ICIJ Reporter Nicole Sadek Honored with Livingston Award for Investigative Reporting

June 10, 2025 – General – 

Nicole Sadek, an investigative reporter for the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), has been awarded the 2025 Livingston Award for Excellence in International Reporting. The award recognizes her exceptional work on the “Caspian Cabals” investigation, a collaborative project that exposed how Western oil companies overlooked corruption risks to secure stakes in a critical Kazakhstan-Russia pipeline, enriching Kazakh and Russian elites in the process.

Sadek’s reporting was praised for its “tenacity and sensitivity,” highlighting the human impact of the environmental and health crises caused by the oil industry in Kazakhstan. Her investigation brought to light the plight of a Kazakh village where residents suffered from a mysterious health crisis after the arrival of Big Oil.

The Livingston Awards, established in 1981 by the Wallace House Center for Journalists at the University of Michigan, honor the best reporting and storytelling by journalists under 35 across all forms of journalism. Sadek’s recognition underscores the importance of investigative journalism in uncovering stories that have significant global implications.

Sadek’s achievement not only highlights her dedication to uncovering the truth but also emphasizes the critical role of investigative journalism in holding powerful entities accountable. Her work serves as an inspiration to young journalists worldwide, demonstrating the impact of thorough and courageous reporting.

Reference – 

https://wallacehouse.umich.edu/announcing-the-2025-livingston-award-winners/

https://www.icij.org/investigations/caspian-cabals/icij-reporter-wins-livingston-award-recognizing-exceptional-reporting-by-young-journalists/