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 17,500 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.

New ICFJ Initiative: Helping Journalists Cover Global Crises

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January 12, 2022

It was just about two years ago that many of us first heard of a worrisome new virus. Soon after, as this once-in-a-century pandemic took hold, ICFJ launched the Global Health Crisis Reporting Forum to help journalists cover the story of their lifetimes.

Now, with more than 13,000 journalists participating in our award-winning Forum in five languages, we are expanding this initiative beyond covering COVID-19. The journalists in our network told us they want the same benefits from our health forum – webinars with experts, training sessions on journalism tools, and collaborative reporting grants – to help them cover other vital issues in their communities. They asked for assistance in reporting on the many crises facing our world today: disinformation, rising authoritarianism, climate change, tech disruption, migration and more.

Reporting on Omicron? Here's What to Know.

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January 8, 2022

As COVID-19 variants continue to emerge, it is crucial that journalists keep their readers informed with the most current, accurate information to help them make vital decisions.

The omicron variant, which surfaced in late 2021, is different from others in that there is still a lot we do not know about it, said Peter van Heusden, a bioinformatician at the South African National Bioinformatics Institute, during a recent ICFJ Global Health Crisis Reporting Forum webinar.
 

Tips for Reporting on Vaccines, Hesitancy and Misinformation

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October 15, 2021

The distribution of COVID-19 vaccines in many parts of the world has given people hope that we may finally be nearing the pandemic’s end. There have been, however, mixed reactions to the immunizations, influenced by an abundance of misinformation.

Understanding the Crisis Journalists Face in Afghanistan

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August 27, 2021

During our online panel, titled Journalists in Afghanistan: An Urgent Crisis, ICFJ Vice President of Content and Community Patrick Butler sat down with former ICFJ Knight International Journalism Award winner and recent Afghanistan bureau chief for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Samiullah Mahdi to discuss the role international media outlets can play to shed light on Taliban rule, the hardships women journalists there now face and the future of the free press in the country. Mahdi also shares advice for how international journalists can help.

What to Know When Reporting on the Delta Variant

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August 12, 2021

The global fight against COVID-19 is far from over. As the pandemic continues, the delta variant presents a new wave of challenges and further emphasizes the importance of redoubling efforts to combat the virus. 

If you are reporting on this more contagious variant’s impact on people around the world, Peter van Heusden, a bioinformatician at the South African National Bioinformatics Institute (SANBI), has some key suggestions for you. He spoke at a recent webinar hosted by the International Center for Journalists, titled “Reporting on the delta variant.”

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Contact Info

Devin Windelspecht
IJNet Editorial and Community Manager
dwindelspecht@icfj.org