Media literacy and training

Jareen is an industry leader in the digital information space, uncovering misinformation and disinformation, verifying user-generated content, and debunking manipulated content. She built a verification team at NBC News that evolved from obtaining UGC for shows and platforms into a highly trained investigative journalism unit specializing in open-source reporting and social forensic analysis. During her tenure at NBCUniversal, her team was instrumental in key investigations conducted by NBC News’ investigative unit. She also collaborated with the acclaimed investigative outlet Bellingcat and with many departments and shows across NBC News. Jareen has developed internal and external classes that equip journalists and citizens with the tools and skills to navigate the polluted digital information space, especially in a world of AI-generated content.

UGC verification and newsgathering

At NBCUniversal, Jareen’s global social and digital newsgathering team identified major breaking news events before they made headlines. The team covered events ranging from U.S. presidential elections and terrorism to the COVID-19 pandemic. In winter 2019, her team identified reports of a virus spreading in China by verifying posts shared on Chinese social media and speaking with local sources. Their reporting tracked the pandemic as it spread around the world, including the global response, massive loss of life, disruption to supply chains, effects of shutdowns, and vaccine rollout. The team’s reporting on immigrants detained in U.S. facilities who died after lacking access to medical care was cited by the ACLU during a major court case in Georgia.

Elmhurst Hospital during the COVID-19 surge in a NBC News social preview

NBC NewsOverfilled waiting rooms. Limited supplies. Inside NYC hospitals, doctors describe ‘war.’

Before-and-after satellite imagery of Beirut port in a NBC News social preview

NBC NewsSatellite imagery shows scale of destruction after explosion at Beirut port

Indian fighter jet in a NBC News social preview about digital verification

NBC NewsDigital sleuths alarmed after Twitter cites Indian law violation

Public speaking events

Jareen has been invited to speak at major journalism, marketing, and social media conferences and events. Here she is as a guest speaker at the National Association of Broadcasters conference in New York City, where she discussed the threats that manipulated content, deepfakes, and disinformation pose to democracy and society, and how journalists, especially local newsrooms, can help mitigate this problematic information trend.

Jareen Imam speaking onstage at an NAB conference

Teaching courses

Jareen has built curriculums and classes that help journalists and the public learn how to fact-check information online and navigate misinformation. She has also given lectures on this topic both internally at NBC News and at external events. In addition, she is a guest lecturer and has spoken to students across the United States and internationally. Some of the institutions she has taught at include Pratt University, the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, the University of Florida, and more.

Jareen Imam teaching a media literacy course

Collaborating with experts

Jareen is trained in OSINT research and investigative reporting. She has attended several courses taught by former Bellingcat contributors. Her team at NBC News has partnered with the investigative group to do in-depth reporting on the 2021 Capitol Riots in Washington, D.C.

Jareen Imam with NBC News colleagues at a training event

Building curriculums

Jareen has experience teaching the foundations of verification, reporting, and storytelling to a range of different age groups. She has led programs that taught preteens the importance of information verification. She has also worked as a professor for NBCU Academy, teaching professional content creators how to craft stories for digital, social, and television.

Jareen Imam teaching young students about media literacy

Increasing safety online

Jareen’s background in reporting on disinformation and misinformation has brought her to some of the darker parts of the internet. She has witnessed the harassment, mistreatment, and online abuse of journalists and has actively worked with groups such as PEN America to raise awareness of this issue. Her interview about reducing online harassment on social media platforms was featured in a 2021 report by PEN America.

PEN America No Excuse for Abuse report graphic