Konferanse 2018: Making Transparency Possible - Interdisciplinary Dialogues

In April 2017, the Panama Papers investigation was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting for “using a collaboration of more than 300 reporters on six continents to expose the hidden infrastructure and global scale of offshore tax havens”. The award is only the latest in a series of accolades for the globe-spanning reporting effort by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) that includes the Miami Herald, Süddeutsche Zeitung and a number other media partners. ICIJ is itself an example of an innovative form of journalism, representing an unprecedented level of collaboration with more than 190 investigative journalists in more than 65 countries teaming up to deliver in-depth investigative stories. Digital technology has facilitated such innovative global collaborative networks of mutual aid across countries and continents, seemingly in contrast to the dominating media market paradigm stipulating ever-increasing competition between journalists and media houses.

WHERE: OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University, Auditorium "Athene", Pilestredet 46, Oslo. (formerly known as Høgskolen i Oslo og Akershus (HiOA) / Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences (HiOA), Norway).

WHEN: 16th February, 2018

The purpose of this research conference was to facilitate a dialogue between researchers educated and experienced in disciplines such as law, economy, accounting and journalism and explore:

  • How to interpret and understand complex information on finance and financial transactions, including the workings of intricate global networks of businesses and webs of ownerships, including those registered in tax havens?
  • How to understand the use of digital communication to build cross border networks of mutual aid between investigative journalists?
  • How to make digital communication safe, in order to protect sources (whistle-blowers) and the involved journalists themselves?

  • Making Transparency Possible - Interdisciplinary Dialoguesk

    08.15 Registration, Tea / Coffe
    09.00 09.15Welcome
    09.15
    10.00    		Investigative journalism on illicit financial flows: Safety for journalists
    Lina Chawaf, Executive Director in Rozana, Syria
    Craig McKune, Investigative Journalist for amaBhungane, Sotuh Africa
    10.00 10.15Break
    10.15 11.00Investigative journalism on illicit financial flows: How to explain complicated and complex financial transactions to the public? 
    Kristine Agalaryan, investigative journalist for www.hetq.am, Armenia
    Jóhannes Kr. Kristjánsson, Owner of Reykjavik Media and Co-founder of the Icelandic Center for Investigative Journalism​, Iceland
    11.00 11.15Break
    11.15  12.00How to use networks and technology when investigating illicit financial flows and security issues arising when protecting yourself and your sources?
    Nils Mulvad, Partner and CEO at Kaas & Mulvad, Denmark
    Dlshad Othman, Digital Security Technical Advisor at Internews Network, USA
    12.00 13.00Lunch
    13.00 13.45Illicit financial flows: What do companies have to be open about? Can companies be held responsible?
    - What degree of transparency is ensured by the law - and is it sufficient? PhD Cand. Linn Anker Sørensen, University of Oslo, Norway
    - How to hold companies responsible? Prof. Dr. Juris Beate Sjåfjell, University of Oslo, Norway
    13.45 14.00Break
    14.00 14.45Illicit financial flows: Data and inequality - where are we now?
    -     We have more data. What are the incentives to disclose misconduct? Prof. of Law and Economics Tina Søreide, Norwegian School of Economics (NHH), Norway
    -     Power, Poverty, Paradise: On inequality in a corrupt world economy. Prof. of Economics Kalle Moene, University of Oslo, Norway
    14.45 15.00Break, Tea/ Coffee
    15.00 16.00Illicit financial flows: Data and inequality - where are we now?
    -     Mark-to-Market: What started as an obscure accounting concept is soon affecting everything from financial institutions to all businesses and society at large. Frian Aarsnes, Director at ECON Management Consulting, Chairman of the Board of PWYP Norway
    - What does financialization of society mean for citizens? Fanny Voldnes, Director of the Political Science Department at Norwegian Union of Municipal and General Employees, Board Member of PWYP Norway
    16.00 16.45Moderated panel discussion: How to communicate complex financial information? Which challenges do civil society organizations face?
    -     Gro Skaaren -Fystro, Special advisor at Transparency International Norge
    - Johan Hermstad, Director at Norwegian Council for Africa
    - Peter Ringstad, Political Advisor at Tax Justice Network Norway
    - Sven Larsen, Advisor at Norwegian Church Aid

    Convenor: Professor Roy Krøvel, Department of journalism and media studies, Oslo MET – Oslo Metropolitan University (former Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences).

This research conference build on previous events organized by PWYP Norway. In 2016 we held the first "Making Transparency Possible", a 3 day conference with 40 speakers from 19 countries, where investigative journalists from 14 countries shared knowledge on how many of them have cooperated trans-nationally in large in-depth, cross country cases. Their work often intertwined with large leaks, such as the Panama Papers, Lux Leaks, and Swiss Leaks. This conference was financed by Norad. Following these discussions in 2016, previous conferences, events and cooperation has now sparked into this research project, which is financed by The Finance Market Fund.