C4D Network

Global community of professionals working in Communication for Development

Advanced Search

The State of Humanitarian Journalism (UEA, 2018)

This report presents some of the findings from a four-year global research project into the state of humanitarian journalism around the world. The authors asked:

  1. Which news organisations regularly report on humanitarian affairs? How are they funded, and what ethical problems or professional dilemmas does this create for journalists covering humanitarian affairs?
  2. When natural disasters and violent conflicts are reported, what kinds of journalistic coverage do they receive? Do news outlets differ from one another, and if so, how?
  3. How interested are news audiences in journalism about humanitarian affairs? How well does existing coverage serve their needs, and the needs of those involved in international aid? Which significant ‘gaps’ are there in news provision?
  4. What effects does news coverage have on public attitudes towards international aid?

Their analysis of news coverage reveals that only a small handful of international news outlets regularly report on humanitarian affairs, and identified a number of important gaps in humanitarian news coverage. Almost no articles looked at the specific problems faced by women and girls in relation to the conflicts in Yemen and South Sudan in 2017, for example.

Click here for the full report.

Humanitarian Journalism Today (15 October, London, UK) – film screening and report launch

This event is about the journalists who report on humanitarian crises today. It launches a major new report from Martin Scott, Kate Wright and Mel Bunce, The State of Humanitarian Journalism, based on four years of research. This report shows which news outlets report on humanitarian issues, how they frame their stories, and what audiences think about this news.

A panel of leading journalists and media commentators will discuss the findings and their own experiences reporting on humanitarian crises, including:

  • Josephine Schmidt, Executive Editor at IRIN, the world’s oldest humanitarian newswire
  • James Copnall, Newsday presenter, BBC World Service
  • Tom Law, Director of Campaigns and Communications, The Ethical Journalism Network
  • Stefanie Glinski, Freelance journalist and photographer, currently based in Afghanistan.

This is followed by a screening of the celebrated documentary, ‘Another News Story’ about the journalists who reported on the 2015 ‘refugee crisis’ in Europe.

Sign up for this event: https://www.city.ac.uk/events/2018/october/humanitarian-journalism-today

Paving the way for good journalism (IMS Annual Report, 2017-2018)

This year’s IMS Annual Report 2017-2018 looks at the safety of journalists; showcases media outlets with innovative approaches to engaging audiences with quality journalism in Asia, the Middle East and Africa; takes stock of women’s working conditions in media, and discusses steps taken to fight disinformation.

Click here for more details and full report.

Surrendering to Silence: An account of Self-censorship among Pakistani Journalists (Media Matters for Democracy, 2018)

For some years now, media professionals and news industry insiders in Pakistan have spoken of a growing trend of self-censorship among local journalists. The self-censorship is argued to be a defense mechanism against threats, harassment, and acts of physical violence. However, a lack of tangible data about this phenomenon has often led to the issue being ignored in media policy discourse and efforts to ensure the safety of journalists. This study sets out to test the claims of self-censorship in the Pakistani news media through a survey of journalists working in the country.

The study provides a rare glimpse at the extent and contours of contemporary self-censorship among Pakistani journalists. The results are frightening. Almost 88% of the journalist respondents claimed they had committed self-censorship in their professional news reporting. Around 79% said they had also self-censored their personal expression online. Through these and many related findings, the study tries to over insight about the factors
influencing self-censorship in local journalism.

The research also provides recommendations to tackle the issues that curb free expression in the Pakistani news media. In order to get local journalists to feel safe about their professional and personal expression, the study suggests actionable measures for news  media organizations, journalist unions, civil society organizations, political parties, and the government.

Click here for full report.

Baseline study on the working conditions of Somali women journalists (IMS, 2018)

The Baseline Study on the Working Conditions of Somali Women Journalists was conducted during September and October 2016, with
the aim of improving understanding of the conditions for female journalists in Somalia via substantive, actionable datasets. The study was initiated by the Somali Women Journalists (SWJ) Association in collaboration with IMS-Fojo, in recognition of the absence of a single, centralised body of data on the status of women in the journalism profession.

The collapse of the central government following the country’s prolonged civil war had devastating consequences for national infrastructure, media included. As Somalia begins to emerge from the ravages of civil war, the need for a comprehensive and gender inclusive media development strategy has been identified as an important component of the nation building process.

Accordingly, this study was designed to identify existing gender disparities affecting the working conditions for journalists. The study seeks to provide key stakeholders with a clear perspective on the status quo, and inform responses to gender imbalances in Somali journalism.

Click here for full study.

Site Navigation

Join C4D
Contact Us
Get Involved
Facebook Group
LinkedIn Group

Social Networks

Communication for Development Network
Registered address:
Finsbury House, New Street,
Chipping Norton, Oxon, OX7 5LL, UK
E-mail [email protected]
Non-profit Company Number: 7734410