Investigative Journalism in a Changing World: The Power of Distribution

In 2020, a huge map detailing companies connected to Lebanon's central bank governor, Riad Salameh, covered the dining-room table of investigative journalist Alia Ebrahim. The map was part of a months-long investigation into Salameh's business dealings, which revealed that he owned at least two dozen companies, many hidden behind obscure names. Ebrahim's daughters, Yasma and Mia, were curious about the map, but when the investigation was published, they didn't want to read it in its original form.

The investigation into Salameh was a significant one, uncovering evidence of aggravated money laundering, illicit enrichment, and conflicts of interest. The series, published by Daraj, an independent media outlet co-founded by Ebrahim, showed that while over a million depositors had lost access to their money in Lebanon, Salameh's wealth was protected in bank accounts and assets across Europe. The investigation led to the freezing or seizure of assets linked to Salameh in six European countries, and he is now facing charges in Lebanon and abroad.

Ebrahim notes that investigative journalists often work for a limited audience, and sometimes just one reader is enough. In this case, that reader was Aude Buresi, a French investigating judge who opened a case file based on Daraj's reporting. However, Ebrahim's own children, who had been following the investigation, didn't want to read the published piece, highlighting a problem with the way journalism is presented and distributed.

By 2025, Daraj had 15 lawsuits against it and was operating in a media ecosystem heavily influenced by the central bank and other financial institutions. Ebrahim realized that producing high-quality journalism was not enough; it was also crucial to find ways to distribute it effectively. As CEO of Daraj, she focused on developing new business models to make journalism more accessible and engaging.

Ebrahim co-founded Daraj in 2016, launching it the following year with a tagline, "The Third Story." The outlet aimed to provide a platform for voices and perspectives often overlooked in the polarized media landscape. Over the past decade, Daraj has gained recognition beyond Lebanon, but the world around it has changed rapidly, with the rise of populism, misinformation, and violence.

Ebrahim believes that the current transition, marked by a massive loss of reference points, requires journalists and media outlets to adapt and innovate. She suggests that the divide is no longer simply between the Global South and Global North or left and right, but rather between those who agree on what is real and those who don't. In this context, distribution and accessibility of journalism are crucial.

Ebrahim recently pitched a new business model to her daughter Mia and her friends, using a small box of watermelon gum as a prop. The idea is to find innovative ways to make journalism travel and reach a wider audience. As she looks to the future, Ebrahim emphasizes that correction and change are not automatic and require people to take action and refuse to sit on their hands.

Key points

• Investigative journalist Alia Ebrahim highlights the importance of distributing journalism effectively in a changing world.
• Daraj, the independent media outlet co-founded by Ebrahim, has faced challenges and lawsuits while trying to make high-quality journalism accessible.
• Ebrahim believes that innovative approaches, such as new business models, are necessary to make journalism travel and reach a wider audience.