News

Mapping Attacks on Journalists Can Point the Way to Better Security

For many reporters and photographers, it’s pretty common to get the following assignment from their editors: Go cover a street protest, get pictures and video, look out for clashes between police and demonstrators…and be careful.

If this sounds familiar, it’s probably because the recent events in Ferguson, Missouri, have reminded us of the dangers of covering demonstrations on the streets, as reporters have been attacked or arrested during the protests sparked by the police shooting of an unarmed teen.

Journalists from BRIC Countries Win ICFJ Health Reporting Contest

Four reporters from BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China) won ICFJ’s 2014 Global Health Reporting Contest for outstanding coverage of maternal and child health issues. The journalists work for news organizations that reach a combined audience of more than 11.5 million.

The winners will be recognized for their reporting at an Awards Dinner on Sept. 22 at The New York Times Headquarters.

Hacks/Hackers Media Party: Census Reporter site makes it easier for reporters to use data

For many reporters, working with U.S. Census data is like going to the dentist — you know it’s important, but it often means a painful and prolonged visit to the dreaded U.S. government census website. But since the launch of Census Reporter, reporting on this data no longer has to feel like pulling teeth.

The display of Census facts is light-years away from the way the same information appears on the U.S. government website, where journalists can spend hours sifting through 1,500 tables of data.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.