Platform for Authentic Journalism

Platform for Authentic Journalism is a collective of researchers who aim to contribute to a just and democratic society through critical investigative reporting.

While it may sound complicated, it is quite simple in practice. We conduct research on significant political and economic actors in the Netherlands (and sometimes beyond) and write stories about them. Our expertise lies primarily in the areas of climate change, energy transition, disinformation, and the Right to Information Act (Wet open overheid). PAJ is financially independent and ad-free.

The Team

Jilles Mast

Jilles Mast

Jilles Mast is a co-founder of Platform Authentieke Journalistiek. He conducts research on the energy transition, Shell/NAM and the Dutch government, international trade agreements, and hidden corporate lobbying.

Nina Tea Zibetti

Nina Tea Zibetti

Nina is originally from Italy. She moved to the Netherlands in 2017 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in politics and economics at the University College Utrecht. After graduating, she spent some time as an intern in the field of sustainable finance. Currently, she is doing a master’s in Climate Studies at Wageningen University and Research, focusing on environmental economics and policy. Her research interests include the socioeconomic impacts of climate change, the politics of climate and sustainability transitions, and the role of corporate lobbying in climate policy. Through her internship at PAJ, she is approaching investigative journalism for the first time, and she looks forward to applying her academic background to journalistic work.

Alexander Beunder

Alexander Beunder

Alexander Beunder taught economics at secondary schools and the University of Amsterdam before starting as investigative journalist at Platform Authentieke Journalistiek in 2017. He publishes on politics and economics, as well as (the history of) disinformation.

Merel de Buck

Merel de Buck

Merel de Buck holds a Ph.D. in political anthropology and has been working as a investigative journalist at Platform Authentieke Journalistiek since 2019. She specializes in the relationship between Shell and the Dutch government, the Dutch coal lobby, gas extraction in Groningen, and more recently, the social housing sector in Utrecht. She is also actively seeking for ways to involve the public in her journalism.

Bas van Beek

Bas van Beek

Bas van Beek is a co-founder of Platform Authentieke Journalistiek and works as a Woo (FOIA) specialist at PAJ and Follow the Money.

English Publications