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October update
Welcome to the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s October update. This edition, we’re showcasing highlights from Trust Conference, our flagship annual event, which took place in London earlier this month. Catch up on standout moments from this year’s forum and watch our expert speakers' takes on an AI-led world, threats to independent journalism, socially responsible business practices and the role of law in climate justice. If you don’t regularly receive our newsletter, you can subscribe here.
Trust Conference 2023: Here's what we learned
This year, we welcomed over 600 delegates from more than 40 countries to Trust Conference. Across two days, world leading experts, innovators and activists came together to discuss some of the gravest issues of our time. These thought-provoking conversations explored the synergies between media freedom, human rights, technology and sustainability, and underscored the power of collective action when tackling significant global challenges.
Day one shone a light on defending media freedom. We were joined by speakers including Hatice Cengiz, social and political activist, who opened the conference with a heartfelt keynote speech on the importance of a free media and the significance of Jamal Khashoggi's work.
“Jamal’s legacy is freedom of thought and the fight for more democracy and free journalism."
Other speakers who shared their expertise included Caoilfhionn Gallagher KC, Barrister at Doughty Street Chambers; James Stewart, Director of Communications, National Cyber Security Centre and Leslie Miley, Technical advisor to Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft. They discussed an array of critical topics such as protecting reporters from legal attacks, cyber risks to journalists and the impacts of generative AI on newsrooms.
Day two delved deep into the ethics of AI. As the world grapples to keep pace with the progress of this powerful new technology, speakers discussed the need for revised safeguarding measures, ensuring a smooth and equitable transition for workforces around the world. What sectors will be impacted? How will labour rights be protected? These were just some of the questions covered in a fireside chat with Vilas Dhar, President of the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation and Amandeep Singh Gill, UN Under-Secretary-General and Secretary-General's Envoy on Technology.
With technology shaping many aspects of our daily lives, Frances Haugen, advocate for accountability and transparency in social media, delivered an inspiring keynote speech on how we can address the harms caused by social media.
"My hope is that a year from now, or two years from now, we look back and we say, we learned something in the process of making social media accountable."
Here are some of our key Conference takeaways
Media Freedom:
Spotlighting journalism in exile
Countless reporters around the world face threats of harassment, imprisonment and death every year. Our journalism in exile panel highlighted the dangers journalists face, especially during emerging crises, and called for governments across the globe to foster enabling environments in which reporters can do their work safely.
Panellist Roman Aleksandrovich Anin, Editor of iStories, described the physical and psychological toll faced by journalists in exile including being ostracised by family and friends.
“The majority of my team are young reporters, young women. And we have a couple of cases in the newsroom where they don’t talk to their parents because their parents believe that they are traitors…”
Inclusive Economies:
Exploring the social impact of mandatory human rights due diligence
Fostering inclusive economies is a core pillar of the Foundation’s work. Sustainability experts unpacked the ways in which new human rights due diligence legislation is changing business operations globally. Speakers discussed the challenges of making emerging mandatory requirements effective to protect people and the planet, and applauded organisations leading the charge in upholding the rights of workers in global supply chains. However, they raised concerns about whether new laws are doing enough to change the realities of workers around the world.
Caroline Omari Lichuma, Research and Development Specialist at University of Luxembourg, questioned whether new regulations are as inclusive as they could be.
“Who is driving these processes? It seems to me that these is a global north versus global south dimension going on. These laws are being created in global north parliaments and they are doing very little to include the global south.”
Human Rights:
Harnessing the law to secure climate justice
Climate litigation is increasingly being used as a tool to fight for justice for communities affected by the devastating impacts of climate change around the world. Our panel of legal experts discussed climate litigation trends including combatting greenwashing with a focus on tackling issues such as unproven technologies. The panellists also shared some innovative approaches to funding in this space, as bringing cases to court can be complex and lengthy, and called for more
education, so that communities are able to access legal support.
Andy Raine, Head of Frontiers in Environmental Law at United Nations Environment Programme, stressed the importance of climate litigation.
"We are in the fight of our lives. Litigation alone will remain the essential tool, but it can’t be the only one.”
Discover more in our focus areas:
This month we recommend
In celebration of Trust Conference, we’re spotlighting coverage from Context – our digital news platform and headline media partner for the forum. The articles below focus on some of this year’s key themes such as the impact of AI on labour markets with the proliferation of automation in recruitment and a spotlight on international law and climate action.
Thank you to everyone who joined us! Trust Conference is all about bringing people together to inspire action and create solutions. Subscribe to the Trust Conference YouTube channel to be the first to know when this year’s panel sessions are published.
Opportunities
Learn more about our latest job roles below.
Communications Manager, London, UK
Senior Legal Programme Manager, Africa, TrustLaw, Nairobi, Kenya
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.
