Applications Open for 2024 BIRN Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence
Source: BIRN
The Balkan Investigation Reporting Network (BIRN) Fellowship for Journalistic Excellence provides financial support and editorial mentoring to 10 journalists from Central and Southeastern Europe who have a story idea that needs dedicated reporting, in-depth research, generous funding, and sustained editorial attention to do it justice. Fellows’ stories are published by BIRN’s Balkan Insight and Reporting Democracy platforms and disseminated widely through their network of media partners. A bursary of €3,000 is available and the top three articles chosen by an international jury will receive awards. The fellowship now covers 14 countries.
IPI Report Warns of Threats to Climate and Environmental Journalism
Source: International Press Institute
According to a new report from the International Press Institute (IPI), climate and environmental journalism faces a series of increasing threats, including press freedom crackdowns and physical attacks on reporters. The IPI report, which is compiled from interviews with nearly 40 journalists from 21 countries across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia identified "inherent risks" and "hostile climate" that confront this critically necessary reporting. In addition, it "examines strategies for countering these attacks and pressures placed on journalists, including through collaboration, safety measures, and legal support structures. It includes recommendations for states, news outlets, and states, journalism support networks, and donors."
Prepare Your Investigative Films, Podcasts: DIG Awards Open for Entries
Source: DIG
The DIG Awards, an international competition to celebrate the best investigations and reportage in video and audio, are open for entries.
The awards are organized by DIG Documentari Inchieste Giornalismi - ETS, a nonprofit association that supports investigative journalism in Italy and worldwide.
Entries should investigate current social, economic, technological, environmental, and political issues. Winning projects tend to be “outstanding works of international caliber, in terms of quality, angle, depth of inquiry, the use of sources, and the originality of format,” organizers said. Entries by mid June. Awards ceremony in Modena, Italy, in September.
Police Raids Office of Azerbaijan-Based Toplum TV
Source: Human Rights Watch
On March 6, police in Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, raided the office of Toplum TV, an online television station founded in 2016. At least six journalists have been charged with “smuggling by prior conspiracy,” according to a statement by Toplum TV editor-in-chief and investigative reporter Khadija Ismail. All deny the charges. After the raids, the site’s YouTube and Instagram accounts were hacked and their content was deleted. Toplum TV is an independent news site founded by media lawyer Alasgar Mammadli. Human rights organizations say the raid is part of a widespread crackdown on the few remaining media outlets operating in Azerbaijan.
GIJN Joins 100 News Outlets to Express Solidarity With Journalists in Gaza
Source: Committee to Protect Journalists
More than 100 news organizations across the world, including GIJN, the AP, AFP, and Reuters, signed a CPJ letter expressing solidarity and support for journalists working under dire and sometimes deadly conditions inside Gaza. Since October 7, 95 journalists and media workers from Palestine, Israel, and Lebanon have been killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The letter said: "Journalists are civilians and Israeli authorities must protect journalists as noncombatants according to international law.… Attacks on journalists are also attacks on truth. We commit to championing the safety of journalists in Gaza, which is fundamental for the protection of press freedom everywhere."
Study Finds Lack of Diversity in US Investigative Newsrooms
Source: National Association of Hispanic Journalists
A new study by the NAHJ found a significant lack of diversity among investigative teams in US newsrooms. According to the survey of 22 major metro newsrooms between 2021 and 2023, 6 in 10 investigative reporters were white, while Latino reporters were 13% and Black reporters made up 9%. Both of latter percentages stand below that demographic's share of the national population. Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) reporters, however, were 11% of the investigative staff, compared to 6% of the population. Gender diversity was near parity, though, with 44% of investigative reporters and 46% of editors identifying as a woman.
US Gov’t Sanctions Spyware Company That Targeted Journalists
Source: Associated Press
In a historic move, the US Treasury Department announced that for the first time it has sanctioned a company and executives that operated and distributed commercial spyware. The US sanctions target a Greek company led by a former Israeli military officer, that sells digital surveillance tools that have been used to spy on journalists as well as US government officials and policy experts. Related companies based in North Macedonia and Hungary were also sanctioned for their role in creating a zero-click spyware package marketed as Predator.
EU Parliament Adopts Historic Anti-SLAPP Law
Source: European Federation of Journalists
In an overwhelming majority vote, the European Parliament adopted a historic anti-SLAPP directive this past week, to prevent legal intimidation and harassment of journalists and media outlets. Also known as Daphne's Law — after Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia — the new directive now provides a legal definition of SLAPP cases and provides further safeguards against unfounded claims being used to stifle reporting or financially injure news organizations, particularly those that carry out cross-border investigations. EU member states can now use this law as a foundation to draft similar, national legislation to protect press freedom.
Applications Open for Journalismfund Europe’s Fossil Fuel Grant Program
Source: Journalismfund Europe
Journalismfund Europe’s Fossil Fuel Grant Programme is intended for cross-border teams of professional journalists or newsrooms to investigate “unreported and unregulated wrongdoing by European fossil fuel companies and their proxies within and beyond the continent.” Cross-border teams of at least two professional journalists and/or news outlets can submit a proposal for a journalistic investigation relating to European fossil fuel companies and proxies. The total available amount to be distributed among all investigations is €50,000. The next deadline for application is April 25, 2024.
Kyrgyzstan Court Orders Shut Down of Investigate Site Kloop
Source: Committee to Protect Journalists
A district court in Kyrgyzstan ordered the investigative site — and GIJN member— Kloop Media to be shut down. Prosecutors singled out what they called "purely negative" coverage and "harsh criticism" of the the government. Notably, the case against Kloop was initiated the same day last August that the site published an investigation into the president and other señor officials, questioning their role in the construction of a soccer academy. "The forced closure of Kloop... signals Kyrgyz authorities’ intent to wipe out an investigative reporting hub that has previously set the country apart from its authoritarian neighbors,” said CPJ's Gulnoza Said in a statement.