Modern-day news consumers are presented with unprecedented opportunities to interact with diverse news and information sources, but with the prevalence of falsehood parading as truth, particularly relating to the coronavirus pandemic, it is becoming harder to discern fact from fiction. World News Day 2020 aims to raise public awareness of the critical role that newsrooms and journalists play in helping people make sense of — and improve — the rapidly changing world around them. 

“World News Day is about recognizing the people in the news and listening to how journalism has made a difference in their lives,” says David Walmsley, editor-in-chief of The Globe and Mail and outgoing CJF board chair. “It is about coming together across the continents and displaying support for journalists and their audiences who together, using facts and understanding, make the world a better place.”

Last year, almost 40 outlets from around the world — including such internationally-renowned organisations as The Globe and Mail, The Straits Times, Süddeutsche Zeitung and the South China Morning Post — took part to draw attention to the vital work of professional journalists and newsrooms, and the impact they have in the communities they serve. But World News Day 2020 aims to be bigger, better and more impactful— the Canadian Journalism FoundationF and the World Editors Forum are committed to securing the participation of more than 100 newsrooms from around the globe.

"Newsrooms and professional journalists everywhere have stepped up to the challenge of covering the Covid-19 pandemic,” says Warren Fernandez, president of the World Editors Forum and editor of The Straits Times in Singapore. “World News Day this year will be an occasion to tell the story of how 100 newsrooms from across the planet responded to this global crisis and played a role in keeping our societies well informed, as well as bringing our communities together, so critical in these testing times.”

Here is how newsrooms can get involved:

WAN-IFRA, which represents more than 18,000 publications, 15,000 online sites and more than 3,000 companies in more than 120 countries, is supporting the initiative through the World Editors Forum, its editors’ network. Major media organisations in Canada and beyond are participating in 2020. Here are five ways you and your newsroom can get involved and add your masthead as a supporter of this global event:

1. Run a #WorldNewsDay ad in your publication (we will provide the creative).
2. Share your stories of why #NewsMatters on #WorldNewsDay.
3. Solicit an opinion piece from a source who has been impacted by journalism to run on #WorldNewsDay.
4. Devote an editorial to why #NewsMatters.
5. Pool and publish high-impact content from 100 newsrooms.

ABOUT THE CANADIAN JOURNALISM FOUNDATION. Established in 1990, The Canadian Journalism Foundation promotes, celebrates, and facilitates excellence in journalism.  The foundation runs a prestigious annual awards and fellowships program featuring an industry gala where news leaders, journalists and corporate Canada gather to celebrate outstanding journalistic achievement and the value of professional journalism.  Through monthly J-Talks, a public speakers’ series, the CJF facilitates dialogue among journalists, business people, academics and students about the role of the media in Canadian society and its ongoing challenges in the digital era. The foundation also fosters opportunities for journalism education, training and research.

ABOUT THE WORLD EDITORS FORUM. WEF is the leading global network for editors of news organisations. It is built on a commitment to defend press freedom and promote editorial excellence. It was established around two decades ago and focuses on building the capacity of newsrooms through training, innovative practices, conferences and sharing of experiences. It is part of the World Association of News Publishers – the global organization of the world’s press. Read More