About me
Professionalism and honesty are, in my opinion, the best guarantees for discovering the truth.
Journalist
I am an investigative journalist with a focus on data. I work freelance for De Groene Amsterdammer, the oldest and most influential opinion magazine in the Netherlands. Together with Evert de Vos, I write stories on the impact of powerful companies on our environment and climate. Previously, I was employed a business reporter at Haarlems Dagblad, the Associated Press Services (GPD), Quote, Intermediair and NRC Handelsblad.
Mentor and adviser
I have helped media and universities in different countries to organize their investigative projects or curricula, on behalf of international organizations. I also supervise cross-border research teams (through Journalismfund Europe) and advised NGOs including Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, Amnesty International and Oxfam on their investigations.
Lecturer and trainer
I am an expert in educating and training investigative journalists. My textbooks, curricula and courses have helped thousands of professionals and students on four continents to develop their skills and careers. As co-creator of the internationally recognised Story-Based Inquiry method, I contribute to innovation in the field. In addition, I coordinate the post-bachelor’s programmes in Investigative Journalism and Data Journalism at Utrecht University of Applied Sciences and supervise master’s students in investigative journalism at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
Speaker
Iam a regular speaker at IRE, GIJC, CIJ and Data Harvest conferences, the world's leading forums for best practices in investigative journalism. I also sat for ten years on the board of the VVOJ, the Dutch-Flemish association of investigative journalists.
Career
Former employers
- Haarlems Dagblad
- Geassocieerde Persdiensten (GPD)
- NRC Handelsblad
- Quote
- Intermediair
Companies and organizations
- TU Delft (technical university)
- FNV Bondgenoten (federal workers union)
- AbvaKabo
- CBS (Dutch Statistical Office
- Rekenkamer Z-O Nederland
- Belastingdienst (Dutch Tax Department)
- Kamers van Koophandel
- KIWA
- TenneT
- Nederlandse Zorg Autoriteit
- Centraal Justitieel Incassobureau
- Royal Academy of Art (The Hague)
- Déhora
- Consumentenbond (consumer federation)
- Rijksdienst voor Ondernemingen (RVO)
Universities and courses
- Thomas More University of Applied Sciences in Mechelen (Belgium)
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)
- Fontys University of Applied Sciences in Tilburg (Netherlands)
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU)
- Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (RG)
- University of Amsterdam (UvA)
- Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam (EUR)
- Institut des Hautes Etudes des Communications Sociales (IHECS) in Brussels
- Internationale Research Journalistiek (Fonds Pascal Decroos/Fontys Hogeschool)
- De Redactie in Amsterdam/Monnickendam
- Hogeschool Utrecht
- Academie voor de Periodieke Pers (Vlaanderen)
- PGO Academy in Utrecht
- Persacademie (Fontys Hogeschool voor Journalistiek)
- Radio Netherlands Training Centre (RNTC)
- OpenEyes/VersPers
- The Centre for Investigative Journalism (CIJ) in London
Media
- De Volkskrant (Dutch national newspaper)
- NRC Handelsblad (Dutch national newspaper)
- De Standaard (Belgian national newspaper)
- Noord-Hollandse Dagbladcombinatie (newspapers)
- PZC en BN/De Stem (Dutch local newspapers)
- Dagblad van het Noorden (Dutch regional newspaper)
- NOS (Dutch public broadcasting)
- VARA/VPRO
- Uppdrag granskning (Mission investigate), Swedish Television
- MTNL (multicultural broadcasting organisation)
- Evangelische Omroep (Evangelic Broadcasting Corporation)
- Budhist Broadcast Organization
- Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (MDR)
- Telefakts (Belgium television)
- SCOOP Macedonia
- The Centre for Investigative Journalism (London)
- Correctiv! (Berlin)
- Frontline Club (London)
- Független Médiaközpont Center for Independent Journalism (Budapest)
- Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF)
- ITV/ITN
- European Journalism Centre
- Vice
- Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ)
- Mediahuis (News Paper Publisher)
- Elseviers Weekblad
- NPO (Dutch Public Broadcaster)
- VMN Media
- AT5
- Regio8
- Fonds voor Bijzondere Journalistieke Projecten
- Journalism Fund Europe
- Stimuleringsfonds voor de Journalistiek
- Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP)
NGOs
- Greenpeace
- Friends of the Earth Netherlands (Milieudefensie)
- Prakarsa (Jakata)
- Amnesty International
- Environmental Justice Foundation
- Oxfam
- Dozens of patient organisations
Lectures and workshops
- Center for Independent Journalism in Budapest (training to Hungarian investigative reporters in October 2008)
- SCOOP (training to reporters in the Ukrain, in Kiev, in 2008)
- OSCE (training to reporters in Serbia, in Belgrade, in June 2009)
- BIRN (Summer School for investigative reporters on the Balkan, in Novi Sad, August 2010)
- Arabic Reporters for Investigative Journalism – ARIJ (teaching reporters in the Arab world)
- Global Investigative Journalism Conference 2007 in Toronto
- International Conference on Investigative Reporting in East and South East Europe in Budapest 2007
- Global Investigative Journalism Conference 2008 in Lillehammer
- European Investigative Journalism Conference in Brussels in 2008
- Conference on Investigative Reporting in Kiev (Ukraïn) in 2008
- SKUP Conference 2010 in Tønsberg, Norway
- Global Investigative Journalism Conference in Geneva in 2010
- Global Investigative Journalism Conference in Kiev in 2011
- London Summer School for Investigative Journalism 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 at Goldsmiths University in London
- African Power Reporting Conference in Johannesburg in 2010, 2011 and 2012
- Netzwerk Recherche Conference, Hamburg, Germany 2012 en 2013
- Data Harvest Conference in Brussels, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025
- IRE Conference 2014 (San Francisco), 2015 (Philadelphia)
- NICAR Conference 2018 in Chicago
- Global Investigative Journalism Conference 2019 in Hamburg
- Double Exposure Investigative Film Festival and Symposium (online), October 2020
- VVOJ conferenties since 2005
- Data Skup Norway 2021, 2022 and 2023
- Summer School for Investigative Journalism, SSE Riga 2022
- Global Investigative Journalism Conference 2023 in Göteborg
- Webinar ’The European Sustainability Directives explained to journalists’, CIJ 2025
- Masterclass ‘Notion for Investigative Journalists’, VVOJ 2025
Books
- Luuk Sengers (ed.), Handboek voor onderzoeksjournalisten. Van vermoeden tot verhaal, VVOJ/Betram+DeLeeuw 2022
- Mark Lee Hunter and Luuk Sengers, Investigating Sustainable Development, A guide and method for advancing investigative journalism and SDG, Unesco 2022
- Mark Lee Hunter and Luuk Sengers, with Marcus Lindemann, Modern Investigative Journalism. A Comprehensive Curriculum Based on the ARIJ Method, ARIJ 2019
- Luuk Sengers en Mark Lee Hunter, Drehbuch der Recherche. Das verborgene Szenario, Netzwerk Recherche
- Mark Lee Hunter and Luuk Sengers, The Story Tells the Facts: Structuring and Composing Investigative Narratives, The Centre for Investigative Journalism, London 2013
- Luuk Sengers and Mark Lee Hunter, The Hidden Scenario: Plotting and Outlining Investigative Stories, The Centre for Investigative Journalism, London 2012
- Mark Lee Hunter, Luuk Sengers and others, Story-Based Inquiry: A Manual for Investigative Journalists, Unesco 2009
- Luuk Sengers (ed.), Onderzoeksjournalistiek. Researchproces van idee tot verhaal, Lannoo Campus 2009
Clients
