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Reveal and InVID Partnering With First Draft News

The First Draft News initiative is one of the leading actors or platforms in the field of social media newsgathering and verification of eyewitness media. Supported by Google News Lab and launched in mid-2015, the main aim of the undertaking is to portray the state of affairs in social newsgathering, provide training material and pool resources on the project website - launched in November 2015.

Partner network launch

In September 2016, First Draft took the next logical step and further extended the network that consisted originally of nine partners, or "coalition members" as they called themselves initially: more news media organizations, social networks and projects that deal with relevant topics were approached to become part of the First Draft partner network.

About 30 organisations and projects took up the offer and became part of the network. Among the likes of Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, AFP, The New York Times and the Eurovision News Exchange are our research projects REVEAL and InVID. Obviously, we are delighted to be part of this expert network, contribute our know-how and collaborate on various levels.

Challenges to be tackled

According to Jenni Sargent, First Draft Managing Director, the initiative feels "uniquely positioned to coordinate efforts and facilitate real progress in tackling some of the key challenges facing journalists and their audiences."

Another reason for reaching out and establishing an enlarged partner network, according to First Draft, is to bring more people together, work on ideas and initiatives collaboratively, and share experiences and know-how in the area of social newsgathering and reporting. This way, it is expected to "develop ideas for ways to streamline the verification process, improve the experience of eyewitnesses and increase news literacy amongst social media users."

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Proud to be part(ner)

Both REVEAL and InVID–two of the research projects that deal with aspects of verification of eyewitness media and in which DW Innovation is involved–are delighted to be part of the First Draft partner network. Especially the pooling and sharing of know-how and experience should be most beneficial to the projects. Obviously, this should work both ways. Furthermore, the partnership is an ideal way to spread and share information coming out of our research and innovation projects. Hence we are delighted to join forces with and collaborate in a dedicated expert network with individuals who have a passion for the future of journalism.

Network partners

Organisations and projects that joined the partner network on 13 September 2016 are: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, The New York Times, The Washington Post, BuzzFeed News, CNN, ABC News (Australia), AJ+, ProPublica, Agence France-Presse, Channel 4 News, The Telegraph, France Info, Breaking News, Les Décodeurs, International Business Times UK, Eurovision News Exchange, SAM, Aljazeera Media Network, Reveal project, InVID project, Euronews, Sourcefabric, WITNESS, Amnesty International, European Journalism Centre, American Press Institute, International Fact Checking Network, Duke Reporters' Lab.

Read more about the announcement on the First Draft News website.

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