# Investigative journalism: uncovering corruption URL: https://www.transparency.org/en/news/investigative-journalism-uncovering-corruption Type: News Published: 2015-12-29 Updated: 2019-11-19 --- 29 December 2015 For the third year Transparency International is sponsoring the One World Media Corruption Reporting Award. The media plays a crucial role in providing citizens with information that enables them to stand up to and fight the corrupt. This takes courage and determination from both the reporters and the people who tell stories, sometimes at great personal risk. The award seeks to honour journalists who bring the abuses of entrusted power to light – because only when corruption is uncovered can it be tackled. **ENTER NOW: One World Media Corruption Reporting Award** The 2016 Awards are **NOW OPEN** for entries, with a closing deadline of 4 February 2016. Click [here](http://www.oneworldmedia.org.uk/awards) to see how to enter and [here](http://oneworldmedia.org.uk/award-categories) to see all this year's categories, which include the Transparency International Corruption Reporting Award. The award is open to all broadcast, online and print media that deal with any aspect of corruption, including investigative reports and features that show the effects of corruption on individuals or society. Corruption is defined as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain, including everything from grand corruption to petty bribery. ### 2015 Winners The winner of the 2015 Corruption Reporting Award was the documentary [Virunga](http://virungamovie.com/), directed by Orlando von Einsiede, that told the story of a small group of dedicated conservationists and park officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo who are fighting both militias and corruption to save Virunga National Park – its wildlife and local communities – from commercial exploitation. Overall there were more than 30 entries. The runners-up for the 2015 award were: - [Africa Investigates: Uganda's Temple of Injustice](http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/africainvestigates/2014/12/uganda-temples-injustice-201412913517224628.html), an investigation by Emmanuel Mutaizibwa for Al Jazeera English, that exposed corruption at the heart of Uganda’s judicial system. - [People's Republic of Offshore](http://www.icij.org/offshore/leaked-records-reveal-offshore-holdings-chinas-elite), an in depth investigation led by Gerard Ryle and International Consortium of Investigative Journalists into how off-shore companies are used to hide corrupt money. Transparency International is already a co-sponsor of the Latin American Investigative Journalism Award with Instituto Prensa y Sociedad (Press and Society Institute, IPYS). The winner of the 2015 award, went to [The White House of Enrique Peña Nieto](http://www.periodismo.org.mx/assets/2014-reportaje.pdf), an investigation by Daniel Lizarraga, Rafael Cabrera, Irving Huerta, Sebastian Barragan, and Carmen Aristegui from [Aristegui Noticias](http://aristeguinoticias.com/) (Mexico). The reporters looked into the US$7 million mansion that was an undeclared donation to the Mexico’s President Enrique Peña Nieto from a contractor who was favoured with public contracts. [One World Media Awards](http://oneworldmedia.org.uk/) are now in their 28th year. They reward “the most outstanding coverage of the developing world and recognise the unique role of journalists and filmmakers in increasing cultural understanding and promoting fairness and justice worldwide”. The Corruption Reporting Award received more than 30 entries, of which three were shortlisted. The jury for the award is independent and selected and managed by One World Media. The 2016 award will be presented in London in May. ## Countries - [Democratic Republic of the Congo](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/democratic-republic-of-the-congo) - [Mexico](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/mexico) - [Uganda](https://www.transparency.org/en/countries/uganda) For any press inquiries please contact ### You might also like... ## [Financial intelligence units: Powerful tools against corruption if governments let them work](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/financial-intelligence-units-powerful-tools-against-corruption) News • 24 June 2026 Financial intelligence units can help expose corrupt money flows – but only if governments give them the powers, access and independence to do the job. ## [Dirty money still has an address: Unveiling the Opacity in Real Estate Ownership Index](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/unveiling-opacity-in-real-estate-ownership-index) News • 26 March 2025 Transparency International and the Anti-Corruption Data Collective have ranked 24 jurisdictions on their ability to protect property markets from illicit funds. ## [CPI 2024 for Sub-Saharan Africa: Weak anti-corruption measures undermine climate action](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/cpi-2024-sub-saharan-africa-weak-anti-corruption-measures-undermine-climate-action) News • 11 February 2025 Despite a very low regional performance in 2024, there were African countries that invested in anti-corruption and made remarkable progress. ## [CPI 2024 for the Americas: Corruption fuels environmental crime and impunity across the region](https://www.transparency.org/en/news/cpi-2024-americas-corruption-fuels-environmental-crime-impunity-across-region) News • 11 February 2025 The absence of effective anti-corruption measures promotes human rights violations, and increases the influence of elites and organised crime on policy-making.