News

The latest news from the International Center for Journalists.

September
4
2014

Community engagement tips from Hacks/Hackers Buenos Aires Media Party

In a world connected by social media, journalists can no longer serve up the news with the attitude that “we are the experts, and we’re going to give it to you in the format that suits us, in the way that suits us,” said community-building specialist Jeanne Brooks.

Instead, she said, a news organization should engage its audience and create its news and information products--whether those are articles, apps or even a radio station--in response to audience needs.

August
28
2014

Knight Fellow builds a team at Fusion to change how people interact with news

Once upon a time, storytelling may have been defined by the use of words, images or video.

But by using digital innovations such as games the Interactive Team at Fusion, a television and digital network, refuses to consider storytelling as creating content for mere consumption; the innovators want to change the way people interact with stories.

“As Fusion says, it’s all about the fusion,” said Mariana Santos, the interactive and animation director for the team.

August
27
2014

Project Supervised by ICFJ Knight Fellows Wins IAPA's 2014 Infographics Award

The Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) gave a project guided by two ICFJ Knight International Journalism Fellows its 2014 Infographics Award, citing its “high artistic and journalistic standards.”

The interactive media project 12 Hours That Changed Chile chronicles the violent 1973 military coup d’état that brought dictator Augusto Pinochet and his ruthless regime to power.

ICFJ Knight Fellows Miguel Paz and Mariana Santos advised the cre

August
13
2014

GotToVote! website will help Ghana's voters find their polling stations

A new website is helping Ghana's citizens find their nearest voter registration center, so that they can be sure they are eligible to vote in the 2016 general election.

GotToVote!, which is optimized for mobile devices, explains who is eligible to register for the 2016 general elections in Ghana and gives a simple overview of the voter registration process.

August
13
2014

How Poderopedia has promoted transparency in its first year and a half

In its first year and a half of existence, the data journalism platform Poderopedia has promoted transparency and detection of conflicts of interest; generated news stories that made an impact on society; and built alliances with other Latin American organizations.

I founded Poderopedia, which tracks who is who in politics and business, in December 2012 in Chile, with a committed team of journalists and programmers and with financial support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

August
7
2014

ICFJ’s Jerri Eddings: Mandela’s Lessons Live On

Nelson Mandela, the revered anti-apartheid leader who became South Africa’s first democratically elected president, left a legacy of forgiveness, compassion and understanding for his country and the world.

On Thursday, July 31, ICFJ’s Senior Program Director Jerri Eddings reflected on the lessons she learned from Mandela as a foreign correspondent reporting on his rise to political prominence.

August
4
2014

CJR: Knight Fellows are spurring entrepreneurship in Latin America

In a story on Latin America media innovation, Columbia Journalism Review (CJR) singled out several Knight International Journalism Fellows for blazing the path.

Media Factory, a project by Knight International Journalism Fellow Mariano Blejman, will provide funding and mentorship to promising digital projects in Latin America.

August
4
2014

Despite efforts to curb violence, attacks against journalists continue

The delegates, journalists and observers gathered at the meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council were focused on a noble purpose: promoting freedom of the press and the security of journalists worldwide.

But at the same time they were at a loss to answer one basic question: Why is violence against the press increasing despite years of efforts to curtail it?

In their interventions at the meeting, national representatives talked about “political will,” a very useful cliché for useless statements.

August
1
2014

How ICFJ's journalism program in Tsinghua University helps bridge cultural perceptions

Rick Dunham is a firm believer that the best way to improve communication between countries is to encourage cultural exchange.

As the co-director of the Global Business Journalism program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, Dunham has witnessed how Chinese students have benefitted from learning alongside international students and vice versa.

"When we divide our graduate classes [at Tsinghua University] up into groups, I require that each group include at least one Chinese student and at least one international student.

July
29
2014

Environmental news site CartoChaco reveals deforestation in South America's Gran Chaco region

A new data-driven journalism platform launched today to expose environmental threats to South America’s Gran Chaco, a region that suffers from the world’s highest deforestation rate.

A group of researchers, cartographers, developers and journalists created CartoChaco, which uses news stories alongside maps powered by satellite data to reveal the impacts of natural resource exploitation in the region.