What’s New at IJSC

At the Institute for Journalism and Social Change, we believe journalism should do more than report the world as it is. It should help imagine and build the world as it could be.

Over the past few months, we have continued this work through new research, global conversations, and opportunities for the next generation of journalists and changemakers. From investigating the political impact of philanthropy, to shaping conversations on gender-just journalism, to opening pathways for future students, there is much to share.

New Report Published

Big Tech Cash for the Backlash: How Silicon Valley Philanthropy Undermines Rights Worldwide

We are proud to announce the publication of our latest report, Big Tech Cash for the Backlash, produced in partnership with Noor.

This report examines how wealth generated in the technology sector is being channelled through philanthropic networks that support anti-rights agendas, weaken progressive movements, and reshape civic and political landscapes worldwide.

Too often, philanthropy is framed as inherently benevolent. Our research asks more difficult questions: Who benefits? Whose power is expanded? What political projects are being financed beneath the language of generosity and innovation?

By tracing relationships, funding flows, and institutional influence, the report reveals how private capital can operate as a political force, often with profound consequences for gender justice, reproductive rights, and democratic accountability.

This publication reflects IJSC’s commitment to investigative research that follows power, interrogates systems, and makes hidden dynamics visible.

The full report is now available to download on our website.
You can find it here.

IJSC at the International Journalism Festival 2026

The Future of Gender-Just Journalism: From Coverage to Culture

This month, IJSC joined journalists, editors, researchers, and media leaders from around the world at the International Journalism Festival in Perugia.

Our panel explored a question at the heart of our work: What would journalism look like if gender justice were embedded not only in what we cover, but in how we work?

Gender justice is not a niche issue. It is a critical lens for understanding politics, economics, technology, climate, labour, and culture. Moving toward gender-just journalism requires more than representation in headlines. It demands structural change in editorial priorities, newsroom cultures, leadership, sourcing practices, and systems of power.

We were honoured to be joined by an exceptional panel of speakers:

Eliza Anyangwe - Editor-in-Chief, Fuller
Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah - Co-Founder, IJSC
Francesca Donner - Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Persistent
Mona Eltahawy - Founder and Editor-in-Chief, FEMINIST GIANT
Afua Hirsch - Journalist and Author

Together, they shared insights on storytelling, accountability, newsroom transformation, and the future of journalism.

If you were unable to attend, you can watch the full session here.

Listen to Our Podcast

If you are interested in stories about power, money, movements, and the forces shaping our world, we invite you to listen to our podcast, “And Then What?”.

Through conversations with journalists, researchers, activists, and thinkers, the podcast asks what happens after the headlines fade. It explores how money moves, how institutions operate, and how people continue organising for change.

Many of our episodes speak directly to themes at the centre of IJSC’s work, including accountability, philanthropy, political influence, and following the money.

One recent listener shared:
“Listening to this episode felt deeply relevant to me as a young journalist, and, as a person who’s interested in anthropology, someone who has always questioned where observation ends and advocacy begins. The line between reporting on change and standing for change has never been fully clear, and today it feels blurrier than ever. That is exactly why this conversation resonated so strongly.

Rather than presenting journalism as detached from society, the episode explores its potential as a force that can amplify vulnerable voices and contribute to long-term change. What made this discussion especially powerful was the honesty, warmth, and intelligence of the speakers. Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah leads with empathy and clarity, asking the kind of questions that stay with you long after listening.

I had the chance to meet her in person, and she is just as inspiring off-stage as she is behind the microphone. I would highly recommend following Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah and listening to this episode. It left me inspired, not only in my own journalistic work, but also in continuing to think critically about the possibilities of journalism, representation, and inclusivity in a changing world.”

— Sarah Roland, independent journalist and host at Radio Orange

You can listen to our podcast here.

MA Scholarships Now Open

We are also pleased to share that applications for our MA scholarships are now open.

At IJSC, we are honoured to be in a position where we can invest in emerging journalists, researchers, and communicators who want to challenge inequality, tell urgent stories, and reimagine media futures.

These scholarships are designed to support talented applicants who are passionate about journalism, social change, and critical public discourse.

We particularly welcome applications from those seeking to bring fresh perspectives, rigorous thinking, and a commitment to justice into media spaces, and invite you to apply or share it with young journalists.

Our applications close on 31 May.
You can find out more and apply here.

Feminist Investigative Journalism Workshops

We’re excited to share two upcoming workshops as part of the Feminist Investigative Journalism Handbook, designed to bring the ideas, methods, and collaborations explored in the handbook into practice.

These sessions create space for journalists, researchers, and activists to engage more deeply with feminist approaches to investigation, from collaboration and storytelling to pitching and shaping narratives.

Both workshops will be spaces to share methods, experiences, and approaches, and we warmly invite you to join us.

We’ll be sharing invitations closer to the time, so keep an eye on your inbox.

Looking Ahead

This season has reminded us that journalism is strongest when it investigates power, creates new possibilities, and builds community across borders.

We have many more exciting reports, events, collaborations, and opportunities coming in the months ahead, and we look forward to sharing them with you.

Thank you for being part of the IJSC community.

Best,
The IJSC Team