Pavla Holcová (source: TASR)
Reports about the Slovak links in the Panama Papers scandal are just one of the examples of how the Czech Centre for Investigative Journalism works.
Founded in 2013 by a group of journalists in the Czech Republic, the centre wants to raise awareness of the public about the impact of financial crimes on politics and economics.
There was no Slovak counterpart to the centre, though Pavla Holcová admits she discussed the idea of establishing it about two years ago with her close collaborator, Slovak investigative journalist Ján Kuciak, murdered last February along with his fiancée, Martina Kušnírová.
“He told me he liked the idea but didn’t feel like doing it at that moment,” Holcová said.
This will change now. In late 2018, a group of Slovak journalists founded the Investigative Centre of Ján Kuciak (ICJK), with the purpose of reporting about corruption and organised crime and helping journalists investigate international links in their stories.
Holcová has been appointed a member of ICJK’s board and will supervise the project and offer her experience running a similar centre.
The Slovak Spectator (TSS): What persuaded you to participate in the Investigative Centre of Ján Kuciak project?
