Around the world, millions of people need humanitarian assistance. Whether they are caught up in conflict, are at risk of hunger or displacement, or are impacted by extreme gender inequality, they rely on the work of humanitarian individuals and organizations. They are those who step into crisis to help others – and often at great personal risk. Today, 19 August, is World Humanitarian Day – a time to honor these heroes and stand with the millions who depend on them.
As a form of journalism, humanitarian news aims to raise awareness and funds, provide early emergency warnings, monitor the treatment of citizens and promote change in the policies of donors and governments. There is a growing academic literature on humanitarian reporting, but much of it focuses on content, with few empirical studies of the processes through which news influences decision-making by audiences and policymakers. This two year collaborative project (AHRC & ISRF funded) at UEA and City University London has set out to address this gap. It has mapped the reporting of both major and specialist news organisations from 2016-18.