Núcleo Jornalismo launches Xarta, a tool to combat the malicious use of old news reports
Developed with Codesinfo support and open-source code, the tool automates the updating of news contexts, preventing disinformation caused by outdated data
Núcleo Jornalismo, in partnership with Codesinfo, has announced the launch of Xarta, a digital tool designed to address two critical issues in journalism: the malicious use of old news reports and the lack of context in current publications, which can facilitate the manipulation of information. The project was funded by Codesinfo, an initiative by Projor sponsored by the Google News Initiative, and access to the solution is already available on the Codesinfo website, with an open repository on GitHub.
According to Jade Drummond, project manager at Núcleo Jornalismo, Xarta was developed to help newsrooms keep report contexts continuously updated and integrated, making it easier to refresh information without requiring additional workload.
“Xarta allows newsrooms to update and insert contexts automatically, ensuring that reports remain accurate and relevant over time without overburdening journalists with repetitive tasks,” explains Drummond.
The main feature of Xarta is the creation, updating, and sharing of context cards. These cards can be easily integrated into different reports, meaning that when a single card is updated, all texts using it are also automatically updated. This eliminates the need to rewrite contexts for each new report or manually revisit old texts to update them.
The tool also simplifies the work of journalists who need access to previous contexts, such as information from past reports or updated data on a specific topic. Xarta organizes this information in a centralized way, allowing professionals to quickly find the necessary contexts to enrich their articles.
Journalists who participated in usability tests highlighted the tool’s practicality and efficiency. In interviews conducted by Núcleo Jornalismo, professionals from different newsrooms noted that using Xarta saves time and reduces the risk of errors by integrating contexts into reports automatically. “Journalists pointed out that the tool not only simplifies the process of inserting context but also improves the quality of reports by keeping information consistently updated and centrally accessible,” says Jade Drummond.
Developed as open-source software, Xarta is available to any news organization, with the possibility of customization and expanded functionalities. Drummond notes that Xarta’s evolution will depend on usage and contributions from the developer community: “The tool can be improved with the help of other professionals, whether by adding new features, fixing potential bugs, or adapting Xarta to different market needs.”
Additionally, the ability to use contexts created by other media outlets can contribute to a collaborative ecosystem within journalism, expanding relevant data sources and improving the quality of available information.
Codesinfo provided specialized consulting and ongoing support, helping Núcleo Jornalismo refine the tool throughout its development process. “Codesinfo was essential to the project’s success, offering continuous support and high-level consulting that helped us overcome technical challenges and define the best path for the tool,” concludes Jade Drummond.
Xarta is available for access and download on the GitHub repository, where developers and journalists can collaborate on the continuous improvement of the solution.
