Description
The project aims to promote the KiMitTud.org freedom of information request generator (based on alaveteli.org) and the watchdog methodology developed by atlatszo.hu investigative journalism NGO to members of civil society such as independent local news portal sites, weblogs, activist Facebook communities and specialist NGOs, and provide them research assistance and legal support in their court procedures to obtain public data withheld by state-run institutions. As a result the organisation will have powerful tools to transfer a methodology capable to generate community involvement and civic activity. Organisations receiving this methodology will be more effective and successful to support Hungarian citizen’s right to informed decision making and to enforce freedom of information principles on state-run institutions. They provide hands on workshops, substantial professional mentorship and extra publicity to the selected causes in collaboration with atlatszo.hu during the project.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to promote KiMitTud.org freedom of information request generator and the watchdog methodology developed by atlatszo.hu investigative journalism NGO to members of civil society such as independent local news media sites, weblogs, activist Facebook communities and specialist NGOs, and provide them legal support in their court procedures to obtain public data withheld by state-run institutions. The project was needed to increase transparency and accountability, by becoming one of the most important democratic instruments, holding political power accountable. As trainings on the use of KiMitTud have been highly successful, they plan to continue workshops for diverse audiences as demand arises. Thanks to the program, public data requests as a democratic tool has become popular and widely used in all segments of society. During the 2,5 year program, 6849 data requests were submitted to 4855 data owners through KiMitTud, and in 75 cases legal action was needed.
Summary of bilateral results
SKUP was the bialteral norvegian partner of the project of Asimov foundation. SKUP regularly offers workshops and training in various investigative methods. The foundation’s website offers documentation on a decade of investigative journalism and projects in Norwegian media. SKUP organized an annual weekend conference for investigative reporters and editors in Norway in 2015 where attended by 930 reporters and editors from a record breaking 121 countries. This event was where the journalists of atlatszo.hu were attended and presented at a conference about the situation of the hungarian investigative journalism. The connection and teh cooprartion with hte norvegian partner had no continuation later on the project.But they managed to get some deep experiences and insights of the situation of not only the norvegian investigative journalism but also situation of the worldwide investigative journalism itself.