The Guardian Foundation has announced the appointment of Rosie Parkyn as its new executive director. Parkyn will join the global charity in mid-February, taking the helm of its mission to promote press freedom and access to liberal, public-interest journalism.
A Career Dedicated to Media and Impact
Rosie Parkyn arrives from Internews Europe, where she held several senior positions, including senior director of programmes and global director of impact. Prior to her tenure at Internews, which began in 2017, she spent a decade with the BBC's international development charity, BBC Media Action.
Her roles there were extensive, starting with overseeing programming and fundraising in the Africa Region before advancing to head of policy and, most recently, serving as country director for Indonesia. Her board experience includes positions with the Communicating with Disaster Affected Communities Network and Orchestras For All.
Leading at a Critical Juncture for Information
The Foundation's board of trustees expressed strong confidence in their new leader. They stated that Parkyn's deep expertise in media freedom, strategic leadership, and commitment to public-interest journalism would be invaluable. Her appointment comes as the organisation develops a new strategy to strengthen its work in supporting press freedom, independent journalism, media literacy, and access to reliable information.
In her statement, Rosie Parkyn highlighted the timeliness of her new role. "The world is awash with information, yet so much of it is false, unverified, manipulative, irrelevant and harmful," she said. She praised The Guardian Foundation's proven programmes for helping people navigate complex information ecosystems and expressed excitement about working with the team to shape the future media landscape.
Expanding Programmes in a Misinformation Age
The Guardian Foundation's work is currently more relevant than ever. The charity recently launched a new WhatsApp chatbot in multiple countries, designed to help users identify disinformation. It has also expanded its award-winning NewsWise programme to Italy. This initiative equips school children with critical thinking skills essential for the online world.
Alongside these projects, the Foundation continues to run its long-standing journalism bursary programme, supporting the next generation of reporters.
About The Guardian Foundation: The Guardian Foundation is a global charity dedicated to promoting press freedom, media literacy, and access to quality liberal journalism. It aims to equip people with the skills and tools to navigate today's complex information landscape and ensure journalism remains a force for truth.
