2022 began with the biggest, and most distressing, news event of the year: Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February, which to date has resulted in approximately 200,000 casualties and over 40,000 civilian deaths. Still ongoing today, the war has demonstrated to the world the bravery and resilience of the Ukrainian people in the face of Russian aggression and reported war crimes.
In the U.S. in June, the Supreme Court repealed the constitutional right to an abortion, sending shockwaves through the country and reaffirming the importance of reproductive rights and the critical role journalists play when reporting on them. Mass protests in Iran, spurred by the killing of a young woman at the hands of the country’s morality police, continue today, while the economic impacts of inflation have been felt in countries globally.
Throughout this tumultuous year, journalists have been on the frontlines, whether it be physically in conflict zones as in Ukraine, fighting mis- and disinformation surrounding elections, or reporting truth to power in increasingly authoritarian societies. They’ve done so while facing threats to their freedom and lives in countries as varied as El Salvador, Afghanistan, Guatemala and Myanmar, to name only a few.
At IJNet, we’ve provided resources and tools across our eight languages to support journalists and their reporting globally. Our efforts have helped journalists fight disinformation, report on environmental issues, responsibly cover conflict, and respond to online violence.
As the year comes to an end, we asked our global team of editors and translators to recommend their favorite IJNet articles for 2022. Here are their selections:
Arabic
How to use artificial intelligence in reporting and content creation, by Amr Alansary
In this article, Amr Alansary explains how artificial intelligence (AI) works and benefits journalists. He includes some experiences from worldwide media outlets and lists over 120 AI tools that journalists can use to support their reporting.
Smart contracts on blockchain and how they work, by Abdullatif Haj Mohamed
Blockchain isn’t just about cryptocurrency; it has recently been used in other ways — for instance with contracts — that journalists should understand. This article explains how new blockchain-based agreements work, and the difference between these and traditional contracts for journalists.
Chinese
Environmental reporters face disinformation, threats in China's restrictive political climate, by Isabella Genovese
Despite China’s much-hyped global climate leadership, environmental journalism in China and Hong Kong is increasingly met with political challenges. The article offers insider insights into how journalists cope with censorship, harassment and disinformation while remaining committed to their reporting.
Indonesia's Jurnaliskomik uses comics to engage its readers, by Ainur Rohmah
This is the latest in an inspiring series of articles highlighting innovative, community-based independent media initiatives in Indonesia. From outlets dedicated to reporting conservation and disaster information, to collaborative efforts in combating extremism and social injustices, the series showcases small-scale and yet incredibly impactful journalistic endeavors from a relatively underreported part of Asia.
English
Dead end or bridge to the future? Understanding the impacts of journalism in authoritarian regimes, by Dariela Sosa
Whether it be in Venezuela, Cuba or Russia, it can feel insurmountable to bring about impactful change under authoritarian regimes. In this article, Venezuelan journalist Dariela Sosa looks at ways journalists can still make an impact in these societies – helping build better futures even in the most restrictive political climates.
How the BBC's 50:50 Project is shifting representation in media, by Abiodun Jamiu
Women’s representation in the media is still lacking, and despite the wealth of women experts, fewer than one in five authorities quoted by the media are women. The success of the BBC’s 50:50 project in bringing women contributors to at least 50% of site content offers one path forward to addressing this historic lack of representation.
Journalists document the Ukraine refugee crisis, and offer support, by Agnieszka Burton
When Ukrainian refugees fled into Poland, Moldova, and Romania in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion, journalists suddenly found themselves covering one of the largest refugee crises since the height of the Syrian refugee crisis. Here’s how several journalists based in Poland not only covered the story, but also helped support refugees arriving in the country.
French
Freelancing as a mother: A life of ups and downs since 2020, by Marie Naudascher
Women have been more affected by the pandemic and its consequences than men. Among other challenges, they have dealt more with the closure of daycare centers, forced to figure out how best to care for their children during lockdowns, even learning how to homeschool them. This article looks at the experience of women freelance journalists during this time, and how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected their mental health and careers.
In Algeria, Francophone media is under stress, by Nourredine Bessadi
Today, print media as a whole is in decline in Algeria. Several outlets have already closed, while others are surviving as best they can in the face of a darkening economic horizon. In this article, Nourredine Bessadi provides a comprehensive overview of Algeria's situation drawing on his knowledge of the MENA region.
Persian
Zan Times: An attempt to move toward an equal and violence-free Afghanistan, by Zahra Mousawy
The story introduces Zan Times, a media outlet managed by Afghan journalists at home and in exile. A new outlet run by Afghan women, it strives to raise awareness about the possibility of a free and peaceful Afghanistan for everyone. Published in Persian and English, Zan Times (Women Times, in English) focuses on equality for women, sexual and ethnic minorities, and other underreported issues and underrepresented communities whose stories deserve to be depicted.
Portuguese
“They disappeared Dom,” by Leandro Demori
This article by investigative journalist Leandro Demori reflects on the disappearance of the British journalist Don Phillips and Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira in the Amazon rainforest on June 5, 2022, a tragedy for Brazil and the world. “Doing journalism in the Amazon has always been a difficult and dangerous task, but it has become especially lethal in recent years," said Demori.
The exhaustion of Brazilian journalists on the eve of the second round of voting, by Marina Souza
The mental health of Brazilian journalists has been affected by frequent attacks on press freedom by President Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters. The threat to democracy became even more dangerous when the country held a second round of elections in October to decide its new president. This article lays out the work conducted by media professionals at the time, and ways they could relieve the stress of covering the high-stake elections.
Russian
How the Ukrainian city of Lviv became a place of respite for journalists, by Galina Ostapovec
For Russian-speaking journalists worldwide, the main story of 2022 was Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The war caused a severe humanitarian crisis, and it led to the displacement of many Ukrainian newsrooms and the closure or relocation of most Russian independent media. This article covers the experience of the team running the Lviv Media Forum as they developed an emergency support program for Ukrainian media.
Spanish
The labor rights of journalism in crisis, by Ernesto Cabral
The pandemic, the romanticization of journalism and new technologies have left journalists in an even more fragile employment situation than before in Latin America. This article offers important context around this situation.
Violence, stress, precariousness and courage: How journalism is done in Mexico, by Lucero Hernandez
Journalists in Mexico must deal with an environment of violence, murders and corruption, on top of an already precarious media environment. This article reviews how Mexican journalists face these challenges.
Photo by frame harirak on Unsplash.
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