Program News

U.S. Elections: Press as Enemies of the People, or Democracy's Watchdogs?

Press freedom is a pillar of American democracy. But political attacks on U.S.-based journalists and news organizations pose an unprecedented threat to their safety and the integrity of information. A new survey from ICFJ highlights a disturbing tolerance for political bullying of the press in the land of the First Amendment.

Sri Lanka: Through the Lens of Women Journalists

On a recent morning, in the heart of Sri Lanka’s capital, about two dozen women journalists discussed ethics in photojournalism – the decision to photograph certain scenes of violence and tragedy, and how to do so with care. It was a reminder of the importance of creating spaces for journalists to connect and learn.

“Hablando en Plata”: A Video Podcast About the Sustainability of Media Outlets in Exile

How to generate money – “plata” in Spanish, the slang used in many Latin American countries – is one of the most pressing concerns among journalists and media outlets today. In the Spanish-language video podcast "Hablando en Plata," ICFJ Knight Fellow José J. Nieves discusses different business models for media outlets.

Through Their Lens: Centering Women Photojournalists in Sri Lanka

There aren't a lot of female photojournalists in Sri Lanka. It's a situation that women journalists are trying to change — by picking up cameras and shooting. As part of a five-year ICFJ program, the Sri Lanka Press Institute organized a workshop with photojournalist Jessica Rinaldi to empower female photojournalists and advance investigative journalism in the country.

ICFJ-Backed Journalist Uncovers Disinformation Networks in Kenyan and Nigerian Elections

Investigative journalist James Okong’o interviewed six “digital mercenaries” to uncover how they were paid to organize disinformation campaigns and influence recent elections in Kenya and Nigeria. The report, published by Agence France-Presse Fact Check, revealed new details about how these influential bloggers and social media personalities worked to discredit political opponents, undermine political institutions and fuel tensions.

ICFJ’s Health Innovation Journalism Fellowship Equips Journalists to Report on Global Health

On an international reporting trip to Cape Town, South Africa, ICFJ Health Innovation Fellow Priscilla Lynch documented both the successes and challenges of healthcare facilities that are managing to provide essential services to South Africans amid difficult circumstances. 

ICFJ Knight Fellow Receives María Moors Cabot Prize’s ‘Special Citation’

The jury for Columbia Journalism School’s prestigious María Moors Cabot Prize has recognized ICFJ Knight Fellow Laura Zommer of Argentina as a 2024 special citation recipient, describing the journalist as “a visionary and a beacon of integrity and innovation in modern journalism in the Americas.”

Lessons Learned from Integrating AI in a Local Newsroom in Argentina

I worked with Todo Jujuy for eight months, from the start seeking to make clear that implementing AI in the newsroom involved not only the introduction of new technologies but also a cultural shift and a reconfiguration of existing workflows. This was evident to those of us who worked in media as it was being digitized in the early 2000s.

The Journalists Behind Afghan Fact Share How They Counter Disinformation

At the end of 2022, an Afghan journalist sent his colleagues an IJNet Persian article on fact-checking and verification. The piece came with a recommendation: that they should launch a website focused on fact-checking in Afghanistan.

ICFJ Fellows to Receive Funding, Support to Cover Health Innovations

The rapid pace of innovation in artificial intelligence, biotechnology and more is opening new doors for progress in global health – an exciting but complex and ever-changing landscape for journalists to navigate.