Cătălin Tolontan

Cătălin Tolontan (born 16 November 1968) is a Romanian sports journalist and editor known for his investigative work for the sports newspaper Gazeta Sporturilor. His investigation into the deaths of victims of the 2015 Colectiv nightclub fire was featured in the 2019 documentary film Collective. He is now the editorial coordinator at Hotnews.ro and co-founder of the investigative website Snoop.ro.

Early life Tolontan was born in Bucharest, the son of a border guard. He said he was inspired to become a journalist after watching the 1976 film All the President's Men when he was a child. After working as a sports reporter for various publications, in 1997 he succeeded his mentor Ovidiu Ioanițoaia as editor of the sports newspaper ProSport.

In 2018, after Gazeta Sporturilor was purchased by the Ringier group, Tolontan stepped down as editor, and was replaced by Cătălin Țepelin. and co-founder of the investigative outlet Snoop.ro.

Investigative work

2009 Ministry of Youth and Sport embezzlement investigation In 2009, Gazeta Sporturilor published its investigation into Monica Iacob Ridzi, a Democratic Liberal Party politician and head of the Ministry of Youth and Sport, accusing her of embezzlement. Ridzi subsequently resigned from her position, and in 2015 was sentenced to five years in prison for misusing public funds. The investigation led to the resignation of Patriciu Achimaș-Cadariu, the Minister of Health, as well as the death of the owner of Hexi Farma, in a car accident which many considered to be a suicide. Tolontan, alongside other journalists from Gazeta Sporturilor, reported receiving threats against themselves and their families as a result of their investigation.

Recognition Tolontan's investigation into the Colectiv nightclub fire and the 2016 diluted disinfectants crisis were featured in the 2019 documentary film Collective, directed by Alexander Nanau. Collective was nominated for Best Documentary Feature and Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards.