Raphael Hernandes

Raphael Hernandes was selected for the 2026 Shortlist with Inside the everyday Facebook networks where far-right ideas grow.

Raphael Hernandes is an artificial intelligence (AI) ethics researcher and data journalist specializing in the intersections between AI, journalism, and society. He is currently pursuing a PhD at Cambridge Digital Humanities, University of Cambridge, supported by a Harding Distinguished Postgraduate Scholarship. His research examines how AI reshapes journalism, information environments, and epistemic security.

His journalism career includes roles as a Data Journalist at The Guardian (UK) and as Editor-at-Large at Folha de S.Paulo (Brazil), leading innovative data- and AI-driven newsroom projects and reporting on the intersections of technology, media, and society.

Raphael holds an MPhil in Ethics of AI, Data, and Algorithms from Cambridge, graduating with distinction and receiving the Huw Price Prize for best overall performance.

Pamela Duncan

Pamela Duncan was selected for the 2026 Shortlist with Inside the everyday Facebook networks where far-right ideas grow.

Pamela Duncan is a lecturer in journalism and an award-winning data journalist with extensive experience in investigative and cross-border reporting. She was previously editor of the Guardian’s Data Projects team, where she led and collaborated on major investigations, combining large-scale data analysis with narrative reporting.

Her work spans climate change, housing, health, inequality, political financing and environmental accountability. She has a particular interest in the role social media plays in society, including far-right radicalisation, hate speech, and democratic influence.

Before joining The Guardian, she was a data journalist at The Irish Times, where she co-founded the Irish Times Data Blog and helped pioneer data-driven storytelling in Irish newsrooms. She has collaborated on international investigations including the Pandora Papers, Uber Files, Russian Asset Tracker and other large-scale cross-border projects.

Alongside her newsroom work, she has taught and delivered training in data and investigative journalism internationally, working with universities, journalism organisations and reporters in multiple countries.