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October update
Welcome to the Thomson Reuters Foundation's monthly newsletter!
Why Trust Conference matters: A message from our CEO
I'm still feeling the energy from this year's Trust Conference, which is always the highlight of my calendar.
More than 750 people joined us from across the globe to demonstrate their shared commitment to strengthening media freedom, promoting responsible business and ethical AI adoption, and improving access to the law.
The conference is a culmination of all our work at the Foundation, and this year was no exception. The 20+ sessions and many varied topics stood as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when we come together across professions and sectors to tackle urgent challenges.
We were honoured to host an incredible array of speakers who shared their insights and expertise. We discussed the viability of democracy as we know it, with contributions from Wikipedia Founder Jimmy Wales and Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Christopher Wylie on how to bolster independent journalism and accurate information in an authoritarian era.
We examined the alarming global spread of 'foreign agent laws' and other 'lawfare' that targets journalists and civil society organisations, and heard from Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince and President of Omidyar Network, Michele Jawando, on how to chart a path toward responsible AI that serves public interest over profit.
For me, the most important outcome was the connections made. The new relationships and shared ideas sparked at Trust Conference have created a tangible sense of momentum which I hope will strengthen the ongoing work of those defending democratic rights and liberties. The challenges are real, but so is our ability to respond.
I already cannot wait to see what next year's conference brings. So, save the date - it's happening on the 4 and 5 November 2026.
Thank you for your continued support of our vital work. I look forward to seeing you next year!
--Antonio Zappulla, CEO, Thomson Reuters Foundation
Our key conference takeaways
Strengthening Independent Media
Journalists and media freedom advocates from across the globe shared their experiences of navigating the existential threats facing newsrooms - offering a sobering assessment of the current landscape, but also practical strategies for building resilience.
In our powerful opening panel, Dean at Columbia University's Journalism School Jelani Cobb celebrated the innovation and creativity that is emerging in the field of journalism, despite the challenges it faces. We also heard from the Washington Post's Carmella Boykin about how legacy media organisations can innovate to maintain relevance and connect with younger audiences.
Enabling Access to the Law
The conference drew attention to a concerning trend: the increasing use of so-called 'foreign agent laws' which are now rapidly spreading across countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and South America.
We heard stirring testimony from Alsu Kurmasheva, who bravely shared her experience of being designated a 'foreign agent' by the Russian state. Interim Director of TrustLaw, Kathryn Beck, emphasised that these laws systematically target both independent media and NGOs as key pillars of democracy, and underscored the need for coordinated legal defence strategies.
Promoting Responsible Business
We discussed how the rapid pace of AI development and adoption is reshaping labour rights and widening knowledge gaps worldwide, threatening both workers and business stability.
Laura Maher, Chief of Staff at Siegel Family Endowment, stressed the need to elevate best practice across the sector to avoid the concentration of power in the hands of the few. The French President's Special Envoy for AI Anne Bouverot made the case for a global regulatory approach, and highlighted the value of cooperative rather than competitive approaches to technological innovation.
Dig deeper: This month we recommend
📖 Read our exclusive interviews with this year's Trust Conference speakers:
- What's behind Gen Z's lack of trust in the media? | Louisa Compton, Channel 4 News
- How can democracy evolve? | David Runciman, Host of Past Present Future Podcast
- What does the future of philanthropy look like? | Sigrid van Aken, People's Postcode Lottery Group
📖Read recently published research from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism: Mapping news creators and influencers in social and video networks
📖Read Trust Conference reflections from our media partner, Devex: Authoritarianism is rising. How should the aid community respond?
📽️Watch exclusive videos from Trust Conference exploring the decline of democracy, shrinking civic space, the benefits and risks of AI, and media's fight for survival. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified when our session recordings are live.
🗓️ What's next? Take the conversation further at:
- International Civil Society Week | CIVICUS | 1-5 November, Bangkok, Thailand
- MozFest | Mozilla Foundation | 7-9 November 2025, Barcelona, Spain
- Impact Week | Impact Europe | 18 November 2025, Malmö, Sweden
- Global Investigative Journalism Conference | Global Investigative Journalism Network | 20-24 November 2025, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
We are the corporate foundation of Thomson Reuters, the global content and technology company. We leverage our media, legal and data-driven expertise to strengthen independent journalism, enable access to the law and promote responsible business.
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