ICFJ Pamela Howard Forum on Global Crisis Reporting

Disinformation, disease, climate change,  rising authoritarianism, financial crises, technology disruptions  these are just some of the challenges facing our world, and they do not stop at any border. Trained journalists, who understand how to effectively cover these seismic and overlapping events, are vital to finding solutions. The ICFJ Pamela Howard Forum on Global Crisis Reporting is designed to equip journalists with the expertise to provide meaningful coverage of critical global issues of local importance.

As part of our Forum initiative in five languages, reporters learn from leading experts through regular webinar programming on urgent issues of the day. They access new reporting resources from our International Journalists’ Network (IJNet). They share information through online groups and collaborate with each other to tell cross-border stories. The initiative builds on the success of the ICFJ Global Health Crisis Reporting Forum, launched when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Today, our growing community is made up of over 13,000 members from all over the world, who are countering disinformation and informing the public despite enormous challenges. See our impact and get involved below.

Just as almost every reporter became a “health reporter” during the pandemic, the global challenges ahead will demand that journalists build expertise to meet future crises. They demand an independent media to accurately and contextually report on both the global and local realities of the world’s most pressing issues.

We are honored to name this crucial initiative after ICFJ Vice Chair Pamela Howard, a staunch, dedicated supporter of our work for over 20 years.

The ICFJ Forum: Helping Over 15,000 Journalists Cover Global Crises

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June 2, 2023

The ICFJ Pamela Howard Forum on Global Crisis Reporting is a community of 15,000 journalists from 134 countries. Through Facebook groups, sessions with experts and newsletters – all in five languages – journalists worldwide get to meet, learn and collaborate. 

Media Alliance Counters Disinformation in Recent Elections in Paraguay

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May 16, 2023

As the general elections drew closer, El Surti journalists got together with other Paraguayans media leaders at an ICFJ Forum event and decided to form a media alliance, the Red de Medios Alternativos de Paraguay (the Alternative Media Network of Paraguay), to combat the spread of mis- and disinformation.

How Journalists Can Use New Visual Techniques to Create Viral Stories

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March 27, 2023

Emojis, memes and gifs: you may text with them on a daily basis, but did you know you can also use them in your reporting to boost engagement?

The Stories Behind the Reporting on the War in Ukraine

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February 24, 2023

Today marks one year since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

From war crimes and disinformation to environmental devastation and the displacement of almost 14 million people, the role of journalists in Ukraine is more vital than ever.

The Benefits and Pitfalls of ChatGPT for Journalists

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February 3, 2023
In the latest ICFJ Pamela Howard Forum on Global Crisis Reporting webinar, Jenna Burrell, director of research at Data & Society, dove into the pros of ChatGPT and how it can be a tool for journalists, as well as its limitations and what journalists should be cautious about.  

How to Produce More Gender-Equitable Coverage

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January 23, 2023

“Women are being underrepresented in news leadership, as protagonists in news gathering and news coverage, and fewer women tend to consume news,” said Kassova. “There are [many] areas we need to get right if equitable journalism is to be produced.”

How to Investigate and Report on Far-Right Extremism

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January 11, 2023

Far-right extremism is on the rise globally. Knowing how to investigate and report on the movement and its actors is paramount for journalists today.

The January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol in 2021, for instance, was heavily influenced by two of America's most well-known far-right extremist groups, the

Here's How Journalists Can Best Engage Audiences on Climate Change

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January 5, 2023
In a recent webinar, the ICFJ Pamela Howard Forum on Global Crisis Reporting dove into a report by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford that looks at how readers access climate change news, who they trust and how they feel about the issue.

Looking to Become an Environmental Journalist? Here's What You Should Know.

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November 28, 2022

In the lead-up to the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP27, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, IJNet and the Pamela Howard Forum on Global Crisis Reporting dove into reporting tips and tools for journalists covering the conference, and for those new to the environmental reporting beat.

How to Create News for Younger Audiences

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October 17, 2022

In a recent ICFJ Pamela Howard Forum on Global Crisis Reporting webinar, “News for kids: what it can teach us,” editors who produce news for children from publications in the U.S., the Netherlands, Singapore and Honduras discussed their methods for engaging and informing young people on the news.