nigeria, Egypt, Peru, and Mexico have received top honours at the Global Shining Light Awards (GSLA) during the 14th Global Investigative Journalism Conference (GIJC25) held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The awards recognize exceptional investigative work conducted in dangerous environments, shedding light on issues often ignored or silenced in developing nations. This year, over 400 submissions from 97 countries were considered, with the award-winning projects focusing on critical topics such as migrant abuses, Indigenous rights, and foreign military recruitment.
In the Large Outlets category, the winning investigation Tráileres, Trampa Para Migrantes (Cargo Trailers: Trap for Migrants), a collaboration between Noticias Telemundo, the Latin American Center for Investigative Journalism (El CLIP), and other organizations, uncovered the deadly trafficking of migrants in Mexico using cargo trucks. The investigation revealed that over 19,000 migrants were transported under inhumane conditions, with at least 111 deaths recorded from suffocation or accidents. The team’s tireless efforts included over 70 public record requests and field reporting in some of Mexico’s most dangerous areas.
A separate project from Peru, Los Vuelos de la Muerte: Líderes Indígenas Asesinados en un Territorio Invadido por 67 Narcopistas (Death Flights: Indigenous Leaders Murdered in a Territory Invaded by 67 Narco Airstrips), won for its groundbreaking look into the hidden dangers faced by Amazonian Indigenous communities. Mongabay Latam’s year-long investigation identified 67 clandestine drug-trafficking airstrips across Indigenous territories in the Peruvian Amazon. The project also revealed the links between these airstrips and the violent deaths of 15 Indigenous leaders, with an additional 28 leaders under constant threat.
In a Special Citation, BBC Africa Eye and OpenDemocracy’s investigation Disciples: The Cult of TB Joshua unraveled the disturbing truth behind the Synagogue Church of All Nations, led by Nigeria’s infamous pastor TB Joshua. Through survivor testimonies and insider accounts, the team exposed violent abuse and manipulation within the church, which had gained millions of followers worldwide.
The Small and Medium Outlets category saw The Russian Trap: Recruiting Egyptians with the Lure of Money and Nationality awarded to Masrawy, an Egyptian news outlet. This investigation uncovered Russia’s covert efforts to recruit young Egyptian men for its war in Ukraine, revealing the promises of financial gain and nationality that masked the perilous reality of war. The reporting also highlighted the emotional toll on families, many of whom were left unaware of their loved ones’ fates.
Sheila Coronel, director of the Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism at Columbia University and chair of the GSLA prize committee, praised the investigative journalists for their courage in confronting dangerous adversaries such as organized crime, governments, and corrupt officials. “These stories have brought to light issues that are often ignored or silenced,” Coronel said. “They are shining examples of the vital role of investigative journalism in a world where press freedom is increasingly under threat.”
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