Coco Gubbels has a background in freelance investigative journalism and has transitioned to project management. She has over a decade of experience as an interim project manager, working with large national and international companies. She now applies her professional expertise to her passion for journalism.
Upon completion of her studies in Cultural Anthropology, she commenced employment as an interim Office Manager. Her experience of working at different companies and with changing colleagues at every assignment has provided her with a broad range of experience in working with all kinds of people. After commencing her role as Chef de Bureau at Nova (a current broadcasting program known as Nieuwsuur), she was inspired to resume her aspirations of storytelling, journalism, and television production. As a student, she gained experience in filming as part of her curriculum.
Upon completion of her postgraduate studies in journalism and investigative journalism, she resigned from her position as an office manager and commenced her career as a freelance investigative journalist. By adding several scoops and reporting on poverty and people on the margins of society, she was able to establish herself as a valuable contributor to the industry.
In the wake of the financial crisis in Europe, the economic situation also had a tangible impact on the media landscape. Obtaining funds became increasingly challenging, leading to the termination of employment for many in the broadcasting and newspaper industries. As a freelance journalist, she encountered financial challenges. To supplement her income, she assumed the role of part-time Project Management Officer. Within a year, she assumed responsibility for several projects at the software company where she was employed. She subsequently left the IT company and joined a consultancy firm, where she continues to work.
As she maintained contact with her former colleagues and remained an active member of the VVOJ (Dutch-speaking investigative journalists in NL and BE), she became aware of the need for and added value of project management in investigative journalism. “It was always my intention to combine my passion for investigative journalism with my current role in project management,” she states. “I have expertise in both domains and can contribute techniques and tools to journalism that will enhance its value in the current media landscape. As the number of journalists working together to investigate grows, and as they increasingly collaborate with specialists in the field and look beyond borders, it is clear that there is a need for more people in a coordinating role within those teams. Her objective is to connect people across the globe and provide support to investigative journalists, allowing them to focus on their core competencies of investigation rather than being hindered by organisational issues.
Project Management in Investigative Journalism 