Follow the Money

Follow the Money is, according to its founders, an independent platform publishing "radically investigative journalism". Its objective is to counter the "deteriorating scope and quality of journalism in the Netherlands" following the financial crisis in 2009. According to the organisation, this global crisis underlined the importance of research into money flows and the financial industry.Yet Follow the Money reaches further than economics and finances: its purpose is to "find truth in service of society", whether it concerns healthcare, the housing market, or politics. "Follow the money" is the platform's editorial leitmotif regardless of the matter. "Every investigative project is to a greater or lesser extent related to scarcity, demand and economic interests," co-editor-in-chief Eric Smit said.Follow the Money's newsroom mainly works on long-term research files, focusing on a single theme or topic. Thereby, the team gains "unique insights and a deeper understanding" of what impact certain news has on, for example, Amsterdam's financial district or the European Union.The newsroom finances its work through different membership options and single donations, and does not have advertising in any form. The support allows the platform's reporters to remain independent and create the stories they believe are most relevant.The team recently opened an office in Brussels and launched an international website: www.ftm.eu. "Many elements of our research also carry importance abroad," Smit said. "The new website will develop into a full-grown English version with international investigative stories, from within and outside the EU."Since the platform's establishment in 2010, Follow the Money's newsroom has won multiple awards for its investigative work. For example, in 2019, Follow the Money's journalist Eelke van Ark won the Stuiveling Open Data Award and the Audience Award from the Tegel competition for its dossier, Zorgcowboys.