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 Commonwealth’s twin problems with media freedom and a blueprint for action
By William Horsley “It’s never been so bad”. With those words Kayode Soyinka, the London-based publisher of Africa Today, summed up the wide consensus that emerged from the Media Freedom Panel discussion during the Taking Stock of the Commonwealth day-long global...
CFOM Panel on “Seen and Unseen Barriers to Media Freedom” on 14 November during International Journalism Week 2019
By Michael Quinn and William Horsley The CFOM Panel session, moderated by CFOM International Director William Horsley, was flagged as an event marking International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. The session was organised under the auspices of the...
The Global Media Freedom Campaign: a glimpse into the agenda of the High-level Legal Panel on media freedom
By William Horsley, International Director, CFOM An ambitious and wide-ranging agenda The chairman of the UK government’s independent High-Level Panel of Legal Experts, Lord Neuberger, has outlined its ambitious plans two months after the panel was established at the...
“Why has the EU become a more hostile environment for journalists?”
William Horsley, International Director, Centre for Freedom of the Media, University of Sheffield and UK Chairman of the Association of European Journalists. Lecture given at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences Symposium Presse - und Medienfreiheit in der EU –...
The Assange dilemma: Julian Assange’s case is a test for the public’s right to know and for public trust in a free press
William Horsley, International Director of CFOM, Centre for Freedom of the Media, University of Sheffield The legal actions against Julian Assange have far-reaching implications for the public’s right to know, but also for public trust in journalism and the workings...