Reuters Institute names new director

The Institute, whose core funder is the Thomson Reuters Foundation, was launched in November 2006 and developed from the Reuters Fellowship Programme established at Oxford in 1983. It provides a leading forum for scholars from a wide range of disciplines to engage with journalists from around the world. 

“I am delighted to be taking over as Director of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism and hope to use my background as a journalist, an academic and a media policy expert to build on the strengths of the team and deliver new insights over the coming years,” Levy said.

“With rapid change affecting the whole global media industry, the Institute’s unique mission to create links between scholars and practitioners from around the world is more relevant than ever before.”

Levy has been responsible for the BBC’s public policy, public affairs and European policy teams, and for developing the policy for the BBC’s charter review in 2006. His areas of expertise include public service reform, the impact of digital technology, media ownership and regulation in the UK and Europe. 

Monique Villa, chief executive of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, said: “The Thomson Reuters Foundation is wholly committed to the development of the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism and we are delighted that Dr Levy has been appointed as its Director. He brings with him first hand journalistic knowledge and a thorough understanding of the dynamics of the media industry. Dr Levy will be pivotal in ensuring the continued success of the Institute as it looks to evaluate the ongoing challenges faced by the world of journalism in the 21st century.” 

Levy is an associate fellow in media communications at the Saïd Business School at Oxford University and will continue in that role. He began his BBC career as a journalist at BBC World Service. ■