Filmmaker and podcast producer Neil Innes talks about his unconventional path into Report for the World, why he sees himself not as a journalist but as a champion of those who are, and how he’s using film and audio storytelling to amplify grassroots reporting around the globe.
Can you tell us a bit about your background—where you’re from and what brought you into journalism in the first place?
Well, like most things in my life it’s all been a bit of a happy accident. It was the people at RFW that really gave me the confidence that I could be part of this. I was born in the UK and I studied filmmaking in Australia. My first love has always been storytelling — whether it was through a lens, on a screen, in audio or in conversation. Over time, that evolved into producing podcasts and films. I’m not a technically a journalist myself, and I think that’s important to say, but I’ve dabbled and always been drawn to real stories and journalists — I have huge admiration for them and that’s probably also how I ended up with RFW.
I was originally approached because of my podcasting background as I feel that the format of long form conversation, something which I’ve always done in my work, can get to something emotional and deeply personal in a way few other mediums can. That’s where my heart lies: in conversations that move people, shift perspectives, and make you feel connected to someone else’s reality. That’s what I hope to bring to RFW.
What inspired you to join Report for the World, and what does our mission mean to you personally?
I’m very interested in individual stories but I think that what RFW is doing goes beyond that. It’s building relationships with storytellers and finding new ways to allow journalists to thrive — to be sustainable, rooted in their communities, while being connected to a big network.
As someone who is new to this position, what excites me most is that I get to work with strange and incredible people every single day. I get to hear and read amazing stories from across the world and help push those stories further through communications, films, and podcasts. I’m also producing projects for Report for Impact — which feels like an extension of the same mission, using new mediums to connect with new audiences.
What specific skills or networks are you bringing to RFW, and how do you intend to leverage them to support under-covered reporting?
As I come originally from film my skill set is rooted in storytelling — in finding ways to make complex or under-reported issues more human. I really like that we can link a journalist’s work to an audience that can act on it. What I intend to do at RFW is use those skills to make sure under-covered reporting doesn’t stay hidden and though I’m not telling the story myself, I can create the conditions where the story has its best chance of making an impact.
Which of RFW’s core values—like community engagement, sustainability, or local storytelling—resonates most with you, and why?
Local storytelling is the value that hits home for me the most. If a story doesn’t connect to the community or audience it’s meant for, it doesn’t fully work. The high tech, bells and whistles popular news delivery networks feel so detached from the world and I suppose journalism is most powerful when it’s in lived experience and told through the voices of people who know the reality better and fuller. That’s why I love that RFW invests in local journalists and local newsrooms, instead of trying to impose an outside view.
How do you envision your role evolving here, both in terms of your own growth and in advancing the program’s impact?
I came into RFW as a communications consultant, but the role has already started evolving. We are developing a podcast for Report for Impact, which has been an exciting way to stretch what we can do as an organization. For me, this evolution feels natural — taking the skills I’ve built over the years in cultural, comedy, crime and investigative podcasts production and applying them to a mission like RFW is really exciting.
Ultimately, I see my role as evolving in whatever direction best serves the mission: and, not to sound lofty, but using my production skills in helping independent, local journalism survive.
What excites you most about working in journalism today, especially within the context of underserved communities or global challenges?
As I’ve never been a reporter in the field per say I only know from the readers perspective that local journalism can be transformative. It can mean the difference between invisibility and recognition, between silence and being heard. And in global challenges like climate change or corruption, it’s often the local journalists who bring the human angle which as a story teller is the most exciting and motivating part of this work.
Can you share a powerful or memorable moment from your journalism career so far—something that reminds you why you do this work?
My memorable moments don’t come from breaking stories or landing scoops. They come from the times I’ve seen a piece of my own work connect — when a podcast conversation I have produced made someone stop and think, or when a film has opened a window into an issue that people hadn’t considered before. I think that’s something really special.
When I created Passport and MisInfonation, our podcasts during the pandemic, it was a way for us to connect with people all over the world. It was such a huge release during that time… a way to talk to people… and it grew into something really special. In the year of 2020/21 myself and my team of incredible producers made some really interesting and unique work which had a very personal and professional impact on me.
Looking ahead, what kinds of stories or issues—such as climate, corruption, education, or human rights—are you most eager to help bring to light through RFW?
I’m especially drawn to stories about people… but obviously that encapsulates human rights, democracy, and empowerment, because those are the issues that we see, right now being really important around the world. My role isn’t to decide what the stories should be — it’s to make sure those stories are amplified. Whether that’s a powerful human rights investigation, an in-depth climate story, or a deeply local piece about education, I want to help make sure it travels.
“How do you think our regional partners (like AIJC, Factum, ARIJ, etc.) can amplify RFW’s mission, and what role will you play in that collaboration?”
I would say my role in that collaboration is to help connect the dots. That might mean creating platforms where partners can share resources, or facilitating conversations across regions, or using communications tools to highlight their collective impact. I’m only just getting to know these partners but everyone is so passionate about what they do I’m really excited to see where it can go.
What message would you like to share with our community and supporters about why grassroots journalism through Report for the World matters—and how they can stay engaged?
I think that, especially now, in a world full of noise, grassroots journalism cuts through because it’s more real and it feels more human and more connected. I feel like that is worth protecting — precisely because press freedom is under threat in so many places. I would say… Read the work. Share it. Talk about it. Support local and independent journalists however you can. The more we shine a light on these stories, the harder it becomes for them to be ignored.