Sophie Smit
About Sophie Smit
Posts by Sophie Smit:
M20 Policy Brief 8: The vanishing lifeline — Policy solutions for media funding challenges
Download the PDF here. Lead writers Pierre Dagard and Sadibou Marong, RSF/Reporters Without Borders Overview Press freedom is a cornerstone of democracy, but it faces growing challenges in G20 countries and beyond – not only from censorship and political interference but also from media financial instability. The 2025 World Press […]
M20 Policy Brief 7: Escalating assaults on journalists’ safety are a threat to democracy
Download the PDF here. Lead writer Glenda Daniels, Associate Professor, Media Studies, Wits University; Secretary-General, SA National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) Overview Attacks on journalists worldwide are a monstrosity for democracy’s existential commitment to information integrity. Solidarity is needed with the frontline fighters for information integrity; Sustainability is required so they […]
PODCAST | M20 and the media
POWER Week host Chris Vick speaks to Managing director of media monitoring Africa William Bird about The M20 is an independent initiative to ensure issues relating to media integrity and healthy information ecosystems are reflected in the G20 policy agenda. The M20 mirrors official G20 engagement groups for business, think-tanks, civil society among others, and includes participation in G20 events, convenings of media and information ecosystem role players.
Why defending information integrity should be a global priority for South Africa
This article was written by Michael Markovitz and published on Substack. On 14 May, I attended an event at the French Residence in Pretoria that brought together diplomats, media leaders, and civil society representatives under the theme From Brazil to South Africa – Putting Media Issues on the G20 Agenda. Hosted […]
Op-ed: G20 alert — the assault on information integrity is intensifying
This article was written by Janet Heard and published on Daily Maverick. Public interest media has a small window in the build-up to the G20 Summit in South Africa. The Group of 20 is easily dismissed as a talk shop with little substance. The gathering of ministers and heads of […]