Overview
For over 40 years, we have empowered journalists worldwide to produce trustworthy, impactful journalism that informs citizens and holds power to account. We’ve fostered transparency, promoted democracy and helped journalists navigate investigative reporting, data journalism and ethical storytelling.
In an era of rapid media evolution, with shifts in technology, finance and consumption habits, our programmes respond to changing industry needs, advancing editorial excellence, digital transformation, audience engagement and sustainable business operations. By equipping journalists with essential tools and skills, we make sure quality journalism thrives amid ongoing challenges.
Support for journalists
We empower journalists to develop the skills, connections and protections they need to navigate today’s complex media environment, while upholding high standards of ethical reporting. With a focus on building capacity, creating robust networks and providing essential resources, our initiatives range from training and mentoring programmes to legal support.
Essential skills for journalists
From crafting compelling narratives to leveraging cutting-edge technologies, we equip journalists with the tools to produce impactful, accurate content in today’s digital landscape. Our group training sessions and bespoke 1:1 mentoring programmes cover all stages of media production and distribution. Topics include issues such as ethical standards, open-source intelligence (OSINT), multimedia storytelling, cybersecurity and audience engagement.
Coverage of the world’s pressing issues
Our thematic training and mentoring programmes ensure reporters stay on top of the critical issues shaping our world, such as climate change, illicit financial flows, elections, AI, LGBTQ+ rights and many others. This comprehensive learning empowers journalists to provide informed, balanced coverage across diverse topics, enhancing public understanding of complex global challenges.
Future Media Leaders programme
Our Future Media Leaders programme empowers mid-career journalists and media managers to become industry leaders in the near future. We focus on leadership, management in challenging contexts, business and strategy, team building and wellbeing. Participants learn the skills to lead change, foster innovation and model teamwork, setting them up for future leadership success.
Cross-border collaboration
Our programmes connect journalists from multiple countries to investigate transnational issues. This approach builds powerful networks among journalists to work together on cross-border investigations. We also provide story grants and mentoring.
Alumni network
We maintain active engagement with our alumni networks, which encompass over 5,000 journalists worldwide. Our alumni receive ongoing training, networking and career development opportunities. This vibrant community serves as a valuable resource, providing frontline insights that shape our programmes.
Support for newsrooms
We support independent media outlets to navigate the challenges and opportunities of the changing media landscape from a position of strength, focusing on the twin pillars of editorial excellence and business sustainability. Our wide range of tools and services empowers newsrooms – from well-established media outlets to start-ups and organisations in exile – to produce powerful public interest journalism, maintain sustainable, compliant and efficient operations and maximise their audience reach. Offerings include business assessment tools, legal support, technological guidance, training and mentoring services.
Strategy, planning and process
Based on an assessment of a newsrooms’ needs, capacity and priorities, we help them to develop effective strategies across all areas of their operations, from editorial and audience development, to business, communications and technology. After initial assessments, we work with outlets on a bespoke, comprehensive or focused transformation programme, which includes harnessing the latest technology to optimise workflows and boost effectiveness.
Editorial excellence and audience engagement
We provide training and support to improve editorial policies and practices, develop innovative editorial products and transform independent outlets’ capacity to cover new beats and engage new audiences. As well as offering training to close skills gaps and enhance reporting standards, we also support organisations with improved analytics to facilitate data-driven audience development.
Revenue and funding
We offer expert guidance, research and resources to support independent media outlets to build sustainable business models that will enable them to survive, and thrive, in a challenging financial landscape. Aimed at strengthening newsrooms’ financial viability and resilience, our services include support with revenue strategy development and fundraising.
Legal Service for Independent Media
We provide a wide range of free legal services and resources for independent newsrooms. From organisational ‘legal health checks’ to research and advice, we support newsrooms to build their awareness of relevant legal frameworks, ensure compliance, mitigate operational vulnerabilities and defend themselves against harassment and legal attacks.
Tech for newsrooms
From employee training in cybersecurity or open-source intelligence to guiding outlets through the challenges and opportunities of generative AI, we support newsrooms to harness technology to transform their business. Our AI readiness assessments explore newsrooms’ capacity for the strategic adoption of AI, and we provide training and solutions where appropriate.
Governance, leadership and culture
We help senior managers to strengthen internal policies and structures to enhance fairness, transparency and accountability within their organisation, enabling them to improve productivity and wellbeing. This includes developing structures and processes that promote and sustain employees’ resilience and mental health.
Our impact
Years
We have over four decades of experience supporting independent media around the world and training journalists to report on critical issues accurately and impartially.
Journalists trained
We have promoted the highest standards in journalism to thousands of reporters worldwide and established a global alumni network who provide frontline insights that help to shape our programmes.
Newsrooms supported
Since January 2023, we have bolstered editorial excellence and business sustainability for more than 70 independent media outlets around the world.
Impact spotlight
The Strategic Organisations Needs and Capacity assessment is huge but filling it out was very useful for us. It was like a new training for our media company.
The training provided vital support towards our quest for media sustainability. Learning about the link between business models and editorial policy was critical in helping us to understand how the business side of the newsroom could compromise our editorial independence.
We are very grateful to the Foundation for the opportunity to discuss our needs in AI, cybersecurity and open-source intelligence. Not all partners are ready to support our needs in these areas, and we are glad that we can share our difficulties and get support.
The Foundation not only supported me to develop skills and a broader understanding of AI and Data and Digital Rights, but they also offered me a stipend that helped me to travel to meet experts and sources who spiced up my story and made it better.
Thanks to the support of the Foundation, our organisation gained stability and the opportunity for long-term planning. It has allowed us to implement long-term development strategies, establish effective business processes, and respond to changes in our industry with confidence and flexibility.
Programmes
Supporting Media in Exile
Thousands of journalists worldwide are forced to operate in exile due to political restrictions and repressions in their home countries. Most independent media in Russia were forced to close or fled in the face of increasingly harsh restrictions, which…
Strengthening the Ecosystem for Independent Media in Africa
As part of our work to bolster the resilience of independent media globally, this programme aims to strengthen media ecosystems in Kenya, South Africa, and Zambia.
Working to Curb Illicit Financial Flows
Every year, Africa is estimated to lose approximately USD 88.6 billion to illicit financial flows (IFFs), 3.7% of the continent’s GDP. These illicit activities limit the funds available for economic development and undermine social…
AI Ethics, Data and Digital Rights Accelerator
In partnership with The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, the ‘AI Ethics, Data and Digital Rights Accelerator’ brings together journalists, newsrooms and civil society organisations (CSOs) working in the fields of AI and…
