Best-Of Global Journalism 2024

In this issue, I would like to remind all of us that the world speaks more than just English. Journalism exists in every country and region in the world, and we're missing out on so much if we only read English-language news. Nowadays, with the help of some tech tools, especially those running on generative AI, I believe we have come really close to eliminating a lot of the hard barriers we've faced before. With one click, we can translate entire articles using Google Chrome extensions like Language Reactor or Reverso Context, software like MacWhisper, or so much more with the help of ChatGPT and its other competitors. Tech companies right now are literally bending over backwards to get our attention. So, let's use it wisely and reward only those who can help us gain access to the world in ways we weren't able to before (while staying critical of limits and damaging "side" effects).

This week, I want to dedicate this issue to journalists everywhere. Your work amazes me, your perseverance inspires me, and this newsletter is here to amplify the stories you've worked so hard to tell.

My new year's resolution? Well, new year, new challenge: in 2025, I'm making it a priority to connect with journalists from all over the world. This year, I'm giving my brain a workout---looking at the "West" and the world from perspectives "we" don't see enough. Stay tuned.

Switzerland's "Forgotten" Slave Trade, Congo's Missing Trees, "Digital Slavery" in Indonesia: 2024's Top Investigations From Journalists Across the World

What is this about?
This issue is a little different. Think of it as a global mixtape of stories that didn't make it into the newsletter in 2024 but still deserve your attention. Lucia and I put together 20 stories that surprised us, moved us, or made us rethink what we thought we knew. They expanded our horizons---whether it's by watching a doc in Indonesian (with subtitles, don't worry), supporting freelance Zambian journalists, or watching Sikh pop stars make history. Consider this your invitation to discover, learn, and connect with a world you might not have seen before.

Why this matters:
The stories we tell shape how we see the world---and, more importantly, how we see each other. This list isn't just a round-up of cool documentaries or investigative reports. It's about challenging stereotypes, amplifying underrepresented voices, and making room for perspectives that aren't always front and center. They're a reminder that the world is bigger, messier, and more connected than we often give it credit for.

1. Where are all the Congo Trees?
The DRC's trees are not doing well, thanks for asking. The country's protected hardwoods are paying a heavy price. Quite literally, timber is being trafficked illegally en masse, benefitting mostly East Africa; think Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. All of this is happening thanks to "big men" close to security services and politicians across the region. How? They make sure the border controls fail. Ugandan Journalist John Blanshe Musinguzi did a four-part investigative series in English on exactly how those Congo trees are smuggled into East Africa. For his work, he was recognized with the African Investigative Journalist of the Year Award at the 2024 African Investigative Journalism Conference. Read the entire series here, and follow John on X if you're still on there.

2. How does anyone even do investigative journalism in Venezuela?
A team from Frontline, the investigative documentary program from the US broadcaster PBS, in collaboration with the Venezuelan investigative group Armando.info answered that question in a 90-minute must-watch documentary for anyone interested in the high stakes of reporting under authoritarian regimes. It follows Armando.info and a massive corruption scandal involving top government officials in Venezuela. The doc also follows journalist Roberto Deniz, who was forced into exile. Watch it the documentary in English here. Btw, Armando.info, like this newsletter, celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024. Congratulations!

3. "Digital slavery" in Indonesia
Imagine being trafficked into a scam center. Sounds like dystopian fiction, but it's the reality for thousands in Southeast Asia. Border Hell, a documentary by Indonesia's Deduktif team, exposes how armed groups and politicians enable these operations along the Myanmar-Thailand border. The team tracked everything---how victims are recruited, the money trails, even scam centers hidden in hotels. It's dark, it's important, and it was deservedly nominated for Best Short Documentary at the Indonesian Film Festival. You can watch it online, and if you don't speak Indonesian, grab a Chrome extension like Language Reactor for subtitles.

4. Small islands are having a nationalism problem
What happens to a country when its land disappears? For small island nations like Tuvalu, Kiribati, and the Marshall Islands, this isn't a future problem; it's happening right now. Rising seas, caused by emissions from wealthier nations, are swallowing their homes. For these communities, the climate crisis is about survival, culture, and identity at the same time. Tuvalu, with a population of 11,000, could be the first country to disappear completely under the ocean. But what happens then? The world often sees sovereignty---being a country---as something tied to land, a concept shaped by European history. Leaders from island nations are challenging these old ideas of sovereignty. There are some suggestions being offered like creating self-governing communities in other countries or even virtual "de-territorialized" nations, as Riad Meddeb from UNDP writes. However, wealthy nations created this crisis, and now the most vulnerable are paying the price. 25-year-old Grace Malie, an activist from Tuvalu, has been traveling the world to raise awareness as part of the initiative Rising Nations Initiative (Tuvalu and Marshall Islands themselves founded it). People call Grace "Tuvalu's Greta Thunberg" or even "the real-life Moana," but Grace is her own leader, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're interested to learn more about Tuvalu and Grace, there's an award-winning Channel 4 News short-doc you can watch on YouTube.

5. How to market African books worldwide
Cameroonian author Patrice Nganang opened up to The Republic about the challenges of writing and publishing African stories. His takeaway? African literature doesn't always have to center on hustlers or dictators. His novel Mount Pleasant---rejected 44 times before finally finding a publisher---made him rethink how these stories are marketed. With Mount Pleasant, he became a different writer: "There is a new person in me that started writing with Mount Pleasant. It is the writer I am today. There is no going back." Another gem from the interview stuck with me: "Just go and interview your parents." Why? Documenting family histories is important because "written biographies are so rare in Africa." I shared this excerpt from the interview on my Instagram story, and a friend of mine criticized that oral storytelling is already a huge part of African traditions (which is true). As someone with Kurdish roots, I see where both my friend and Nganang are coming from. We also have a lot of oral history, but it does take a very interested and dedicated youth to ask and willing to carry them through the next generation. Over the past few years, I've been looking for my own stories, recording different family members, asking them questions I haven't asked before, and I've noticed...