OKO.press SYGNAŁ

Description

OKO.press is a Polish investigative journalism portal. It conducts journalistic investigations, fact-checks claims, monitors public affairs and tells human-interest stories. It describes itself as a civic tool for keeping watch over those in power, present and future. It also calls itself a voice for people who feel their rights are not respected or their basic freedoms are under threat, covering protests against the dismantling of the judiciary, restrictions on women’s rights, and the treatment of refugees and sexual minorities.

Alongside fact-checking and chronicling threats to the rule of law in Poland, it publishes reportage. This includes stories about victims of SLAPP lawsuits. It also gives voice to activists and minorities. It guarantees anonymity to anyone who shares information with it.

It operates a secure, Tor-based anonymous tip platform called SYGNAŁ, as well as a PGP-encrypted mailbox for its investigative team.

The portal is published by Fundacja Ośrodek Kontroli Obywatelskiej OKO (the OKO Citizens’ Control Centre Foundation). It was founded on 10 March 2016 and registered in the Polish court register on 1 June 2016. Its stated goal is to protect and build on Poland’s achievements as a democratic state governed by the rule of law, and to safeguard democratic principles and human and civic rights and freedoms.

The foundation obtained public benefit organization status on 28 January 2019. OKO.press is registered as a press title with the Warsaw regional court. Since 2016 its team of journalists, editors and reporters has published articles, podcasts, fact-checks and investigations. It has received numerous Polish and international journalism awards, including recognitions from Amnesty International, Grand Press and the European Press Prize.