Ides MF Debruyne

Why we support investigative reporting for 25 years.

@varshasuman Okay. But I prefer to discuss this with you. Not with the whole world.

@IdesDebruyne Hi Ides, I m outside the home. Will be replying shortly.

JANHIT ME JARI- So Rifat Mohidin, a reporter from Kashmir wished to collaborate with me for a grant. I was like okay for responsibilities and stress to be shared. She requested to accommodate Naseer Ganai, senior journo from Kashmir, as a photographer saying he is jobless, in need of work and senior expert reporter. As freelance journalists, our default mode is always ‘Seeking Opportunities’, I was like okay. I found out topic and also journos from two EU for collaboration.  We got this grant. We had set up  weekly recurring zoom meeting for fixed time for next 5-6 months. Rifat n Naseer mostly had to be reminded to join meeting by text message. And then they will ask for the link for weekly recurring zoom meeting. Both would hardly finish weekly targets for 5- 6 months with situation worsened so much that EU reporter had written two harshest emails on two different occasions threatening to complaint with grant body. With no choice, Naseer submitted 700-800 words draft on one of the industries we were investigating, purely based on already available numerous stories without any first- person interview with victim or activist. General vague information. That is output from him for 4K Euros grant he got. Rifat, of course, had had many reasons why she couldnot finish the weekly tasks. I am sure every reason given by her was genuine with every family member would fall sick, none activist would ever respond to her calls. She also claimed that nobody replies to her seeing her Muslim name. I know for sure no activist in Maharashtra and South Indian state are openly communalist. And when you sign up for cross-border investigation, we need to assume all kinds of hurdles we might face. Many Muslim journalists I know report from states like UP daily. She never informed me about this issues she might face or did not mentioned this problem in the grant application form that has a section asking prospective challenges. Duo tried every trick to not to travel for field work. I had to undergo emergency surgery and I got stuck at home for two months. I told them I will arrange resources for field work as the project was getting delayed. She said I joined the project assuming I will be there for field work otherwise she wouldnot. Of course, it was never about 5K Euro she sought. Though I have initiated the project with finding topic and EU collaborators, my budget was pretty moderate. With no option, she reluctantly come. Nasser, who came on board as a photographer, took liberty not to do field work. Rifat, meanwhile shown no interest to talk to people. I would talk everywhere where I can see people, talk to people to check who is aware of the issue and ready to talk. I was not allowed brisk walk, bend or walk on steeps due to surgery and I had done everything during field work. After I finalised the person, she would come out of car. Throughout the field work, she interviewed three people for not more than 10 minutes each. And this was for INTERNATIONAL PROJECT.   I was really amazed and curious what she would write. I and EU journo told her write a draft giving my health reasons. She tried to manipulate me multiple times giving reasons like we are friends, sisters, collaborators and many more entertaining ones.   After two weeks she submitted draft. Barring general available information, she had six quotes from field work with three anonymous ones though she had talked only three people on field where I was right with her every moment. Off course all the anonymous quote were of ‘UNIVERSAL Ronadhona’ types saying ‘Oh we are poor, how can we raise voice against govt and so on’. The quotes without context can be put in mouth of every citizen of all third world countries regardless of topic of investigation- be it gender, corruption or environment.

@varshasuman What do you hope to achieve with this post?

Since this reply was epic, hence sharing. I had asked once which activist ahe called, she said Mohan Dharia. The environmental activist died in 2013.

Persvrijheidsprijs van VUB en ULB voor Rwandese journalist en onderzoeksplatform @IrpiMedia bruzz.be/actua/samenlev…

🚨BREAKING🚨 Apple is removing its most robust data protection tool from UK users. “This decision by Apple is the regrettable consequence of the Home Office’s outrageous order attempting to force Apple to breach encryption. As a result, from today Apple’s UK customers are less safe and secure than they were yesterday – and this will quickly prove to have much wider implications for internet users in the UK. “No matter how this is framed, there is simply no such thing as a “back door” that can be limited only to criminals or that can be kept safe from hackers or foreign adversaries. Once encryption is broken for anyone, it’s broken for everyone, and as we have cautioned: this will not stop with Apple. “We once again call on the Home Office to immediately rescind this draconian order and cease attempts to break encryption before the privacy rights of millions are eroded and the UK further ostracises itself from other democracies around the world” - @rebecca_vincent

Independent nonprofit media suddenly find themselves at the center of a perfect storm of existential threats following the suspension of USAID funds. The investigative community has responded with solidarity, and numerous creative strategies: twp.ai/1QooCk

As the energy transition accelerates in response to the climate crisis, pursuing stories on greenwashing and other fossil fuel industry tactics will become even more relevant for investigative reporters. Here, @DialogueEarth_'s @ferminkoop provides the key questions to ask: twp.ai/1RdEoY

🌍🕵️‍♂️ Apply by Feb 28 to join the Environmental Investigative Teaching Lab at @InvestigativeD. Sessions will run two days a week from mid-March to mid-May, and participants will receive a stipend. More info: t.ly/7ZmQI #environmentaljournalism #earthinvestigations

Politicians are calling on other EU countries to stop exporting toxic gasoline to West Africa, following our story. The joint investigation showed Belgian and Dutch export bans risk being ineffective without a wider ban. (support @journalismfund) nos.nl/artikel/255642…

Benelux Secretary General Frans Weekers calls for a EU-wide ban on the export of toxic fuels following an investigation by our grantees t.ly/yTcYR @Apache_be @oc_spit @ltrgoddard @StaufenbergJ @EfeAnsah @noeL_maS @SteVaBu #impact #earthinvestigations

Benelux Secretaris Generaal Frans Weekers roept op tot een EU-breed verbod op de export van giftige brandstoffen. Dit besluit volgt op onderzoek ondersteund door @journalismfund's Environmental Investigative Journalism beursprogramma. journalismfund.eu/news/benelux-c…

🚨 Have you considered the implications of losing our DNA? 📰 ‘Lost Cells’ explores the cord blood banking industry and its impact on health and technology. 👉 Discover more: journalismfund.eu/supported-proj… #ECB #Journalism #Investigative

This chapter by Megan Darby looks at how governments support fossil fuels, both directly through tax breaks and subsidies, and indirectly through negative impacts of fossil fuel extraction and use. More from GIJN's Investigating Fossil Fuels Guide: twp.ai/1RWcdq

Avertismente ignorate: De ce Oradea e un exemplu negativ la adaptarea în fața schimbărilor climatice pressone.ro/avertismente-i…

(Dutch) Podcast “Uur van de Waarheid” vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/luis… en bijbehorend artikel vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2025… (Interview van belgische omroep VRT met ondergetekende, ter info)

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Revealed: Boeing, Airbus cargoes among aircraft parts worth millions passed on to Russia via India, despite sanctions Our new investigation traced hundreds of trades using customs data from western firms to Indian intermediaries and then Russian buyers. investigate-europe.eu/posts/boeing-a…

🌍✨ ¡Únete al webinar sobre el programa Pluralistic Media for Democracy! Obtén más información para aplicar con éxito. 📆Jueves 6 de marzo a las 14:00 CET 💻 Vía Zoom 🔗 Regístrate ahora: bit.ly/4hYpzge 💡¡Comparte la información e invita a tus colegas a unirse! #PM4D

Vandaag op de cover van @BRUZZbe : een exclusieve voorpublicatie van mijn boek 'Onverwoestbaar', dat morgen verschijnt. bruzz.be/actua/cultuurn…

🌡️ De noordpoolregio warmt niet twee keer zo snel op als het globale gemiddelde maar wel vier keer. Dat heeft een verregaande impact op mens en dier. Lees het hele dossier van @Tomas_Paradise via @eos_wetenschap @mondiaalnieuws & @BBC fondspascaldecroos.org/nl/noord-in-no…

❄️ Europa zet in op een groene toekomst, maar die brengt niet voor iedereen vooruitgang. Voor de inheemse Sami roept de vergroening herinneringen op aan een koloniaal verleden. @Tomas_Paradise voor @eos_wetenschap eoswetenschap.eu/natuur-milieu/…