News

WAN-IFRA urges broader consultation for Ukraine’s proposed disinformation bill to avoid risks for freedom of expression

2020-04-09. The proposed Media Bill is a Threat to Freedom of Expression in Ukraine. WAN-IFRA has written to Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, to express concern over a new bill before parliament that would criminalise the dissemination of misinformation and potentially target legitimate news sources.

WAN-IFRA urges Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan to release immediately Mr. Mir Shakil-ur-Rehman, owner, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of the Jang Media Group and Geo TV

2020-04-02. The World Association of News Publishers and the World Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications, 15,000 online sites and over 3,000 companies in more than 120 countries, have expressed deep concern at the arrest of Editor-in-Chief of the Jang/Geo Media Group Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman and called for his immediate release.

Quality journalism in troubled times. An open letter by Fernando de Yarza, President WAN-IFRA

2020-03-28. In the span of just a few weeks, the entire world has been plunged into an inconceivable ordeal. A global pandemic has led to an unprecedented collective psychosis. The fear caused by uncertainty about the present and the future amplifies the turmoil. People get sick, and others unfortunately die. Memories of meetings with friends and family remain distant. Confinement multiplies anxiety. The situation seems to be dragging on.

WAN-IFRA Denounces Death Threats Against Slovenian Journalist in Relation to Covid-19 Reporting

2020-03-27. Investigative journalist Blaž Zgaga has been targeted by a hate campaign fuelled by the Slovenian government on social networks and in the media since sending an official Freedom of Information Request on the COVID-19 pandemic to the authorities in Ljubljana.

Open letter to President Xi Jinping. The virus thrives on censorship. Free and reliable information is necessary to avoid the worst

2020-03-26. In an open letter to President Xi Jinping, WAN-IFRA and the World Editors Forum urge the Chinese government to reverse its decision to force foreign reporters to leave the country and, more broadly, to ease the growing crackdown on independent news organisations that preceded this action.

WAN-IFRA launches coronanewsroom.org, a resource desk for news media professionals

2020-03-23. WAN-IFRA has published a dedicated resource site at www.coronanewsroom.org to share its members’ experiences, best-practice, crucial resources, and the things we are doing to help.

WAN-IFRA is launching a series of webinars to help accelerate, support and coordinate the global efforts of news publishers in the fight against Coronavirus

2020-03-17. In the context of its ongoing commitment to addressing the safety of journalists and the continuity of the critical mission of the press, WAN-IFRA is announcing a series of live web meetings and webinars to address some of the main challenges facing news media in the context of the current global Coronavirus outbreak.

WAN-IFRA takes precautionary measures to mitigate the coronavirus impact

2020-03-10. WAN-IFRA shares global concerns over the spread and impact on public health of coronavirus. We have devised our own plans for keeping employees, members, and partners safe and protecting the most fragile populations affected by the virus.

New digital manual to help newsrooms include more authoritative female voices in their stories

2020-03-02. Today, the United for News coalition launches Reflect Reality, a digital manual to help newsrooms include more authoritative female and diverse voices in their stories. Led by Internews in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, United for News’ Reflect Reality incorporates proven strategies and lessons learned from two dozen organizations around the world working to address this disparity.

WAN-IFRA Roadmap for the turn of a decade

2020-02-06. Since its formation nearly 70 years ago, WAN-IFRA’s mission has been to meet the needs of its members and to act for the good of the entire industry and the society. This guiding charter will be just as relevant in the decade ahead as it was at our founding. WAN-IFRA will continue to evolve and transform to meet the challenges of an environment profoundly reshuffled by the emergence of new behaviours, new extensive systems of power, and emerging alternative threats to freedom of expression.