Luuk Sengers… « Luuk Sengers

Luuk Sengers…

I’m an independent investigative reporter and a journalism lecturer. I write about issues regarding sustainability and environment. And I teach investigation techniques and writing skills to journalists and and other professionals.

I have worked for sixteen years as a staff-reporter at national newspapers and magazines, among them the news agency Geassocieerde Pers Diensten (GPD) in The Hague, NRC Handelsblad, business magazine Quote and the weekly general interest magazine Intermediair. Since 2005 I’m self-employed and do I work together with other investigative journalists in cross border projects.

Training

I teach advanced research-, computer-, Internet- and interview techniques and (creative) writing skills to journalists and other professionals. My clients are journalism schools, universities, profit and non-profit organizations and training institutes in The Netherlands and Belgium. I also taught in workshops on a dozen international conferences.

Schools and courses: Katholieke Hogeschool Mechelen (Mechelen, Belgium); Centrum voor Communicatie en Journalistiek (Utrecht, Netherlands); Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam; Fontys Hogeschool Journalistiek (Tilburg, Netherlands); De Redactie (Amsterdam/Monnickendam); Internationale Research Journalistiek (Fonds Pascal Decroos/Hogeschool Mechelen); NIOW, training institute (Zeist, Netherlands); Louwers Communicatie (Amsterdam).

In-company training: De Standaard/Het Nieuwsblad; MTNL (Multiculturele Omroep); de Volkskrant (national newspaper); Wegener (Publisher); TU Delft (technical university); FNV Bondgenoten (federal workers union); CBS (Dutch Statistical Office); Belastingdienst (Dutch Tax Department); SNS Reaal (bank), Evangelische Omroep (Evangelic Broadcasting Corporation), Budhist Broadcast Organization.
Training for journalism organizations: Hungarian investigative reporters in Budapest, in October 2008, on invitation of the Center for Independent Journalism in Budapest; Reporters in the Ukrain, in Kiev, in 2008, on invitation of SCOOP; Reporters in Serbia, in Belgrade, in June 2009 on invitation of the OSCE.

Workshops: I gave workshops to reporters at several national and international conferences, like the London Summer School for Investigative Journalism 2007, 2009 and 2010 at City University in London, the Global Investigative Journalism Conference 2007 in Toronto, the international conference on investigative reporting in East and South East Europe in Budapest 2007, the Global Investigative Journalism Conference 2008 in Lillehammer, the European Investigative Journalism Conference in Brussels in 2008, the Conference on Investigative Reporting in Kiev (Ukraïn) in 2008, the Norwegian conference of Skup in 2010 and the Global Investigative Journalism Conference in Geneva in 2010. The workshops focus on computer-assisted research, process management and research techniques.

Coaching: I have helped journalists in newsrooms with stories and projects, as part of coaching programs.

Publications

I wrote and edited the book Onderzoeksjournalistiek. Researchproces van idee tot verhaal, by Lannoo Campus/Amsterdam University Press, 2009.

And I contributed to the book Story-based Inquiry, A Manual for investigative Journalists, by Mark Hunter, published by UNESCO in 2009.

Right now, I’m working on a new book.

Climate change & sustainability

As a reporter, I focus on the effects of climate change and peakoil. Allthough the climate summit in Copenhagen in 2009 did not come up with strict targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emisions, it is clear that a drastic reduction is necessary. An urgent question, in my opinion, is: do we do everything we can to prevent the climate disaster?

What does a drastic reduction of greenhouse gases mean for our economy, way of life, transport and food and energy production?

Should we not give small businesses and local initiatives a fairer chance to promote green solutions? Instead of putting all our bets on big companies like energy multinaltionals and large automobile manufacturers?

These stories have a strong international angle. That is why I occasionally work together with reporters in other countries.

Investigations

In the past I have written feature stories about social-economic issues: work and income, social security, health and food.

I produced investigative pieces about train accidents, hormone disrupting chemicals in drinking water, unsafe baby food, wage differences, unfairness in the tax system, diminishing social security and rising poverty. My stories have been published in newspapers and magazines and on the websites of non-profit organizations.

Research

Research consumes time and demands knowledge of advanced techniques. That is why I take part in several international journalism projects, with reporters and researchers in other European countries. That is why I am:

Secretary of the Dutch-Flemish Association of Investigative Reporters (VVOJ);

Member of the Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), an USA-based association;

Member of the Global Investigative Journalism Network.

Co-founder and member of the Investigative Reporters Network Europe (IRENE);

Co-founder and member of Eccar, the European Center for Computer-Assisted Reporting;

Member of the Farmsubsidy.org data harvest team in 2010

I’m involved in an initiative to establish an European agency for investigative stories about sustainability. The kick off is expected in december 2010. The initiative brings together environmental reporters from all over the EU who publish about the progress and the obstacles in their countries.

Principles

As a reporter I work according to principles outlined by the Committee of Concerned Journalists (CCJ). They contain:m

1. Truthfulness
2. Loyalty to citizens
3. Independence from those I cover
4. Monitoring power and giving voice to the voiceless
5. Open to public criticism and problem solving
6. Making news that is proportional and relevant

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References

Luuk Sengers…

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