William Horsley is CFOM’s International Director. He has a leading role to promote CFOM’s global mission to strengthen international protections for free and independent media and freedom of expression through research and analysis, advocacy, topical public events and seminars and policy advice to governments and media. He also engages with inter-governmental organisations, such as UNESCO and the Council of Europe.
His International Director’s Column focuses on issues of media freedom across the world alongside providing a snapshot of the advocacy work that William does. You can find his pieces below.
What’s the point of World Press Freedom Day?
This year’s commemorations of World Press Freedom Day from May 2-4 in Helsinki attracted a record 1,100 press freedom activists, journalists, international officials and others. The event was practical and focused on seeking solutions to urgent threats and problems,...
Our International Director to attend World Press Freedom Day International Conference in Helsinki, 2nd-4th May
Joining our three members who will are a part of the World Press freedom Day Research Conference, William Horsley, our International Director, will be speaking at the main conference. "At the World Press Freedom Day international conference I will take part in...
Two-and-a-half cheers for the UK’s Freedom of Information Act
British newspapers and press freedom campaigners heaved a sigh of relief after a government-appointed commission stepped back from proposals to impose charges for disclosure requests, and on 1 March Cabinet Office minister Matt Hancock announced “We will not make any...
What can the Commonwealth do for journalists?
How can the Commonwealth confront the repression – and in some cases forceful oppression - of independent and critical journalists in some of its member states? This week Patricia Scotland, a Labour life peer and former Attorney-General, starts work as Commonwealth...
Big Media ‘must do more’ to protect journalists
The big guns of the world’s media have found themselves at fault. At UNESCO’s Paris headquarters on 5 February, 200 senior media managers, editors and journalists from around the world, whose everyday job is to hold others to account, publicly examined their own...