Announcement: Media Defence Launches New Visual Identity and Website

Media Legal Defence Initiative is now trading as Media Defence. Along with our new trading name, we also unveil a new logo and website, which will help us reach more journalists in need.

Since our founding in 2008, we have seen the context in which the media operates deteriorate worldwide. With the spread of populism, governments have implemented restrictive and abusive practises, and new threats such as online harassment have emerged. Attacks on press freedom, including the use of emergency regulations to target those who inform the public, have proliferated around the world. COVID-19 has only accelerated this decline, with media workers subjected to physical attacks, arrest and detention for reporting on the virus.

We need independent and accurate news now more than ever. Media Defence helps journalists, citizen journalists and media outlets who face legal action as a result of their work. Our support is crucial in ensuring they can continue reporting.

As the demand for our work continues to grow, it is critical that those who need us are aware of our support and can easily access it. Media Defence neatly sums up what we do and the nature of the support we provide, and will help us reach more journalists in need.

“Media Defence translates universal values of freedom into practical help and support for media workers around the world: our new branding reflects the clarity of our aims, the importance of our programmes and the energy and enthusiasm of our team. Its introduction marks a moment when the need for our work is more urgent than ever before.”

Bob Jobbins, Chair of the Board of Trustees

Our clean and modern branding emphasises the importance of freedom of expression and the dangers of censorship. It signals our optimism that our support can have a positive practical impact on the lives of the journalists we help, our strong commitment to providing them with the best possible defence, and our innovation and creativity in pushing for better protection of the media by working through the courts.

Our new website is designed with this vision in mind, implementing our new visual identity and a more modern, clean design, which is simple to use to ensure those who need our support can access it quickly. We are also building an extensive library of legal resources readily available to assist lawyers in their defence of the media. An eReader ensures that our training materials are easily accessible and searchable.

“With media around the world under ever increasing pressure, our crisp new trading name, visual identity and website will help us accelerate our development in the years to come, so that we can fulfil our mission of ensuring legal protection of journalists and media workers around the world. ”

Alinda Vermeer, Acting CEO

We would like to thank Atelier Doodle, Misfit and Wurtemberg for their amazing work on our rebranding journey.