Spotlight Contacts Meeting

Objective of the meeting: To map the operational landscape of the Spotlight network. Attendees should provide a "behind-the-curtain" look at how their unit is built, how it functions daily, and where it fits within the wider newsroom.

Agenda

Day 1 | Monday 23 March (09:00 – 17:00)
Focus: Operational Showcasing & Collaboration Ideas

09:00 Opening Plenary: Welcome, introductions, and overview of the meeting goals.
09:30 Show & Tell: Session I - Member presentations on current fact-checking and OSINT operations.
11:00 Morning Break    
11:15 Show & Tell: Session II - Continued presentations followed by moderated Q&A on workflows.
12:30 Lunch
13:30 Show & Tell: Session III - Final round of operational presentations and audience Q&A.
14:30 Investigative Journalism - Presentation by Belén López Garrido, Editorial Manager at Eurovision News and head of the EBU Investigative Journalism Network (IJN).
15:00 Afternoon Break    
15:15 Speed Pitching: Short, timed pitches for potential collaborative investigations.
16:30 Pitch Review: Group discussion to identify the most viable ideas for follow-up.
17:00 Day 1 Close - End of formal sessions.
19:00-21:00 Networking dinner

Day 2 | Tuesday 24 March (09:00 – 13:00)
Focus: Brainstorming Workshop: The Future of Spotlight

09:00 Current State Evaluation: Analysis of Spotlight Network's first year - the successes, lessons learned and member involvement.
10:00 Brainstorming: New Enhancements - Breakout groups to ideate features or services to improve the network.
11:15 Coffee Break
11:30 The Roadmap Forward: Prioritizing ideas and defining the strategic direction for Spotlight.
12:45 Summary & Next Steps: Final wrap-up and assignment of action items.
13:00 Meeting Close - Departure.

Accommodation

Renaissance Brussels Hotel

Deluxe Room with breakfast
From EUR 209.- per night

Click here to book your room at the Renaissance Brussels Hotel

Booking deadline on 27 February 2026