International Consortium Of Investigative Journalists - Reviewing The Last 7 Years

6th April 2023

When you think of the Panama Papers, if you're anything like me, your mind probably goes to scenes of newspaper front pages, widespread protests, high profile resignations, or dramatic police raids and arrests.

Seven years ago this week, when we started publishing the investigation, those were the images that dominated the coverage — and, if I'm honest, caught a lot of us by surprise.

What was far from imagined, though, was the more insidious, more abiding — and perhaps even more unexpected — impact that the investigation would have on our society and our culture.

The very words "Panama Papers" became almost synonymous with inequality, injustice, corruption and deep, dark financial secrets and hidden wealth. The investigation inspired books, films, cocktail recipes, cigarette rolling paper businesses and, as it turns out, a bevy of musicians.

https://www.icij.org/

To mark the seventh anniversary of the investigation this week, we decided to dive deeper not into the legal or regulatory impacts of the groundbreaking investigation, but instead investigate how the Panama Papers infiltrated the psyche of a generation of artists.

Like bandmates Eli Luchak and Mac Fisher, who were in high school in 2016 and told us that the Panama Papers opened their eyes to how the world really works. It was so formative, that years later, their band was named after the investigation.

Or Emmanuel Guerin and Jeremy Ortal of French funk band Shaolin Temple Defenders, who perform a song named "Panama Papers" that calls for listeners to "take back all the power."

We found dozens of songs named for or based on the Panama Papers, many featuring lyrics or themes that mirror the investigation's most outrageous and pervasive finding: that there are two sets of rules in the world — one for the rich and powerful, and another for everyone else.

And while this might not seem like it falls in the traditional realm of reporting on the impact of our journalism, actor and filmmaker Alex Winter — who made a documentary about the Panama Papers — told us that this gradual shift from hard-hitting news into cultural phenomenon may actually help equip ordinary people with the patience and determination to pursue the long fight for lasting change. “You can’t expect instant gratification,” he said.

But, just in case, we did also go searching for those gratifying and slightly more tangible updates as well... Happy anniversary!

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

We checked in on some of the biggest stories — and most significant impacts — from the Panama Papers, to see where key characters ended up and what has changed since.

A DECADE OF IMPACT
April 3 also marked the 10-year anniversary of ICIJ’s original tax haven investigation, Offshore Leaks. Gerard Ryle traces a path from that pioneering project through to today’s exposes.


INSPIRED CRIME THRILLER
In the same vein as the Panama Papers inspiring musicians, bestselling crime author David Baldacci told us how a more recent ICIJ tax haven investigation, the Pandora Papers, served as the muse for one of his recent hit novels.

PUTIN’S WALLET
When Russian President Vladimir Putin gave his old school teacher money to purchase a Tel Aviv apartment, it made headlines. But newly uncovered records reveal the true source of the funds, and expose a long-denied financial relationship between Putin and Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich.

Thanks for reading!

Hamish Boland-Rudder
ICIJ's online editor
https://www.icij.org/

P.S. If you've enjoyed our coverage this week, remember to tell your friends and family and share our work on social media. Send them an email now!