Solomon Islands’ first investigative news outlet, In-depth Solomons, today launches an online crowdfunding campaign to raise money after aid cuts by the U.S. administration of Donald Trump slashed support for free press.

Launched two years ago, In-depth Solomons started with the help of U.S. donor money secured through the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), allowing its journalists to operate independently from local advertisers and political interests.

In this short time, In-depth Solomons released bombshell reports including an exposé of former Solomons Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare’s unexplained wealth, and the setting up of a highly suspicious off-shore shell company in Singapore by the President of OUR Party and Minister for Police and National Security Jimson Tanangada.

“Throughout 2024, we were able to produce six investigative and in-depth news pieces—a milestone achievement for a newsroom of our size,” said Georgina Maka’a, co-founder and investigative reporter at In-depth Solomons.

But recent global cuts to U.S. aid put this all at risk. 

In response, the team at In-depth Solomons with the help of their international partners and supporters, are taking matters into their own hands, and today launch a three-week fundraising campaign. 

“The goal is to raise SBD50,000 to keep our reporting going, while we work at securing other funding sources,” Maka’a said.

“The campaign is reaching out to readers both at home and in the Pacific diaspora in Australia and New Zealand,” she added.

With help from the Malaysian-based fundraising platform Sokong, the campaign can accept donations by credit and debit cards from international banks. People in the Solomons can make contributions by direct bank transfer.  

“Although In-depth Solomons is just two years old, we are fast becoming one of the most trusted news outlets in the Solomon Islands,” said Ofani Eremae, co-founder and editor.

“We believe there are readers and supporters who value the work we do and would like to assist. These are the people we are turning to for help,” Eremae said.

“We encourage the public to reach out with any information about wrongdoing they may come across in their workplaces or communities. It’s important we work together to hold our leaders to account,” he added.