Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist Joins Pivot Fund As Elections Fellow

Laura Weffer, a powerhouse in investigative journalism, co-founded one of Venezuela’s most respected news outlets, Efecto Cocuyo, and gained international recognition for her groundbreaking work on international initiatives, including the Panama Papers, Suisse Secrets, and Narcofiles. Her fearless reporting on the 11.5 million leaked documents, exposing the hidden financial dealings of the world’s elite, earned Weffer and her colleagues both a Gabriel García Márquez Award, a Pulitzer Prize, and a special citation from the Maria Moors Cabot Prize given by Columbia Journalism School. Now, she’s trading global headlines for local politics as part of The Pivot Fund's inaugural fellowship, focusing on one of the most hotly contested battlegrounds in U.S. politics—Georgia.

"The Pivot Fund Fellowship offers a unique opportunity to explore journalism from its grassroots level and engage with Hispanic communities that have traditionally been excluded from the conversation,” said Weffer, who has lived in exile in Georgia for the past eight years. “This initiative emphasizes inclusion, information, democracy, and, of course, journalism. It provides the chance to collaborate with extraordinary media outlets that foster citizenship at the local level and to learn about and share the impactful work of a powerful organization like Pivot Fund. As a Venezuelan journalist, this fellowship represents a way to give back to the country that has supported me, ensuring that no one is left behind."

But Weffer isn’t tackling this alone. Joining her is Sahar Akbarzai, an Emmy Award-winning journalist and producer at CNN. Akbarzai, who specializes in international relations and human rights, has reported on major global events with a sharp eye for elevating marginalized voices. Fluent in English and Farsi, she’s covered issues from war zones to the White House, always pushing to shed light on stories often ignored by mainstream media.

The Pivot Fund Fellowship: Changing the Face of Journalism

This isn’t just any reporting assignment. The Pivot Fund Fellowship places experienced journalists in independent community newsrooms, where they’re tasked with producing high-impact civic news and information—something crucial for Georgia’s diverse electorate. But what sets this fellowship apart is its mission: it's about changing who gets to tell the stories.?

“This fellowship is more than just reporting the news,” said Tracie Powell, CEO of The Pivot Fund. “It’s about reshaping the media landscape and making sure that the voices we hear reflect the communities we serve.”

For Weffer and Akbarzai, this isn’t just another gig—it’s a chance to make real change. The fellowship offers them competitive salaries and full benefits, but perhaps more importantly, it gives them the opportunity to shape editorial strategy—an elusive role in many traditional newsrooms.

From the Panama Papers to the Georgia Papers?

The Panama Papers, which blew the lid off a massive web of global corruption, led to the prosecution of major figures like Jan Marsalek, a man wanted by European governments for his ties to Russian intelligence, and Harald Joachim von der Golz, an international fraudster. Weffer and her team uncovered how shell corporations were used not just for tax evasion but for much darker purposes like money laundering and avoiding international sanctions. Their work earned them the Pulitzer Prize for explanatory reporting in 2017.

Now, with just three weeks left before the presidential election, Weffer and Akbarzai are turning their investigative lenses to Georgia. Working alongside local newsrooms supported by The Pivot Fund, they’re diving deep into stories that matter most to residents—stories about voting rights, economic inequality, and the future of democracy in the state.

And their work won’t stop on election night. These powerhouse reporters will continue covering the post-election landscape, helping Georgians make sense of the results and what they mean for their communities.

Weffer, ever the investigative journalist, is already thinking ahead. “Next up? The Georgia Papers,” she said, only half-joking. It’s clear she’s ready to uncover the next big story, and this time, it’s happening right in her own backyard.