Four journalists experiment with kid-friendly podcast to inform under-12s about the news

To increase awareness of cervical cancer and the cancer-preventing HPV vaccine, Al-Ansar radio shares information about the disease, the vaccine and works to dispel speculation and misinformation about vaccines in general to those in underserved and hard-to-reach areas, as they’re often hardest to get vaccinated.

The Mann Deshi Tarang Vahini community radio station aims to educate and broadcast important information, like weather alerts and COVID-19 resources, to rural areas in the country where access to information is often lacking. Listenership varies by region, but in some areas the radio station has over 100,000 listeners across more than 100 villages.

The NewsRun is “a daily newsletter that summarizes Pakistan’s major stories of the day." It’s helping Pakistani people stay on top of the news. Some Pakistani people who live in the country get overwhelmed with the daily news cycle, while Pakistani’s living abroad might have a language barrier or lack the context to understand the news. The clear, direct language of the newsletter makes the news accessible. "The way it’s written is clear and it highlights all the key points I need to know." The newsletter has thousands of Instagram followers and a “20 to 30 percent daily open rate.”

100% Mamans, an association in Morocco that aids single mothers, has created a radio show called "Mères en Ligne" that is hosted and run by unwed mothers. The show, which at this point can only live online because Morocco prohibits community radio to broadcast on air, allows women to tell their stories and advocate for their rights despite the heavy stigma. Since the show launched in May of 2017, it has already received 2,500,000 visitors and counting.

Independent journalists and upstart news organizations in Mexico have banded together to counter potentially deadly or disruptive fake news with a highly organized fact-checking campaign calling itself Verificado. Besides debunking hundreds of false political rumors in the 2018 elections, the coalition has fact-checked the sort of fake news that has prompted mobs to carry out hundreds of lynchings. One WhatsApp fact-verifying account enabling anyone to submit requests for debunking stories has been used extensively by mostly young readers.

Human-based fact checking offers a more dynamic and thorough way to determine the credibility of news outlets than the use of machine learning software. Although humans are still prone to implicit biases, NewsGuard’s model of employing a team of human fact-checkers to rate news websites pushes back against the tendency of algorithms to disseminate false or misleading content. A user-installed plug-in offers details about the credibility and transparency of over 2,000 websites.

Community radio stations in El Salvador and have made a positive impact in the lives of young adult working at these stations. In a country with high rates of violence and youth gang membership, stations provide a way for young adults to find community, value, and a means of expression. Some of the station's local reporting has overcome government and corporate interference.

A woman named MaiLy Do started a Vietnamese-language radio show in Oklahoma City after she realized on Sept. 11, 2001 that her family back home with limited English had no way of finding out if she was okay. Today the station broadcasts for 24 hours across the US and 40 other countries. It offers a voice to the Vietnamese-American population in Oklahoma City and is also essential in disseminating critical information to residents who have limited English skills.

In response to media censorship and the persecution of journalists in Syria, a Paris-based radio station has trained journalists in Syria and are broadcasting news into Syria by satellite over the FM airwaves.

In an age where small, rural newspapers are shrinking and disappearing, local paper Harvey County Now started engaging more with its audience to find ways to better meet their news needs to keep money flowing and the newspaper afloat. From sending out e-newsletters, hosting local events and launching a premium membership program called Press Club, which grants access to benefits like concert tickets and exclusive events, Harvey County Now managed to increase its profits while simultaneously keeping its audience and print paper intact.