MJI Pilot Report 2026
The complete analysis, methodology, case studies, field observations, and appendices.
Multilateral Journalism Index · Pilot 2026
A baseline for understanding multilateral journalism.
The MJI examines how well coverage helps a reasonably informed non-specialist understand multilateral institutions, decisions, and global governance.
Sydney Wiser at the Palais des Nations during the MJI pilot study. Photo: John Heilprin/GCMJ.
- 67.4
- Overall MJI score / 100
- 247
- Coverage records
- 71
- Media outlets
- 27
- Multilateral events
What the pilot found
Strong on substance. Less consistent on process and perspective.
Across the six-week study, coverage generally provided substantive information and explained why developments mattered. It was less consistent in explaining the institutional processes through which decisions are made and in incorporating a broad range of perspectives.
- Substance
- 75.3
- Public Understanding
- 72.7
- Governance Literacy
- 69.5
- Source Diversity
- 52.0
Journalistic value beyond announcements.
Why developments matter, with context and accessibility.
Roles, mandates, procedures, and decision-making mechanisms.
The range of sources and perspectives included.
Five pilot findings
What the evidence makes visible.
Reporting capacity is concentrated among a relatively small community of specialist correspondents and international news agencies.
Institutional importance and media visibility do not always align.
Governance processes are harder to explain consistently than outcomes.
Science and technology topics occupied a prominent place in the observed coverage.
Journalism and direct institutional reporting perform different explanatory functions.
Publications
Read the 2026 pilot materials.
MJI Pilot Index 2026
The 13-page pilot index, findings dashboard, and methodological notes.
Pilot Report Executive Summary
A concise account of the pilot, its five central findings, and next steps.
The pilot is descriptive and is not statistically representative of all multilateral journalism. It establishes an evidence-based baseline and tests a transparent analytical framework for future editions.