FADA Collective

About the network

FADA Collective is an independent newsroom and journalism network founded by a group of Italian freelance reporters who work across media formats and international borders. Established in 2020 in Italy, FADA was created to pool the diverse expertise of independent journalists to produce deeply reported, public-interest stories. Operating as a collective of under 10 members, it remains open to new members and is committed to fostering community dialogue around journalism and civic participation.

FADA operates on the core belief that independent, balanced reporting on cross-border policies—those affecting citizens, communities, and the environment—is essential for democratic participation. Their reporting serves as a critical tool to hold both private companies and state actors accountable for rights violations, environmental destruction, and social exploitation. To guarantee their independence and maximize their impact, FADA adopts an innovative, sustainable production model. They frequently partner with major international media outlets to reach global audiences, while simultaneously collaborating with local associations and public institutions in Italy to engage diverse, local communities who might otherwise lack access to complex investigative stories.

The collective’s reporting methodology combines rigorous fieldwork with in-depth analysis and investigative techniques. FADA journalists are highly skilled in multimedia production—utilizing web documentaries, photography, video, podcasts, and text—to shed light on critical issues. Their primary reporting covers several pressing global subjects:

• Climate & Environment: Investigating the impacts of the climate crisis, environmental degradation, and resource exploitation.
• Human Rights & Migration: Examining border policies, social movements, and systemic rights violations.
• Health & Social Issues: Digging into neocolonial global supply chains and labor exploitation.
• Democracy & Politics: Covering cross-border policies and data privacy.
• Corruption & Organized Crime: Holding powerful actors accountable for illicit practices.

The collective’s overarching vision is built upon three fundamental pillars:

• REPORT: Functioning as an independent newsroom to produce multimedia, deeply reported public-interest journalism.
• CONNECT: Training young journalists, promoting cross-border collaboration on grant applications, exchanging know-how, and building a community for the next generation of media makers.
• IMPACT: Engaging directly with local communities, civil society, and policymakers to open spaces for dialogue beyond traditional media, with the ultimate goal of triggering tangible change.

Network Projects

FADA’s journalists produce high-impact, international investigations that span continents. A selection of their recent projects includes:

• The Price of Oil: An investigation in Iraq revealing how Western oil companies use environmentally disastrous technologies to exploit oil, exacerbating severe water shortages in an already arid country.
• Europol and the Fight for Europe’s Big Data Ark: An in-depth look into data privacy in Europe and the rapidly expanding role of Europol.
• Exploiting a Crisis: Reporting on how Benin has become the new frontline for jihadist movements.
• Marine Pollution, a Tunisian Scourge: An investigation exposing how the jeans industry destroys the marine ecosystem in the Ksibet El-Mediouni Bay, highlighting the devastating environmental impact of producing clothing for European markets.

Contact
Website: https://www.fadacollective.com/

Contact

Website: https://www.fadacollective.com/
Name: Giacomo Zandonini
Email: g.zandonini@fadacollective.com