The International Journalism Festival weekly round-up. Stay up to date by subscribing to our newsletter, by following us on Instagram or Telegram, or by joining us on Bluesky.
Welcome to the Pulitzer Center’s AI Spotlight Series. An initiative designed to expand the field of AI accountability reporting by equipping journalists worldwide with the skills and knowledge necessary to cover AI critically and responsibly
Damascus Dossier. Drawing on a cache of classified Syrian intelligence records obtained by German broadcaster NDR and shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, the Damascus Dossier investigation exposes the inner workings of Assad’s security apparatus and its links to foreign governments and international organizations. ICIJ, NDR and 24 media partners in 20 countries spent over eight months organizing and analyzing the documents, consulting experts and interviewing Syrian families still searching for loved ones who vanished under Assad’s rule
Climate change news audiences report 2025: analysis of news use and attitudes in eight countries. In addition to tracking trends in climate news consumption over time, this RISJ report introduces new themes, including public evaluations of political leadership on climate change, audience needs for climate news coverage, and perceptions of the environmental impact of AI. Data for the report was collected in eight countries: Brazil, France, Germany, India, Japan, Pakistan, the UK and the US
‘Life goes on without you’: Q&A with Ukrainian journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko. Captured by Russian security services and sentenced on false charges, Ukrainian journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko spent over four years in a Russian prison, enduring torture while trying to maintain his sanity and physical strength
Welcome to the age of exile. Most exile journalism documents symptoms. We’re investigating root causes: how displacement has become central to how power operates in the 21st century, how the same networks that enable resistance also enable surveillance, and why sanctuary is shrinking even as exile accelerates
URL Media secures $5 million Knight Foundation grant to build unprecedented sustainable infrastructure for community media. The grant positions URL Media as one of the few U.S. platforms intentionally built to ensure that trusted community media outlets serving Black and Brown audiences can grow, compete, and build long-term economic strength
Is your business leadership team AI-ready? In a new article, McKinsey’s Dana Maor, Eric Lamarre, and Kate Smaje explore the rising importance of “domain owners” — business leaders who bridge technology and strategy — and how they can unlock meaningful competitive advantage.
Re:filtered #23: Double servitude. Too proud to pivot, doubly dependent. By Patrick Boehler
Democracy in Europe: this is a wake-up call and we can’t afford to hit snooze. When USAID funding disappeared, Europe nearly lost part of its democratic backbone. The recovery proved what’s possible—and what’s needed
Journalism for everyone: inside Austria’s inclusive newsroom. “Inclusive journalism isn’t activism. It’s better journalism”
FT Strategies and the Google News Initiative surpass 1,000-publisher milestone to drive sustainable growth across the news industry. This significant milestone highlights the growing demand for collaboration on sustainable business models and innovation across the news industry.
The new founders and the systems they need. From overload to orientation. By Fiona Monga
BBC World Service urges the UN to condemn Iran’s allegations of ‘media terrorism’ and ‘media warfare.’ The BBC World Service has today submitted a formal response to UN experts expressing deep concern over Iran’s new and extreme language used in relation to BBC News Persian. Jennifer Robinson and Associate Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC act for the BBC World Service in this urgent appeal and in all UN engagement on the harassment and targeting of BBC News Persian staff and their families in Iran
How Essentially Sports grew from $100 domain to $8m-plus annual turnover. Sports news site, founded in dorm room, provides fans-eye view of sport
Photo credit: Karen Hao, lead designer of the Pulitzer Center AI Spotlight Series, at #ijf25 by Diego Figone