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Code for Africa's Data Bootcamps Teach Journalists Digital Literacy Skills

Open data is useless if nobody knows what to do with it, which is why Code for Africa's data bootcamps are so important.

Developed in 2012 by ICFJ Knight Fellow Justin Arenstein and the World Bank Institute, these data bootcamps have been held all over the world — including 10 African countries, Pak

Communicate Complex Ideas to the Public Using These Tips

I recently sat in on a conversation with communication officers from research institutions and one of them expressed fears that the information they were continually providing the public gave people "head pain."

No, not a headache, because that is curable, but "head pain." The point she was making and which I have tried to put across over the years to numerous communication officers from academia, research institutions, United Nations organizations and the private sector is that they must be able to simplify (and this does not mean dumb down) their message.

The communicators bemoaned the

NarcoData Project Reveals Four Decades of Organized Crime in Mexico

For the first time, the world has a clear picture of organized crime and drug trafficking in Mexico, thanks to a new journalism project called NarcoData.

Using government data obtained through Freedom of Information requests, NarcoData provides citizens with an interactive platform that maps the history of Mexico's powerful cartels across four decades.

ICFJ Knight Roundup: Hacks/Hackers Africa on the Front Line of Global Refugee Crisis

Each week as part of the Knight International Media Innovators blog, the ICFJ Knight team will round up stories focused on how their fellows are making an impact in the field. Hacks/Hackers looks to help the refugee crisis, a "Twitter for Journalists" webinar and more from the Knight Fellows in this week's roundup.

Q&A with Nic Dawes: Helping India’s Hindustan Times Adapt to the Digital Age

From web analytics software to social media monitoring tools, digital tools are transforming newsrooms globally.

Embracing a digital-first workflow "gives you more time to reflect and work you through the evolution of a story on multiple platforms," says Nic Dawes, chief editorial and content officer at the Hindustan Times in India.

How Journalists Can Use Facebook’s Signal and Other Social 'Radars' for News Sourcing

Back in the day, the savviest journalists used police radio scanners to track beats like city and crime. In 2015, we have upgraded to paid, free, even custom-built "radars" that use search, social or open data to generate insights into a) audience interest and response around news events by category, location, device, etc, b) social traction around topics covered by competitors and c) relevant sources or user-generated content around an event or theme.

Most of these are beginning to inform editorial planning throughout the day, alongside leading wires and publishers' own analytics.

How Pakistani Journalists Can Overcome the Challenges of Data Journalism

Data journalism seems to be a scary concept for journalists in Pakistan. They tend to believe it involves learning how to write code, designing graphics using complex software and crunching numbers using hefty, mathematical formulas. There also is a general belief that there is little or no data available.

In fact, journalists do use data in stories about crime, health, business and education, among other areas.

Why the Best Data Tools Engage Journalists While Educating Them

"If you build it, they will come" is the classic line uttered by the character played by Kevin Costner in the 1989 hit movie "Field of Dreams." It tells the story of an Iowa farmer who keeps hearing voices telling him to plough up his corn fields and build a baseball stadium in the middle of nowhere.

He believes that if he does so, the Chicago White Sox team will come to his arena to play. So he does, and they do.

But sadly the Hollywood fantasy-drama with a perfect outcome is worlds apart from the real-life world of tech where things don't neatly follow a script to end on a happy note.

How Newsrooms Can Avoid Government Surveillance

It's bad news for journalists when a government official delivers this chilling message: "I know what you are going to publish tomorrow." Yet, these words are common in many countries where governments are spying on newsrooms and individual journalists.

While independent media are subject to the proclivity of some governments to spy and tap their communications, it is also true that some media organizations don't protect their information from cyber-espionage and technical attacks.

Media organizations are becoming more aware of the need to protect their digital assets, such as databases,

In the Digital Age, Colombian Journalists Face New Threat of Cyber Attacks

Colombia used to be the most dangerous country in the world for journalists, with dozens killed and threatened during four decades of armed conflict among government, rebel and paramilitary forces.

These days, journalists face threats of a different kind. Cyber attacks are now considered the most important threat to Colombian journalists, who are fully entering the digital era.