World News Day 2020 is set to take place on Monday, September 24. The World News Day initiative has been led by the Canadian Journalism Foundation and the World Editors Forum, the network for editors within WAN-IFRA, since 2018. This year, over 120 newsrooms around the world are joining the initiative to highlight the valuable work of journalists.
LEGAL AID FOR JOURNALISTS AND MEDIA – TOOLS AND RESOURCES
In an increasingly hostile media environment, lack of funding has resulted in a diminished appetite for legal cases on the part of media houses and newsrooms, leaving journalists high and dry when it comes to legal protection. In response to this, GFMD has compiled a list of pro bono legal resources and tools to help journalists and media organisations in need of legal counsel.
REMEMBERING BETTINA PETERS
It is with a heavy heart that we convey our sadness at the loss of Bettina Peters. A true champion for media development, Bettina led the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) as its director from 2007-2012.
EU MUST ACT TO SUPPORT MEDIA PLURALISM IN HUNGARY
GFMD has joined a group of sixteen press freedom, freedom of expression, media development, journalism, and journalism support organisations to call on EU Competition Commissioner Margarethe Vestager to act on complaints that the Hungarian government has violated EU state aid rules to undermine media pluralism.
FUNDING AND SUSTAINABILITY MEASURES TO SUPPORT MEDIA IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
COVID-19 has caused major disruptions to the lives of journalists and media professionals. Beyond issues faced in efforts to cover the crisis safely, journalists must also deal with severe financial uncertainty. To alleviate this, several companies and organisations are committing to financially support journalism and news media.
FUND TO SUPPORT LEBANON’S NEWS INDUSTRY
The Facebook Journalism Project, in collaboration with the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), has announced that it will invest $300,000 in a new program that aims to support the stabilisation and recovery needs of journalists and news organisations in Lebanon affected by the tragic explosion in Beirut on August 4.
GFMD MEMBERS’ CAPACITY TO ADMINISTER EMERGENCY GRANTS: SURVEY RESULTS
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the media industry, GFMD designed and distributed a survey aiming to gather concrete information about our member organisations’ capacity to administer grant and sub-granting mechanisms to journalism and media organisations.
#HOLDTHELINE COALITION CALLS FOR CRIMINAL TAX CHARGE TO BE DROPPED AS MARIA RESSA RETURNS TO COURT
The #HoldTheLine Coalition, a collective of 78 civil society and journalism organisations, demands the Philippines authorities drop a barrage of bogus tax and foreign ownership cases against internationally celebrated journalist Maria Ressa and Rappler – the news organisation she founded.
GFMD WRITTEN STATEMENT FOR THE 2020 HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL FORUM ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
The Global Forum for Media Development has submitted a written statement as an input for the High-Level Segment (HLS) of ECOSOC and the three-day ministerial meeting of the High-Level Political Forum on sustainable development (HLPF).
STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE MANDATE OF THE OSCE REPRESENTATIVE ON FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA
GFMD has joined a group of media freedom, media development, and journalism support organisations to express concern about the decision of the representatives of Azerbaijan and Tajikistan to block the renewal of the mandate of OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media.
COVERING COVID-19: REPORTS, RESOURCES, AND TOOLS
As COVID-19 spreads internationally, so too does potentially harmful misinformation and disinformation. Many media organisations, including some of GFMD’s members and partners, have been working on programmes and projects to help prevent the spread of false information and encourage journalists to cover the coronavirus as accurately as possible.
GFMD JOINS APPEAL TO STOP USE OF SLAPP ACTIONS ACROSS EUROPE
GFMD has joined Media Freedom Rapid Response partners, journalist bodies, freedom of expression, and journalist support organisations to express concern about the legal threats made against EUobserver in Luxembourg and Belgium and call to stop the use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) actions against media organisations across Europe.
GFMD JOINS CALL FOR MORE TRANSPARENT ALGORITHM INSPECTION
GFMD has joined twelve other civil society organisations to call on Commissioner Breton, Vice-President Jourova, and Commissioner Reynders to ensure online public debate and associated algorithms are moderated and curated in a more transparent and accountable way by social media platforms.
EU MEMBERS STATES MUST SUPPORT THE RECOVERY OF THE EUROPEAN MEDIA SECTOR
Following the launch by the European Commission of its Recovery Plan for Europe, press freedom, media development, and journalists’ organisations call on EU Member States to adopt an ambitious Multiannual Financial Framework, to strengthen the European media sector and independent journalism.
FUNDING AND SUSTAINABILITY MEASURES TO SUPPORT MEDIA IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
COVID-19 has caused major disruptions to the lives of journalists and media professionals. Beyond issues faced in efforts to cover the crisis safely, journalists must also deal with severe financial uncertainty. To alleviate this, several companies and organisations are committing to financially support journalism and news media.
JOINT EMERGENCY APPEAL FOR JOURNALISM AND MEDIA SUPPORT
To mark World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) 2020, GFMD, the International Civil Society Organization on the Safety of Journalists Coalition, and numerous GFMD members, partners, and affiliate networks have launched an emergency appeal for support for journalism organisations and independent media in response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
RESOURCES FOR TACKLING COVID-19 MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it the spread of potentially harmful misinformation and disinformation. With countries all around the world grappling to contain the coronavirus, the need for accurate media is increasingly apparent. With that, comes the need to identify, prevent, and challenge mis– and disinformation.
PRESS RELEASE: EMERGENCY APPEAL FOR JOURNALISM AND MEDIA SUPPORT IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 CRISIS
To mark World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) 2020, GFMD, the Safety of Journalists Coalition, and numerous GFMD members, partners, and affiliate networks have launched an emergency appeal for journalism and media support in response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
GFMD SUPPORT FOR MEDIA DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT COVID-19 CRISIS
In order to help build a sense of shared community among our network, learn from one another, and support each other during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, GFMD hosted an informal, members-only Virtual Town Hall on 25 March 2020. The first Town Hall led to the development of a joint statement and a shared resource centre.
SAFEGUARDING MEDIA FREEDOM AND PLURALISM THROUGH THE EUROPEAN RULE OF LAW MECHANISM
GFMD has joined together with 24 other civil society partners to send a list of recommendations to EU leaders on how a newly formed rule of law mechanism can help strengthen press freedom and media plurality.