‘we are responding to a moment of profound global crisis in the integrity of information, peace and respect for human rights, including environmental rights. We hereby alert our media colleagues, the G20 and the wider public: the crisis is intensifying as the spaces for autonomous news media and civic engagement contract.’
M20 for G20 Media Summit concluded in Johannesburg this week with a bold, complete Declaration a clear path forward for all media stakeholders – and a firm framework for future impact.
Convened in Johannesburg by the South African National Editors Forum (Sanef) and Media Monitoring Africa during the 2025 South African presidency of the G20, M20 is a parallel initiative: an alliance of over 50 global organisations united to “promote journalism as a public good, as a key to information integrity and G20 goals.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries
Built on existing global frameworks,including the Windhoek Declaration of 1991 on a Free, Pluralistic and Independent african media and aligned to the UN’s Global Principles for Information Integrity, the Declaration encourages the 2025 G20 to take “notable steps to ensure that independent journalism and media pluralism are strengthened and information integrity is secured.”
Critical challenges, actionable solutions
The Declaration calls on media, civil society and stakeholders to act on critical challenges identified and outlined in eight policy briefs:
- Information integrity
- Artificial Intelligence
- Media viability
- Safety
-
G20 Media Freedom Forum Launches Declaration to Combat information Integrity Crisis
A coalition of media organizations, known as the M20, has launched a declaration aimed at addressing a “profound global crisis in the integrity of information.” The declaration will be presented to G20 leaders at their summit in November,urging action on journalist safety,media viability,and the overall trustworthiness of information ecosystems.
The M20, representing a broad spectrum of the global media landscape, is advocating for a concerted effort to counter disinformation, protect journalists, and ensure enduring funding models for independent media. This initiative comes at a time of increasing concern over the spread of false information and its impact on democratic processes and public trust.
Key Initiatives & Supported Events:
The M20 is actively supporting and raising awareness around several key annual events dedicated to media freedom and information access, including:
World News Day (September 28th): A global campaign highlighting the importance of quality journalism.
International Day for Global Access to Information (September 28th): Promoting the essential right to seek, receive, and impart information. Global Week for Media and Information Literacy (October 24th): Focusing on the skills needed to navigate the information landscape critically.
World Press Freedom Day (May 3rd): Celebrating the fundamental principles of press freedom and assessing the state of journalism worldwide.Accountability and Monitoring:To ensure progress, the M20 is developing a Media Integrity Monitoring Framework. This framework will track annual G20 commitments related to information integrity, journalist safety, and media viability. An accompanying M20-linked Integrity Index will allow institutions to benchmark their progress and promote accountability.
organizations interested in endorsing the declaration can contact the M20 Secretariat at m20support@altadvisory.africa.