News

Data Journalism's Pursuit and Obstacles in Storytelling

Data journalism is currently a hot buzzword among journalists in South Africa. But in reality it’s a case of lots of talking and not much action, with few journalists and newsrooms doing much real data-driven storytelling.

Too often it’s because old school editors working with very tight resources and dwindling staff numbers don’t understand the value and depth that good data-driven stories could add to their reportage.

Civic Tech: A Global Phenomenon Improving Local Communities

Over the past 10 years, the civic tech industry has worked increasingly with governments and civil societies to help deliver better information and services to citizens across the globe.

The industry’s growing influence was showcased when civic hackers from six continents met in New York in late July for the first public Code for All Summit.

Technologists demonstrated how they are creating innovative solutions to community problems – from fighting hunger in the Caribbean to responding to nuclear disaster in [Japan](http:/

Four Ways to Get Involved with the Global Data Journalism Community

All over the world, journalists are taking an interest in data journalism, attending training sessions and infusing new data skills into their work. ICFJ Knight Fellow Stephen Abbott Pugh offers tips on how to join the global data journalism community:

So you’ve taken your first data journalism class and now see the possibilities for using data to enhance your storytelling. What’s next? Here are four ways you can keep the momentum going and build on what you’ve learned.

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ICFJ Knight Roundup: Gamifying Candidates in Argentina, Tech Funding in Africa

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. Find out more about the fellows' projects by clicking here.

The Growing Need for Collaboration Between Journalists and Technologists

The launch of the Kenya Open Data Initiative in July 2011 led to the release of hundreds of data sets which, for a few discerning journalists and editors, opened up a new way of discovering, reporting and disseminating news.

New Report Praises ICFJ Knight Fellow’s Environmental Journalism Projects

A new report by the Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA) highlights former ICFJ Knight Fellow Gustavo Faleiros’ contributions to the critically important field of environmental journalism.

Though experts predict climate change will have a growing impact on the global economy in decades to come, the report points out that media worldwide largely neglect to educate the public about its consequences.

Bulletproofing the Work of Investigative Journalists

Investigative journalists are constantly under threat of prosecution. Their work exposes social injustices and human rights violations, sometimes leading to lawsuits from governments or large corporations.

The African Network of Centers for Investigative Reporting (ANCIR), led by senior researcher Khadija Sharife, has pioneered a method of bulletproofing the group's work against litigation and legal threat.

ICFJ Knight Roundup: Code For Africa In New York, Violence Against Mexican Journalists

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. Find out more about the fellows' projects by clicking here.

Why Wearables Are The News Platform Of The Future

It’s often said that pornography is every technology’s first adopter. It’s also said that the Internet wouldn’t exist without porn to make the download speeds faster, the video players easier to use and the browsers quicker. The same logic applies to full-color magazines, VHS, cable TV and so many others (I don’t think I need to explain why these technologies were advantageous to the seedier side of the media).

Now there’s a new tech frontier emerging, and for once, newspapers and other news media are actually in a better position than smut dealers to take full advantage of it.

ICFJ Knight Roundup: Medical Malpractice In Peru, Improving Environmental Reporting

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. Find out more about the fellows' projects by clicking here.

ICFJ Knight Fellows’ projects featured in a new Center for International Media Assistance report and more in this week’s roundup.