Journalism Breakthroughs

CMDS explains that, through their work, they generate "data, observations, case studies and best practices related to innovation in journalism." This project is an effort to "gather all this knowledge in one place and share it more widely...through a variety of formats and channels, with those who need information on innovations in journalism..."

CMDS defines innovation as "the process of change centered around adopting new tools, financing or operational models aimed at improving the overall performance of a media organisation. The focus is not solely on novelty, but also on improvement, which allows us to survey a range of tactics, tools and ideas, some new, some tried and tested. Innovation, in this understanding, also includes new forms of organization and cooperation. In the face of hardships brought by the pandemic, innovation also meant finding new ways to survive as a profession within an ecosystem" (from CMDS' "Sharing Knowledge. Changing Journalism" Report).

Journalism Breakthroughs has the following two main goals:

1. Increase the quantity and quality of CMDS' journalistic content output using the findings generated through their research activities. These activities include, for example, the Media Influence Matrix (see Related Summaries, below), or outcomes of CMDS' annual summer school on topics related to journalism innovation, such as funding models and trust in journalism.
2. Increase the outreach of this content, particularly in regions where information on these issues is scarce, and explore and circulate internationally related ideas and experiences generated in these regions.

The focus of the work is on three main journalism categories in which innovation plays a major role (click on the link to view articles, videos, or podcasts created by the project related to that category):

• Innovations in Operation
• Innovations in Journalistic Tools
• Innovations in Content

Journalism Breakthroughs is being run in two phases:

Phase 1 of the project (September 2019 to September 2020) saw the publication of over 40 pieces of content in a variety of formats - articles, podcasts, videos, and animation - covering a wide range of topics from business models to community radio, the impact of COVID-19 on innovations, and collaborative journalism. Geographically, it included case studies and reporting from regions such as Zimbabwe, Nepal, Mexico, Romania, Syria, Peru, and Kazakhstan.

Phase 2 of the project (October 1 2020 to October 31 2021) builds on the experience from the project's first phase and brings forward three complementary activities:

• Audience research: In order to better tailor the content, the format, and the channels to the needs and preferences of CMDS's intended audience (journalists and media practitioners primarily, but also researchers and policymakers, especially in countries underserved by research and information on innovation), the project conducted a mapping of needs of these groups.
• Innovation Lab/Clinic: The project developed the concept of an innovation lab or clinic, which included a testing phase to see how the concept worked. The main purpose is to give media organisations in need an opportunity to consult with CMDS's network of experts on innovation on topics such as business models, audience engagement, organisational structures that would serve the immediate needs of newsrooms facing various problems in their daily work.
• Content production: The second phase continued to produce content related to innovation in journalism, which included a diversity of topics, formats, and geography. This includes publications arising out of the programme's audience research and the development of the innovation lab/clinic concept.

Click here for a complete list of outputs from Phase 1 and 2, which include articles, videos, and podcasts. Topics for podcasts include, for example, "Media Innovation During a Pandemic", "A Path to Sustainability for Digital Newsrooms in Latin America", and "Three Ways How Academics and Journalists Can Work Together".

Media Development