Open Letter Calls on Meta to Save CrowdTangle (for the Elections, at Least)
Source: Mozilla Foundation
Advocacy organizations and investigative outlets including Rappler and CORRECTIV have called on Meta to abandon plans to shutter CrowdTangle, a tool "used by tens of thousands of journalists, watchdogs, and election observers to monitor the integrity of elections around the world." The tool is due to be wound down in August, which will "effectively prohibit the outside world, including election integrity experts, from seeing what’s happening on Facebook and Instagram during the biggest election year on record,” signatories of an open letter warn. The letter calls for the tool to be maintained throughout 2024. Meta says the decision is due to regulatory requirements.
Rolling Applications for IWMF Fund for Indigenous Journalists
Source: IWMF
The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) is accepting rolling applications for its fund for Indigenous journalists reporting on the crisis of Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, and Transgender people (MMIWG2T). The funding — sourced from a US$750,000 grant by the Howard G. Buffett Foundation — directly supports Indigenous journalists’ reporting on violence experienced by members of Indigenous nations, and is designed to counter dominant and often inaccurate media narratives on the issue based on reporting by non-Indigenous journalists. Grants of up to US$5,000 will be awarded.
Apply for US$15,000 ‘Follow the Money’ Reporting Grants
Source: City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism
The Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York has opened applications for its McGraw Fellowships for Business Journalism. The fellowships, which are available to freelance or staff journalists with at least five years of experience, provide up to US$15,000 as well as editorial support to complete a "follow the money" investigation related to the global economy, business, or finance. The fellowship window opens twice a year, in the spring and the fall. The deadline for the current application period is March 31.
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 report is compiled from interviews with nearly 40 journalists from 21 countries across the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. It identified "inherent risks" and the "hostile climate" that confront this critically necessary reporting, and "examines strategies for countering these attacks and pressures placed on journalists, including through collaboration, safety measures, and legal support structures."
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.