News

IJNet's Top 10 Crisis Reporting Resources Published in 2024

Through our Crisis Reporting Forum at IJNet, we hosted live training sessions and discussions throughout the year to help journalists stay on top of major global developments. In our “IJNet Conversations” series launched this year, we reached out to experts and writers in the IJNet network to offer their expertise and advice for journalists on the fundamentals of the trade. Here are recaps of six crisis reporting sessions and recordings of four practical resources for journalists that remain relevant heading into 2025.

Fundamentals of Open-Source Intelligence for Journalists

Open-source intelligence (OSINT) – the gathering and analysis of publicly available information found on social media, and in databases and government records – can be invaluable in situations when information is sparse, controlled or censored. Journalists today leverage OSINT to expose corruption, investigate war crimes and hold governments and other powerful actors to account. In a recent IJNet Crisis Reporting Forum session, Eoghan Macguire of investigative journalism group Bellingcat detailed how journalists can use OSINT in their own investigative reporting.

ICFJ Voices: Sarmad alJilane, Putting Human Rights in Syria Front and Center

In addition to his journalistic work, Sarmad alJilane is an outreach and advocacy consultant. Originally from Syria, he’s based in Berlin. He covers a range of topics pertaining to Syria, including human rights, governance, media and civil society. He describes his participation in an ICFJ program as “one of the most beneficial experiences in my professional life.” 

To Reinvent Journalism, Start by Updating its Mission

Trust in journalism is at an all-time low, engagement is declining, and the business outlook for the industry is uncertain at best. These are facts. Although I believe that journalism can’t be saved, we can reinvent it. With News Alchemists, we aim to articulate a vision for change in the journalism industry and advocate for it, in order to make journalism more user-centric, and more equitable and sustainable as a result.

Journalists Speak to the Challenges of Covering the Israel-Hamas War

It has been over seven months since the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas, and no resolution appears in sight. 

As cease-fire negotiations have been unsuccessful, Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, which has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians, continues, intensifying an already dire humanitarian crisis. One hundred twenty eight hostages remain held captive by Hamas, according to Israel. 

It’s Not About AI: Toward a User-Centric, Sustainable Future for Journalism

Hi, my name is Mattia Peretti and I’m a 2024 ICFJ Knight Fellow. I became a fellow to explore how generative AI can be used by news organizations to better serve their communities, and I’ve spent the last four weeks talking with many smart people in the industry to make sense of this problem statement and figure out what to build from it. 

An Instagram-First Approach to Decluttering News in India

Mainstream Indian media has come under scrutiny for biased reporting and incomplete coverage of major events. What tends to be delivered to news consumers is opinion-led journalism featuring overstimulated news screens and loud anchors.

Innovating to Reach Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Communities with the Truth

There exists a lack of fact-checking resources for deaf and hard-of-hearing communities today, even as mis- and disinformation online is on the rise.

These Initiatives Across MENA Mark the 10th Year of IJNet Arabic's Mentoring Center

Violations of refugee and migrant rights, conflict, the spread of disinformation, and the effects of climate change are all issues affecting the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) today. They are also issues being met by this year’s mentees in the IJNet Arabic Mentoring Center for Media Startups, through innovative reporting initiatives and outlets. 

New Resources to Cover Elections, Combat Disinformation Now Available from IJNet

An extensive multimedia resource package to support journalists and newsrooms covering elections is now available in English and Spanish. 

The International Journalists’ Network (IJNet), in collaboration with Chequeado and Factchequeado, and supported by WhatsApp, has published its Elections Reporting Toolkit. It features articles and videos filled with the latest tips to counter disinformation around elections, safeguard digital security, and report on anti-democratic extremism, among other top-of-mind, election-related issues today.