In this episode of Chasing the Story, the International Center for Journalists’ podcast, OCCRP senior editor Rana Sabbagh takes us behind the scenes of the documentary “Syria: Addicted to Captagon.” During the year-long investigation, Sabbagh and her colleagues interviewed drug smugglers and drug addicts, battled authorities over crucial evidence and skirted danger to show how high-ranking Syrian officials have profited from the production and smuggling of a highly addictive amphetamine.

Sabbagh is a senior editor for the Middle East - North Africa for the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. She is a longtime investigative journalist and the 2024 ICFJ Knight Trailblazer Award winner.

• Syria: Addicted to Captagon (English)
• Syria: Addicted to Captagon (Arabic)
• Follow Rana Sabbagh on Twitter
• ICFJ Tribute to Journalists 2024
• Learn more about ICFJ

In this episode of Chasing the Story, the International Center for Journalists' podcast, Miami Herald Caribbean correspondent Jacqueline Charles tells the story behind “Made in Miami,” an investigative series about the assassination of Haitian president Jovenel Moise in 2021. Charles worked with a team to uncover the details behind his assassination, developing the three-part series, including a play-by-play of his final minutes, the network of those involved and a contextual history of Haiti. The truth behind Moise’s assassination remains unsolved.

Charles is an award-winning, longtime reporter for the Miami Herald, covering Haiti and the English-speaking Caribbean. She was ICFJ’s 2023 Excellence in International Reporting Award Winner.

• “Made in Miami”
• Follow Jacqueline Charles on Twitter
• ICFJ Tribute to Journalists 2023
• Learn more about ICFJ

In this episode of Chasing the Story, the International Center for Journalists' podcast, documentary-maker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy tells the story behind A Girl in the River, the film that won Obaid-Chinoy her second Academy Award. When Obaid-Chinoy heard of the story of a young Pakistani woman who survived an honor killing attempt by her father and uncle, she set out to make a documentary about her. The movie convinced the Pakistani government to review its laws on honor killings.

Obaid-Chinoy has made over two dozen multi-award films in over 16 countries around the world. She is known for her movies that highlight gender inequality. Obaid-Chinoy was ICFJ’s 2017 Knight International Journalism Award Winner.

• A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness
• ICFJ Tribute to Journalists 2022
• Learn more about ICFJ