A new name, with new missions.
In 2024-2025, our platform, formerly known as Platform Authentieke Journalistiek, will be evolving into Momus.
This change also reflects a shift in our mission. Going forward, we will not only investigate today’s problems but also explore meaningful solutions, by applying solutions journalism to areas we’ve investigated before.
✉️merel@momusmedia.nl
Merel de Buck has a PhD in political anthropology and has been working as an investigative journalist at Momus (formerly Platform for Authentic Journalism) since 2019. She focuses on the relationship between Shell and the Dutch government, the coal lobby, gas extraction in Groningen, and more recently, the housing sector in Utrecht. She is also exploring ways to involve the public more in her research.
✉️jeske@momusmedia.nl
As an anthropologist, Jeske Jongerius offers a fresh perspective on contemporary issues. As a researcher, editor, and speaker, she has exposed the systemic failures behind the housing crisis and highlighted the human experience of it. At Momus, she focuses on solution-oriented journalism and works on the Woonproof and 2100 projects.
✉️jilles@momusmedia.nl
Jilles Mast is a co-founder of Momus (formerly Platform for Authentic Journalism). He conducts research on the energy transition, Shell/NAM and the Dutch government, international trade agreements, and hidden corporate lobbying.
✉️nina@momusmedia.nl
Nina is Italian and pursued a Master’s in Climate Studies at Wageningen University, focusing on environmental economics and policy. She researches the socio-economic impact of climate change, climate and sustainability policies, and the influence of corporate lobbies.
Marit has a background in marketing and communications and, as Momus’ community manager, is responsible for our newsletters, social media, and – in the future – live events. Our goal is to build an engaged community and promote more participatory and transparent investigative journalism.
Tim de Jong researches how we can create a more humane and sustainable society. He explores where the pain points are and, more importantly, how things can be done differently. In doing so, he strives to distinguish real solutions from nonsense and greenwashing.
Tim worked as a behavioral scientist for many years before transitioning to journalism. However, he still applies his psychological background to make the human side of the climate crisis understandable and relatable to everyday life. For Vrij Nederland, he conducted in-depth interviews with pioneers in the climate movement and created a series on stories that slow down or accelerate climate action.
Peter Lipton is a photographer, image editor, photo editor, and illustrator for journalistic organizations. In collaboration with Momus, he develops new journalistic storytelling formats in image and sound.
✉️ alexander@momusmedia.nl
Alexander Beunder joined Momus in 2017 (then still Platform for Authentic Journalism). His themes include: the political influence of Shell, the financial flows behind climate denial, and the history of disinformation and conspiracy thinking. Read his work in Follow The Money, De Volkskrant, De Groene Amsterdammer, Economisch Statistische Berichten, Sargasso, Republiek Allochtonië, and the Routledge Handbook of the Influence Industry (2024).
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Platform Authentieke Journalistiek2024-12-02 16:52:062025-03-05 17:28:08Clintel: climate denial in the 21st century (podcast)
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Platform Authentieke Journalistiek2024-11-24 14:10:442025-03-05 18:10:51Platform Authentieke Journalistiek becomes Momus
Beeld: Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/illustrations/ocean-sunset-mirror-reflection-6507058/) en Wikimedia (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cathrine_Gyldensted_2021.png)
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Platform Authentieke Journalistiek2024-11-22 13:45:582025-03-05 17:26:54Telling the whole story: a conversation on constructive journalism with Cathrine GyldenstedMOMUS believes in journalism that is fact-based, transparent, participative, and solutions-oriented.
The founders of Platform Authentieke Journalistiek, now Momus, first came together in 2013. From a shared love for research and societal engagement, a new investigative journalism collective was born, with roots in Utrecht. The name was chosen as a tribute to a movement within Mexican journalism: periodismo auténtico, or authentic journalism, which remains true to journalistic core principles regardless of the circumstances and potential repercussions.
Telling the story behind the scenes ultimately became the essence of our journalism. In the attic of a monumental building in the heart of Utrecht, we conduct in-depth research. How are political decisions made in the Netherlands? Who is listened to and who is not? Where do the ideas come from? Has the public interest been taken into account, or have private interests prevailed? What are the consequences for people and the environment? Are alternative paths conceivable and necessary?
Momus works in the spirit of investigative journalism by conducting research over an extended period. The result is stories that, like the research itself, require some time to digest but provide new insights into overlooked topics or topics that transcend the daily hype.
FOIA-requests and archival research
For those who want to take a peek behind the scenes, relying solely on press spokespersons’ questions won’t suffice. Therefore, we heavily rely on Woo-requests (FOIA-requests) and archival work for our investigations. Few things bring us as much joy as large datasets or meters of paper to sift through in search of that one gem. For the story on Frits Böttcher, a Dutch climate skeptic funded by the business sector, we went through more than ten meters of paper in the North Holland archive until we found that one document we were looking for in an inconspicuous folder in archive box no. 53. Our research on the elite society De Tafelronde also stemmed from archival work.
In addition, Momus makes extensive use of the Woo: Open Government Act. This law establishes the right to access government documents. Anyone can request copies of emails, memos, minutes, and more on almost any imaginable topic. Submitting a Woo-request is relatively simple, but actually obtaining the documents is a skill of its own. Sometimes, this can lead to prolonged legal battles, as we have discovered in recent years.
The Momus team has based several investigations, either partially or entirely, on documents obtained through this process. This includes research on the collaboration between Dutch multinational corporations and the government in the Dutch Trade and Investment Board, as well as the ongoing Shell Papers investigation, which focuses on the ties between the Dutch government and Shell.
These requests often result in a vast amount of data. Our combination of a slight obsession with meticulously reviewing government documents and the right software to organize them allows us to find the needle in the haystack nonetheless. In the case of the Shell Papers, we also collaborate with our readers. A dedicated website provides access to and allows searching through all the documents we have obtained so far, and readers can send us tips if they come across anything of interest.
(International) Fieldwork
Momus is not solely focused on devouring paperwork. The team also ventures into the field to listen to voices that need to be heard. People facing exclusion, exploitation, fraud, or political mismanagement become involved in our journalism. Merel de Buck and Jilles Mast, both trained anthropologists, apply their academic skills in this regard. Our research on the impact of the “gas boom” in Mozambique on the country’s citizens serves as an example.
Data research
Statistics play a role in many of our investigations. Sometimes, we rely on public statistics (such as those from the Central Bureau of Statistics) or other scientific sources. At other times, we perform our own calculations and demonstrate how we arrived at them. Alexander Beunder, Momus’s in-house economist, conducted an extensive analysis of the tax burden on multinational corporations. And recently, we revealed that the NAM (Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij) earns billions from gas storage in the Dutch soil.
Collaboration
No Momus investigation would have come to fruition without engaging with other experts, organizations, academics, journalists, or involved readers who share their tips or personal experiences with us. Collaboration is highly valued by us, including with other (research) organizations from civil society.
To continue our projects we are dependent on donations. Help us guarantee our independence and quality.
Our bank details are:
Platform Authentieke Journalistiek
Utrecht, The Netherlands
IBAN: NL12TRIO0198320299
Paper form: NL12 TRIO 0198 3202 99
BIC: TRIONL2U
Bank: Triodos Bank N.V.
If you are located in Belgium, Germany or the Netherlands you can also use our online payment method.
If you have something to share or would like to collaborate with Momus on a specific topic, feel free to send us an email: info [at] momusmedia.nl.
Momus is affiliated with Publeaks. The Publeaks website is specifically designed for whistleblowers who want to report societal misconduct to the press. Momus journalists thoroughly investigate your tip while ensuring your anonymity.
24-07-2024
