Citizen Journalism

The Philippines: Tracking Government Efforts to Reduce Poverty

In the Philippines, Knight International helped journalists investigate the effectiveness of government programs designed to reduce poverty. With officials up for reelection in 2010, Knight Fellow Alex Tizon worked with The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) to determine whether the government delivered on promises to improve conditions. Tizon introduced new digital techniques that will enable major media outlets to gather better information from the poorest provinces.

Ghana: Tackle Poverty, Engage Citizens with a New Health Radio Show

Knight Fellow Sylvia Vollenhoven is interviewed on Joy FM about her mission to improve coverage of poverty-related issues.

Sylvia Vollenhoven created a weekly radio show that has transformed coverage of social issues and poverty in Ghana. On the popular “Hotline” show, Joy FM, the country’s top English language station, reporters have produced NPR-quality documentaries on topics ranging from the plight of illegal miners and the threat of erosion on fishing villages to the consequences of chronic flooding that kills dozens and leaves thousands homeless every year.

The Election 2008 Visiting Journalists Program

Readers and listeners all over the world enjoyed special insight into the U.S. presidential election as a result of the Elections 2008 Visiting Journalists Program, which brought 48 journalists from 46 countries to cover the historic campaign and vote.

Oct 82010

Citizen Journalism in Uganda

Cradling a dead baby in her arms, a girl weeps as she walks alone down a dirt road in eastern Uganda.

About a year earlier, she learned she was pregnant. She turned to the baby’s father and his family for help and support, but they denied responsibility. Then, her own family spurned her. Though still a child herself, she had no choice but to leave her village and fend for herself. Six months later, she returned with the child, who had been born but subsequently died. She needed to find a place to bury him. But again the father, his family and her own family rejected her.

Oct 52010

亚洲中国新媒体研讨会 / Asia China New Media Conference

Over the past weekend (2-3 October 2010) in Kuala Lumpur a conference featuring over 100 active participants in new media gathered in Kuala Lumpur to share local media dynamics, their views on freedom of the press and individual expression and the impacts of new and social media on their work.

The Asia China New Media Conference, hosted by MalaysiaKini’s Chinese Service and sponsored by Open Society Institute and the University of Hong Kong’s Center for Journalism and Media Studies, gathered over one hundred journalists, bloggers and academics to discuss the current state of new

Sep 302010

The ''opposition party''

Editor's Note: Knight Fellow Bruno Garcez discusses the upcoming Brazilian Presidential Elections.

The elections this Sunday, the 3rd, in Brazil, until very recently seemed to be heading to a very predictable outcome

The three main Presidential contenders lack the charisma of the current incumbent, Mr.

Sep 252010

Tehelka Magazine Profiles Knight International Journalism Fellow's Alternative News Platform

Indian weekly Tehelka features Knight Fellow Shubhranshu Choudhary's mobile news service, CGNet Swara, which offers a platform for tribal Indians to report on local issues. The article explains the project's mission and its successes - a liquor store near a school was closed because of citizens' reports after the government was trying to relocate the school instead.

Sep 222010

Structure and Journalism

As part of developing sustainable business models for online media, I have tried to catch-up with what Reg Chua is thinking about the structure of journalism at his blog “(Re)Structuring Journalism”.

Sep 222010

MDLF and the MalaysiaKini Story

The last few weeks have been a bit slow in Malaysia as the country celebrates the end of Ramadan and the festive season of Hari Raya. During the slow time, I have written a few things for other blogs on the work and situation at MalaysiaKini, as they get posted I will cross post them.

Sep 212010

One happy student

Another group was trained under the Mural workshops. A course that focuses on recruiting and training community correspondents reporting from the outskirts of São Paulo.