News

The latest news from the International Center for Journalists.

July
27
2011

Academy Award-Winning Documentary Producer Helps Haitian Journalists See Their Work In A New Light

Today marks the one-year anniversary of my Fellowship in Haiti. It was a challenge-filled year and the path that has led me to a place where I have a new vista on journalism in Haiti has been strewn with obstacles and even a few dead ends. My overall experience has been one of tremendous personal growth that encompassed the full gamut of emotions. Ultimately, it has been so positive that I’ve extended the Fellowship. I can say with all honesty that that I am looking forward to building on my past successes and achieving new ones with renewed energy.

July
22
2011

Health Reporting in Nigeria is on the Rise, With a Long Way to Go

It’s been almost three months since I arrived here in Abuja to commence my Knight Fellowship and so much has happened with lots still lined up for the coming months and weeks. My decision to visit several newsrooms and some of my former colleagues who are now senior or managing editors -- seated often behind expensive and expansive mahogany desks -- gave me a good idea about where health journalism is headed in Nigeria.

July
22
2011

India’s "Right to Information" Act Even Extends to Sports Journalists Who Don’t Like Cricket

Sports journalism and the use of India’s Right to Information act could be strange bedfellows. But the recent Commonwealth Games 2010 held in New Delhi reduced the distance. The billion-dollar sports extravaganza was mired in mismanagement, corruption and nepotism. Interestingly, a lot of this was unearthed by Right to Information activists. As a result, the key driver of the event, Suresh Kalmadi, is now in jail on charges of corruption.

July
21
2011

Cervical Cancer and Journalism Ethics in Angola

Before the end of the year, Angola will vaccinate 10,000 young teen girls against human papilloma virus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer - the most frequent cancer among Angolan women aged 15-44, and the most lethal, killing more than 1,000 women every year.

July
18
2011

The First-Ever Mental Health Training for Journalists in Ethiopia

Ferew Abebe is an Editor-In-Chief with Sendek, a weekly Amharic newspaper. He’s been covering health for years, but not mental health. He says mental health isn’t a readable topic, since it doesn’t affect the majority of the public. But data from the World Health Organization shows 15-percent of the adults here and 11-percent of children have mental disorders.

July
12
2011

Forced Evictions in Haiti Provide Lessons for Young Journalists

On the grounds of the university established by former President Jean Bertrand Aristide in Tabarre, a community just a few miles north east of the capital, some 400 families are about to be displaced. Aristide is reclaiming his property, including dormitories where some residents are squatting, so that he can reopen his school. To facilitate the move, he’s purchased a plot of land and ACTED, a French non-governmental organization, is constructing transitional shelters.

July
12
2011

Top Journalists Help Identify Challenges with Health Reporting in Developing Countries

When I was invited in June to take part in an international discussion about health issues for senior-level women journalists from developing African countries, I jumped at the chance. I was eager to hear from participants about the challenges they have faced as health editors, reporters and producers for influential media organizations.

July
1
2011

Hardnews Features Citizen Journalists Using Knight Fellow's Mobile News Network

Indian magazine Hardnews features citizen journalists who traveled to Delhi for a six-day workshop organized by Knight Fellow Shubhranshu Choudhary. These journalists from rural India report local issues using Choudhary's mobile news network, CGNet Swara. CGNet team member Smita Choudhary discusses the marginalization of Indian tribes by mainstream news sources. “Media is politically and commercially controlled these days. Nobody wants to hear a villager’s story,” she said.

June
29
2011

New School Brings Global Perspective to India's Media Education: World Media Academy to Prepare Students for TV, Print and Digital Reporting

India is one of the world's most dynamic economies, and media are an important part of its rapidly changing scene. Hundreds of new television stations are being licensed, magazines abound and newspaper circulation still posts healthy gains.

June
27
2011

China Journalism School Graduates New Class of Business-Savvy Students

At the ceremony, 33 students received their Masters' Degrees in Global Business Journalism and 16 students received certificates. Graduates and their guests were treated to addresses by Dean Shi Anbin and Professor Hang Min of the School of Communications, in addition to Bank of America's Claire Huang, Bloomberg's Bruce Grant and ICFJ's Joyce Barnathan.