Covid-19 Appeal: Help Us Defend Independent Media

The context in which the media operates is forecast to worsen. Insecurity and populism spread, governments copy restrictive and abusive practices from others, and new threats such as online harassment emerge. The COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated this downward spiral. Attacks on press freedom, including the use of emergency regulations to target those who inform the public, have proliferated around the world.

Journalists have been arrested, detained, threatened and assaulted for reporting on the pandemic or criticising their government’s approaches to it. More and more journalists are facing legal threats alone, without the protection of resourced media houses or the financial ability to pay for a good lawyer.

We can’t currently meet the ever-increasing demand. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, we anticipate that less funding will be available over the next few years, resulting in unexpected funding gaps. That’s why we need your support. Together, we can defend independent media across the world. You can help us in two ways, make a financial donation or donate your time.

Help us defend independent media.

With high quality legal representation, journalists can continue their critical work to keep us informed and hold power to account during the crisis.

£300 helps us provide pro bono legal advice

£1,500 is often enough to keep a journalist out of prison

£3,000 enables us to take a strategic case to improve the climate within which the media operate

£25,000 supports a national media defence centre for a whole year

Donate your time: pro bono support helps us take landmark press freedom cases and train lawyers

If you would like to donate, please click here.

If you would like to provide pro-bono legal support, please click here.

Read more about our work here.