Backlight

Lighthouse Reports
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Backlight is a podcast produced by the investigations team at Lighthouse Reports. Every month we take you inside real world investigations to explain how they work, who works on them and how to get involved. New episode on the last Thursday of every month.

  1. Aug 27

    Do you need to go to journalism school? w/ Laís Martins and Shoeb Abdullah

    Does journalism school still matter? This episode follows two early career journalists who got into the field in completely different ways: one who went to J-school twice, and one who never went at all. Part 1 of a two-part series. Interviewees: Laís Martins, Investigative Reporter, Intercept Brazil, Pulitzer Center AI Accountability Fellow Shoeb Abdullah, Co-founder of the Bangladesh Protest Archive Hosted by Beatriz Ramalho da Silva and Tessa Pang Sound edited and designed by Elli Xypolitaki / Spoovio Music by mobygratis Website - X - BlueSky - Instagram - and you can email us at backlight@lighthousereports.com

    Do you need to go to journalism school? w/ Laís Martins and Shoeb Abdullah

  2. Jul 21

    Reclaiming the migration narrative w/ Coco Khan, Sakhr Al-Makhadhi & May Bulman

    Fear, crisis, invasion. That's the way migration gets spoken about and the far right is often the one setting the tone. So how can journalism push back against this narrative? This episode brings together three people covering migration from very different angles: social media, cross border investigations, and cultural commentary with a pinch of humor. Interviewees: Sakhr Al-Makhadhi, Executive Producer at AJ+ May Bulman, Investigations Editor at Lighthouse Reports Coco Khan, journalist, writer and co-host of Pod Save the UK Hosted by Beatriz Ramalho da Silva and Tessa Pang Sound edited and designed by Elli Xypolitaki / Spoovio Music by mobygratis Website - X - BlueSky - Instagram - and you can email us at backlight@lighthousereports.com

    Reclaiming the migration narrative w/ Coco Khan, Sakhr Al-Makhadhi & May Bulman

  3. Jun 15

    Lessons from Local News w/ M. Lothian-McLean, J. Mori & P. Prasanna

    The antidote to news fatigue might be closer to home than you think. This episode dives into the strategies local outlets use to build connection with their communities and deliver journalism that truly resonates. From the UK to India and the Brazilian Amazon, we spoke to the journalists who are making it work. Interviewees: Moya Lothian-McLean, Managing Editor at Mill MediaJuliana Mori, Co-founder of InfoAmazoniaPooja Prasanna, Editorial Head of Reporting, The News Minute Hosted by Beatriz Ramalho da Silva and Tessa Pang Sound edited and designed by Elli Xypolitaki / Spoovio Music by mobygratis  Website - X - BlueSky - Instagram - and you can email us at backlight@lighthousereports.com

    Lessons from Local News w/ M. Lothian-McLean, J. Mori & P. Prasanna

  4. May 6

    How can the media win back our trust? w/ Ed Lee, Joi Lee & Isaac Saul

    Trust in the media is at an all-time low. So what’s going wrong? Who’s actually fixing it? And what can we learn from alternative news models emerging around the world? To tackle these questions, Beatriz and Tessa speak with Ed Lee, who led the New York Times Trust Team, independent journalist Joi Lee and Isaac Saul, founder of Tangle News. Hosts: Beatriz Ramalho da Silva, Tessa Pang Sound editing and design: Elli Xypolitaki / Spoovio Music by mobygratis  Website - X - BlueSky - Instagram - and you can email us at backlight@lighthousereports.com

    How can the media win back our trust? w/ Ed Lee, Joi Lee & Isaac Saul

  5. Apr 8

    Rethinking journalism awards w/ Patrick Boehler and Jennifer Athanasiou-Prins

    Everyone loves to win awards. But what does it mean to reward good journalism?  In the latest Backlight episode, Beatriz and Tessa speak to Jennifer Athanasiou-Prins, executive director of the European Press Prize, and Patrick Boehler, founder of the Gazzetta research lab, about The influence of awards on journalismThe pitfalls of award categories How awards can be reimagined to value journalism that serves the public interest Hosts: Beatriz Ramalho da Silva, Tessa Pang Sound editing and design: Elli Xypolitaki / Spoovio Website - X - BlueSky - Instagram - and you can email us at backlight@lighthousereports.com

    Rethinking journalism awards w/ Patrick Boehler and Jennifer Athanasiou-Prins

  6. Feb 17

    How to report on Sudan w/ Aziz Alnour & Sabrina Slipchenko

    People in Sudan are facing the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Telling stories about what is happening on the ground has never been more urgent, or more challenging. In the context of our latest investigation exposing ethnically motivated atrocities against civilians by the Sudanese Armed Forces, Beatriz and Tessa speak to Lighthouse editor Aziz Alnour and digital reporter Sabrina Slipchenko about The challenges of reporting on Sudan and how we overcame them How we gather and verify open source evidence, and how we conducted on-the-ground interviews with survivors How the work can increase public attention on Sudan, contribute to international accountability and achieve justice for survivors.Investigations mentioned: The Kanabi Killings The Killing Fields of Al Fashir Hosts: Beatriz Ramalho da Silva, Tessa Pang Sound editing and design: Elli Xypolitaki / Spoovio Website - X - BlueSky - Instagram - and you can email us at backlight@lighthousereports.com

    How to report on Sudan w/ Aziz Alnour & Sabrina Slipchenko

  7. Jan 9

    How to make an investigative podcast (Live from GIJC 2025)

    Reporting live from the world’s biggest investigative journalism conference in Malaysia last year, Tessa and Beatriz bring you a crash course on how to make an investigative podcast. Covering everything from identifying a good story, to constructing an intriguing narrative, and building good characters.  We take you inside The Global Investigative Journalism Conference with some behind-the-scenes audio and Beatriz’s first try of the world’s smelliest fruit. Guests featured in this episode: Susanne Reber, Founder and Executive Producer, Piz Gloria Productions Sue-Lin Wong, Asia Correspondent, The Economist Roby Alampay, Founder, PumaPodcast Hosts: Beatriz Ramalho da Silva, Tessa Pang Sound editing and design: Spoovio - Audiovisual Productions Website - X - BlueSky - Instagram - and you can email us at backlight@lighthousereports.com

  8. 12/03/2025

    How to become an undercover reporter

    You’ve seen it in movies, but what does undercover reporting actually look like in real life? In this episode of Backlight, we go behind the scenes of two undercover investigations and explain everything you need to know: from how to build your cover identity to what planning an undercover operation really looks like.  Beatriz and Tessa talk to their Lighthouse colleagues, Crofton Black and Emmanuel Freudenthal, about their recent undercover investigation, Surveillance Secrets. They walk us through the creation of their character, a shady businessman named Albert, and the prep work in their back office before the big day.  Next, they speak with Jean Peters, a senior reporter at Correctiv, about how he infiltrated a secret meeting with neo-Nazis and members of Germany’s far-right party, AfD. He talked us through the process of creating a fake persona while his colleagues followed him from a sauna boat.  Finally, they speak to Veena Holkar, director of the non-profit organisation, Wildlight, who explained why it’s crucial to master your gear before going undercover and why women often make the best undercover reporters. Investigations mentioned:  Surveillance Secrets  Secret plan against Germany Wildlight Hosts: Beatriz Ramalho da Silva, Tessa Pang Sound editing and design: Spoovio - Audiovisual Productions Website - X - BlueSky - Instagram - and you can email us at backlight@lighthousereports.com

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Backlight is a podcast produced by the investigations team at Lighthouse Reports. Every month we take you inside real world investigations to explain how they work, who works on them and how to get involved. New episode on the last Thursday of every month.

Information

  • Creator
    Lighthouse Reports
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Lighthouse Reports
  • Show Website
    Backlight

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