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| CIPER | |
|---|---|
| Name | CIPER |
| Native name | Centro de Investigación Periodística |
| Formed | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Santiago, Chile |
| Fields | Investigative journalism, data journalism, public interest reporting |
CIPER CIPER is a Chilean nonprofit investigative journalism newsroom established to produce in-depth reporting on matters of public interest. It operates from Santiago and has become known for detailed exposés involving politics, business, law, and public institutions. Through longform narratives, databases, and source-driven inquiries, CIPER has influenced legal proceedings, legislative debates, and public policy discussions across Chile and Latin America.
Founded in 2007 by a group of investigative reporters and editors, CIPER emerged in the context of transitions following the Pinochet dictatorship and the consolidation of democratic institutions in Chile. Early contributors included journalists with backgrounds at El Mercurio, La Tercera, and Radio Cooperativa, and the project attracted attention alongside regional outlets such as Acuña Investigación and Aristegui Noticias. Throughout the 2010s CIPER published investigations that intersected with cases involving figures connected to Sebastián Piñera, Ricardo Lagos, Michelle Bachelet, and institutions like the Corte Suprema de Chile and the Congreso Nacional de Chile. Its reporting has occasionally overlapped with international probes by organizations such as the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and newsrooms like The New York Times, El País, and The Guardian.
CIPER states objectives centered on uncovering wrongdoing, documenting systemic failures, and promoting transparency in public life. It aims to inform citizens, support accountability measures tied to entities like the Contraloría General de la República de Chile, and complement oversight by bodies such as the Fiscalía Nacional Económica and the Ministerio Público de Chile. The newsroom emphasizes rigorous sourcing comparable to practices at ProPublica, Centro Latinoamericano de Investigaciones Periodísticas, and Bellingcat, seeking to catalyze reforms in areas that touch institutions including the Banco Central de Chile, Servicio de Impuestos Internos, and the Superintendencia de Valores y Seguros.
CIPER is organized as a nonprofit entity with an editorial team, data journalists, legal advisors, and administrative staff. Editorial leadership has included figures who previously worked at outlets like CNN Chile, TVN, and La Nación (Chile). Governance mechanisms involve boards or trustees with ties to academic institutions such as Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and Universidad de Chile, and coordination with independent auditors akin to practices at Transparency International affiliates. Collaborations and freelance reporting have brought in specialists from organizations like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and universities including Harvard University and Universidad Diego Portales.
CIPER's portfolio contains investigations that have addressed corruption, environmental controversies, corporate malfeasance, and judicial conduct. Notable inquiries examined procurement practices linked to infrastructure projects involving firms comparable to Codelco, SQM, and contractors engaged in public works associated with the Ministerio de Obras Públicas de Chile. Other reports scrutinized campaign financing tied to political parties such as Renovación Nacional and Partido Socialista de Chile, and examined conflicts of interest among public officials connected to administrations like those of Patricio Aylwin and Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle. CIPER’s work has prompted parliamentary inquiries in the Cámara de Diputados de Chile, investigations by the Fiscalía Nacional, and rulings in courts including the Corte de Apelaciones de Santiago. Internationally, its findings have been cited by outlets such as Reuters, Bloomberg, and BBC News.
CIPER follows investigative methodologies emphasizing document analysis, data journalism, and source corroboration. Reporters use public records from registries like the Registro Civil de Chile, financial disclosures submitted to the Servicio Electoral de Chile (SERVEL), and corporate filings reminiscent of those held at the Registro de Comercio. Editorial standards are aligned with norms practiced at institutions such as Society of Professional Journalists-affiliated bodies and peer investigative centers like The Center for Public Integrity. Legal review processes mirror those used at newsrooms like The Washington Post and elpais.com to mitigate libel risk and protect sources, sometimes coordinating with legal clinics at universities like Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez.
As a nonprofit, CIPER’s funding model combines donations, grants, and collaborative projects. Funders have included philanthropic foundations with regional activity similar to the Open Society Foundations, the Ford Foundation, and foundations oriented toward media such as the Knight Foundation. Partnerships have spanned collaborations with international investigative networks like the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, media outlets including El Mundo (Spain) and La Nación (Argentina), and academic research centers such as Centro de Estudios Públicos and FLACSO Argentina.
CIPER’s reporting has received national and international awards, paralleling honors administered by organizations like the Lenka Franulic Award, the Premio Nacional de Periodismo, and prizes from entities similar to Reporters Without Borders-affiliated competitions. Its investigations have been highlighted by journalism festivals such as Festival Gabo and cited in scholarly work at institutions including Universidad Diego Portales and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
Category:Investigative journalism organizations