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March update
Welcome to the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s March update. In this newsletter, you’ll find highlights from across our areas of work, as well as the latest opportunities for you to get involved. If you don’t regularly receive our newsletter, you can subscribe here.
TRF at the Perugia International Journalism Festival
Next month, we’re heading to Perugia, Italy for the 17th edition of the International Journalism Festival, taking place from 19-23 April. We’re delighted to be joining this annual forum which brings together journalists, press freedom advocates and legal experts from around the world to unpack pressing challenges facing the media today. This year, the Foundation will be hosting three panel discussions, exploring legal threats facing independent journalism, covering climate impacts, and a discussion including our CEO, Antonio Zappulla on Endangered, a new documentary focused on threats to press freedom. All panel sessions will be livestreamed via their programme pages.
In addition, Yasir Khan, Editor-in-Chief of our media platform – Context – will be hosting a discussion, in collaboration with Report for the World and The International Press Institute, on the critical role of local journalists across the globe. Our Inclusive Economies Editor, Amruta Byatnal, will also be contributing to a panel on lessons from the pandemic for confronting climate change. Follow the latest Festival coverage on social media using the hashtag #ijf23.
TrustLaw Awards ceremony to be held on 16 May in London, UK
Every year at the TrustLaw Awards ceremony, we gather to recognise the remarkable pro bono projects undertaken by the Foundation’s pro bono legal network.
Join us on 16 May in London, UK, when we will celebrate our pro bono community and showcase some of the most impactful projects that TrustLaw has facilitated over the past year. We will also recognise the legal teams that have gone above and beyond to provide excellent pro bono support to our members.
The diversity of this year's nominees is a testament to our collective success in spreading the practice of free legal assistance for NGOs and social enterprises beyond traditional markets. Their work has provided innovative solutions to some of the world’s most critical challenges and supplied those on the frontlines with the tools to deliver positive change.
The ceremony will feature fireside chats with experts in the fields of media freedom and climate justice, and conclude with a drinks reception and the opportunity to network.
Why it matters that you’re seeing more LGBTQ+ people onscreen
Our latest Pocket collection centres on the importance of LGBTQ+ representation in the media. This collection is the third in a series produced in partnership with our digital news platform - Context – to showcase our reporting on critical issues.
In this collection, Lucy Middleton, deputy editor of Openly, the Foundation’s LGBTQ+ news platform, explores the community’s growing visibility in TV, film and across the media, and how this impacts societies’ perceptions and understanding of LGBTQ+ issues. Despite wider representation, LGBTQ+ people still face serious challenges to their rights globally, such as Uganda’s recent anti-gay bill and calls from Italy’s government for Milan’s city council to stop recognising same-sex couples as parents.
March updates from across the Foundation
Media Freedom:
2023 Kurt Schork Awards: Applications are open
We’re delighted to announce that applications for the 2023 Kurt Schork Awards in International Journalism are open. Now in their 22nd year, these important Awards celebrate courageous journalists around the world who report on conflict, corruption, human rights transgressions and injustice.
Hosted by the Kurk Schork Memorial Fund, the Awards are split into three categories recognising freelance journalists, local reporters and news fixers on the frontlines of pressing global issues.
In addition to a $5,000 prize, the 2023 winners will also have the opportunity to share their experiences in a panel discussion to be hosted at the Foundation’s annual flagship event, Trust Conference.
The deadline for applications is Wednesday, 31 May. Learn more about the Awards here.
Media Freedom Coalition: Annual Activity Report
The Media Freedom Coalition (MFC), a partnership of countries working together to advocate for media freedom around the world, recently published its annual activity report. The report highlights actions taken by member countries to enhance media freedom globally, including examples of domestic reforms and funding secured.
The report was prepared by the MFC Secretariat, which was established in July 2022 to provide administrative, operational and communications support to member states. The Foundation is proud to host the Secretariat and supports the MFC’s work in advocating for the safety of journalists around the world. Read the full report here.
Inclusive Economies:
New training launched: S in ESG Fast Track: Human Rights Due Diligence
Around the world, the roles and responsibilities of businesses are changing, with the momentum behind the environment, social and governance (ESG) agenda growing in intensity. The Foundation is launching a pilot programme this June – S in ESG Fast Track: Human Rights Due Diligence – with a focus on human rights due diligence and disclosure, which aims to help strengthen responsible business practices and create more resilient supply chains.
This training programme was developed in partnership with Human Level alongside Mazars, the international professional services firm, and Forum for the Future. The pilot is open to lawyers, sustainability and ESG professionals and financial specialists with the aim to equip them with an enhanced understanding of "S" in ESG reporting and the wider ecosystem. You’ll find more details about this training here.
Water security on World Water Day 2023
According to the UN, 2 billion people worldwide lack safe drinking water. This year’s World Water Day theme put a spotlight on water security, with a focus on ‘accelerating the change to solve the water and sanitation crises.’ To mark this event, Laurie Goering, award-winning Climate Editor of our news platform, Context, shared her perspectives on the challenges of water scarcity around the world.
In this interview, Laurie highlights the regions most at risk of a water crisis, including the Middle East and the Horn of Africa, and discusses solutions to boost water security from fighting climate change to rethinking how we do agriculture.
Attend Skoll World Forum this April
Context, the Foundation’s news platform is media partner for the 20th Skoll World Forum, taking place on 12–14 April in Oxford, UK. Public registration is now open for the virtual experience - a celebration of two decades of social progress and a survey of the road ahead. The virtual experience includes access to live streams and replays of plenaries and select Oxford sessions. Sign up for free by April 10 to reserve your place.
Human Rights:
IWD: Spotlighting the Foundation’s work in driving gender equality
Despite progress made in women’s rights in recent decades, UN women warns that we are 300 years away from achieving gender equality.
In celebration of International Women’s Day earlier this month, we highlighted how our approach to advancing media freedom, fostering more inclusive economies and promoting human rights supports women and girls around the world. From giving a platform to women leaders at Trust Conference – our annual flagship event - to championing women journalists through the annual Kurt Schork Awards, the Foundation continues to support gender equality and women’s empowerment through its work.
Discover more in our focus areas:
This month we recommend
READ: Iraq war: 20 year anniversary | Context
READ: Investigation: In Brazil's Amazon, carbon credit project halted over land dispute | Context
READ: Oxfam’s job is to end poverty – we refuse to be distracted by the toxic culture wars | Guardian
READ: 'Act now': IPCC climate report appeals to all to salvage 1.5C goal | Context
APPLY: Google News Initiative Student Fellowship | European Journalism Centre
Opportunities:
Experience Cloud Developer, TrustLaw (FT: 12 months). Based in India, the TrustLaw Portal Developer will help to transform the TrustLaw Members’ Portal – developing features to take it from a simple platform, through which we connect high-impact NGOs and social enterprises with leading law firms and corporate legal teams, to an interactive ecosystem that also offers opportunities for learning, knowledge-sharing, innovation, networking, and collaboration.
We are the corporate foundation of Thomson Reuters, the global news and information services company. We work to advance media freedom, foster more inclusive economies, and promote human rights.
