Rodney Pinder retires as INSI changes leadership

INSI’s founding honorary president Chris Cramer, a former global editor for multi media at Reuters, also announced his retirement. Richard Sambrook, director of the Centre for Journalism at Cardiff University and a former BBC News executive, takes his place.

Cramer told the meeting that, on the eve of its tenth anniversary next year, INSI had conducted a comprehensive internal assessment of “what we are, what we need to be and how we get there”.

“What we all agree on is the need for renewal at INSI and also fresh thinking and, yes, fresh leadership,” he said. “Change has to come from the top and to that end both myself and your Director, Rodney Pinder, believe that it’s now time to hand over the reins of INSI to the next generation of leaders.”

INSI was launched in 2003, as journalist casualties began to rise around the world. It was founded through an initiative by Cramer, then head of CNN International, Aidan White, then general secretary of the International Federation of Journalists, and Johann P. Fritz, then head of the International Press Institute. Before its official launch Pinder had joined during the start-up phase in 2002 as inaugural director.

“I am extremely proud of what INSI has accomplished over the past decade on behalf of endangered journalists worldwide,” said Pinder, pictured, who retired from Reuters in 2002. “We have not only directly helped thousands of journalists at risk but we have put journalist safety firmly on the global agenda for news organisations, governments and global bodies such as the United Nations, UNESCO and others.

“I have been at the helm for 10 years and firmly believe it is now time to stand back and hand over to the next generation. We live in a time of rapid change and ever-shifting risks for journalists. Hannah Storm has accomplished a huge amount in her relatively short time with INSI and there could be no one better to steer a regenerated INSI into the future, ensuring we become even more relevant to today´s news workers and leaders.”

Storm, 35, joined INSI in April 2010 from Britain’s Channel 4 News. She has extensive international experience, working for radio, television and newspapers, including covering conflict and natural disasters for organisations including BBC and Reuters. She also headed up media campaigns for Oxfam, the United Nations, UNESCO and others. She takes over from Pinder immediately.

The AGM also approved the appointment of Jane Hawkes, of the Canadian Journalism Forum on Violence and Trauma, as honorary treasurer to replace Tom Carpenter of SAG-AFTRA, who has resigned after moving jobs. Amy Selwyn, managing director of News Xchange, and Caroline Drees, Reuters’ managing editor, Middle East and Africa, were confirmed as new members of INSI’s executive board. ■