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.

The new normal of journalism: Assume you’re being watched

May 6, 2015

It’s a happy week for the people of Latvia. They are celebrating the 25th anniversary of their independence from the Soviet Union, which was declared on 4 May 1990. That date signalled the lifting of decades of Soviet-style censorship and totalitarianism. So it is...

Charlie Hebdo murders mean journalism just got more dangerous

Jan 9, 2015

President Hollande of France called them "heroes" because they championed freedom. Fellow journalists and great crowds of citizens across Europe came out to pay tribute to the Charlie Hebdo journalists whose work cost them their lives. It has been an impressive first...

UN marks ‘deadliest decade’ for journalist deaths

Nov 4, 2014

This week the world has turned a spotlight on journalists. Not for the stories they break every day, but for the rising death toll among those who risk their lives to get the story out. The United Nations says more than 700 journalists have died in the past 10 years...

Europe must confront Russia’s propaganda machine

Aug 18, 2014

Ukraine conflict shows Europe’s weakness for Moscow’s propaganda The Kremlin’s use of disinformation has been laid bare after the shooting down of a Malaysia Airlines passenger plane on 17 July. Europeans must confront the grotesque propaganda machine on which...

Europe must confront Russia’s propaganda machine

Aug 18, 2014

Ukraine conflict shows Europe’s weakness for Moscow’s propaganda The Kremlin’s use of disinformation has been laid bare after the shooting down of a Malaysia Airlines passenger plane on 17 July. Europeans must confront the grotesque propaganda machine on which...