News

The latest news from the International Center for Journalists.

October
28
2024

An Academic's Media Literacy Journey from India to Oman

In 2018, Dr. Tamilselvi Natarajan came across a video depicting a child kidnapping, which spread widely on WhatsApp in India. In reality, however, the video was actually a public service announcement — not an actual kidnapping. The incident inspired the media educator to pursue training in fact-checking. Through an ICFJ and MediaWise program, she connected with advanced tools to continue to educate students about mis- and disinformation.
October
24
2024

How One Journalist Reached Remote Indonesian Indigenous Communities with Media Literacy

As Indonesia’s urban centers develop, Zulfa Amira Zaed carries a weight of concern for her fellow Indonesians who live in remote forest regions. But helping these communities navigate the challenges of disinformation proved difficult for Amira Zaed in the past, as she did not have the means to reach remote areas nor the resources to teach them. Through ICFJ training, she was able to improve her own media literacy and share her findings with her neighbors.
October
23
2024

Meeting Students Where They Are: Tips to Increase Media Literacy Among School Students in The Gambia

For three years, Mariama Danso and her organization, Fact Check Center - The Gambia, have promoted media literacy among young adults to combat mis- and disinformation in the Banjul region of The Gambia. Through ICFJ's media literacy training of trainers, she learned new strategies to reach diverse audiences.
October
22
2024

Sri Lankan Youth Take On Media Literacy Ambassador Roles Following Workshops

As a peacebuilder in Sri Lanka, Arzath Areeff has witnessed an alarming rise in hate speech and conflict in his country’s digital space. He co-founded the platform digizen in 2017 to support digital peacebuilding and promote media literacy. With support and training from ICFJ, Areeff has continued his trainings in underserved communities in his country.
October
21
2024

From Walking Barefoot to School to Founding a Radio Station — Meet Harriet Atyang

Harriet Atyang is helping build a stronghold against disinformation in western Kenya. As the founder of a local radio station called Dada Radio based in Siaya, Kenya, she believes in the power of information. Through the first 19-person cohort of Disarming Disinformation’s training of trainers, she learned how to use and teach media literacy skills. In the months since, she has passed on those skills through mentorship programs for journalism students and workshops for community members.
October
7
2024

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.
September
26
2024

How Journalists in the ICFJ Network are Covering Elections Around the Globe

James Okong'o — who recently published an eye-opening investigation about disinformation campaigns in Kenya and Nigeria — is just one of many journalists ICFJ has equipped to reach voters with trustworthy news. In a year when more than 60 countries are holding national elections, this support is foundational.
August
30
2024

ICFJ-Backed Journalist Uncovers Disinformation Networks in Kenyan and Nigerian Elections

Investigative journalist James Okong’o interviewed six “digital mercenaries” to uncover how they were paid to organize disinformation campaigns and influence recent elections in Kenya and Nigeria. The report, published by Agence France-Presse Fact Check, revealed new details about how these influential bloggers and social media personalities worked to discredit political opponents, undermine political institutions and fuel tensions.

June
20
2024

ICFJ-Backed Journalists Pull Back the Curtain on Election Lies

Many journalists in ICFJ’s network are reporting on the dozens of elections happening worldwide, working to uncover the lies targeting voters – not an easy task.

May
3
2024

How Leading International Editors are Responding to Information Pollution in a Pivotal Year for Democracy

At a panel during last month's International Journalism Festival in Perugia, Italy, Nobel Laureate Maria Ressa of the Philippines reminded us what’s at stake: AI often facilitates the spread of misinformation and disinformation, advancing authoritarian agendas.