Time and again, headlines bring attention to violence committed by police officers. In 2022, only in Austria, over 300 suspected cases of excessive police violence were registered. They report of racist attacks, radical right-wing chat groups and violent actions against climate protesters. An esprit of corps within those groups often hinders mutual control. On the one hand, people affected therefore have hardly any chance to have their cases independently resolved; and on the other hand, colleagues slowly undermine the reputation of good police officers. What change do we need to see?

On January 10th 2024, a release shook Germany to the core. In their research labelled “Geheimplan” (Secret Plan), Correctiv published information about a meeting of high-ranking AfD politicians, neo-Nazis and well-financed entrepreneurs that took place in November 2023 in Potsdam, Germany. Content of this meeting: planning the displacement of millions of people from Germany. Following the release, nationwide demonstrations against the political right have taken place. Also in Austria, the new right scene, adherents of the Identitarian movement and their political connections with the Austrian FPÖ have been investigated for decades. Journalists remain firm in following these stories with their thorough research; and time and time again, they make a contribution to reveal right-wing structures. On this panel, we shed light on the challenges surrounding investigating the right fringe and the risks they might entail from different angles.

Since the start of the #MeToo movement in October 2017, also in the German-speaking area, numerous cases of sexualised violence and abuse of power have become known. Just like in the case of Harvey Weinstein, it is often journalists who disclose these cases to the public after their thorough research. What does pretrial publicity entail? Why is #MeToo coverage so controversial from a legal point of view? What are the special challenges of an investigation in our own industry?