Backlight Lighthouse Reports

This episode, we dive into the skills and techniques used in open-source reporting (yes it’s more than just stalking people on social media!).

Beatriz and Tessa are joined by two of our open-source reporters Jack Sapoch and Monica Camacho. We talk about their roles in the context of a recent investigation that reconstructed the unseen events which saw 40 people suffocate to death in a migrant detention centre fire in Ciudad Juárez.

We’re also joined by our investigations editor Melissa Del Bosque to explain the strategy behind the investigation and how it was received.


Watch the video and read about the investigation here


And read more about our most ‘brain waste’ investigation discussed in the intro of the show

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Hosts: Beatriz Ramalho da Silva, Tessa Pang

Sound Design: Spoovio - Audiovisual Productions

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Website - Twitter - BlueSky - and you can email us at backlight@lighthousereports.com

Fellowship applications are now open!

This month we’re bringing you a bonus episode with one of our recent fellows Jonathan Moens. We speak about his experience at Lighthouse, his biggest takeaways and his tips for applying.

Lighthouse is currently hiring a part-time Data, OSINT and Reporting fellow for 6 months. Applications close April 8.

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Hosts: Beatriz Ramalho da Silva, Tessa Pang

Sound Design: Spoovio - Audiovisual Productions

Website - Twitter - BlueSky - and you can email us at backlight@lighthousereports.com

Hello and welcome back to Backlight!

In this episode, we talk to our investigations editor May Bulman, and social affairs correspondent from The Independent, Holly Bancroft about the exciting impact of their investigation into the Afghan commandos left behind by the British government.

It’s both a deep-dive into the investigation, and an inside look at the impact-driven strategy that compelled the British Government to reverse its previous decision to deny hundreds of Afghans safety in the UK.

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Here are the links to the coverage mentioned in the episode:


The write-up and video coverage from The Independent
Sky News coverage
BBC Newsnight coverage
The investigation write-up on our website

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Hosts: Beatriz Ramalho da Silva, Tessa Pang

Sound Design: Spoovio - Audiovisual Productions

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Website - Twitter - BlueSky - and you can email us at backlight@lighthousereports.com

In this episode, we’ll give you an overview of what you can expect from us this year as well as reflect on some highlights from Season 1.



And here are the links to the episodes mentioned in this one:


Europe’s Black Sites - May Bulman
Unmasking Europe’s Shadow Armies - Nicole Vogele
Suspicion Machines - Eva Constantaras

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Hosts: Beatriz Ramalho da Silva, Tessa Pang

Sound Design: Spoovio - Audiovisual Productions

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Website - Twitter - BlueSky - Newsletter - backlight@lighthousereports.com

Following the West’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan last August, thousands of people who served alongside European governments found themselves abandoned. At Lighthouse, a series of investigations uncovered how people working in roles linked to European governments, who were eligible for evacuation, are still living in fear under the Taliban. We verified the identities and documents of dozens of people who were subject to torture, or killed. We speak to Lighthouse contributor Abbas Azimi who played a key role in finding sources, examining documents, and interviewing people. This story is personal for Abbas too because he also left Afghanistan in August 2021, as his work for the Afghan government and international organisations like the World Bank posed a danger to his life.

Read the investigations at lighthousereports.com

On the night of 13 June, hundreds of men, women and children lost their lives when a boat trying to reach Europe capsized on Greek waters. A Lighthouse reports investigation revealed how Greek coast guards attempted to hide their role in the deadly shipwreck. A follow up investigation, uncovers how the smuggling network behind the wreck had close ties to powerful Libyan militia leader Khalifa Haftar who in recent months has met with EU leaders to discuss migration related issues. Lighthouse editor Maud Jullien takes us through how the team analysed and verified key documents and spoke of the challenges throughout the course of reporting.



Read more at lighthousereports.com