SKUP 2026

n 2002, journalist Vicky Ward began investigating financier Jeffrey Epstein for Vanity Fair. Her assignment was to find out where the billionaire had really obtained his wealth. During her reporting, she also uncovered testimonies from two women who said they had been abused as teenagers by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.

The women’s stories were not included in the article. According to Ward, the most serious allegations were removed before publication following pressure and legal considerations. It was only several years later that the testimonies became public.

In this session, Ward расскаnts how she gained close access to Epstein and his inner circle, about sources who tried to raise the alarm long before the case exploded, and about what can happen when journalism challenges individuals with enormous resources and powerful connections. What does the Epstein case teach us about power, influence and editorial decision-making — and how can investigative journalists avoid letting important stories disappear?

In Norway, Dagens Næringsliv was early — and at times alone — in reporting on Epstein’s links to prominent Norwegian figures. In this session, you will also meet DN journalist Gard Oterholm, who will explain how the newspaper as early as 2019 began uncovering Epstein’s close ties to Terje Rød-Larsen, Mona Juul and Thorbjørn Jagland.