Thread by @ICIJorg

Happy #PanamaPapers anniversary! Often we take these moments to tell you how the investigation led to laws changed, bad folks arrested, money recovered, etc. But this year, we took a different measure of impact… 🧵 1/14

On a personal note (@hamishbr here at the controls), I remember being caught by surprise in the days after the #PanamaPapers by the protests and the resignations... But what really surprises me *now* are the ways the investigation has infiltrated everyday life and culture. 2/14

So today’s story from @michaelwhudson really struck a chord. A couple of young musicians told him that, as highschoolers, the investigation opened their eyes to “how the world works” — so much so that, years later, they named their band Panama Papers. icij.org/investigations… 3/14

The group is one of a number inspired by the #PanamaPapers and its revelations of inequality, injustice and corruption. We found at least 38 songs and 5 bands named after the investigation, compiled in a @spotify playlist for your listening pleasure: open.spotify.com/playlist/5Mhuo… 4/14

“It’s the unfairness of the system that arouses anger,” @Shaolinbordeaux’s Emmanuel Guerin told us. The band said they want their song, named Panama Papers, to provoke listeners to take action and “take back all the power” 5/14

It’s not just musicians. The #PanamaPapers phenomenon has become almost synonymous with both systemic inequality and deep, dark secrets, and has been used in films and TV shows, has inspired cartoons, cocktails, and even had a prize-winning racehorse named for it. 6/14

The #PanamaPapers’s younger (but bigger!) sibling, the #PandoraPapers was even the inspiration for best-selling author @davidbaldacci’s recent novel, The 6:20 Man. “Power and money have never been entwined as much as they are now,” he told us. icij.org/investigations… 7/14

It’s worth pausing to remember ICIJ’s OG #taxhaven investigation that started our merry band of (now hundreds of) journalists on a path that would lead to multiple global exposés: #OffshoreLeaks. That investigation turns 10 (!) today. icij.org/investigations… 8/14

“Nobody could foresee then how long that journey would take or that along the way we would invent a whole new way of doing journalism,” @RyleGerard says. You can trace a path from #OffshoreLeaks to investigations like #LuxLeaks, #PanamaPapers, #PandoraPapers and more. 9/14

The transition of these stories from hardcore journalism exposés to culturally-ingrained artistic muses could actually help build patience and resolve for long-term change, #PanamaPapers documentary filmmaker @winter told us. “You can’t expect instant gratification.” 10/14

But *some* instant gratification doesn’t hurt, right? The #PanamaPapers generated its fair share, too. @carmenmolina_a checked in on some of the bigger stories from 7 years ago, to see where the characters are now, and what has changed since: icij.org/investigations… 11/14

We're not done yet, either. From #OffshoreLeaks to the #PanamaPapers, we have a decade of momentum propelling us forward. “As long as there is wrongdoing, we will continue to do journalism that rocks the world,” @RyleGerard says. Got a tip or leak? icij.org/leak/ 12/14

Of course, investigations like #PanamaPapers take a huge amount of time and resources - we couldn’t do it without our community of generous supporters. If you’d like to help fund our next global project, please consider making a donation: icij.org/donate/panama-… 13/14

Coming full circle to finish on another personal note… ICIJ’s projects also wouldn’t be possible without our amazing partners. When I think of this day 7 years ago, I think of the teamwork that led to it, and I couldn’t be more honored to have played a part. Thanks y’all. 14/14