Reed F. Richardson
@reedfrich.bsky.social
Managing Editor, Global Investigative Journalism Network (@gijn.org). Army veteran. Press freedom. Pro-democracy. Past bylines: FAIRMediaWatch, The Nation, TPM, Alternet, Salon, Mediaite, et al.
“Someone has to investigate the bastards” — Chuck Lewis
“Someone has to investigate the bastards” — Chuck Lewis
Pinned
Reed F. Richardson
@reedfrich.bsky.social
· Nov 21
Global Investigative Journalism Network
GIJN is an international association of nonprofit organizations that support, promote, and produce investigative journalism. GIJN hosts conferences and provides training, resources, and consulting.
GIJN.org
Investigative journalism is one of the only consistent, independent ways of holding to account disinformation, abuse of power, corruption, war crimes, etc.
We @gijn.bsky.social are committed to those who uncover + spotlight wrongdoing, a critically necessary element for a free & democratic world.
We @gijn.bsky.social are committed to those who uncover + spotlight wrongdoing, a critically necessary element for a free & democratic world.
On the eve of #GIJC25, @gijn.org is running a special Wednesday edition of our #DataJournalism Top 10 column. In this one, we look at how Elon Musk's X pushes extremist right-wing content in the UK & a deep dive by The Economist on how an AI bubble bursting could be worse than the dot-com meltdown.
X’s Right-Wing Bias in UK, Tigray’s Illicit Gold Rush, Financial Risks of AI Bubble, and What People Ask ChatGPT
Our round-up also highlights which countries are following through on their climate change commitments, a deep-dive into the challenges facing Saudi Arabia’s vertical city, and modelling whether today...
gijn.org
November 19, 2025 at 8:21 AM
On the eve of #GIJC25, @gijn.org is running a special Wednesday edition of our #DataJournalism Top 10 column. In this one, we look at how Elon Musk's X pushes extremist right-wing content in the UK & a deep dive by The Economist on how an AI bubble bursting could be worse than the dot-com meltdown.
How is this exchange anything other than Trump blaming a journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, for his own murder at the hands of a dictator — and, for good measure, then attacking a reporter for daring to hold Trump accountable for publicly excusing/offering a denial for said dictator.
Trump defends Saudi crown prince over Khashoggi killing
The de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia was branded a pariah in 2018 after the killing of a Washington Post columnist. Now, U.S.-Saudi relations are nearing a high point.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:53 AM
How is this exchange anything other than Trump blaming a journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, for his own murder at the hands of a dictator — and, for good measure, then attacking a reporter for daring to hold Trump accountable for publicly excusing/offering a denial for said dictator.
Reposted by Reed F. Richardson
Reposted by Reed F. Richardson
This is cool. COURIER has created a searchable database with all 20,000 of the files just released from Epstein’s estate.
Trump's name appears in them more than anyone else, in 1,628 documents.
couriernewsroom.com/news/we-crea...
Trump's name appears in them more than anyone else, in 1,628 documents.
couriernewsroom.com/news/we-crea...
We created a searchable database with all 20,000 files from Epstein’s Estate
Easily find every mention of Trump, Clinton, blackmail, and potential sex crimes in the thousands of private messages between Epstein and his close associates.
couriernewsroom.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:58 PM
This is cool. COURIER has created a searchable database with all 20,000 of the files just released from Epstein’s estate.
Trump's name appears in them more than anyone else, in 1,628 documents.
couriernewsroom.com/news/we-crea...
Trump's name appears in them more than anyone else, in 1,628 documents.
couriernewsroom.com/news/we-crea...
My favorite quote from @gijn.org's recap of the 2025 African Investigative Journalism Conference is from Joe Ageyo, Nation Media Group editor-in-chief:
“We must learn to monetize credibility, to treat trust as currency.”
“We must learn to monetize credibility, to treat trust as currency.”
After 21 Years, AIJC Signs Off from South Africa in Style. Next Stop: Kenya
More than 455 attendees representing 45 countries, 37 of them in Africa, attended Africa's premier investigative journalism conference at Wits University.
gijn.org
November 13, 2025 at 1:42 PM
My favorite quote from @gijn.org's recap of the 2025 African Investigative Journalism Conference is from Joe Ageyo, Nation Media Group editor-in-chief:
“We must learn to monetize credibility, to treat trust as currency.”
“We must learn to monetize credibility, to treat trust as currency.”
Reposted by Reed F. Richardson
NEW: ProPublica examined months of Fox News’ coverage and reviewed over 700 videos posted on social media.
The network used five-year-old footage, mislabeled other dates and implied footage from elsewhere was in Portland.
The network used five-year-old footage, mislabeled other dates and implied footage from elsewhere was in Portland.
“Riots Raging”: The Misleading Story Fox News Told About Portland Before Trump Sent Troops
After reviewing coverage from the network and hours of social media videos that preceded Trump’s decision, ProPublica found that Fox’s portrayal of “Portland rioters” routinely instigating violence was misleading.
www.propublica.org
November 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM
NEW: ProPublica examined months of Fox News’ coverage and reviewed over 700 videos posted on social media.
The network used five-year-old footage, mislabeled other dates and implied footage from elsewhere was in Portland.
The network used five-year-old footage, mislabeled other dates and implied footage from elsewhere was in Portland.
Whistleblowing remains a vital accountability tool, but has grown increasingly fraught in an era where governments and employers deploy invasive surveillance & punish truth-telling about misconduct.
Today, @gijn.org looks at two new, cutting-edge platforms that seek to minimize risks for leakers.
Today, @gijn.org looks at two new, cutting-edge platforms that seek to minimize risks for leakers.
New Tools to Reduce the Risks for Whistleblowers
Two new digital platforms seek to solve many of the problems and vulnerabilities that prevent whistleblowers from coming forward.
gijn.org
November 12, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Whistleblowing remains a vital accountability tool, but has grown increasingly fraught in an era where governments and employers deploy invasive surveillance & punish truth-telling about misconduct.
Today, @gijn.org looks at two new, cutting-edge platforms that seek to minimize risks for leakers.
Today, @gijn.org looks at two new, cutting-edge platforms that seek to minimize risks for leakers.
On Veterans Day, a reminder that Trump's DOGE hired a software engineer with zero gov't experience to start writing code on his second day of work for an AI tool that targeted 2,000 VA contracts to eliminate based on flawed assumptions & reckless disregard for patient care.
How ProPublica Exposed a Flawed AI Tool ‘Munching’ Hundreds of Veteran Contracts
The team used leaked documents and an interview with the AI tool's developer to reveal numerous mistakes behind the Trump administration's cost-cutting measures of veterans' care.
gijn.org
November 11, 2025 at 7:26 PM
On Veterans Day, a reminder that Trump's DOGE hired a software engineer with zero gov't experience to start writing code on his second day of work for an AI tool that targeted 2,000 VA contracts to eliminate based on flawed assumptions & reckless disregard for patient care.
The newspaper's 98-year-old co-publisher, Joan Meyer, told the deputies raiding her home (and office) that their conduct was "illegal as hell."
She died the next day from cardiac arrest.
Frankly, $3 million is not nearly enough
#pressfreedom
She died the next day from cardiac arrest.
Frankly, $3 million is not nearly enough
#pressfreedom
Breaking: Marion County agrees to pay out $3M for newspaper raid, express regret kansasreflector.com/2025/11/11/m...
Marion County agrees to pay out $3M for newspaper raid, express regret • Kansas Reflector
A handful of county-level officials who were involved in a small-town Kansas newspaper raid in 2023 will pay a cumulative $3 million to three journalists and a city councilor.
kansasreflector.com
November 11, 2025 at 6:57 PM
The newspaper's 98-year-old co-publisher, Joan Meyer, told the deputies raiding her home (and office) that their conduct was "illegal as hell."
She died the next day from cardiac arrest.
Frankly, $3 million is not nearly enough
#pressfreedom
She died the next day from cardiac arrest.
Frankly, $3 million is not nearly enough
#pressfreedom
Reposted by Reed F. Richardson
WIRED & @404media.co found that removing paywalls on FOIA-driven stories doesn’t just serve the public, it can also boost trust and subscriptions.
💬 “When we announced it…that bet paid off above & beyond what I could have possibly imagined.”
— Kate Drummond, @wired.com
💬 “When we announced it…that bet paid off above & beyond what I could have possibly imagined.”
— Kate Drummond, @wired.com
gijn.org
The Case for Free Access to FOIA-Based Public Documents Reporting
twp.ai
November 11, 2025 at 4:30 PM
WIRED & @404media.co found that removing paywalls on FOIA-driven stories doesn’t just serve the public, it can also boost trust and subscriptions.
💬 “When we announced it…that bet paid off above & beyond what I could have possibly imagined.”
— Kate Drummond, @wired.com
💬 “When we announced it…that bet paid off above & beyond what I could have possibly imagined.”
— Kate Drummond, @wired.com
Reposted by Reed F. Richardson
Bringing NSO Group out of the cold would signal to the rest of the spyware industry that even the most notorious mercenary spyware company..
...with a history of harming the US.
...and a mountain of abuses..
Can get a free pass.
It would defang US efforts to curb proliferation & bad behavior.
...with a history of harming the US.
...and a mountain of abuses..
Can get a free pass.
It would defang US efforts to curb proliferation & bad behavior.
We asked David Friedman, the former US ambassador to Israel, who has been named exec chairman of the NSO Group holding company, whether he would try to get sanctions on NSO lifted. He said: “I hope that will be accomplished, but we haven’t made that request yet”. www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Tech giants vow to defend users in US as spyware companies make inroads with Trump administration
Apple and WhatsApp say they’ll keep warning users if their phones are targeted by governments using hacking software against them
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Bringing NSO Group out of the cold would signal to the rest of the spyware industry that even the most notorious mercenary spyware company..
...with a history of harming the US.
...and a mountain of abuses..
Can get a free pass.
It would defang US efforts to curb proliferation & bad behavior.
...with a history of harming the US.
...and a mountain of abuses..
Can get a free pass.
It would defang US efforts to curb proliferation & bad behavior.
Oof, one day on and Grok AI is still misidentifying the person who collapsed in the Oval Office. Only after multiple pushbacks—where Grok keeps admitting it was wrong—does it finally acknowledge it overlooked facts from a reporter *who was at the event & did actual journalism* (and posted it on X!)
November 7, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Oof, one day on and Grok AI is still misidentifying the person who collapsed in the Oval Office. Only after multiple pushbacks—where Grok keeps admitting it was wrong—does it finally acknowledge it overlooked facts from a reporter *who was at the event & did actual journalism* (and posted it on X!)
In @gijn.org's latest Data Journalism Top 10 column, we showcase Reuters' visual deep dive into Trump's aggressive escalation of US military operations in the Caribbean, a Bloomberg analysis of Hurricane Melissa's devastation, & an ARIJ exposé on how Sudanese refugees are being exploited in Egypt.
US Military’s Caribbean Buildup, Hurricane Melissa’s Devastating Impact, Exploitation of Sudanese Refugees, Europe’s Cocaine Glut
Our round-up of the best in recent data journalism also features stories on wildfire prevention blackouts in California, and how sleep deprivation affects residents in war-torn Ukraine.
gijn.org
November 7, 2025 at 2:12 PM
In @gijn.org's latest Data Journalism Top 10 column, we showcase Reuters' visual deep dive into Trump's aggressive escalation of US military operations in the Caribbean, a Bloomberg analysis of Hurricane Melissa's devastation, & an ARIJ exposé on how Sudanese refugees are being exploited in Egypt.
Color me completely unimpressed by this @washingtonpost.com AI 'added context' tool.
Here, it intrudes to a) pose a question that it immediately admits it *can't really answer* &
b) then just repeats info from the story *I was already reading.*
#whowantsthis
www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
Here, it intrudes to a) pose a question that it immediately admits it *can't really answer* &
b) then just repeats info from the story *I was already reading.*
#whowantsthis
www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
November 6, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Color me completely unimpressed by this @washingtonpost.com AI 'added context' tool.
Here, it intrudes to a) pose a question that it immediately admits it *can't really answer* &
b) then just repeats info from the story *I was already reading.*
#whowantsthis
www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
Here, it intrudes to a) pose a question that it immediately admits it *can't really answer* &
b) then just repeats info from the story *I was already reading.*
#whowantsthis
www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
An edit that speaks a thousand words (derogatory)
November 6, 2025 at 2:39 PM
An edit that speaks a thousand words (derogatory)
In 2023, @gijn.org launched our digital threats reporting guide and training course to help journalists track and expose online scams, disinformation, and political propaganda.
And, as this Reuters exposé shows, the biggest tech giants are knowingly complicit in abetting this growing online menace.
And, as this Reuters exposé shows, the biggest tech giants are knowingly complicit in abetting this growing online menace.
Meta is earning a fortune on a deluge of fraudulent ads, documents show
Meta projected 10% of its 2024 revenue would come from ads for scams and banned goods, and it internally estimates that its platforms show users 15 billion scam ads a day, company documents show.
www.reuters.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:27 PM
In 2023, @gijn.org launched our digital threats reporting guide and training course to help journalists track and expose online scams, disinformation, and political propaganda.
And, as this Reuters exposé shows, the biggest tech giants are knowingly complicit in abetting this growing online menace.
And, as this Reuters exposé shows, the biggest tech giants are knowingly complicit in abetting this growing online menace.
Today @gijn.org, a look into a simple but vital question: Just how many people have died trying to migrate across the Rio Grande?
As it turns out, neither the US nor Mexico gov't knew the full answer, so this cross-border reporting team spent nearly a year to find the actual, shockingly-high number.
As it turns out, neither the US nor Mexico gov't knew the full answer, so this cross-border reporting team spent nearly a year to find the actual, shockingly-high number.
Investigating How Many Migrants Lose their Lives Crossing the Rio Grande
This transnational collaborative project investigating US-Mexico border deaths won the 2025 Gabo Award, with judges praising its “investigative rigor” and “innovative approach.”
gijn.org
November 6, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Today @gijn.org, a look into a simple but vital question: Just how many people have died trying to migrate across the Rio Grande?
As it turns out, neither the US nor Mexico gov't knew the full answer, so this cross-border reporting team spent nearly a year to find the actual, shockingly-high number.
As it turns out, neither the US nor Mexico gov't knew the full answer, so this cross-border reporting team spent nearly a year to find the actual, shockingly-high number.
Reposted by Reed F. Richardson
Vital piece of investigative reporting from Sky. They've uncovered the X algorithm which feeds users extremist right wing material from the moment they join the site. It is a far-right radicalisation engine, by design.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Vital piece of investigative reporting from Sky. They've uncovered the X algorithm which feeds users extremist right wing material from the moment they join the site. It is a far-right radicalisation engine, by design.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Deep dive by @wired.com on an illegal school that Mark Zuckerberg had been running out of his Palo Alto compound for years.
And this detail is a good reminder to always check the LinkedIn profile of your subjects — there could be revealing/damning info in there! #whoops
www.wired.com/story/mark-z...
And this detail is a good reminder to always check the LinkedIn profile of your subjects — there could be revealing/damning info in there! #whoops
www.wired.com/story/mark-z...
November 6, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Deep dive by @wired.com on an illegal school that Mark Zuckerberg had been running out of his Palo Alto compound for years.
And this detail is a good reminder to always check the LinkedIn profile of your subjects — there could be revealing/damning info in there! #whoops
www.wired.com/story/mark-z...
And this detail is a good reminder to always check the LinkedIn profile of your subjects — there could be revealing/damning info in there! #whoops
www.wired.com/story/mark-z...
Looking at the downstream impact of @gijn.org training.
Since 2023, we have trained more than 100 reporters how to conduct digital threats coverage of scams, disinformation, and online propaganda.
And here are just some of the real-world stories powered by what our training alumni learned from us.
Since 2023, we have trained more than 100 reporters how to conduct digital threats coverage of scams, disinformation, and online propaganda.
And here are just some of the real-world stories powered by what our training alumni learned from us.
How Digital Threats Training Has Powered Innovative Cyber Investigations Around the World
Alumni of GIJN's four Digital Threats training courses have produced a number of exposés on online scams and political disinformation, from India to Kenya to the Philippines.
gijn.org
November 5, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Looking at the downstream impact of @gijn.org training.
Since 2023, we have trained more than 100 reporters how to conduct digital threats coverage of scams, disinformation, and online propaganda.
And here are just some of the real-world stories powered by what our training alumni learned from us.
Since 2023, we have trained more than 100 reporters how to conduct digital threats coverage of scams, disinformation, and online propaganda.
And here are just some of the real-world stories powered by what our training alumni learned from us.
Reposted by Reed F. Richardson
#China: It has been two years since Minnie Chan, a defence reporter at the #SCMP, disappeared during a trip to Beijing after covering a military conference. As the general indifference surrounding her case raises fears of state repression, RSF urges the Chinese regime to disclose her whereabouts.
Disappearance of Hong Kong journalist in China deeply concerning
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is greatly concerned over the disappearance of Minnie Chan, a reporter for Hong Kong daily South China Morning Post, who went missing in China in late October after she...
rsf.org
October 30, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Via the @waybackmachine.bsky.social, this was the conventional wisdom narrative Fox News was offering the day after the 2021 elections, when a Dem candidate lost by <2 pts in Va. & the NJ gov was re-elected by 3 pts.
Tonight, we're seeing Dem candidates win in both states by margins 4-5x larger.
Tonight, we're seeing Dem candidates win in both states by margins 4-5x larger.
November 5, 2025 at 4:16 AM
Via the @waybackmachine.bsky.social, this was the conventional wisdom narrative Fox News was offering the day after the 2021 elections, when a Dem candidate lost by <2 pts in Va. & the NJ gov was re-elected by 3 pts.
Tonight, we're seeing Dem candidates win in both states by margins 4-5x larger.
Tonight, we're seeing Dem candidates win in both states by margins 4-5x larger.
Reposted by Reed F. Richardson
🚨 Today is the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. Every week a #journalist is killed simply for doing their job. In nearly 80% of these cases, the perpetrators go unpunished. 1/2
November 2, 2025 at 11:45 AM
🚨 Today is the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. Every week a #journalist is killed simply for doing their job. In nearly 80% of these cases, the perpetrators go unpunished. 1/2
Latest @gijn.org: We have a handy step-by-step tipsheet from the @pulitzercenter.org on how to build web scrapers with AI without any real coding involved. Included are verbatim prompts and case studies to guide data reporters.
How Non-Coding Journalists Can Build Web Scrapers With AI — Examples and Prompts Included
With basic web knowledge, guidance, and examples, even non-coding journalists can build a scraper with large language models.
gijn.org
October 31, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Latest @gijn.org: We have a handy step-by-step tipsheet from the @pulitzercenter.org on how to build web scrapers with AI without any real coding involved. Included are verbatim prompts and case studies to guide data reporters.
Interesting post on the aftermath of @davejorgenson.bsky.social's departure as the WaPo "TikTok guy." Traffic to WaPo's YouTube, which was already declining as the paper 'rebranded,' has fully cratered — Jorgensen's own site now has nearly 2x the traffic.
mkarolian.substack.com/p/the-washin...
mkarolian.substack.com/p/the-washin...
The Data Is In: The Washington Post Can’t Replace Its "TikTok Guy"
The shocking look at what happened when Dave left WaPo to start Local News International
mkarolian.substack.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Interesting post on the aftermath of @davejorgenson.bsky.social's departure as the WaPo "TikTok guy." Traffic to WaPo's YouTube, which was already declining as the paper 'rebranded,' has fully cratered — Jorgensen's own site now has nearly 2x the traffic.
mkarolian.substack.com/p/the-washin...
mkarolian.substack.com/p/the-washin...