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.

Conectando comunidades indígenas com redações brasileiras

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September 20, 2022

Uma nova iniciativa do Centro Internacional para Jornalistas (ICFJ na sigla em inglês) vai fomentar reportagem in loco sobre desmatamento e conflito na Amazônia, utilizando tecnologia móvel para amplificar vozes locais em nível nacional. A iniciativa se baseia em um projeto de impacto apoiado pelo ICFJ na Indonésia.

Connecting Indigenous Communities With Newsrooms to Spotlight Environmental Devastation in Brazil

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September 20, 2022

A new initiative from the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) will foster on-the-ground reporting about deforestation and conflict in the Amazon, leveraging mobile technology to amplify local voices at a national level. This builds on an already impactful ICFJ-backed project in Indonesia.

As the War Against Ukraine Rages On, ICFJ Helps Media Provide Vital News

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August 31, 2022

Last week, we marked a sad milestone – six months since Russia launched its brutal invasion of Ukraine.

By all accounts, this will be a long war. And the role of journalists in Ukraine and other affected countries will only grow more essential. ICFJ will provide grants to help some of these journalists reveal the truth to people in the region about everything from Russian war crimes and disinformation to environmental devastation to the plight of refugees.

With backing from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and donors to ICFJ’s It Takes a Journalist campaign,  we are offering grants to journalists, media outlets and tech innovators to carry out projects that bring important news to audiences in dire need of accurate information. We received more than 120 applications for support, and we are giving out a dozen grants, outlined below.

Covering COVID-19’s Impact on Marginalized Communities

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June 29, 2022

A cross-border team of journalists shone a light on rural healthcare in Ecuador, the United States and Zimbabwe, while another reporting duo surfaced how Latinas with disabilities navigated the pandemic, in stories supported by the ICFJ-Hearst Foundations Global Health Crisis Reporting Grant.

From Brazil to Togo: How ICFJ Community Managers Are Strengthening Journalism in Their Regions

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June 16, 2022
This community could not have been built without our driven, all-star t team of community managers and moderators overseeing our five language fora – in Arabic, English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. Beyond managing the five fora, these journalists are increasingly being recognized as international leaders as they build our community on a regional and global level. 

Tackling Deepfakes in Journalism

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June 13, 2022
As manipulated media becomes more prevalent, journalists will need to be able to identify its many different forms, and educate their audiences about it. Deepfakes are among the more prominent examples of manipulated media today, said Sam Gregory, program director for WITNESS, an organization that uses video and technology to defend human rights, during a recent two-part ICFJ Global Crisis Reporting Forum webinar.

Tips for Incorporating Scientific Research Into Your Reporting

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June 3, 2022

Research studies, crisis reports and documents from experts are important resources for providing well-researched trends that explain complex global crises.

However, research records can often be lengthy, boring and difficult for reporters to transform into engaging stories, but  this doesn’t have to be the case.

ICFJ’s Global Crisis Reporting Forum Now Offering Trainings, Resources in Arabic

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May 10, 2022

Arabic-speaking journalists have a valuable new resource to deepen their coverage of conflict, migration, climate change, health crises and more – ICFJ’s Pamela Howard Forum on Global Crisis Reporting.

The Forum, already available in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish, has expanded to serve Arabic speakers. Across five languages, the initiative connects journalists with resources, experts and each other to enhance reporting on critical global issues of local importance.

Reporting Amid Declining Press Freedom

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May 2, 2022

Threats against independent media are increasing globally. From a lack of support for journalists in hostile environments to growing government censorship and oppression of reporters, there are many reasons to be pessimistic about the state of press freedom.

Ethical Tips for Journalists Reporting on Conflict

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April 29, 2022

With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine entering its third month, the work of journalists continues to be instrumental in informing the world on alleged war crimes and civilian suffering. While covering the events in Ukraine – as well as other conflicts where journalists are at risk, from Afghanistan to Yemen – reporters need to know both hard safety skills and the complex ethical considerations unique to reporting on conflicts.