Free Press Unlimited

National Network
Netherlands
Address

Weesperstraat 3
1018 DN Amsterdam
Netherlands

Telephone
+31 20 8000 400
E-Mail
fmuller@freepressunlimited.org
Organisation Type
Non-Governmental Organization
Year of Establishment
2011
Fields of Activity
  1. Democracy and community development
  2. Human rights
  3. Media
General Information

Free Press Unlimited works to ensure that reliable news and information are and remain available to people across the globe. Particularly people in countries where there is little to no press freedom. By supporting local media professionals and journalists, Free Press Unlimited helps to enable as many people as possible to gain and keep access to the information they require to survive and develop. Free Press Unlimited works around the globe: Free Press Unlimited is active in over forty countries, in those areas where we can make a difference. In these areas, Free Press Unlimited focuses on strengthening the capacity of local media professionals and media organisations. Together with these partners, we create room for people to speak freely, debate social issues and find out what is going on in their immediate environment. In each area, we work together with local journalists, media pioneers and media organisations – who can bring change. Free Press Unlimited supports these change agents in the development of their knowledge and skills.

Mission and Objectives

Free Press Unlimited strongly believes that all people are entitled to have access to unbiased, reliable and timely information. This enables them to assess their own living conditions, influence these and make the right decisions. Freedom of the Press and Freedom of Information are vital for gathering and spreading reliable, unbiased information. Media play a crucial role in providing people free and unrestricted access to information that can help them develop and monitor the authorities. Free Press Unlimited wants to make and keep objective news and information available to everyone, especially to people in countries without or with limited (press) freedom. By supporting local media professionals and journalists, Free Press Unlimited wants to help people gain and keep access to the information they need to survive and develop.

Main Projects / Activities

Radio Dabanga is radio station in exile for Sudan. Not by choice, but out of necessity. The government of Sudan persecutes, intimidates and muzzles independent journalism. That is why Dabanga operates from Amsterdam, supported by Free Press Unlimited. The radio station reaches over 2 million peopel every day, a sign that the only reliable news coverage of the country is appreciated. Moreover, for many, it is a lifeline, the only source for quality information on safety, health, food and politics. With the support from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), we run a program in Syria, aiming to ensure that media can provide reliable, independent and critical reporting for people in Syria. Free Press Unlimited offers the 8 partner organisations tailor-made training, workshops and masterclasses, depending on their needs and long-term strategy. The courses take place in neighbouring countries; for journalists in Syria we give online training in journalism skills and (digital) safety. In Iraq, we are working together with a coalition of civil society organisations for the safety of journalists. To encourage the Iraqi government to take action against the impunity for violence against journalists, media, civil society organisations and politics must form a united front. That is not easy in the extremely divided Iraqi society. Still, Free Press Unlimited and UNESCO booked an important lobby success in 2017. As a member of the United Nations, Iraq is obliged to make known how many journalists have been murdered in the country every year. And what judicial action has been taken to find the perpetrators. In 2017, Iraq reported on this for the first time. With the fellowship program “Youth Women in Community Media and Journalism”, women from rural parts of Bangladesh were trained to become journalists. With their reports these women give a voice to all women in Bangladesh and they bring attention to the problems of the population in rural areas. The women each received a three-months training, in cooperation with 14 community radio stations in Bangladesh.

How can you contribute to the Network in your country?

Free Press Unlimited has a strong support base in the Netherlands and is very committed to operate in network to increase organizational learning, institutional cooperation and create synergies.

Why do you want to join the ALF Network?

Free Press Unlimited fully supports the objectives of the Anna Lindh Foundation and would like to cooperate it further our common goals and objectives.

Contact (1) Full Name
Frank Muller
Head of the organisation
Leon Willems