IJNet Pamela Howard Forum on 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 IJNet Pamela Howard Forum on Crisis Reporting, a project of ICFJ, 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 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 Benefits and Pitfalls of ChatGPT for Journalists

|
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

|
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

|
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

|
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.

|
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

|
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.

Tips for Reporting on Gun Violence

|
October 3, 2022

During a recent ICFJ Global Crisis Reporting Forum webinar entitled “Gun Violence and How to Report on It,” Abené Clayton, a lead reporter for The Guardian U.S. series, Guns and Lies, which looks at community gun violence in California, provided tools and guidance on how journalists can improve their coverage. 

ICFJ and The Self-Investigation launch "Resilience" Mental Health Program for Arabic-Speaking Journalists

|
September 30, 2022

To adopt healthier work practices that can sustain journalists' well-being, ICFJ is launching a new resilience program for Arabic-speaking journalists under the auspices of the ICFJ Pamela Howard Forum on Global Crisis Reporting. The initiative aims to shed light on the importance of mental health and well-being for workers in the media industry and provide crucial resources in Arabic for journalists. It kicks off October 10 to mark World Mental Health Day and will run through the end of November. You can register for the first session here.

Conectando comunidades indígenas com redações brasileiras

|
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.

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

|
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.