Tools From SXSW That Could Improve Access to News and Information

By: 03/27/2013

Image screenshot of Vyclone

For the past two years, I’ve gone to South By Southwest’s (SXSW) Interactive Festival in search of ideas and tools to bring to journalism.

Image screenshot of Vyclone

What I look for are new ways to improve people’s access to quality information and help more people become part of the news ecosystem.

In many countries, people have limited or no access to apps in their own languages, to advanced education on how to use technology for analyzing and sharing information and to hardware that many at SXSW might take for granted.

I learned about new apps and platforms at SXSW that could help more people get the information they need.

Read the post here.

The International Journalists' Network, IJNet, keeps professional and citizen journalists up to date on the latest media innovations, online journalism resources, training opportunities and expert advice. ICFJ produces IJNet in seven languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, Persian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. IJNet is supported by donors including the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

News Category

Blog Post

Topics

Media Innovation

Critical-Issues Reporting

Latest News

How to Deal with Mis- and Disinformation in Times of Uncertainty

There is evidence that disinformation is designed to take advantage of our emotions. It also tends to spread farther and more rapidly during times of change and uncertainty. When people have questions and there are gaps in information, the disinformers (those who profit from lies), take advantage, “magically” putting forth what appear often to be simple answers or solutions. Here are some tips to protect yourself from falling for or sharing false or alarmist content as the U.S. transitions into a second Donald Trump presidency.

Insights into Journalism and Advice for Student Reporters Heading into 2025, from ICFJ Knight Fellows

As we kickstart 2025, we asked our ICFJ Knight Fellows about their outlooks for the new year, and what challenges and/or opportunities they’re preparing to face head on. The Fellows also provided their topline advice for student and early-career journalists to succeed in today’s news industry.

ICFJ Announces Its Inaugural Cohort of Boost Reporting Fellows

Journalists from Gambia, Bangladesh and Ecuador will pursue reporting on climate-related issues with support from ICFJ’s Boost Reporting Grants.