§ 1 Purpose
The purpose of the organization is to run a Danish centre for investigative journalism – Investigative Reporting Denmark. First and foremost the centre is a watchdog that will attempt to keep in check those in power. The centre investigates the important stories that other media generally chooses not to run. The centre takes difficult information and makes it accessible. The centre is an important element to help keep the society informed and in developing and conserving the Danish democracy. The centre will form working partnerships with other organizations, both nationally and internationally, and will develop new methods within investigative journalism – especially within the fields of public access to documents and cross border reporting. It will all also develop new technologies for research for and dissemination of investigative journalism especially within the field of interactive journalism.
§ 2 Placement
The organization has its base in Aarhus.
§ 3 Admission Conditions and Exclusion
Current and future employees and journalists at the centre, including those who publish material through the centre, and those on the advisory board can be members of the organization. An exclusion from the organization will need at least 2/3 of the vote at the annual general meeting (AGM).
§ 4 Membership Fee
The membership fee will be decided at the AGM. To begin, however, it will be 100kr annually.
§ 5 Financing
The organization will receive funding from private funds, government support, private contribution, membership fees, sales income and other sources that do not interfere with journalistic integrity. It is a non-profit organization, any profit will be used to run and expand the project. Any profit at the end of the year will be transferred to the following year.
§ 6 Annual General Meeting
The AGM will be held once a year in the first six months of the calendar year. The invitation will be sent at least one month before the meeting to the members via email and will also be posted on the web-site. The AGM is the organizations supreme authority. Proposals wished to be taken up at the AGM must be submitted to the board 14 days before the meeting. Unless otherwise stated, any voting will be determined by the majority of votes given by the members present at the meeting.
The agenda of the AGM will contain the following:
- Election of Chairman and Minutes Secretary
- The Board report on the activities of the past year
- The report of the Editorial Advisory Board
- Finances
- Suggestions
- Election of Board members, Editorial Advisory Board and accountant
- Any Other Business
§ 7 The Board
It will be a professional board. It must represent the following skills; business experience, economics, international relations, law (especially media law) and information technology. The board will meet quarterly. Its task is to follow the centre’s transactions, as well as employees/former employees with managerial responsibilities at the centre. The board is responsible for all the non journalistic/editorial transactions at the centre.
It is not a condition that you are a member of the organization in order to be a board member.
§ 8 The Editorial Advisory Board
The Editorial Advisory Board will determine the general guidelines for the editorial content. The management responsible for the centre will create a workflow for the corporation with the advisory board.
It is not a condition that you are a member of the organizations in order to be a member of the Editorial Advisory Board.
§ 9 Economy
The organization has a conservative placing of funds and financial budgeting. The accounting for the centre will be done on the recommendation from the centre’s accountant and in accordance to the principles of accounting for non-profit organizations. The accounts will be made available to the public.
§ 10 The Authority Signature
The authority signature rights are given to two members of the board. The board can give procurator rights to a management representative in the organization.
§ 11 Regulation Changes
These are the first regulations set for the organization. In accordance with the start-up grant they will be re-appraised and edited by the centre’s lawyer. The changes made will be discussed and approved at the first AGM of the centre.
§ 12 Dissolving the Organization
Dissolution of the organization needs at least 2/3 of the votes at an AGM.
Should there be a financial excess at the time of dissolution, the Board will decide to spend the funds to non-profit associations in Denmark or abroad with the same general purpose as Investigative Reporting Denmark.