Who’s Involved

The M20 initiative is organised by the South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) and Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) as an independent programme running alongside the official 2025 G20 activities in South Africa to highlight media, journalism and information integrity issues relevant to the G20 process. The M20 programme includes the compilation of policy briefs, a series of webinars and events to highlight key issues as well as the M20 Summit.

International Advisory Group

Churchill Otieno

The African Editors’ Forum (TAEF)

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Churchill Otieno is a seasoned journalist with 22 years of experience in digital media. He leads various organizations focused on journalism innovation and sustainability, including The Africa Editors Forum and the Eastern Africa Editors Society. Otieno has held senior roles such as President of the Kenya Editors’ Guild and Managing Editor for Digital at Nation Media Group. He also teaches media and communication at Aga Khan University and Moi University. LinkedIn profile here.

Siddharth Varadarajan

The Wire, India

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Paula Miraglia

CEO of Momentum Journalism and tech task force in Brazil

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Paula Miraglia is the founder and CEO of Momentum – Journalism & Tech Task Force and publisher of Gama Revista. She co-founded and directed Nexo Jornal for eight years. Paula holds a Ph.D. in Social Anthropology from the University of São Paulo, where she also completed her master’s and undergraduate studies in Social Sciences. She is a Sulzberger Fellow at Columbia University. She serves on the boards of the Center for News Technology and Innovation, the International Press Institute, Instituto de Referência Negra Peregum, Brazilian Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and Data Privacy Brasil. LinkedIn profile here.

Khadija Patel

International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFPIM)

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Khadija Patel is a former editor-in-chief of the Mail & Guardian, a co-founder of the The Daily Vox and vice chairperson of the Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI). As a journalist she has produced work for Sky News, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, Quartz, City Press and the Daily Maverick, among others. She is also a research associate at WISER (Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Witwatersrand) and has previously worked in community media. LinkedIn profile here.

Camille Grenier

Forum on Information and Democracy (FID)

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Camille Grenier is the Executive Director of the Forum on Information and Democracy, a civil society organization leading efforts to promote and safeguard the principles of information integrity and democracy globally. His work is notably focused at the intersection of media freedom and sustainability, platforms governance and geopolitics. Having led the creation and development of the Forum on Information and Democracy since its inception, he has gained expertise on a range of issues and has represented the organization and its work during both international events and closed-door high-level meetings. His previous work has notably on the impact of regulation on innovation, and projects on how emerging technologies intersect with society and democratic values. LinkedIn profile here.

Dr. Laura Moore

Deutsche Welle Akademie

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Laura Moore has 15 years of experience in the field of international media development, with a focus on media viability and measuring media freedom. She’s the author of the “Media Viability Manifesto”, the first ever sector-wide framework to tackle the economic crisis facing journalism. Laura has worked as a journalist for several German media outlets and was a newspaper reporter in Mexico. LinkedIn profile here.

Herman Wasserman

Centre for Information Integrity in Africa (CINIA)

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Herman Wasserman is Professor of Journalism and Director of the Centre for Information Integrity in Africa at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. He has published widely on media, information integrity and ethics in the Global South. He is a Fellow of the International Communication Association and an elected member of the Academy of Science of South Africa. LinkedIn profile here.

Anya Schiffrin

School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University in New York

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Dr. Anya Schiffrin, TPI concentration co-director at Columbia University / SIPA, is a leading thinker and commentator on AI and publishing, media sustainability, mis/disinformation, and media impact. She writes extensively on topics including journalism and development, the impact of technology on journalism, platform regulations and remuneration, media in Africa, and the extractive sector, among other areas. LinkedIn profile here.

Mira Milosevic

Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD)

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Mira Milosevic is the Executive Director of Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD). She previously managed Media Development Programmes at WAN-IFRA, served as Chief Platform Officer at Indie Voices, and Director of Belgrade Media Center. She authored WAN-IFRA’s World Press Trends reports and holds degrees in Economics and Communication. LinkedIn profile here.

Dr Yemisi Akinbobola

African Women in Media

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Dr. Yemisi Akinbobola is an award-winning journalist, academic, consultant, and podcast host specializing in women’s rights and media development. She co-founded African Women in Media, an NGO promoting gender equality in African media. As an Associate Professor and Research Degrees Coordinator at BCU’s College of English and Media, she leads the Doctoral training program and conducts research on women’s rights and media. She served as editorial consultant for the UNSCR1325 Commemorative Book and hosts the podcast She Stands for Peace. Dr. Akinbobola is a board member at St Gabriel’s Academy and Vice President at the Sustainable Journalism Partnership. In 2021, she was named one of Africa’s 100 Most Influential Women. LinkedIn profile here.

Saorla McCabe

UNESCO

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Saorla McCabe is an Advisor for Communication and Information Strategy and Policy at UNESCO. She also serves as Deputy Secretary of UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication, an intergovernmental programme that provides grants to media development projects worldwide. Saorla has over 20 years of experience working on press freedom issues. Prior to her current post, she was the coordinator of World Press Freedom Day and a programme specialist on freedom of expression and journalists’ safety issues, with a particular interest in the gender dimensions of safety. LinkedIn profile here.

Hendrik Sittig

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

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Hendrik Sittig leads the Media Programme Sub-Saharan Africa of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, based in Johannesburg. Previously, he headed the Media Programme Southeast Europe in Sofia. Hendrik Sittig studied Journalism and Psychology at the University of Leipzig and served as a reporter for the ARD TV News in Leipzig and Erfurt. Before his position in Sofia, he worked for the Programme Director (TV, radio and online) at the German public broadcaster Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB). LinkedIn profile here.

Jesper Hogeberg

International Media Support

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Jesper Højberg is the founder and Executive Director of International Media Support (IMS) and a leading expert in global democracy support to independent media. With 25+ years of experience, he specializes in advancing free media, civil society, and strategic/ collaborative leadership and media partnerships in the most challenging political environments globally. Is a member of the Consultative Network of the Media Freedom Coalition and past member of the Steering Committee of the Global Forum for Media Development among other international board engagements. He holds a master’s in Social Anthropology and is a trained Journalist. LinkedIn profile here.

Amy Mitchell

Center for News Technology and Innovation

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Amy S. Mitchell is the founding Executive Director of the Center for News, Technology & Innovation. Prior to her role at CNTI, Mitchell served as Managing Director of news and Information Research at the Pew Research Center. In her 25 years with Pew Research, Mitchell helped launch the journalism research program and served as managing director since 2010, responsible for the center’s research related to news and information, including how the public accesses, engages with and creates news, what news organizations are providing, and the evolving role of technology in the flow of news and information. Link to CNTI Profile here. Linkedin Profile here.

Juliet Nanfuka

Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA)

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Juliet Nanfuka is a digital rights advocate and researcher with a background in journalism and communication. She has over a decade of experience in technology policy advocacy, and has designed and delivered an assortment of campaigns, research outputs, and multi-stakeholder dialogues that influence policy and public discourse. Her work has been published and cited in regional and international media, policy papers, and academic research. LinkedIn profile here.

Amy Brouilette

The International Press Institute (IPI)

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From 2013 to 2016, Amy served as director of the European Media Project at the Center for Media, Data, and Society at Central European University in Budapest, where she has been a fellow since 2011. Prior to joining IPI, Amy served as director of research for Ranking Digital Rights, a project that holds tech companies accountable for policies affecting freedom of expression, information, and privacy. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a master’s degree in history from Central European University in Budapest. LinkedIn profile here.

Zoe Titus

Namibia Media Trust

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Zoé Titus is a prominent Namibian advocate for media freedom and social justice, with nearly three decades of leadership in advancing independent journalism, access to information, and democratic governance across Africa. She serves as the Executive Director of the NMT Media Foundation and holds the chairpersonship of both the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) and the African Platform on Access to Information (APAI). Her work spans national, continental, and global arenas – driving legal reform, shaping inclusive media policy, and championing the sustainability of public interest media, particularly in the Global South. LinkedIn profile here.

Antoine Bernard

Reporters Without Borders

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Antoine Bernard, a lawyer, is the Director, Advocacy and Assistance of Reporters Without Borders (RSF). A recognized expert and practitioner of human rights, international justice and NGOs, Antoine is also co-director of the Master on human rights and humanitarian action at the Sciences Po Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA). He is a board member of Maisons des Femmes-Restart and the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM). Previously Director General of the International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH), associate researcher at the Institute of Advanced Judicial Studies (IHEJ), also jury member of the Simone Veil Prize of the French Republic for gender equality and member of the World Movement for Democracy Steering Committee.

The South African members for the 2025 M20:

Sbu Ngalwa

South African National Editors’ Forum

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Sibusiso “Sbu” Ngalwa is a journalist and editor with over 20 years’ experience. Sbu has previously held a number of senior positions at various media organisations – including as the Editor in Chief at Eyewitness News (EWN), Editor-in-Chief at the Daily Dispatch & DispatchLive and Politics Editor at the Sunday Times. He served for two terms as the Chairperson of the SA National Editors Forum (SANEF). He is currently the Treasurer General of SANEF and chairs the SANEF Journalism Sustainability Fund Committee. He also serves as the acting Secretary General of the continental editors’ body, The African Editors’ Forum (TAEF). LinkedIn profile here.

Tshamano Makhadi

South African National Editors’ Forum

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Tshamano Makhadi is a multi-award-winning South African journalist, academic, media executive, film and television producer with over 28 years of experience in the media industry. As an accomplished and respected storyteller, his diverse experience encompasses documentary storytelling, feature films, media and integrated communications strategy. Makhadi has presented and produced various radio and TV programmes at the SABC, eNCA, and M-Net locally. His portfolio includes coverage of global icons such as the late President Nelson Mandela, President Barack Obama, Sir Bobby Charlton, and Walter Sisulu Linkedin profile here.

Glenda Daniels

South African National Editors’ Forum

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Prof Glenda Daniels is associate professor in Media Studies at Wits University, Johannesburg. She also serves as Secretary General at (Sanef). Her books include: Fight for Democracy: the ANC and the Media in South Africa (Wits Press: 2012) and Power and Loss in South Africa Journalism: news in the age of social media (2020). She co-edited the book: Women Journalists in South Africa: democracy in the age of social media (Palgrave Macmillan, 2022).

William Bird

Media Monitoring Africa

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William Bird is the director of Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) and is both an Ashoka and Linc fellow both in recognition of his work focused on children and the media. MMA is a media watchdog and NGO. At MMA William has overseen or been directly involved in over 100 media monitoring projects on subjects ranging from gender based violence, sexual harassment, HIV, and racism to children and the media and public broadcasting. He is also involved in conceptualising MMA’s tools to build media credibility and combat misinformation in the news. LinkedIn profile here.

Thandi Smith

Media Monitoring Africa

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Thandi has worked for Media Monitoring Africa for about nine years and was recently appointed Head of Programmes for the organisation. She previously headed the Policy & Quality Programme which focuses on a range of issues including media policy, regulation, digital rights, internet governance, and quality journalism. She holds a Masters degree in Media Studies, obtained from the University of the Witwatersrand. LinkedIn profile here.

Reggy Moalusi

South African National Editors’ Forum

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Mr Moalusi is an experienced journalist and communicator, and former editor of the Daily Sun. Mr Moalusi has a long history within SANEF having previously served as Gauteng Convenor and as the secretary-general. He holds a BA Honours: Journalism and Media Studies from Wits University. LinkedIn profile here.

Izak Minnaar

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Izak Minnaar, a member of the M20 organising team, is a digital rights, media and elections consultant and trainer, currently focusing on media regulation, sustainability of journalism, digital public goods, access to information and related causes in South Africa and around the continent. His journalism career spanned over 40 years in editorial coverage and newsroom leadership roles at print, broadcast and online media; and he currently works across a number of local and continental organisations. LinkedIn profile here.

Michael Markovitz

Gordon Institute of Business Science

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Michael Markovitz is an adjunct faculty member of GIBS and he is the founding director of the GIBS Media Leadership Think Tank – an independent research and advocacy platform providing solutions for media in support of democracy in Africa. He is regarded as one of South Africa’s leading experts on media, tech policy and governance. In 2022 Michael was recognised by Rhodes University’s Journalism and Media Studies School as one of their top 50 alumni in the school’s first 50 years. In July 2023 he convened and hosted a global conference at GIBS which led to the adoption of “Big Tech and Journalism: Principles for Fair Compensation”, now endorsed by 101 individuals and organisations in 28 countries. LinkedIn profile here.

Guy Berger

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Prof Guy Berger is an expert in media and Internet policy issues. He spent the past decade as a senior director at UNESCO leading its work in Communications and Information policy. The 15 years prior to that was spent in heading up the School of Journalism and Media Studies at Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa, where he is recognised as a professor emeritus. Berger has published extensively in his own right, as well as overseen more than 40 UNESCO publications. Among the topics covered are disinformation, access to information, artificial intelligence, journalism, and internet governance. His website is https://CommsPolic.Africa and he can also be followed at https://mastodon.online/@GuyBerger

Janet Heard

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Janet Heard is a South African journalist who has worked in senior editorial leadership positions at Daily Maverick, Cape Times, Cape Argus — and as parliamentary editor of Media 24 titles. She is a writer, editor, trainer/coach, specialist guest lecturer at Stellenbosch University, and media consultant. A long-standing former SA National Editors’ Forum council member, she is editor of the 2025 M20 Policy Briefs. She is a 2010 Nieman fellow LinkedIn profile here.

Latiefa Mobara

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Latiefa Mobara is the former executive director of the Press Council of SA. She has worked as a journalist in South African mainstream and community media for more than 20 years. From 1998 to 2021 she worked as executive director for the South African National Editors’ Forum. Mobara has also been involved in media training, counselling of survivors of gender-based violence and worked as a part-time literacy teacher.

Phathiswa Magopeni

Press Council of South Africa

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Phathiswa is the Executive Director of the South African Press Council. She is an academic, journalist and business executive with more than two decades of strategic and editorial leadership experience, Phathiswa Magopeni is an SABC Board Director and chairs the Public Broadcasting Committee of the Board. The Vice Chair of African Women in Media, Phathiswa has held a number of executive roles, including Editor-in-Chief for SABC News and Chief Operations Officer at Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism. LinkedIn profile here.

Support Staff

Dzudzie Netshisaulu

M20 Project Branding and Logistics

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Dzudzie Faith is a former photojournalist who has freelanced for some national publications, and dabbles in sports and events photography.

She is currently the Events Coordinator and Adminitrator at Sanef. She also does stakeholder relations for the organisation, taking lead in Sanef’s annual flagship events like the Standard Bank Sikuvile Journalism Awards, Nat Nakasa Awards and the Sanef Fundraiser Gala Dinner.

She is an alumni of the DGMT Innovation Fellowship.

Noor Ahmad

M20 Comms Manager

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Noor is currently the Communications Manager at Media Monitoring Africa (MMA). Her work was recognised by Amnesty International South Africa when she was awarded the Youth Activist of the Year Award in 2021, and by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation which recognised and honoured her as one of 10 active youth leaders who are contributing to the work of strengthening democracy in South Africa. She was also chosen as one of 24 Youth Fellows for Swedish International Youth Think Tank and participated in the 6th International Youth Think Tank Conference and Nobel Symposia (N23) and serves as a Youth Advisor to the Swedish Embassy in Pretoria as part of their Youth Advisors Programme.

Sophie Smit

M20 Secretariat

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Sophie is a Candidate Legal Practitioner at Power & Associates. She holds a B.A. and LL.B. degree from the University of the Witwatersrand. Sophie also holds a LL.M in human rights, advocacy and litigation. Before joining Power & Associates, Sophie held the position of a legal researcher at the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF).

Jessie Rashid

M20 Secretariat

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Jessie is the Office Manager and Human Resources Officer of ALT Advisory and attends to office administration, human resources and client relations. Jessie holds a Certificate in Office Administration and Client Care (Law Society of South Africa, 2018); a Higher Certificate in Management [Human Resources Management] (Southern Business School, 2019); and a B.Comm in Human Resources Management (Unisa, 2020-2023.); and Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (Unisa, 2024).

Janet Smith

M20 Summit Report Writer

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Janet Smith is a former newspaper editor and journalist, the author of Motsepe: An Appetite for Disruption and three award-winning Young Adult books, and co-author of Hani: A Life Too Short, The Coming Revolution: Julius Malema and the Fight for Economic Freedom, The Black Consciousness Reader, The A to Z of South African Politics and other titles. She is an Adjudicator at the Press Council of South Africa.

Partner Organisations

The African Editors’ Forum (TAEF)
African Women in Media
B20
BBC Media Action
Brand SA
Center for News Technology and Innovation
Centre for Information Integrity in Africa (CINIA)
Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA)
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Decode Communications

Deutsche Welle Akademie
Forum on Information and Democracy (FID)
Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD)
Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) Media Leadership Think Tank
International Centre for Journalists
International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFPIM)
International Media Support
International Press Institute
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS)

Momentum Journalism and Tech Task Force in Brazil
Press Council of South Africa
Reporters Without Borders
Research ICT Africa
RNW Media
SABC
School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University in New York
Standard Bank
Tiktok
UNESCO
Alt Advisory