News

Why we need urgent reforms to protect sources

In our “post-truth”, digital world, investigative journalism based on information from confidential sources and whistleblowers, is facing unprecedented threats, writes Julie Posetti, author of the report “Protecting Journalism Sources in the Digital Age” which WAN-IFRA produced for UNESCO. It launched this week.

Media, Our Best Hope On World Press Freedom Day

Pressures on journalists and media organisations are designed to reduce transparency and accountability in society. Usually it means powerful interests have something to hide from public view. Ultimately, media need to do more to convince public opinion that such targeting is an attack on common values and will not be tolerated.

‘Fake news’ is not journalism

Would you trust your news from any source? How are we able to ensure that ‘fake’(d)news does not overtake the flow of information asks Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General on the eve of World Press Freedom Day.

Truth in the age of Trump: why things are much, much more difficult

The ability of citizens and journalists to ‘speak truth to power’ is disappearing before our eyes, writes Julie Posetti.

Attacks on the press: the new face of censorship

Many reports have been written about the deteriorating state of freedom of expression around the world, but very few capture the mind-boggling diversity of ways that journalists and news organisations have been attacked, harassed, intimidated or shut down quite the way CPJ’s new report Attacks on the Press does, writes Javier Garza Ramos, safety advisor to the World Editors Forum.

Overcoming mistrust in a populist age

In this time of populism and identity politics, there is an ongoing erosion of the confidence placed in essential democratic institutions. Formerly cemented conceptions about democracy and the role of journalism as its watchdog are today being contested. Can democracy and ethical journalism survive in a post-truth era?

WAN-IFRA Letter to President Trump, 27 March 2017

International media leaders have signalled their deep concern with the US administration’s persistent attacks on the press in a letter addressed to President Donald Trump.

Tech giants need to place higher value on professional journalism

Never in recent history, have not just freedom of expression, but the expression of truth, been under such threat on a global scale, warned World Editors Forum President Marcelo Rech at a UNESCO colloquium in Paris on Journalism Under Fire. To get through the current crisis, tech companies need to recognise and value professional journalism above other content.

WAN-IFRA surveys gender balance in news organisations

As part of International Women’s Day celebrations, WAN-IFRA has created the “Gender Reality Check” survey for media houses to take during the month of March. It explores how the management of media houses can increase women’s leadership and voices in the news, and, how we as an industry can collectively promote gender equality.

Top 2017 New Year’s resolution: help keep the British press free

A public consultation launched by the UK government and ending on 10 January could have chilling consequences to press freedom both in Britain and around the world. We encourage all those passionate about freedom of expression to make their voice heard by joining the campaign #FreethePress.