Dimitris Elafropoulos, a data journalist at VIMA and media researcher, coordinates data source management, spearheads data-driven content production, and serves as the project manager for the early stages of establishing a new research unit. Holding a bachelor's degree in Language and Linguistics from Democritus University and a Master’s Degree in Information Society, Media, and Technology from Panteion University, Dimitris has also pursued graduate coursework and research in language and media at the University of Oxford, King’s College London, and the University of Toulouse. His research portfolio includes studies on Greek far-right discourse and networks in the digital public sphere, political and scientific discourse during the pandemic, and the metaphorical conceptualization of immigrants and refugees in Greek and European media. As a data journalist, he has recently delved into major crises like the collapse of electricity and water infrastructure in Gaza, as well as the deaths of journalists in the region.
Six fellows from Greece to attend Columbia Journalism’s Lede Program
They are at different stages of careers in journalism, with diverse research interests covering areas from far-right discourse and human rights to climate crisis, artificial intelligence, and the digital public sphere. Soon, they will meet as Lede Program fellows at Columbia University, at one of the world's foremost journalism schools, to develop their knowledge and skills even further.
Meet the fellow below.
Dimitris Elafropoulos
Daphne Karavola
Dafni is a visual-forensic investigator with a background in architectural engineering. She graduated from the School of Architecture at the National Technical University of Athens and, upon receiving the National Architecture Scholarship from the Eugenides Foundation, pursued further studies in Research Architecture at Goldsmiths, University of London. Previously, she has collaborated with Forensic Architecture in London and Berlin. Currently, Dafni works as an investigative reporter at Reporters United in Athens. Her work is dedicated to advocating for Romani rights, with a particular focus on addressing forced displacement and infrastructural deprivation against the Romani communities of Aspropyrgos. Additionally, Dafni participates in various projects tackling state violence, environmental issues, and corporate accountability as a cartographer and visualizer.
Konstantina Maltepioti
Konstantina Maltepioti is an Athens-based investigative journalist with a specialization in OSINT reporting and has been working with Reporters United, a network of investigative journalists based in Greece, since 2021. She has participated in several cross-border investigations including Cyprus Confidential with ICIJ, MEP Misconduct with Follow the Money, and Fuelling War with Investigate Europe, a project published by 11 media and was shortlisted for the 2023 SIGMA Awards. She has also collaborated with MIIR, EUobserver, and International Press Institute. She holds an MSc in Investigative Journalism from the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and has been a fellow at the GIJN Conference in 2021 and 2023. Her work focuses on political corruption, environment and human rights. She likes data and illustrations.
Iliana Papangeli
Iliana Papangeli is the managing director of Solomon, an independent investigative outlet based in Greece. She works as a writer, editor, and reporter, covering a wide range of topics from migration to corruption and climate change. Ιnvestigations she has worked on have received nominations (European Press Prize ‘23 & ‘21) and awards (Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize 2023, IJ4EU Impact Award 2022). As a young woman leader, she promotes the transformative power of feminist approaches and care practices within the newsrooms.
Ioanna Petsiou
My name is Ioanna Petsiou, I am 21 years old and I study Communication, Media, and Culture in Panteion University. My interest in data journalism was sparked by a university class that revealed the fascinating stories hidden within data. I am honored and excited to have been selected to attend the Lede Program in New York, which represents a crucial step in advancing my knowledge and skills. Upon graduation, I aspire to become a professional journalist and join the data journalism community. Thanks to the amazing opportunity provided by the SNF, iMEdD & Columbia University, I will be equipped to make a significant impact in the field of data journalism.
Eftichia Soufleri
Eftichia Soufleri studied Communication and Media at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, with a thesis in Data Journalism. She started her professional career in 2020 at News 24/7, where she currently works as a reporter. At the same time, she is a producer of explainer videos and mini-docs at 24 MEDIA Lab. She has also published her work in Balkan Insight and Le Courrier des Balkans. She is interested in multimedia journalism and her work covers a range of topics, including migration, artificial intelligence, the climate crisis, technology, human rights and drugs.
Fellows were selected through an open application process in March and April by Columbia Journalism School. (SNF, the fellowship program’s exclusive supporter, is not involved in the evaluation of applicants.) The Lede Program is a 10-week summer program running from June 3 to August 9 that focuses on data journalism, analysis, and visualization. During and after the program, participants will receive strategic guidance from professionals at the Greece-based journalism nonprofit iMEdD. The SNF fellowships cover travel, accommodation, tuition, transportation, and food.
SNF's support for the implementation of the Data Journalism Fellowship Program at Columbia University's School of Journalism is part of the Foundation's broader effort to promote and enhance transparency, independence, and excellence in journalism, most notably through support for iMEdD. The grant for the Fellowship Program follows previous SNF support for a three-year pilot Fellowship Program from 2017 to 2019 at the School of Journalism, in which 53 journalists from Greece focused on data journalism, investigative journalism, and multimedia reporting. As part of its Ideas Zone offerings, iMEdD has previously collaborated with Columbia Journalism School on the implementation of Newsroom Essentials, a program held in Greece that covered a variety of topics, including data journalism applications and the concept of entrepreneurship in journalism.
Important note: SNF is an exclusive supporter of the Fellowship Program and is not involved in the evaluation of applicants, whose selection is the sole responsibility of the Columbia University School of Journalism.