We run very lean. We have one full-time executive director. We rent one desk in the CBD with resources donated by Wilkinson Butler and Gilbert + Tobin.

Our activities include:

• Developing relationships in Canberra, including being well advanced on a National Dialogue that brings together security forces, government, publishers and journalists to develop common goals that strengthen democracy.
• Leading the conversation on reform. Our White Paper, developed with Gilbert + Tobin, guides the conversation on media freedom reforms that are needed. We also contribute to parliamentary inquiries by writing submissions and attending hearings when required.
• Contributing to public awareness, with our nimble response to issues that constantly arise, led by our spokesperson, Professor Peter Greste.
• Building relationships in the industry and seeking opportunities for partnerships and collaborations that benefit the future of journalism.
• Coordinating and developing the AJF’s Major Projects.

We have started discussions on bringing together governments, security forces, publishers and journalists in the Asia–Pacific to discuss how to advance press freedom. There will be quarterly meetings, an annual event and ongoing virtual engagement.

Funds raised to support this project will go the quarterly and annual event management plus a small travel component. The rest will be pro bono. There is a 10% admin component.

Timeline: the initial outreach to establish this Dialogue is underway. Again, this is a long-term project, but we aim to have the initial round of Dialogue discussions held in early-mid 2021. Once launched they will be an ongoing project.

Our understanding of press freedom issues in our region is pathetically sparse. We need a better understanding of the complex pressures on journalists across the region. This will provide an overview of the region so organisations, governments, journalists and the general public can track the status of these issues and how they’ve evolved to aid the development of collaborative and cross-industry solutions to support press freedom and democratic principles in the Asia–Pacific.

We need funding for a researcher and the purchase of software. There is a 10% admin component.

Timeline: the initial development of this map is underway, and we are hoping to launch the initial version of the PFT in mid 2021. Once launched, the project will be ongoing.

AJF’s Future of Journalism is a video and podcast series that explores where journalism will be in a decade or so.

We interview leading thinkers on this from around the world. This is a critically important effort, as, if we don’t know where we are going, or where we should be going, how can we plan to get there?

Timeline: this project is underway; we will begin releasing episodes early-mid November 2020. This series will continue into 2021 with the potential to continue indefinitely.

In the last few years there have been over 80 pieces of legislation to increase security in Australia that impact on press freedom – ironically, that legislation weakens what it is designed to protect: some of the foundations of our democracy including press freedom.

The Media Freedom Act (MFA) will act as a shield against the security legislation, which we need, to give judges more power to protect the public’s right to know.

Timeline: this project is advanced; the campaign for this has been underway since early 2019 when AJF became operational. With various components underway, this is a long-term project which we expect to continue for the next five years.