07 Mar Second Media Session: How do you approach deep investigative work and extensive research as a freelance journalist? With Anna Roxvall
On Wednesday, the 4th of March 2026, Gothenburg Media Hub in collaboration with the journalist union Västra Frilans and NORDIG (Nordic Network of Investigative Journalists), hosted the second Media Session, focusing on how to do in-depth investigative journalism as a freelancer.
This hybrid Media Session featured Anna Roxvall, who spoke to a room full of journalists, freelancers and students (parts of the audience joined online) about her latest journalistic investigation, conducted with her colleague Johan Persson and published by Sveriges Radio Ekot in October 2025. The report uncovered a secret deal between Sweden and Somalia in which aid money was being diverted to a fund linked to the prime minister of the African country. In return, the deal contemplated Somalia accepting deportees who had been classified as criminals by the Swedish state. The total amount sent to Somalia, one of the world’s most corrupt countries, was 100 million SEK, transferred in two instalments, one in 2024 and the other in Summer 2025.
During the discussion, Roxvall provided insights about this investigation, explaining that it took six months to gather all the information and prepare the story. She described how they compared documents from different Swedish institutions since they were masked differently and therefore discovered new information. Roxvall also disclosed that they gained access to messages from the Embassy of Sweden in Somalia and how it became obvious that information was being concealed when the message “Ska vi ringa?” (“Can we have a phone call?”) was appearing so frequently.
Reflections from Anna Roxvall on her experience as an investigative journalist
Anna Roxvall also reflected on her experience as a freelance investigative journalist, having reported from conflict areas such as Western Sahara, South Sudan and Eastern Ukraine. She noted that most media outlets do not take much responsibility for their freelancers, leaving her to cover for her own security. She stressed the importance of consulting colleagues who have previously worked in these areas since they can provide advice on accommodations, safe routes, and reliable fixers and interpreters.
This type of journalism requires working under a lot of pressure. Anna Roxvall confessed that she believes she works well under these circumstances, although she has faced dark moments as when her journalist friend was incarcerated during a work trip. She clarified that she avoids working in the frontline and does not consider herself an “adrenaline junky”. She expressed that there are plenty of other stories away from the frontline that are also important to portray, for example, the life inside a bunker in Eastern Ukraine.
Some advice for other investigative journalists
Anna Roxvall offered key advice to new freelance journalists emphasising the importance of knowing who is in charge of deciding which story gets published and knowing the right people. When pitching an idea to a media outlet, she admitted she does not always have all the documents in hand, but that she knows that there is a story that needs to be told. Lastly, after a public question about work-life balance, she described her situation as a “total imbalance”, working at a 150% juggling a full-time job with freelance investigations. She added that she often works in the evenings since she does not consider her investigations as a job but more as a hobby.
Thank you to everyone who participated on site and online and contributed with wise questions to Anna!
A special thank you to Journalistförbundet’s Western Freelance Section who co-organised the event and contributed with food and drink, and to NORDIG | Nordic network of investigative journalists who took care of the digital broadcast.
Thanks also to the moderator Rita Cruz, who is a journalist and member of Gothenburg Media Hub.
And of course, a big thank you to Anna Roxvall for generously sharing her time and knowledge.
This event is part of Gothenburg Media Hub’s Media Sessions. The next one will take place on the 25th of March being titled “Bakom kulisserna vid bokpublicering: från idé till färdig bok” (Behind the scenes of book publishing: from idea to finished book).
