We are launching our 35th anniversary appeal to enable us to nimbly and quickly respond with the most creative solutions to threats to trusted, independent media worldwide. Many of us share a growing concern that we are entering a "post truth" reality where trust in traditional media and civic institutions is at an all-time low whilst propaganda, disinformation, hate speech, rumour and misinformation thrive. Your support can change that.
The dark side of a "post truth" world is frighteningly clear. When citizens don't engage with each other, with civic institutions & with governments to discuss and debate issues, we fail to lay the foundations for strong, healthy democracies and economies. The manipulation of the media is a potent tool for authoritarian regimes, terrorists & others ready to prey on the most vulnerable in our societies. Truth matters - it's a powerful tool in the pursuit of equality and social harmony.
These issues feel shockingly new & dystopian to people in established democracies. But, for the majority of the world's citizens (only 1 in 7 people live in a country with a free press), the struggle to safely access trusted information is a daily one. Internews has helped some of the poorest countries grow their entire media infrastructure to create better-informed societies, kept freedom of expression alive & rebuilt communication networks in conflicts & following humanitarian emergencies.
We all benefit from this work. In an increasingly interconnected world, issues reported as fact on the other side of the globe affect our understanding of reality & therefore some of the decisions we make. We all use media & information every day. From the mundane of choosing the right clothes for the weather, to the powerful; electing our leaders & holding politicians to account. Please, act now to ensure that Internews is here for another 35 years to protect free & fair media and information.
