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.
Europe must confront Russia’s propaganda machine
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...
Pakistani journalist murder attempt flags a wider struggle for press freedom
The near-fatal shooting last weekend of Hamid Mir, one of Pakistan’s best-known TV anchormen, looks like becoming a symbol of a wider challenge to the survival of free journalism - not just in Pakistan but in a growing number of countries where journalists are...
Committee of Ministers decides on radical measures to protect journalists’ work
Ambassadors representing the 47 member states of the Council of Europe have announced a package of radical and far-reaching measures to enhance the safety of journalists and protect the work of journalists. Read the full list of proposals from the Council of Europe...
Council of Europe declares fresh efforts to safeguard citizens against mass surveillance and protect bloggers and journalists
Ministers from the 47 states of the Council of Europe with responsibility for media matters, meeting in Belgrade, have declared themselves ‘appalled’ that journalists in Europe are increasingly subject to threats, assaults, imprisonment and even being killed...
Monitoring of media freedom violations is a ‘blind spot’ for the Council of Europe
Council of Europe needs encouragement from NGOs to launch online database on serious violations of media freedom For many years the 47 member governments of the Council of Europe have had a blind spot about media freedom. They have been unwilling to give the go-ahead...