We combine traditional newsroom practices with people-power
to expose important stories, spark public debate
and prevent injustice.
The Scrutiny Project was founded by Gina McColl, Head of Investigations at Right Now and The Tell and Associate Editor of The Citizen at the University of Melbourne’s Centre for Advancing Journalism.
In 2024, the Scrutiny Project is working with James Costa, journalist at CAJ’s The Citizen and recipient of the 2024 Schiavon Cadetship, undertaking an investigation of high public-interest value.
Inspired by Innocence Projects overseas (investigating potential wrongful convictions for people who have exhausted the criminal appeals process), the Scrutiny Project works with private and not-for-profit collaborators and current and past journalism students. Our model combines the agility of disruption with ethical media practices, and our motto is: “Move Fast and Break Things News.”
A successful pilot resulted in two important investigations being published in The Age. University of Melbourne Masters of Journalism/International Journalism students worked intensively with Gina McColl to investigate local climate change and human rights issues — a collaboration between TSP, CAJ and Right Now.
‘It consumes your life’: Kealba landfill’s rotten smells and toxic history by Marilyn Tan and Xinyi Li
Winner of the Dorkin Award for investigative journalism
2023 Ossie Awards for student journalism
Dirty business: the breathtaking state of truck pollution in Melbourne’s west by Jade Murray, Sasha Gattermayr, James Costa and Helena Morgan
Winner of Democracy’s Watchdogs
2022 print/online award)
If you are interested in supporting our work through mentoring, funding (via Right Now, all donations over $2 tax deductable), co-publishing or collaboration, we would love to hear from you: gina@scrutinyproject.com.au