Journalists reporting on Sudan are working in one of the most complex and fast-moving information environments today. Misleading narratives, coordinated digital activity and fragmented sources are making it increasingly difficult to verify information and report safely and responsibly.
To respond to these challenges, the Thomson Foundation has launched the Sudan Digital Investigation Hub, a new online platform designed to support investigative journalists in Sudan and beyond.
The Hub brings together practical training, expert insight and curated resources to help journalists detect, verify and analyse digital information in conflict settings. It focuses not only on tools, but on the judgement and processes required to work with incomplete or contested information.
“Journalists in conflict contexts are often required to make difficult decisions quickly, and without certainty,” said Meriem Bahri, Head of Programmes, Middle East & Africa at the Thomson Foundation. “This platform is designed to support those decisions by strengthening both technical skills and editorial judgement.”
Journalists in conflict contexts are often required to make difficult decisions quickly and without certainty.
Digital Investigation
Structured across five modules, the platform follows the progression of a digital investigation. It begins with identifying early signals and patterns, and moves through verification, risk assessment and editorial decision-making. The final stages focus on understanding the potential impact of reporting and making informed choices about when or if to publish.
Each module combines short expert-led video lessons with scenario-based audio exercises. These are designed to reflect real situations journalists face, encouraging participants to think through decisions rather than simply apply techniques.
The Hub also includes a resource library in Arabic and English, bringing together toolkits, templates and verification platforms that journalists can use in their day-to-day work.
Strengthening digital resilience in Sudan
The Sudan Digital Investigation Hub forms part of the Sudan Digital Resilience project, implemented by the Thomson Foundation with support from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The project aims to strengthen the capacity of Sudanese journalists and media organisations to analyse, track and respond to disinformation and wider digital harms in a conflict environment.
Through a combination of research, monitoring and targeted capacity-building, the project supports journalists to identify false narratives, improve verification practices and report responsibly on conflict-related issues. It also contributes to a broader effort to strengthen information integrity in fragile and conflict-affected settings.
The Hub builds on Thomson Foundation’s wider work supporting independent media in complex environments. It has been designed to evolve over time, with new content and resources added as the information landscape continues to shift.
The Sudan Digital Investigation Hub is now live and accessible online at www.sudandigitalhub.org .
