How far should a reporter go in search of the truth? Investigative journalism demands time, resources, and risk. In this episode of «It's not that simple», with journalist Mariana van Zeller, we discover that in her profession there are no shortcuts.
A childhood curiosity took her to Columbia University in New York. From there, she set off on an adventure across more than 80 countries. But what drives someone to infiltrate clandestine networks, cross dangerous borders, and expose themselves to risk just to tell a story?
The stories she uncovers are not easy, but they justify the Peabody, DuPont and Emmy awards she has received. From drug cartels to arms traffickers, from corruption to migration routes, each episode demands months of preparation, risky travel, and moments of real tension.
«There is a line we should never cross, but we must always come back with chalk on our feet», says Mariana van Zeller, describing her balance between safety and risk.
In an era dominated by the attention economy, and, as she says, also by the «economy of rage», where does truth stand? With information becoming disposable, shaped by social media and algorithms, her work gains new urgency: «Investigative journalism is the pursuit of truth, and truth is essential for a healthy democracy.»
More on the topic
«Trafficked», with Mariana van Zeller, National Geographic
«Immigration Barometer: the view of the Portuguese», FFMS
«Mariana van Zeller, the investigative journalist who goes deep into empathy», ECO