WASHINGTON, Nov. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The
International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) will expand its work
connecting global journalism leaders with U.S. news organizations
through its signature Knight Fellowships program with a new
$5 million, five-year investment from
the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
The ICFJ Knight Fellowships program has a proven record of
spreading news innovation worldwide, helping newsrooms foster
digital innovation and enhance their storytelling, audience
engagement and business models. ICFJ Knight Fellows are
entrepreneurial journalists and technology experts who have
positioned scores of newsrooms to meet digital age demands. They
have created more than 100 tools and pioneered cutting-edge
storytelling in major news outlets on five continents, leading to
the production of thousands of high-impact stories.
In addition to supporting the fellowship program, new Knight
funding will also build on ICFJ's success at seeding new ways to
combat the spread of misinformation and disinformation. The fellows
have already helped launch fact-checking organizations in
Africa and developed technologies
to alert social media users when they share discredited articles in
Latin America.
"We are thrilled that this new support will propel ICFJ's Knight
Fellowships into important new frontiers," said ICFJ President
Joyce Barnathan. "Fellows will help
journalists to not only embrace innovations that enhance quality
news but also promote new techniques to combat rampant
disinformation."
"At a time when misinformation is everywhere and the public is
losing trust in institutions of all kinds, the exchange of ideas
between newsrooms across borders is an imperative. The ICFJ Knight
Fellowships answer this call, connecting journalists who embrace
the possibilities of the digital age to inform and engage, while
upholding the values of truth-seeking and fairness that guide
excellent journalism," said Jennifer
Preston, Knight Foundation vice president for
journalism.
The reporting of Knight Fellows has led to the removal of fake
malaria drugs off pharmacy shelves in Kenya. In Latin
America, they have created an environment that enables
digital media startups — often the only independent news sources
there — to thrive. They also bring their insights to U.S. newsrooms
to ensure that the best ideas travel across borders.
Other major funders have invested in the work of the fellows.
Donors have included the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the
Google News Initiative and the Omidyar Network, among others.
Support for the International Center for Journalists is part of
Knight Foundation's efforts to support journalistic excellence and
innovation in the digital age. Knight has made many investments in
this area, including the $20 million
local journalism fund established in collaboration with the Lenfest
Institute for Journalism.
About the International Center for
Journalists
ICFJ empowers journalists to deliver
trustworthy news essential for vibrant societies. Working at the
nexus of journalism and technology, we build the expertise and
storytelling skills of reporters worldwide. We promote high-impact
journalism that leads to better lives.
About the John S. and James L. Knight
Foundation
Knight Foundation is a national foundation
with strong local roots. It invests in journalism, in the arts, and
in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Its
goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we
believe are essential for a healthy democracy.
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SOURCE International Center for Journalists