We need smarter, more focused aid As aid budgets are being slashed, the sector needs a decisive shift in how aid is delivered, writes Flora Alexander, Executive Director of International Rescue Committee UK.

"The global humanitarian system stands at a precipice. Only 5% of the $44.72bn needed to meet humanitarian needs has been funded. This isn’t just a shortfall; it’s a catastrophe unfolding in slow motion."

Our latest IBT Voices article comes from Flora Alexander, Chief Exec of @uk.rescue.org

Having risked my life in war zones for the BBC, I know this: cuts to the World Service will be disastrous | Martin Bell In an age of disinformation, our broadcaster is trusted to find and tell the truth. Now more than ever we need it, says former reporter, MP and Unicef ambassador, Martin Bell

Martin Bell, former MP, war reporter, and current Unicef UK ambassador, on the existential threats facing the BBC World Service.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Action for Global Health are looking for a Comms, Campaigns and Media whizz to help shape their upcoming strategy.

Take a look at the details below!

Current climate path condemns tens of millions of children to unmanageable heat Unless the world curbs emissions, 100 million children born in 2020 are expected to face extreme heatwaves during their lifetimes, according to new research

New research by Save the Children and Vrije Universiteit finds that failure to limit global warming to 1.5°C would condemn 83% of today’s five-year olds to dangerous levels of extreme heat in their lifetimes, as reported in @the-independent.com @savechildrenintl.bsky.social

Minerals, mobile phones and militias: how war unfolded in DRC How the global wrangle for natural resources in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is fuelling one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises

How the global wrangle for natural resources in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is fuelling one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, by
@nesrinemalik.bsky.social

www.theguardian.com/news/2025/ma...

Before and after: images by Sudan’s accidental war photographer show loss of everyday life Mosab Abushama’s work is an attempt to spotlight what the destruction has meant for ordinary people

Mosab Abushama’s work spotlights the destruction of ordinary life in Sudan.

www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

Sudan – a wake-up call It’s the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. It should be headline news, but it’s not. Sudan’s hunger crisis is a test of international resolve and yet the media remains largely silent, writes Jean-Mic...

Today - April 15th - marks two years of war in Sudan.

The war has produced the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. It should be headline news every day, but it’s not, writes Jean-Michel Grand from Action Against Hunger.

“We are basically on the brink of famine, if the blockade doesn’t end”
Clémence Lagouardat, Oxfam in Gaza on #r4Today, highlights Israel's month-long illegal blockade of Gaza, depriving over 2 million people of aid, water, food and electricity. Israel must lift the blockade and allow aid into Gaza.

Small World - International factual programming on public service channels This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the UK’s Public Service Broadcasters (PSBs) in covering global events through current affairs and other factual programmes on television channels. To a...

New Report Published!

We're happy to release Small World, written by @martinscott2010.bsky.social

Prof. Scott looked at the range of international coverage on the public service channels between 2023-24.

Some of the results were expected. Others were surprising and alarming.

Read more below 👇

I've got a new report out today - on international factual programming on UK TV in 2023-24.

Key finding: Travelogues dominate (58%) and 'male, stale and pale' presenters feature very heavily.

Covered nicely in The Times - www.thetimes.com/uk/media/art...

Full report: ibt.org.uk/reports/smal...

Male, pale and stale travelogues lack diversity, report says Researchers found that travel programmes from major broadcasters were predominately presented by white men

IBT's new findings are featured in The Times today.

Our research looked at International programming on the public service broadcasters.

We found that the 10 most frequently appearing travelogue presenters include just one female and one non-white broadcaster.

Too often, the media reinforce misconceptions about refugees through their reporting.

The only way to counter this is by telling more accurate, nuanced and informed stories, @henryroberts.bsky.social argues here.

ibt.org.uk/opinion/we-n...

📺 Channel 4's Unreported World returns this evening at 19:30.

In tonight's episode, @krishgm.bsky.social reports from Sudan, where about 30 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. We're pleased that this neglected crisis is being covered by the programme #IBTRecommends

RTS Television Journalism Awards 2025 The winners for the RTS Television Journalism Awards 2025, in partnership with Dataminr, have been announced.

Many congratulations to the winners and nominees at the RTS Television Journalism Awards earlier this week.

It's vitally important we recognise the importance of journalists - often reporting in dangerous situations around the globe.

@rtsmedia.bsky.social

rts.org.uk/award/rts-te...

Concerns raised over government’s ‘short-sighted and appalling’ international aid cut Criticism from charities and MPs follows Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s decision to slash government support for international aid to focus funding on defence.

Concerns raised over government’s ‘short-sighted and appalling’ international aid cut

“This is a short-sighted and appalling move by both the PM and Treasury,” said Romilly Greenhill, chief executive of NGO body @bondngo.bsky.social.

@charitytimes.bsky.social

www.charitytimes.com/ct/Concerns-...

IBT members condemn the government’s decision to cut foreign aid The announcement on Tuesday that the government is slashing the foreign aid budget to increase defence spending was met with alarm and dismay across the INGO sector. Henry Roberts looks at some of the...

This has been a difficult week for the NGO sector.

Henry Roberts sums up the mood of IBT members before looking ahead at next steps for the sector.

ibt.org.uk/opinion/ibt-...

Last week, we co-hosted an event with ODI Global on media representation of refugees.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the panel and in the Q&A. It was a constructive conservation.

@yaldahakim.bsky.social @dianewriter.bsky.social, Andrew Connelly, Emma Young, Nazek Ramadan, Vivienne Francis

‘No safe place’: the BBC documentary showing Gaza through a child’s eyes BBC Two’s Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone gathers intimate footage of three children surviving in the besieged strip “Have you ever wondered what you’d do if your world is destroyed?” asks 13-year-old Abdullah, speaking at the beginning of an intimate BBC…

‘No safe place’: the BBC documentary showing Gaza through a child’s eyes

Fascinating discussion today with @ibtrust.bsky.social @odi.global @yaldahakim.bsky.social @dianewriter.bsky.social Andrew Connelly, Emma Young, Nazek Ramadan, Vivienne Francis. Lots of food for thought on how media can change minds on migration debate & represent refugees authentically

We had a fantastic morning co-hosting this panel discussion with @odi.global on media representations of migration and refugee stories.

Many thanks to our panel and for everybody who attended.

The Phone In - Your calls on unhealthy snacks, the Channel 4 series where members of the public experience life as a refugee and DJs. - BBC Sounds Unhealthy snacks, the Channel 4 TV series where people experience life as a refugee, & DJs

Our Advocacy Director @zungumza.bsky.social spoke on BBC Wales earlier today, sharing his views on Channel 4's controversial programme Go Back to Where You Came From.

You can listen to the recording below. The conversation starts 46 minutes in 🎧

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Channel 4’s Go Back to Where You Came From is shocking. I’m glad it was made Channel 4's controversial reality show has been criticised for downplaying the lived experiences of refugees by turning their lives into an entertainment format. But as Gareth Benest, Advocacy Directo...

Ahead of our event with @odi.global tomorrow, read @zungumza.bsky.social's take on Channel 4's controversial reality show Go Back to Where You Came From.

Some people will hate it, but public service broadcasters need to engage wider audiences on these issues, he writes.

ibt.org.uk/opinion/chan...

A stack of newspapers, with details of the upcoming ODI Global/IBT event - 'Migration: is the media getting it right?' 13 Feb, 10:00-11:30 GMT. In-person only, in London.

Save the date – 13 Feb 🗓️

Alongside @ibtrust.bsky.social we're bringing together journalists, media and migration experts to discuss the process, challenges and impacts of migration coverage.

Sign up to join in-person (London): https://buff.ly/42GJtYM

This piece from Gareth Benest, Advocacy Director @ibtrust.bsky.social illustrates exactly why, whilst profoundly uncomfortable & disturbing, public service media programming via reality TV formats are important for our national conversation & expose the bare truth that people don't want to confront.

Channel 4's Go Back to Where You Came From is shocking. I’m glad it was made | Gareth Benest The backlash to the reality series misses a key point: if this was an educational documentary, would anyone watch it? asks Gareth Benest of the charity International Broadcasting Trust

Last night, Channel 4 broadcast Go Back to Where You Came From, a reality series that shows Brits experiencing what it's like to be a refugee.

The programme is controversial, but as our Advocacy Director @zungumza.bsky.social argues in @theguardian.com, we're glad it was made. Here's why:

📺 We're watching: This is Gaza

As the Israel-Hamas War destroyed his home and endangered his family, Emmy-winning Palestinian filmmaker Yousef Hammash reached for his only hope: a video camera. This is his powerful story.

#IBTRecommends

www.channel4.com/programmes/t...

With the knives out on development spending, have we reached ‘peak aid’? | Nilima Gulrajani and Jessica Pudussery From Trump’s Project 2025 to a huge aid cut by the Dutch, donors are turning their backs on the developing world

Alarming news on widespread reductions in aid spending, from Nilima Gulrajani and Jessica Pudussery at @odi.global

www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

Thanks everyone who joined us for our briefing this morning on investigative journalism.

It was a fascinating discussion!

Thank you @ellenhalliday.bsky.social of @prospectmagazine.co.uk, @peterjukes.bsky.social of @bylinetimes.bsky.social and
@wildfranz.bsky.social of
@tbij.bsky.social

Sudan – the media challenge IBT hosted a discussion between journalists and charity directors with the aim of increasing media coverage of Sudan. IBT Director, Mark Galloway, gives his assessment of the challenge.

Last week, the International Broadcasting Trust (IBT) hosted a discussion between journalists and charity directors with the aim of increasing media coverage of Sudan.

IBT Director Mark Galloway offers some thoughts and ways ahead for NGOs and journalists.

ibt.org.uk/opinion/suda...

‘It’s about solidarity, not charity’: the Oxfam chief seeking to decolonise the aid sector Halima Begum outlines her vision for what she sees as a ‘broken model’, with more power over spending given directly to the affected communities

‘It’s about solidarity, not charity’ - Halima Begum, Oxfam CEO in today's Guardian.

Read the article here: www.theguardian.com/global-devel...