In this week’s episode, we are joined by Elisabetta Tola, educated as a scientist and now the co-founder and president of Facta, an Italian nonprofit organization based in Bologna, dedicated to investigative and data journalism across the Mediterranean region.
Facta was born out of the belief that science journalism can be a powerful tool for democracy. Established in 2018 as a cultural association, Facta transitioned into a social enterprise in 2023. To sustain their mission, the team actively pursues various grants.
Their approach to journalism begins with scientific data, which they use as a foundation for their investigations. This is combined with fieldwork, collaboration with scientists, and community engagement to create in-depth, well-rounded journalistic stories.
Facta aims to make a lasting impact through diverse journalistic formats, such as podcasts, books, and multimedia series. “This allows us to have a more enduring effect because we can specialize in certain topics and become a key reference point,” Tola explains.
While Facta currently publishes its work through external outlets, they are exploring the idea of launching its own platform. However, this presents questions and challenges, particularly in terms of time, effort, and the resources required to build a sustainable audience. “Our in-depth stories need a certain type of dedication from the readers. It’s not an easy type of community that you are building and it takes a really long time,” Tola says.
Tune into this episode to dive deeper into Facta’s journey, and hear their insights on debunking misinformation, engaging audiences, and collaborating with citizen scientists.