New York gala marks Foundation's 30th anniversary

The chairman of the Foundation, David Binet, who is also president and CEO of the Woodbridge company which has a controlling interest in Thomson Reuters, lauded the organisation. Praising its staff through the years and recognising their worldwide impact, he offered special thanks to Monique Villa, who has brought a rush of change and expansion to the Foundation.

Villa, Foundation CEO, hosted the event. In addition to speakers, a panel of experts discussed many of the key issues the Foundation is now confronting including corruptions, human trafficking and women’s rights in the Arab world in particular sexual politics and tradition.

Michael Nelson, former Reuters general manager, author and a board member of The Baron, spoke of the first days. He recalled the early mission of training Third World journalists at premier universities in France, the United Kingdom and the United States. That came in response to claims that the news business was dominated by established organisations in the developed world, including Reuters. Nelson said growing discussion of this and a North-South divide was a key factor in his decision to recommend that the board of Reuters fund a foundation dedicated to journalistic training.

Monique Villa said more than 11,000 journalists around the world have since been trained. In recent years the Foundation has added a hugely successful pro bono legal exchange available to global charities and others. Villa also noted the start of a ground-breaking programme raising the profile of women’s issues and moving programmes forward in support of them. Both Binet and Villa spoke of tremendous potential for Foundation activities to have a much greater impact across the world in future.

A new Foundation website, launched at the celebration, has details on programmes past and present. Formerly dispersed, Foundation information is now brought together in a newly designed, single website using the address www.trust.org.

PHOTO: Michael Nelson, father of the Reuters Foundation now the Thomson Reuters Foundation, at the New York event to celebrate its formation 30 years ago. ■