Support ICFJ on World Press Freedom Day

By: Sonja Matanovic | 05/03/2013

Voter turnout in Kenya broke records, thanks in part to GotToVote!

There has never been a more important time for you to back quality journalism worldwide.

Voter turnout in Kenya broke records, thanks in part to GotToVote!

Kenya's hotly contested 2013 presidential election saw a record turnout. This peaceful transition of power contrasted dramatically with the violence that followed the 2007 election.

One key reason: the amazing work of a team of African journalists and Web developers. With our help, they created a website called GotToVote! By harnessing the power of open data, this new tool helped thousands of Kenyans find polling booths, register to vote and report fraud. They could even send free text messages thanking each other for keeping the peace.

The site became an instant hit on social media, with 2,500 visits within hours of launching.

The impact was tremendous. A record 12.3 million citizens turned out at the polls, versus 9.9 million in 2007. No doubt, GotToVote! played an important role by encouraging civic engagement in Kenya's democratic process.

Voter turnout in Kenya broke records, thanks in part to GotToVote!

The tool took only 24 hours to develop—and cost a mere $500. Make a contribution to ICFJ and your donation, too, will have genuine impact. You can help us develop programs that improve societies worldwide through quality journalism. We appreciate your backing.

Warmly,

Voter turnout in Kenya broke records, thanks in part to GotToVote!

Joyce Barnathan
President
International Center for Journalists

Topics

Media Innovation

Critical-Issues Reporting

Media Innovation

Latest News

Hans Staiger Award Winner Investigates Russian Soldiers Secretly Treated in Belarus Hospitals, Including Those Linked to War Crimes

Leaked data from the Russian Defense Ministry shook the story loose. A team of investigators found that during the first 21 months of the invasion of Ukraine, nearly 1,000 Russian soldiers were treated at Belarusian hospitals, including war crime suspects. These “secret patients,” as they were known, directly tied Belarus to Moscow’s war effort.

I Blew Up on TikTok with Journalism — Here's How You Can, Too

l'll never forget the day when an editor at the BBC told a 25-year-old me that journalists shouldn’t be on TikTok because “there’s so much misinformation on there.” By that point, I had maybe 10,000 followers on the platform, possibly more, and the comment stung. My TikToks, which had amplified my journalism as well as my passion for learning new languages, were well researched and I hoped the direct opposite of misinformation.

A New Era for News: Sharon Moshavi on AI, Micro Media and More

ICFJ President Sharon Moshavi recently joined Interlochen Public Radio News Director Ed Ronco for a public conversation on the state of journalism, hosted by the International Affairs Forum at Northwestern Michigan College. The discussion, part of the forum’s ongoing series focused on global affairs and press freedom, brought together journalists, students and community members from across northern Michigan. Topics included the erosion of trust in media, the collapse of traditional business models, the growing impact of artificial intelligence and the need for innovation in how journalism is practiced and supported.