Janet Smith

England

Writer and Editor at Freelance

Journalist, writer, mother, wife, free mind. Also at @janet_xasperate

Articles

Journalists as founders is 'an act of courage', say those at start-ups

5 days ago | presscouncil.org.za | Janet Smith

PICTURE: Martiza Felix (far right), founder of Conecta Arizona, a US-based Spanish-language news service, discusses the transition from newsroom employee to manager (Andrea Marchi/IJF25)Whether it’s feeling disenchanted with the media landscape, a sense that there is an underserved audience, or just a simple belief that there are better ways to do business, there are myriad reasons why reporters decide to set up their own news outlets.
Substack 'supports the talent rather than owns the talent', says founder

5 days ago | presscouncil.org.za | Janet Smith

Media resources, Press Freedom, PICTURE: Pixabay/PexelsPaula FelpsInternational News Media OrganisationAmidst rapid change and disruption, the news media industry needs a radical rethink, according to Hamish McKenzie, Substack co-founder and chief writing officer.
'Brilliant storytelling needs humans, but AI's support has benefits'

5 days ago | presscouncil.org.za | Janet Smith

Media resources, News, The European Broadcasting Union’s News Report 2025 explores the real-world challenges newsroom leaders face when adopting generative AI tools, writes Journalism AI. Based on interviews with 20 industry leaders and researchers, it offers practical use cases, insights on staff engagement, audience reactions, and the impact of AI on creativity.
The 'nuance' between the Pope who made headlines, and the press

6 days ago | presscouncil.org.za | Janet Smith

Media resources, News, PICTURE: Azra Tuba Demir/PexelsJon AllsopThe Media TodayColumbia Journalism ReviewIn late February, with Pope Francis critically ill in the hospital, CJR’s Sacha Biazzo spoke with members of the Vaticanisti, the Italian term for the press corps that covers the Pope.
'Acutely at risk': the dangers facing environmental journalists

6 days ago | presscouncil.org.za | Janet Smith

When we think about the dangers facing journalists, we usually think about war reporting or investigations into organised crime, but the reality is that journalists covering environmental issues are threatened for simply doing their jobs all over the world. Those covering the most pertinent stories about our planet are regularly subject to harassment, surveillance, intimidation, and state-imposed censorship.
'Freedom of the press must be defended with right to be informed'

1 week ago | presscouncil.org.za | Janet Smith

Media resources, Press Freedom, PICTURE: Pope Francis shaking hands with Filipino journalist and Nobel Prize winner Maria Ressa, in the Paul VI Hall on the occasion of the Jubilee of the World of Communication/Vatican Media United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Vatican City Communication is something divine, with the power ‘to build – build communities, build up the church’, Pope Francis told thousands of journalists and people working in media and communication earlier this year. ‘To...
'Freedom of speech essential for dignity, the common good'

1 week ago | presscouncil.org.za | Janet Smith

Press Freedom, Public resources, PICTURE: Hugo Magalhaes/PexelsThe Catholic RegisterAt the end of Pope Francis’ autobiography, simply titled Hope for the Jubilee Year, he shared a poem from the 20th-century Turkish poet, Nâzım Hikmet.
Five things to know about Google’s anti-trust options in Internet search

1 week ago | presscouncil.org.za | Janet Smith

PICTURE: Pixabay/PexelsDigital Platform InitiativeINMAGoogle’s remedies trial over its search monopoly verdict started Monday 21 April 2025 in Washington, D.C.Here’s what news media companies need to know about the U.S. Justice Department’s anti-trust case against Google Search:1. What just happenedThe U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) wants a court to force Google to sell its Chrome browser as both sides reveal their preferred remedies to Google’s illegal monopoly in search.
Building a foundation with AI to jumpstart your journalism

1 week ago | presscouncil.org.za | Janet Smith

Media resources, News, PICTURE: Google DeepMind/PexelsMuskan BansalIJNetDetermining how best to incorporate AI in your reporting can be daunting. For journalists and small newsrooms navigating tight deadlines and limited resources, harnessing AI tools to carry out time consuming tasks can be pivotal.
'Ensure safe conditions for environmental media; counteract misinformation'

1 week ago | presscouncil.org.za | Janet Smith |Public Resources

Press Freedom, Public resources, Reporters Without Borders RSF met with Ana Toni, CEO of the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), to discuss the challenges facing environmental reporting. The discussion tackled disinformation about climate change on social media, the protection of environmental journalists and the sustainability of journalism.