How a CIRCOM Workshop Sparked a Cross-Border Investigation

By Kaja Kristin Ness Kotsbakk, Head of Investigative Journalism in Central Norway, NRK

As leaders in regional broadcasting, we attend CIRCOM Regional courses to sharpen our skills or learn about the latest industry trends. But perhaps the greatest value lies in the "coffee break" - the moments between sessions where we meet our counterparts from across Europe.

It was during one of these workshops in Gothenburg in April 2025 that my colleague, the head of investigative journalism at SVT in Gotenbourg, pulled me aside. They were working on a fascinating case involving hydrogen technology - a story that didn't stop at the Swedish border, but stretched deep into Norway.

"We have a case that involves Norway," he told me. "Are you interested?"

That simple question was the start of a collaboration that would eventually result in the major investigative feature: The New Ferries to Lofoten: Claims Swedish Technology Doesn't Deliver.

Image by NRK, The New Ferries to Lofoten: Claims Swedish Technology Doesn't Deliver

Building Trust Across the Border

To turn an idea into an investigation, you need more than just emails; you need trust. Shortly after the workshop, I travelled back to Gothenburg with one of our journalists to sit down with the SVT team. Being in the same room allowed us to align our goals and share sensitive data.

Over the following months, we established weekly Teams meetings to keep each other updated, plan confrontations, and ensure the right to reply was handled professionally in both countries.

Near the end of the project, we met again in Gothenburg for an ethical review. Going through the story line-by-line together ensured that the final product met the high standards of both NRK and SVT.

This investigation into the ferry project in Lofoten - and the Swedish technology provider PowerCell - could not have been told as effectively by one newsroom alone. SVT did a really good job with sources in Sweden, and NRK did the same in Norway, looking at the impact on infrastructure and taxpayers.

Advice to Colleagues

The next time you are at a CIRCOM Regional event, look beyond the curriculum. Talk to the person sitting next to you. Share what you are working on.

Our collaboration with SVT started with a handshake in Gothenburg. It ended with a story that held powerful interests to account in two countries.

Image by Anton Svedsen