News

Call for Nominations: 2021 ICFJ Knight International Journalism Awards

Each year, the International Center for Journalists honors outstanding colleagues with the ICFJ Knight International Journalism Award at our Tribute to Journalists. We are now seeking nominees whose pioneering coverage or media innovations have made an impact on the lives of people in their countries or regions. Candidates can be reporters, editors, technologists, media managers or citizen journalists. Candidates who meet the awards criteria may nominate themselves. Please send in your nominations by Sunday, Feb. 28. 

#HoldtheLine Coalition Condemns Third Criminal Cyber Libel Charge Against Maria Ressa and Rappler

In reaction to the new cyber libel charge and arrest warrant brought against award-winning journalist Maria Ressa in the Philippines on January 11, the #HoldTheLine Coalition issued the following statement.

Reporting During Two Pandemics: COVID-19 and Racism

The convergence of the racial justice movement with the ongoing global health crisis generated challenging working conditions for reporters. The personal nature of the racial unrest compounded these challenges for journalists of color, in particular. “As Black people, we’re battling two pandemics — we're battling racism and we're battling COVID-19,” said journalist, filmmaker and freelance photographer Cydney Tucker during an ICFJ Global Health Crisis Reporting Forum webinar in December.

In the Wake of D.C. Mayhem, the Role of Truth Tellers Is More Important Than Ever

We all may have thought that 2021 would be a more sane year after what we have been through in 2020. What happened Wednesday in Washington, D.C., made it clear that it isn’t. Throughout the past four years, many of us have worried when political leaders don’t honor truth (no less the U.S. Constitution). And now, we see the havoc that can happen when they don’t.

ICFJ Knight Fellows Share Advice for Journalists in 2021

The past year has been challenging for journalists around the globe. As the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world, media professionals were forced to think outside the box to bring life-saving information to their communities. We asked ICFJ Knight Fellows past and present to reflect on 2020, to glean insight from a chaotic, difficult year. Below, they share their lessons learned and advice for fellow journalists as we move into 2021. 

A Year of #CoveringCOVID: Highlights from the Global Health Crisis Reporting Forum

We’ve had by far one of the most unexpected and challenging years in history with a global pandemic, and one that’s hit an already struggling journalism industry hard. Despite these challenges, journalists from around the world came together in the ICFJ Global Health Crisis Reporting Forum to learn from medical experts, epidemiologists, veteran health reporters, fact-checkers and each other to cover what is likely to be the story of the century, a 21st-century pandemic.

Key Quotes: Newsroom Management During a Pandemic

Newsroom management can be a balancing act between people and content, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made finding that balance even more difficult. During a recent IJNet/ICFJ Global Health Crisis Reporting Forum webinar AJ+ Supervising Executive Producer Jon Laurence acknowledged the difficult balance and shared ways he and his team have tried to adapt. 

COVID-19 Reporting Has Prepared Us for Cross-Border Collaboration

The biggest story of 2020 — probably the biggest story of our lifetimes — was a global one, and covering it effectively required global collaboration among journalists and news organizations.

Tips For Podcasting During a Pandemic

With accessible technology and social tools available to anyone, media is no longer exclusive to journalists and journalism-adjacent careers. With just a few cheap — or even free — tools, anyone can create a podcast. The challenge becomes creating compelling content that the audience actually wants. 

ICFJ-UNESCO Study: Online Violence, Fueled by Disinformation and Political Attacks, Deeply Harms Women Journalists

An alarmingly high number of women journalists are now targets of online attacks associated with orchestrated digital disinformation campaigns. The impacts include self-censorship, retreat from visibility, an increased risk of physical injury, and a serious mental health toll. The main perpetrators? Anonymous trolls and political actors.