CORRECTIV.Europe restructures, editor-in-chief Olaya Argüeso Pérez leaves CORRECTIV

With the European elections and the dramatic developments triggered in Europe by the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the role of a resilient network of local journalists is becoming more important than ever. CORRECTIV.Europe will therefore continue to expand its activities in order to deepen cooperation and the sharing of stories with a European context and relevance on the ground. New fields of activity such as project development, project management and production will be added.

CORRECTIV publisher David Schraven says: “Recent developments have clearly shown us that increased cooperation and robust collaboration among local media professionals in Europe is essential. Stories that are locally rooted and at the same time have a European dimension are now more important than ever. This is precisely where CORRECTIV.Europe’s in-depth networking comes in, which we will continue to strengthen in the coming years.”

Under the leadership of experienced editor-in-chief Olaya Argüeso Pérez, CORRECTIV.Europe has grown into a successful network of over 270 local diverse media professionals in over 27 European countries since its launch at the IJF in Perugia 2023. The network publishes data-based and collaborative investigations, builds capacity on digital techniques, storytelling and investigative research. In October 2023, dozens of local media and freelance local journalists across Europe published reports on the economic costs of industrial air pollution in Europe amounting to billions of euros and in May 2024, shortly before the European elections, on the pollutant emissions caused by factory farming.

As part of the reorganization of CORRECTIV.Europe, Olaya Argüeso Pérez is leaving her role at CORRECTIV to take on new challenges. “I am grateful for my time at CORRECTIV and proud of what we have achieved together. Now is the right time for me to break new ground and dedicate myself to other exciting projects,” explains Olaya Argüeso Pérez.

Before her time at CORRECTIV, Olaya Argüeso Pérez already played a central role in the award-winning research into the CumEx scandal and later headed an international network of over 40 journalists as CORRECTIV Editor-in-Chief. For these achievements, she was named “National Editor-in-Chief of the Year” by Medienmagazin in 2021 as part of the CORRECTIV joint leadership team with Justus von Daniels. She began her journalistic career as a business journalist at Spain’s largest radio station Cadena Ser and from 2017 wrote for renowned media such as El Confidencial, El País and eldiario.es. As an expert in data journalism, she completed the Lede Program at Columbia University in New York in 2016 and coordinated the first master’s program in investigative reporting, data journalism and visualization in Spain at the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid.

David Schraven expresses his sincere thanks to Olaya Argüeso Pérez for her tireless efforts: “Her work and commitment have shaped CORRECTIV.Europe and made the project an indispensable part of European journalism. We would like to thank Olaya for her outstanding achievements and wish her all the best for the future”.

CORRECTIV.Europe is to be a driving force for independent and collaborative reporting and networking of local communities across Europe. The aim is to strengthen journalistic diversity in Europe and make local voices with European relevance heard. In this way, sustainable local approaches can reach a larger informed public, inspire and promote a resilient democracy.