Participant Story

ICFJ Voices: Hamna Iqbal Baig, on Covering Marginalized Communities

Hamna Iqbal Baig is a widely published freelance journalist and fact-checker who says she knew from a young age that journalism was her calling. She currently focuses on covering women, minorities and marginalized groups. Through two ICFJ programs, she enhanced her skills on data journalism and audience engagement and investigated the exploitation of sanitation workers in Karachi, Pakistan.

ICFJ Voices: Ojoma Akor, On Health Journalism

Nigerian journalist Ojoma Akor has received a variety of awards and fellowships throughout her career. Through an ICFJ program, she produced important work, including the first cross-border story in her portfolio. She credits the fellowship for deepening her understanding of malnutrition on the health beat.

ICFJ Voices: José Nieves, on Sustainability for Exiled Newsrooms

José J. Nieves is an ICFJ Knight Fellow developing resources to help newsrooms in exile plan for a sustainable future. Originally from Cuba, Nieves has been running his independent media platform El Toque from exile since 2019. From afar, El Toque became known for an innovative tool it developed: an exchange rate calculator for the informal market in Cuba. This tool is the first of its kind for Cubans, and has greatly impacted those within the country and El Toque’s success as a publication.

ICFJ Voices: Derek Willis, on Why Data Journalism Is Crucial

Derek Willis is a lecturer in data and computational journalism at the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism. Previously, he was a data journalist with a variety of outlets. Through ICFJ programs, he has taught journalists around the world and helped them gain practical skills to further their careers.

The Power of Collaboration: Reporting Across the India-Pakistan Border

India and Pakistan have a history of more than 75 years of conflict over Kashmir, a region split between the two nations. This clash often places Kashmiris, who lack autonomy, in the crossfire. Last year, Indian journalist Puja Bhattacharjee and Pakistani journalist Umar Bacha united in a rare cross-country collaboration to detail the challenges faced by families and marriages divided by borders. The emotional investigation remains relevant amid increasing calls for Kashmiri autonomy.

Valeriya Yegoshyna: Keeping Eyes on Ukraine

In the face of dire threats to their safety, Ukrainian journalists have put their lives on the line to document the atrocities of Russia’s invasion of their country, and amplify the stories of those most impacted. Among these fearless journalists is 2024 ICFJ Knight International Journalism Award winner Valeriya Yegoshyna, a reporter at Schemes, the investigative project of the Ukrainian service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Her reporting has revealed alleged Russian war crimes and corruption in her native Ukraine.

ICFJ Voices: Anderson Meneses, Harnessing the Power of Hyperlocal Journalism

Anderson Meneses is the business and technology director at Agência Mural de Jornalismo das Periferias (Mural). Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, he’s based in Recife and covers the São Paulo Metropolitan Region.

He says that his involvement with ICFJ has had a major positive impact on his career, including co-founding Mural.

“ICFJ's support in Latin America is essential given the growing challenges faced by the press, such as violence against journalists, democratic crises and the spread of disinformation,” he says.

Rana Sabbagh: Fighting for Justice in the Middle East

When Rana Sabbagh was a young girl in Jordan, her German mother introduced her to the idea of Gerechtigkeit, which translates roughly to “justice” or “fairness.” Sabbagh’s career as an investigative journalist has revolved around this ideal: that justice, accountability and the rule of law matter. Today, Sabbagh — ICFJ's Knight Trailblazer Award winner — continues to drive hard-hitting investigations in the Middle East.

John-Allan Namu: Uncensoring Africa

In East Africa, Kenya has stood out for its relative peace and prosperity. For over three decades, it has enjoyed multi-party democracy, and largely avoided conflict and war. But that doesn't mean that 2024 ICFJ Knight International Journalism Award winner John-Allan Namu rests easy. The acclaimed Kenyan investigative journalist and co-founder and CEO of Africa Uncensored has dedicated his nearly 20-year career to exposing corruption among the most powerful, human rights abuses and more in his native country.

Electoral Disinformation, But No AI Revolution Ahead of the US Election — Yet

Many predicted a revolution in the world of disinformation during the 2024 U.S. election due to the emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI). But it hasn’t come to pass – at least not yet. ICFJ Knight Fellow Laura Zommer breaks down how to monitor the status of disinformation and AI in the days leading up to Nov. 5.