Thomson Reuters Foundation as a Secretariat for Media Freedom Coalition
The Thomson Reuters Foundation has undertaken the Secretariat function of the Media Freedom Coalition (MFC), appointed by the U.K. government.
The Media Freedom Coalition was formed in July 2019 as a partnership of 50 countries working together to advocate for media freedom and safety of journalists and hold to account those who harm journalists for doing their job. The Coalition’s raison d’etre is to defend media freedom where it is under threat. Members of the Coalition have signed the Global Pledge on Media Freedom, a written commitment to improving media freedom domestically and working together internationally.
Currently, the Netherlands and Canada are co-chairing the coalition, but it is not made clear in the announcement why the U.K. government was responsible for appointing a Secretariat, but it is registered in the website as the biggest donor to the Coalition’s Fund with £3 million.
The appointment though comes with a funding of £600,000 by the U.K. government for the Secretariat to advance the work of the MFC, with a view to ensuring its future sustainability and visibility as an independent organisation.
“By supporting the MFC to amplify the work of the Coalition, along with its partners the High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom, the Consultative Network, and UNESCO, the Foundation will support members to harness the power of diplomatic networks and improve protections for the media locally and worldwide”, said the CEO of Thomson Reuters Foundation, Antonio Zappulla.
In 2021, at least 45 journalists and media workers were killed, while the number of journalists jailed for their work stands at a global high.
The Thomson Reuters Foundation will be hiring for three roles in the Secretariat and information can be found here.
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