In this episode, we welcome Peter Matjašič, Executive Director of Investigate Europe (IE), a cross-border team of over twenty reporters, editors, and producers based in 12 European countries. Before joining and co-leading the cooperative in 2022, Matjašič was a Senior Program Officer for the Open Society Initiative for almost nine years. “People coming together for a greater good has always been my instinct,” he says.
Founded in 2016, Investigate Europe aims to provide insights into hidden stories and structures that are shaping the continent today. With a team spread across Europe, it offers in-depth investigations that resonate beyond the national borders. Matjašič states, “Being a fully remote team is in the organization’s nature because we want to cover Europe from the bottom up.”
In recent years, IE has grown from thirteen team members to over twenty. While working remotely is the essence of Investigate Europe, it also presents management challenges. Without a central editorial office, organizing in-person and online meetings is one such challenge. As is communication when different cultures, backgrounds, points of view, and language barriers are brought to the table. However, as in most cases, these challenges present opportunities as well.
Next to this, Matjašič also tackles topics such as finding a balance between (over)sharing information, dealing with salary (in)equality, and ‘journalists being a different kind of animal’.
Listen to this episode to learn more about how Investigate Europe defines the organizational structure of a remote and culturally diverse team.