Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ)

Background

The Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism is a news-based activist group  that claims to emphasize and support “underrepresented communities.” ³

The group is made up of journalists from North America, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and Africa. As of 2024, the group has hubs in the United States and Southern Africa and hopes to create more regional hubs where journalists can cover local stories. ⁴

The group partners with organizations such as the Open Society Foundations, 1 Amendment for All, MuckRock, the Fund for Investigative Journalism, the Boston Globe, The Guardian, CNN Africa, the Institute for Nonprofit News, and AfricaBrief. ⁴

CCIJ has also advocated on behalf of imprisoned journalists and for journalistic freedom. In 2023, the group spoke out against the arrests of journalist Damilola Ayeni in Benin, activist and journalist Samira Sabou in Niger, and journalist and publisher Haruna Mohammed in Nigeria. ^{5 6 7}

Activities

The Center for Collaborative Justice publishes two podcasts and a blog. ⁸

As of 2024, CCIJ is working on three primary projects. The H2OFAIL project is an investigation into the lack of global access to clean water, which CCIJ claims is a United Nations failure. The Gaming the Lottery project is an investigation exploring lottery systems around the world. ¹ Finally, Tapped Out: Power, Justice, and Water in the West is an investigation into droughts and water issues. ⁹ The group also has a series entitled Democracy Deferred about the 2023 Nigerian Presidential Election, the outcome of which was disputed by the opposition parties. ²

CCIJ also trains local journalists and students and allows them to collaborate and investigate alongside the group. ⁴

Financial

In 2023, the Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism brought in $697,886 in total revenue, with $690,039 in contributions and grants. The group also had $334,482 in total expenses and $674,359 in total assets. ¹⁰

CCIJ’s website lists donors who have contributed over $5,000. They include the Hamilton Family Giving Foundation, Hisao Kushi, Edward Lowenstein, Paul Schaeffer, Guy Wallace, and Nikki Zapol. ⁴

Leadership

Jeff Kelly Lowenstein is the founder and executive director of the Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism. He was formerly a database and investigative director with the Chicago Tribune-owned newspaper Hoy Chicago. ¹¹ He is also an associate professor at Grand Valley State University. ¹² In 2023, CCIJ paid Lowenstein $33,938. ¹⁰