Sir Harry Evans Fellow in Investigative Journalism - 2025

Pete McKenzie is an investigative journalist who writes for Reuters, The New York Times and The Guardian, among others. He is currently the Sir Harry Evans Fellow with Reuters and Durham University. His most recent Reuters dispatch exposed an expansive political influence scheme in the strategically essential island nation of Palau, where individuals tied to the Chinese government have allegedly engaged in kidnappings, killings and illegal donations to the country's most senior politicians. Before that, Pete authored a frontpage investigation for The New York Times which revealed that at least 34 Catholic priests had moved to Pacific Island nations after abusing or allegedly abusing children in the United States, Britain, Australia or New Zealand. Pete has reported from fourteen nations, interviewed four prime ministers, and is yet to find any country better than his homeland of New Zealand. 

About the Sir Harry Evans Global Fellowship in Investigative Journalism

The Sir Harry Evans Global Fellowship in Investigative Journalism is part of a program honouring celebrated British-born journalist, editor and author Sir Harry Evans, one of the pioneers of modern investigative journalism. Sir Harry (1928-2020) was an undergraduate at University College, Durham, and became internationally celebrated as the crusading editor of The Sunday Times under the paper’s ownership by Lord (Roy) Thomson. The work he spearheaded throughout his career, from corporate investigations to revelations of government wrongdoing and incompetence, created a model for reporting in the public interest and demonstrated the real-world impact journalism can have.

The fellowship launched in Sir Harry’s honour is designed to give promising early-career journalists the opportunity to develop rigorous, fact-based reporting skills. The fellow will be supported by Durham University’s Institute of Advanced Study, which hosts projects and international fellows working across academic disciplines

Alongside the investigative journalism fellowship, the Sir Harry Evans Memorial Fund will launch an annual, agenda-setting forum on the journalism profession, the Sir Harry Evans Global Summit in Investigative Journalism. The first takes place on May 10 and 11, 2023 at RIBA London.

Find out more about the Sir Harry Evans Memorial Fund.