The case exemplifies a troublesome legal trend: deep-pocketed interests seeking to silence journalists with meritless, expensive defamation suits.
Author Archives: Christa Scharfenberg
Chief Executive Officer
Christa Scharfenberg is CEO of The Center for Investigative Reporting. She joined CIR in 2003 as communications manager and has been a leader in its growth from a small nonprofit news organization, producing a handful of stories a year, to a multiplatform newsroom that reaches millions of people monthly through public radio, podcasts, documentaries, social media and the web. She managed the launch and growth of Reveal, CIR's Peabody Award and duPont-Columbia University Award-winning national public radio show and podcast, produced with PRX. She has been an executive or senior producer of documentaries for CIR, including the Academy Award-nominated film “Heroin(e),” numerous FRONTLINE co-productions and the independent film “Banished,” which premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. Scharfenberg is a member of the Poynter Institute's National Advisory Board and was a 2014 Punch Sulzberger Program fellow at Columbia University Journalism School. Prior to joining CIR, she was associate director of the Film Arts Foundation in San Francisco. She is based in CIR’s Emeryville, California, office.
Reveal has been fighting a lawsuit for three years. Now we’re speaking up about it
After our reporting raised serious questions about an organization that has received aid from multiple governments, it took us to court.
Posted inInside the Newsroom
An antidote to disinformation
Today, we are launching a new membership program to make it easier for you to support our work.
Reveal welcomes 7 new staff members
Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting has hired seven new staff members as it expands into radio and podcasting, bolsters its coverage of privacy and surveillance, and broadens its engagement with the public.
Posted inInside the Newsroom
You may notice something different on our Reveal podcast
As more people tune in to Reveal, we’re going to try something new: Break up our hourlong radio show and release one story a week. That means 15 minutes each week that you can take with you wherever and whenever you want to listen.
Reveal, Texas Tribune announce collaboration, sharing of joint reporter
The Center for Investigative Reporting is excited to partner with The Texas Tribune and Austin-based reporter Neena Satija on investigative audio segments for the “Reveal” radio show.
Kevin Sullivan named executive producer of ‘Reveal’
The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX are pleased to announce that Kevin Sullivan will be the executive producer of “Reveal,” the new Peabody Award-winning, one-hour public radio program and podcast hosted by Al Letson. “Reveal” will launch monthly in January 2015 and weekly in July 2015.
Posted inInside the Newsroom
CIR adds technology leadership to its board
Google’s Gabriel Stricker and American Public Media’s Joaquin Alvarado have been elected to the Board of Directors.
Posted inInside the Newsroom
CIR, California Watch win 2 Society of Professional Journalists awards
The Center for Investigative Reporting today received two Excellence in Journalism Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists’ Northern California Chapter.
Posted inInside the Newsroom
CIR, San Francisco Film Society present “Behind the Story: Under Suspicion”
CIR and the San Francisco Film Society present Behind the Story: Under Suspicion at 7 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Film Society’s new theatrical home, San Francisco Film Society | New People Cinema (1746 Post St., San Francisco).