WORLD NEWS DAY OP-ED: A central bank investigation and the box of watermelon gum
When my own children understood why the investigation mattered but did not want to read it as we had published it, we realised we had a problem.
In 2020, a central bank investigation into Lebanon's central bank governor, Riad Salameh, was launched following the reporting of Daraj, an independent media outlet. Salameh, who owned at least two dozen companies, was accused of aggravated money laundering, illicit enrichment, and conflicts of interest. As a result of the investigation, assets linked to Salameh were frozen or seized in six European countries, and he is currently facing charges in Lebanon and abroad.
The investigation was first published on August 10, 2020, less than a week after the Beirut port explosion, one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in recent history. The investigation was featured in a French judge's case file, leading to the freezing or seizure of assets linked to Salameh in European countries.
My children played a crucial role in understanding the significance of this investigation. When they asked what the map detailing Salameh's companies was for, it initially seemed like a work-related matter. However, when they expressed their desire to read about it independently, it became clear that they were passionate about accountability and justice. This reaction clarified the impact of our work and the importance of distributing our journalism effectively.
My children's disappointment with how our first piece on Salameh was published led to a realization that we needed to find better ways to distribute our journalism. In 2025, we faced 15 lawsuits and a challenging mainstream media ecosystem influenced by the central bank and its banks. We understood that simply producing journalism was not enough; we had to focus on distribution as well.
To address this, I proposed a new business model at a dinner with my children, Mia and her friends, involving a small box of watermelon gum.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
