Gilles Labarthe is an academic researcher and journalism trainer at the Academy of Journalism and Media (AJM, University of Neuchâtel, Switzerland), specialized in investigations and access to governmental information.
As a freelance journalist and co-founder of an independent news agency, DATAS, accredited to the United Nations Office, Geneva (www.datas.ch), he has worked for Radio Suisse Romande (Swiss National Radio), Swiss daily newspapers as Le Courrier, Le Temps, Tribune de Genève, as well as French news magazines (Courrier International) and TV Channels (Canal Plus). For a dozen years, he authored reporting and surveys in foreign countries, focusing on development issues, financial crime, trafficking in raw materials (oil, diamonds, gold) and risks related to money laundering.
Gilles is the author of three books of investigative journalism :
- “The Togo, from slavery to mafia liberalism” (2005; 2013 for the new edition) explores the means used to create one of the longest military dictatorships of Africa;
- “African Gold - Looting, traffic & international trade” (2007), is dedicated to environmental and social impacts of gold mining, and gives an insight of the main actors involved in the very secretive world of gold business;
- “Sarko l’Africain” (2011) traces the rise to power of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and his initiation to hidden diplomacy.
In 2013-2014, Gilles co-authored and co-directed a 52’ TV documentary film for Canal Plus channel’s “Special Investigation” programme, focusing on lack of transparency in international gold market : “Dirty Gold” (http://www.javafilms.fr/spip.php?article1551).