2019 has been quite a year at Civio. Brilliantly led by David Cabo and Eva Belmonte, the team has undergone some changes in composition and, overcoming all obstacles, has really risen to the occasion with astonishing accomplishments on several fronts.
Once again, Civio has produced some of the very best data-based journalistic content around. And I do not mean that in a narrow Spanish national sense. International awards such as the second Data Journalism Award granted by the Global Editors Network attest to the fact. There are over a million readers better informed, with in depth accounts of critical issues affecting the public sphere, thanks to the team’s continued effort and singular mix of skills.
But Civio is not only about investigative data-based journalism. As highlighted by NiemanLab, Civio’s edge also has to do with the organisation’s commitment to driving actual change on the back of the deep knowledge it acquires as it carries out its investigations. In 2019 these efforts to effect change have taken two fundamental shapes: (1) lobbying, and (2) litigation.
On the advocacy front, the foundation’s impact can be seen in new public procurement legislation enacted (incl. in the region of Madrid), changes made fixing flaws on the way in which citizens can access energy provision subsidies, as well as a grassroots formal legislative initiative currently underway on drug price transparency and several other healthcare-related fronts.
On the judicial front, the year ends on a high note too. Spain’s highest court (Tribunal Supremo) just sided with us confirming citizens’ right to obtain crucial data related to discretional political appointees serving at the country’s public administration bodies. And this is just the first win. We expect other critical victories to crystallise in the new year.
If there ever was a time where your support of Civio would be most justified, this could very well be it!
