Open To Work
Mahmoud Elwakea
Washington,DC
Summary
Award-winning Investigator, Researcher, and Fact-Checker with over a decade of experience in high-stakes investigative journalism and digital media. Proven ability to lead complex open-source intelligence (OSINT) investigations that expose corruption, human rights violations, and misinformation. Co-founder of Egypt’s first independent fact-checking platform, "Matsda2sh," which has grown to an audience of millions. Recognized with prestigious awards from organizations like the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ) for producing impactful, evidence-based stories.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Managing Editor
Matsda2sh
04.2018 - 05.2025
- Co-founded Egypt’s first independent dedicated fact-checking platform; scaled it into a top independent outlet reaching millions across social and video in 7 years through investigative content and verification-first workflows.
- Built and led a high-performing team of investigative journalists; instituted source vetting, media authentication, and documentation standards that reduced correction rates and accelerated newsroom throughput.
- Oversaw and published investigations spanning human rights, economics, social justice, and misinformation ecosystems, establishing the platform as a trusted reference for youth audiences.
Researcher & producer & Fact Checker
Middle East Broadcasting Networks Inc (MBN)
07.2021 - 04.2025
- Drove the investigative research backbone for Al-Hurra Tatthra, delivering exclusive records, satellite imagery, flight/ship tracks, and leaked documents that unlocked otherwise unreported stories.
- Enhanced the quality and accuracy of investigative reports by contributing credible sources, investigative leads, and in-depth information.
- Designed verification pipelines for sensitive visuals and datasets; validated claims against government databases, academic/think tank research, and primary-source materials to ensure legal and editorial defensibility.
- Advocated and operationalized OSINT-first methods across the unit, expanding access to premium investigative tools and raising the originality and reliability bar for published pieces.
Freelance Producer & Scriptwriter
Deutsche Welle (DW)- Sulta 5 platform
04.2018 - 04.2021
- Produced 25+ investigative video reports on state, economy, justice, and human rights; translated complex findings into clear, viewer-ready narratives under tight broadcast deadlines.
Investigative Reporter & Producer & Fact-Checker
Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ)
06.2013 - 12.2020
- Produced 5 longform investigations; two aired on DW, with others published by Mada Masr in Arabic/English; handled sensitive source protection and meticulous evidence chains end-to-end.
- As a fact-checker, I oversaw investigative projects for TV and digital platforms, ensuring their accuracy and editorial integrity.
- Led verification across TV/digital projects featured by DW, France 24, and CNN Arabic; coordinated with editors and legal to prevent risk exposure while maintaining story impact.
Producer & Lead Researcher – Cairo 360 Talk Show
Al Kahera Wal Nas TV Channel
07.2017 - 02.2018
- Pitched editorial ideas and led the research team for the Cairo 360 talk show, shaping the program’s content and investigative direction.
- Produced built data-driven segments and visual packages, converting dense policy/economic topics into accessible broadcast storytelling.
Journalist | Reporter | Visual Storyteller
Al Masry AlYoum
10.2014 - 10.2016
- Produced 100+ in-depth stories about the economy, justice, and human rights.
- Reported and produced data-rich explainers and infographics to clarify complex political/economic issues for broad digital audiences.
Senior Researcher & Investigative Analyst
ON TV
09.2012 - 06.2016
- Led high-impact research operations for two of Egypt’s most influential current affairs shows—Akher Kalam (Yousri Fouda) and Al-Soura Al-Kamila (Lilian Daoud)—delivering exclusive sourcing, airtight verification, and agenda-setting investigations under intense deadlines in a restrictive media environment.
- Directed research pods across two flagship programs with peak nightly viewership in the millions, feeding anchors and producers with exclusive documents, interview dossiers, and narrative frameworks that shaped national conversations.
- Produced high-stakes interview briefs and lines of questioning that elicited new facts on governance, corruption, human rights, and political accountability; consistently elevated on-air quality and audience trust.
- Established crisis verification protocols for sensitive segments, stress-testing claims against public records, court filings, corporate registries, and NGO/think-tank datasets to mitigate legal and security exposure.
Education
B.A. - Journalism
Faculty of Mass Communication, Cairo University
05.2012
Skills
- Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT): Tracking ships and planes, satellite imagery analysis, financial flow tracking, video and picture verification, and arms deal monitoring
- Investigative Research: Source development, data-driven reporting, verification, and identifying credible sources
- Fact-Checking & Verification: Media verification of images, videos, and statistics Comprehensive source verification, including analyzing funding and national affiliations
- Content Production: TV production, producing data-driven stories, and scriptwriting in Arabic
- Digital Tools: Advanced proficiency in Google Earth, aircraft and ship tracking systems, and social media analysis tools for platforms like Telegram, Twitter (X), and Facebook
Awards
The New Media Writing Prize (NMWP) - BOURNEMOUTH UNIVERSITY, UK - The Future Journalism Award for the story "Made in Prison.", ARIJ Awards - Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ) - Silver (The Weapon’s Power), 2020., The Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling - International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) - Michael Elliott Award — Runner-Up, 2020 (ICFJ). "Made in Prison"
Certification
- Tracking illicit financial flows - Thomson Reuters Foundation 2014
- Introduction to Investigative Journalism - Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ) 2014
- Mobile journalism "mojo" - Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ) 2016
- Digital Storytelling - Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ) 2017
- Open-Source Investigations - Bellingcat 2018
- Fact-Checking & Verification - Bellingcat 2019
- Digital Sherlocks program - Digital Forensic Research Lab (DFRLab) at the Atlantic Council Oct 2022 - Dec 2022
- Google AI Essentials Specialization - Google 2025
LANGUAGES
Arabic: Native.
English: Advanced.
Work Preference
Location Preference
RemoteTimeline
Researcher & producer & Fact Checker
Middle East Broadcasting Networks Inc (MBN)
07.2021 - 04.2025
Managing Editor
Matsda2sh
04.2018 - 05.2025
Freelance Producer & Scriptwriter
Deutsche Welle (DW)- Sulta 5 platform
04.2018 - 04.2021
Producer & Lead Researcher – Cairo 360 Talk Show
Al Kahera Wal Nas TV Channel
07.2017 - 02.2018
Journalist | Reporter | Visual Storyteller
Al Masry AlYoum
10.2014 - 10.2016
Investigative Reporter & Producer & Fact-Checker
Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ)
06.2013 - 12.2020
Senior Researcher & Investigative Analyst
ON TV
09.2012 - 06.2016
B.A. - Journalism
Faculty of Mass Communication, Cairo University