WAN-IFRA’s work and strategic orientations are steered by an international Supervisory Board, comprising representatives of national publishers associations as well as top management of media companies.
The Supervisory Board is supported by the Advisory Boards and Regional Committees representing the various member communities of the organisation. The Advisory Boards are consultative bodies that define the priorities of the association’s work. The Executive Board, a smaller group of Supervisory Board members, mentors the senior management.
New streamlined governance framework was introduced in June 2019.
The goals are to be more supportive of management in the face of constant change in the media environment and to improve the communication between the management, the board and the membership.
The framework presented to The Board Members gathered in Glasgow on June 3, 2019, highlights three pillars that are the core of the work of WAN-IFRA: Press Freedom and Journalism, Media Sustainability, and Media Innovation.
The new structure creates an Executive Board of up to eleven members, working with senior management to aid the organisation’s success.
The structure also includes a Supervisory Board similar in number and function to the previous Board of Directors. The role of this board is to approve the strategy and budget of the association, elect the Executive Board and represent the association to the membership and the membership with the association.
Creating a structure that supports the association is an important step. Success is when we breathe life into the structure and rededicate ourselves to the critical work of WAN-IFRA.
Supervisory Board
The Supervisory Board has a community-engagement role with decision-making power. It takes responsibility for the strategic planning of our programmes and the association’s patronage. It embodies the values and missions of WAN-IFRA. It drives its programmes and activities. That power is distributed among all constituencies and communities represented by our Advisory Boards, Regional Committees and Association representatives on the Supervisory Board. It is designed to help the organisation to focus on the activities that contribute most to WAN-IFRA’s overall objectives.
The role of the Supervisory Board is to:
- Focus on fundraising and membership acquisition.
- Convey to WAN-IFRA the interests of news publishers and what support they expect from WAN-IFRA.
- Support and promote WAN-IFRA’s activities in its three operating pillars: press freedom and journalism, media sustainability, and media innovation.
Its key mandate is:
- Approve the Strategy and Budget.
- Approve the accounts before ratification at GAM
- Elect the Executive Board
- Admit new National Association in membership. Approve membership fees for national member associations. Decide on membership fees before ratification at GAM.
- Decide on the Golden Pen of Freedom.
Executive Board
The Executive Board has an oversight and stewardship role.
It advises and guides the management and has expertise in finance and management, helping the senior management make decisions and run the organisation and its operations. It is designed to help the organisation to focus on the activities that contribute most to its overall objectives as defined by the Supervisory Board, use its resources effectively, and ensure that WAN-IFRA is managed in the best interests of its stakeholders.
The role of the Executive Board is to:
- Mentor senior management and provide guidance, resources, advice, and introductions to ensure the organisation’s success.
- Be available for senior management as needed.
- Ensure that the Supervisory Board is aware of any significant development.
- Represent the interests of all stakeholders in WAN-IFRA.
Its key mandate is:
- Directs and supervises the association and represents it with regard to third parties. Decides on important strategic & operational issues.
- Receives mandate from the Supervisory Board and reports all activities and decisions to the Supervisory Board.
- Decides on location for Congress.
- Appoints the Nominating Committee and other ad hoc committees
Organigram
