Participant Story

ICFJ Voices: Branislava Lovre, on Building Trust and Using AI in Newsrooms

Serbian-based media professional and AI ethicist Branislava Lovre finds joy in helping newsrooms discover the potential of innovative co-creation and AI tools. Through an ICFJ program, she developed a platform that encourages newsrooms to work together with audiences to create news and increase transparency.

ICFJ Voices: Raisa Wickrematunge, Helping Journalists Cover Religious Intolerance

Sri Lankan journalist Raisa Wickrematunge believes religious intolerance is under covered in the media. Through an ICFJ program, she helped build a course to train South Asian journalists how to cover religious freedom. Her mentorship has facilitated high-quality reporting in the region.

IJNet Journalist of the Month: Jyoti Dwivedi

Jyoti Dwivedi is more than just a reporter. She is a catalyst, an agent of change. During a career spanning more than 15 years, Dwivedi has taken fake aliases, pretended she was pregnant and skirted the police working undercover. She regularly puts herself at risk for her stories – but shows little fear.

Journalist Testifies on Atrocities Committed by Russian Paramilitaries in Central and West Africa

Philip Obaji recently testified in Washington, DC, before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe about reporting he did as an ICFJ Jim Hoge Reporting Fellow, bringing attention to the brutal actions of Russian paramilitary forces in the Central African Republic (CAR) and the region.

ICFJ Voices: Bharat Nayak on Investigating Disinformation in India

Indian journalist Bharat Nayak works as a researcher and fact-checker. He covers disinformation, political polarization, hate speech and climate change. Through an ICFJ program, he saw significant outcomes for both his reporting and broader community awareness.

ICFJ Voices: Shahzad Naveed, Shining a Light on Underreported Stories in Pakistan

Shahzad Naveed is a freelance journalist from Pakistan. He works with a variety of organizations and covers a range of sensitive and challenging topics, including minority rights and human rights. Through a workshop with ICFJ, he was able to grow his professional and technical skills, allowing him to effectively cover stories and approach sources.

ICFJ Voices: Hadeel Arja on Telling Stories of Children in Crisis Zones

A Syrian native based in Turkey, journalist Hadeel Arja has won awards for her reporting on children in crisis zones. With support from an ICFJ program, she was able to grow and professionalize her organization, Tinyhand. The independent outlet creates impactful investigative reports on children's issues.

Reinventing Journalism: New Ideas for a People-Centric Sustainable Future

ICFJ Knight Fellow Mattia Peretti worries that journalists have lost touch with their mission — or are at least confused about it. In his keynote address given at Media Party Buenos Aires, he explores the value of journalism and financial sustainability in the industry.

“Hablando en Plata”: A Video Podcast About the Sustainability of Media Outlets in Exile

How to generate money – “plata” in Spanish, the slang used in many Latin American countries – is one of the most pressing concerns among journalists and media outlets today. In the Spanish-language video podcast "Hablando en Plata," ICFJ Knight Fellow José J. Nieves discusses different business models for media outlets.

ICFJ Voices: Tom Meagher, on the Importance of Supporting Journalists

Tom Meagher is a journalist based in New Jersey who covers criminal justice. He’s currently a senior editor at the Marshall Project. Since 2023, he's worked with the ICFJ News Corp Media Fellowship program to offer workshops on data journalism and mentor grantees.