Journalism Cloud Alliance

OBJECTIVES

1. Enhanced Data Storage and Processing Capabilities – Provide better understanding and management of data storage and processing needs.
2. Strategic Partnerships – Build a robust alliance as a collaborative platform for joint representation, shared resources, and knowledge exchange.
3. Cost-Effective Solutions – Identify and adopt more affordable, secure, accessible, sustainable, and efficient information technology solutions.
4. Sustainable Growth – Create a framework for the sustainable growth and development of investigative journalism.
5. Innovative Use of Technology – Enhance the utilisation of large language models (LLMs) and other advanced technologies in journalism.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Data-driven investigative and accountability journalism projects increasingly rely on cloud computing for secure data storage, processing, analysis, and collaborative research. The tools that facilitate data journalism present huge opportunities for investigative and transparency projects, but many organisations and teams best placed to use them are sidelined due to constraints stemming from steep costs, concerns over security vulnerabilities, jurisdiction-derived risks, and the inadequate financial and logistical means needed to develop sustainable, in-house computational resources and technical expertise. These issues are further compounded by privacy and security risks when using cloud providers that simultaneously develop artificial intelligence (AI) models which could compromise sensitive data. Additionally, AI and cloud computing consume significant amounts of electricity and resources, emphasising the need for sustainable hosting solutions. As such, a comprehensive, unified effort is needed to ensure that those working in investigative and accountability journalism can access the necessary tools, collaborate on and maintain operational excellence, safeguard data in secure, usable digital environments, and reduce costs.