Media Manipulation and Journalist Safety: UN Resolution Highlights Press Concerns

Media Manipulation, Newsroom Revenue, and Journalist Safety Take Center Stage in Global Media Landscape

A new research platform designed to track media manipulation has launched this week, offering crucial tools for journalists and researchers working to combat disinformation. The Media Manipulation Casebook, developed by the Shorenstein Center’s Technology and Social Change project, provides a comprehensive framework linking theory, methods, and practical applications for identifying disinformation campaigns.

The platform, led by Joan Donovan, includes 14 global case studies with plans to expand to over 100 in the next two years. Users can search by various parameters including tactics, targets, and mitigation strategies. The resource also offers a glossary of emerging terminology in misinformation studies, covering concepts like digital blackface, keyword squatting, and coordinated swarming techniques.

For newsrooms struggling with revenue models, email newsletters may offer a solution according to experts. In an interview with The Fix, Dan Oshinsky, former newsletters director at The New Yorker and BuzzFeed, emphasized the critical importance of distribution strategies for news organizations.

“Content is king, but distribution is queen,” Oshinsky noted, attributing the quote to his former colleague Jonathan Perelman. He elaborated that distribution ultimately “wears the pants” in the relationship. “The stories, the reporting a newsroom does, is so important. But if you don’t have a way to get stories out to readers, you’re in trouble.”

Oshinsky’s insights come as many news organizations face financial pressure and seek diversified revenue streams. His practical advice includes 25 strategies for newsletter subscription growth and seven targeted implementation tips for newsrooms looking to develop this channel.

On the international policy front, the United Nations Human Rights Council has adopted a new resolution on journalist safety, led by Austria, Brazil, France, Greece, Morocco, Qatar, and Tunisia. The resolution represents the latest in a series of biennial measures addressing the growing threats to journalists worldwide.

While free press advocacy organization Article 19 welcomed the increased international support, they criticized the lack of meaningful implementation of previous resolutions. With impunity rates for crimes against journalists remaining at approximately 90% globally, the group called the current situation “unacceptable” and urged concrete action rather than mere declarations.

For freelance journalists seeking to place their work, advice from editors at leading publications highlights fundamental pitching errors that lead to rejection. Ben Sledge’s compilation of insights from editors at The Telegraph, The Independent, and The New York Times emphasizes basic but often overlooked preparation steps.

“Take 15 minutes to read through the site you’re pitching to,” begins the advice, underscoring how many submissions fail simply because writers haven’t familiarized themselves with the publication’s content, style, or audience.

In the financial realm, one local news success story offers a potential model for others. The Day, a newspaper in Connecticut, partnered with the Local Media Foundation to support its COVID-19 coverage through crowdfunding. The initiative raised nearly $90,000, demonstrating how community engagement can translate into financial support for critical journalism.

Digital news director Carlos Virgen detailed how the partnership worked, noting that the success came from aligning community needs with the newsroom’s capabilities during a critical moment. The case study is part of the Knight-Lenfest Newsroom Initiative’s effort to share replicable innovations across the industry.

These developments reflect a media landscape grappling with multiple challenges: the spread of disinformation, financial sustainability, and threats to journalist safety. As traditional models continue to evolve, these varied approaches—from research platforms to innovative revenue strategies and international advocacy—represent the industry’s efforts to navigate an increasingly complex environment.