News

The latest news from the International Center for Journalists.

May
28
2025

How to Cover Global Trade Like a Pro: Tariffs Edition

Tariffs, essentially taxes on imported goods, have been at the core of cross-border trade since the days of ancient Athens and Mesopotamia. They can protect domestic industries, generate revenue, or act as political tools. For journalists, tariffs often provide a clear, tangible hook to explain the much broader and more complex web of international commerce or the realities of geopolitical machinations.
May
27
2025

ICFJ Voices: Maran Perianen, Empowering Individuals Through Citizen Journalism

Maran Perianen is the founder and editor of Citizen’s Journal, a community news outlet focused on citizen journalism. He’s also co-founder of the Far East Documentary Centre. Perianen has extensive experience as a video journalism trainer and has worked throughout Southeast Asia. He says that his engagement with ICFJ has played a major role in his professional development. “It reinforced the idea that citizens, when equipped with the right knowledge and tools, can become powerful agents of change in their communities,” he said. Perianen is from Malaysia and is based in Kuala Lumpur.
May
21
2025

From TV News to TikTok Views: Journalism in the Age of the Influencer

As more people get news and information from YouTube, TikTok and other social media, how do they know what standards creators bring to their work? How do they distinguish between journalists, influencers and everything in between?
May
9
2025

ICFJ Voices: Adam D. Williams, on Investigations with Impact

Adam D. Williams is a freelance journalist who mainly covers Latin America and the U.S. He’s also reported from southern Africa. He writes about social issues, energy, business, the environment, health and other topics. Williams has been reporting internationally since 2009. “Above all, ICFJ’s support gives journalists time and resources to produce impactful, important stories across the world that might not have been previously told,” Williams says.
May
1
2025

Press Freedom: ICFJ-Backed Journalists ‘Refuse to Let the Truth Be Erased’ Amid Growing Challenges

Risks to journalists’ safety and their ability to operate are growing every day, from state-sponsored repression and legal attacks to armed conflicts and online violence. “Right now, it feels like a perfect storm has hit independent media,” said Anastasia Rudenko, founder and editor-in-chief of the Ukrainian outlet Rubryka.
April
28
2025

ICFJ Voices: ICFJ "Broadens the Lens of Journalists," Says LaMont Jones

LaMont Jones is the managing editor for education at U.S. News and World Report. Through an ICFJ study tour, he deepened his knowledge of the Middle East, connected with colleagues and published articles. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Jones is based in Washington, DC.
April
23
2025

Independent Journalists Share Their Best Practices for Cultivating Audiences

At the 2025 International Journalism Festival in Perugia, Italy, winners of ICFJ’s inaugural News Creator Award discussed how they successfully navigate the terrain. They shared concrete strategies focused on content, community, storytelling and sustainability, offering valuable insights for peers seeking to connect meaningfully with audiences and solidify their place in the evolving media ecosystem.
April
23
2025

NBC News’ Lester Holt to Receive Top Journalism Award

The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) has named NBC News anchor Lester Holt the 2025 winner of the ICFJ Founders Award for Excellence in Journalism. This honor recognizes Holt's exceptional record serving the public with consequential, reliable news coverage for more than four decades.
April
17
2025

How to Write an Easy-to-Understand Business or Economics Story

Despite a plunge in newspaper jobs of more than half since 2000, business news is a growth industry that has created new opportunities for journalists in print, digital and newsletter formats. Here are 11 tips to help you write easy-to-understand and impactful business reports.
April
9
2025

Journalists from Nigeria and Ghana Win 2025 Michael Elliott Award

Godwin Asediba and Silas Jonathan are the 2025 winners of the Michael Elliott Award for Excellence in African Storytelling.