News

The latest news from the International Center for Journalists.

November
10
2011

Villagers Become Citizen Journalists in Rural Indonesia

After a two-day workshop I held recently on the basics of citizen journalism, one participant summed up the importance of his new task: "The training taught me how to become a critical person,” said 25-year-old Juliatus, a resident of Sei Enau village.

October
25
2011

Mozambique Reporters Find Tragedy, Triumph in Battle For Better Women’s Health Care

Obstetric fistula is a major health problem, and a difficult topic to write about. This month brought both joy and tremendous sorrow for those of us hoping to impact health coverage and improve lives here in Mozambique.

October
18
2011

Zambia’s First HIV Activist Loses Battle for Life but Wins Fight for Change

How, and where, do I start explaining what Winstone Zulu meant for Africans living with HIV? How do I tell the story of this Zambian activist who turned a death sentence into a rich life for him, his family and millions of other Africans?

October
17
2011

Tribals From Different Regions of India Find They Speak The Same Language – And Now Share Information By Cell Phone

It was a pleasure to hear so many Adivasi languages being spoken in one place: during a recent Democratization of Media workshop held in Koraput and organized jointly by CGnet Swara and Action Aid. Communication makes a community. That’s really what these 37 participants learned in the workshop. They also learned how to communicate more effectively in their own native languages using new tools like mobile phones.

October
13
2011

India's Tribal Citizens Track Abuses on Mobile News Network

A news story in India's Andhranews.net highlights CGnet Swara as a development project that is producing change for tribal people vulnerable to Maoist influence. Knight Fellow Shubhranshu Choudhary developed the cellular service as part of his Knight International Journalism Fellowship.

October
10
2011

With Elections Looming in Colombia, Journalists and Election Officials Are Gearing Up

A decision to observe a training session conducted by Colombia’s independent Electoral Observer Mission brought me from Bogota to Barranquilla for two days. The MOE, as it is known here, has had an ongoing presence in Colombia’s political life since 2006. One of the things they are doing as they get ready to observe the local elections is to host a crowd-sourced map with national scope where citizens are able to file reports of what they consider to be election irregularities.

October
5
2011

Bring It On: Tackling The Challenge of Sustainable Development Journalism in Africa

As Knight International Journalism Fellow Joseph Warungu launches a new network of journalists to report on development in Africa, the graveyard of those who’ve fought the same battle before him offers both warnings and lessons to be learned.

October
4
2011

India's World Media Academy Students Master the Skills of Journalism Past, Present and Future

When I work with my class of 18 aspiring journalists at World Media Academy, Delhi, I am reminded that students are the heart of a school.

October
3
2011

News Story Shows New Power that Comes From Social Media in India

A high profile business magazine in India profiles the changing balance of power brought on by social media in India... and includes the work of Knight Fellow Shubhranshu Choudhary as one of the mechanisms of change. The story highlights the power of citizen journalists to effect change, even in isolated communities.

September
29
2011

News Story Highlights Cause for Celebration for Citizen Journalists

An article in Malaysia's New Strait Times features former Knight International Journalism Fellow Ross Settles, and quotes him in discussing how citizen journalism is growing both in number and in terms of influence across the region.