Tom Law is a journalist, editor, trainer and international media development expert.
His wide-ranging experience in communications, policy and programmes includes working with inter-governmental, humanitarian, media, and civil society organisations.
His wide-ranging experience in communications, policy and programmes includes working with inter-governmental, humanitarian, media, and civil society organisations.
Tom is currently working towards launching the International Media Policy and Advisory Centre (IMPACT), a GFMD initiative to create a learning, knowledge-sharing, and analysis destination for the international journalism support and media development community.
His career in journalism and media development began in 2004 when -- during a secondment from his International Development Studies BA to teach at universities in Khartoum -- he began volunteering for a start-up independent newspaper. During five years of working with independent news media in Sudan and South Sudan, Tom has also worked as a researcher for UNICEF and with Sudanese civil society and human rights organisations.
As a journalist, Tom has written for VICE and Al Jazeera as well as appearing on BBC broadcasts about Sudan and South Sudan.
From 2015 to 2019 Tom’s work for the Ethical Journalism Network (EJN) took him to 35 countries to support and implement projects and campaigns to strengthen independent journalism. These projects ranged from good governance and self-regulation; strengthen ethical standards; develop media literacy programmes; migration reporting and leading the EJN’s anti-hate speech work. During this period Tom was a member of the Council of Europe’s committee of experts on quality journalism in the digital age.
His career in journalism and media development began in 2004 when -- during a secondment from his International Development Studies BA to teach at universities in Khartoum -- he began volunteering for a start-up independent newspaper. During five years of working with independent news media in Sudan and South Sudan, Tom has also worked as a researcher for UNICEF and with Sudanese civil society and human rights organisations.
As a journalist, Tom has written for VICE and Al Jazeera as well as appearing on BBC broadcasts about Sudan and South Sudan.
From 2015 to 2019 Tom’s work for the Ethical Journalism Network (EJN) took him to 35 countries to support and implement projects and campaigns to strengthen independent journalism. These projects ranged from good governance and self-regulation; strengthen ethical standards; develop media literacy programmes; migration reporting and leading the EJN’s anti-hate speech work. During this period Tom was a member of the Council of Europe’s committee of experts on quality journalism in the digital age.
Tom Law's CV
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: MEDIA DEVELOPMENT & JOURNALISM
Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) - Media Policy Advisor (Dec. 2019 - Present)
Leading the development of GFMD’s International Media Policy and Advisory Centre (IMPACT) as well as contributing to GFMD’s advocacy and policy interventions and campaigns.
International media development and journalism support consultant (Sept. 2019 - Present)
- Council of Europe - Consultancy services related to the development and review of the Handbook on Ethical Journalism for faculties at universities in Georgia. (June-Dec 2020)
- International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) - Media and research expert, Migration Media Training Academy (MOMENTA) for journalists from EU eastern neighbour partner countries (Sept-Dec 2019 & July-Dec 2020)
- Media Diversity Institute (MDI) - Working with independent media in Latvia, Moldova and Ukraine to develop; bespoke business development and marketing strategies; media literacy programmes; establish fact checking organisations; as well as other support. (Oct. 2019 - Present)
Ethical Journalism Network - Deputy Director (April 2019 - Sept. 2019)
Director of Campaigns and Communications (Aug. 2016 – April 2019), Communications Officer (Dec. 2015 to Aug. 2016)
SudanTribune.com – Associate Editor (May 2010 – May 2014)
Reporting and editing news and analysis on Sudan, South Sudan. Mentoring and managing a team of international journalists in a virtual newsroom; website management, news planning, and increasing social media engagement.
Journalist and Media Commentator – Freelance (2011-2014)
Digital Media Trainer - Freelance (2013 – 2015)
Providing digital media training workshops to Sudanese activists and campaigners living in the UK in partnership with human rights NGO, Waging Peace.
BBC Media Action – Researcher (Feb. 08 - April. 2008)
Part of a research team focusing on the press coverage and political issues of the 2008 Sudanese National Census.
The Juba Post - Editor and Journalist (Oct. 2004 - Sept. 2005)
Part of the team that launched The Juba Post, South Sudan's first independent weekly in 2005. Reported on humanitarian, migration, human rights and political news from Khartoum, as well as Juba, Wau and Malakal in South Sudan.
UNICEF, United Nations Children’s Fund - Researcher (March – Sept. 2005)
Produced information and advocacy material on; migration, HIV/AIDS, child protection, mine risk education and community radio in South Sudan as well as displaced persons camps around Khartoum.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: MEDIA DEVELOPMENT & JOURNALISM
Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) - Media Policy Advisor (Dec. 2019 - Present)
Leading the development of GFMD’s International Media Policy and Advisory Centre (IMPACT) as well as contributing to GFMD’s advocacy and policy interventions and campaigns.
International media development and journalism support consultant (Sept. 2019 - Present)
- Council of Europe - Consultancy services related to the development and review of the Handbook on Ethical Journalism for faculties at universities in Georgia. (June-Dec 2020)
- International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) - Media and research expert, Migration Media Training Academy (MOMENTA) for journalists from EU eastern neighbour partner countries (Sept-Dec 2019 & July-Dec 2020)
- Media Diversity Institute (MDI) - Working with independent media in Latvia, Moldova and Ukraine to develop; bespoke business development and marketing strategies; media literacy programmes; establish fact checking organisations; as well as other support. (Oct. 2019 - Present)
Ethical Journalism Network - Deputy Director (April 2019 - Sept. 2019)
Director of Campaigns and Communications (Aug. 2016 – April 2019), Communications Officer (Dec. 2015 to Aug. 2016)
- Leading the EJN’s international advocacy, campaigns and policy interventions on campaigns on hate speech, media literacy, migration reporting, good governance & self-regulation in media, through developing resources, public speaking, interviews and delivering training, seminars and workshops.
- Worked in 35 countries. Worked with journalists from over 35 more countries.
- For example, on hate speech, working with stakeholders in Arabic media (focusing on Egypt, Jordan Lebanon, Palestine, Syria) and African media (focusing on Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda)
- Designing, managing and implementing projects including advising on curriculum development: On migration and hate speech with partners in Czech Republic, Estonia, Slovakia, and Spain; On media literacy in Italy, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
SudanTribune.com – Associate Editor (May 2010 – May 2014)
Reporting and editing news and analysis on Sudan, South Sudan. Mentoring and managing a team of international journalists in a virtual newsroom; website management, news planning, and increasing social media engagement.
Journalist and Media Commentator – Freelance (2011-2014)
Digital Media Trainer - Freelance (2013 – 2015)
Providing digital media training workshops to Sudanese activists and campaigners living in the UK in partnership with human rights NGO, Waging Peace.
BBC Media Action – Researcher (Feb. 08 - April. 2008)
Part of a research team focusing on the press coverage and political issues of the 2008 Sudanese National Census.
The Juba Post - Editor and Journalist (Oct. 2004 - Sept. 2005)
Part of the team that launched The Juba Post, South Sudan's first independent weekly in 2005. Reported on humanitarian, migration, human rights and political news from Khartoum, as well as Juba, Wau and Malakal in South Sudan.
UNICEF, United Nations Children’s Fund - Researcher (March – Sept. 2005)
Produced information and advocacy material on; migration, HIV/AIDS, child protection, mine risk education and community radio in South Sudan as well as displaced persons camps around Khartoum.
MEMBERSHIP OF EXPERT GROUPS
PUBLICATIONS
HANDBOOKS AND TOOLKITS
ARTICLES (SELECTION)
- Digital Transformation and Media Diversity: Two Sides of the Same Coin (MDI, 2020) Author
- BBC Radio 4 Appeal – Gillian Anderson on behalf of Childreach International (Script Writer)
- Will South Sudan Descend Into Civil War? (VICE, 2013) Author
- South Sudan: Has Juba witnessed a botched coup, or something else? (VICE, 2013) Author
- Sudan’s deadly protests (VICE, 2013) Author
- South Sudan declares itself open for business (Al Jazeera, 2013) Author
INTERVIEWS (SELECTION)
- Resource Centre on Media Freedom: Media Literacy for newsrooms (Dec. 2018)
- Al Jazeera: Fake News And The Gulf Crisis – (Feb. 16, 2018)
- Al Jazeera: Can Fake News On Social Media Be Stopped? (Oct. 9, 2017)
- Al Jazeera: Press Freedom In Trump's America (Feb 7, 2017)
- BBC Radio 5 Live: South Sudan Peace Talks – (9 May 2014)
- BBC World News (TV): Sudan and South Sudan’s Abyei conflict (April 2012)
- BBC World Service (Radio): News Hour – Conflict in South Sudan’s Jonglei State (Jan. 2, 2012)
TRAINING, WORKSHOPS & MENTORING (SELECTION)
> 900 journalists and members of civil society on subjects including free expression, human rights, humanitarian law, migration reporting, hate speech, media ethics, media literacy, building trust in media and self-regulation, including:
> 900 journalists and members of civil society on subjects including free expression, human rights, humanitarian law, migration reporting, hate speech, media ethics, media literacy, building trust in media and self-regulation, including:
- Al Jazeera: Series of workshops for Al Jazeera staff (DOHA, 2018, Oct. 2019 & March 2020) and other journalists and students (RABAT, Dec. 2019 / KHARTOUM, May 2017)
- ARIJ Conference: Good governance, media literacy, migration reporting (Dec. 2017 & Dec. 2018)
- EFJ: Media Against Hate workshops (BRUSSELS, LONDON, ROME, ZAGREB 2017-2018)
- ICMPD: Migration reporting training (ARMENIA, Feb. 2020 / MALTA June 2017 + Online Training)
- ILO: Fellowship and training scheme for 20 journalists covering labour migration in Jordan, Lebanon and the Gulf States. (AMMAN/BEIRUT: 2017-2019)
- Media Diversity Institute: Media as watchdogs of public interest (SKOPJE, March 2017)
- Minority Rights Group: Online workshop for journalists from Eastern Europe (April 2020)
- PANOS South Asia: Resource person for labour migration fellowship (KATHMANDU, Dec. 2017)
- UNESCO: Migration - How to get the story but do no harm (BUCHAREST, Dec. 2017)
PRESENTATIONS & PUBLIC SPEAKING (SELECTION)
>2,500 journalists, members of civil society, academia and policy makers, including:
>2,500 journalists, members of civil society, academia and policy makers, including:
- International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR): Will COVID-19 Trigger a New Era for Media Development? Big Ideas From Scholars and Practitioners (June 2020)
- Al Jazeera: Presentations to the senior management of Al Jazeera on media literacy, building trust and in journalism, self-regulatory and accountability mechanisms. DOHA. (Oct. 2019 & March 2020)
- Council of Europe: Expert speaker at various events on hate speech, terrorism, disinformation, self-regulation, media literacy, and media policy. (KYIV -Feb. 2020, GRANADA -March. 2019, KONJIC -March 2018, STRASBOURG – Oct & June 2017 / March 2018, TBLISI -June 2016)
- IOM: Communicating Migration in Times of Xenophobia, Geneva (Nov. 2016)
- OSCE: Freedom of Expression, Free Media & Information Conference, Vienna (April 2019)
- UNAOC: Hate Speech and Migration Symposium, Cairo (Dec. 2017)
- UNESCO: World Press Freedom Day panel discussion on migration & media, Jakarta (4 May 2017)
LECTURES & UNIVERSITY PRESENTATIONS (SELECTION)
- London Metropolitan University: Guest lecturer to journalism undergrad students. (4 Feb. 2020)
- University of Hebron: Seminar on hate speech and ethical journalism (14 Nov. 2018)
- City, University of London: “Humanitarian journalism today” (15 Oct. 2018)
- Reading University: Protective role of languages in refugee settings (21 Sept. 2018)
- SOAS, University of London: 1-day media ethics workshop (May 2017 & June 2018)
- Universität Tübingen: Media and Diversity Lecture at bi-annual conference by the International Centre for Ethics in the Sciences. (25 July 2017)
- University of Indonesia: Global Intermedia Dialogue Conference (January 2017)
EVENTS (SELECTION)
Organised a successful event series at the Frontline Club in London. Three of them were recorded:
Organised a successful event series at the Frontline Club in London. Three of them were recorded:
- Ethics And The Fight For The Future Of Journalism (April 2019)
- Ethics and the Law: Journalists and International Criminal Tribunals (Nov. 2018)
- Another News Story (April 2018)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: COMMUNICATIONS
- Childreach International - Head of Communications - Leading anti-trafficking campaign, in collaboration with SOLD -- a film based on the novel by Patricia McCormick. The campaign featured on the BBC, CNN and other media outlets in the UK and Nepal. Managing advocacy, communications, marketing and PR across the organisation's offices in India, Nepal, Tanzania and the UK. (March 2014 – Nov. 2015)
- LEAD for Media Consultancy - Editor - Editing communication and advocacy material outsourced by international organisations working in Sudan. (June 2010 – Jan. 2012)
- SIHA-Network - Information Officer - http://www.sihanet.org/ Writing reports and advocacy material for SIHA’s ‘Stop violence against women campaign’: Gender-based violence in Darfur, Female Genital Mutilation, and other issues (Oct. 04 – Sept. 05)
- George P. Johnson - Marketing Strategist - Provided strategic advice, research and reports to the European marketing team of Cisco Systems. (Jan. 07 – Aug. 08 / Consultant: Jan. - April 2010)
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE: NEWS & FILM
- Associated Press Television News (APTN) - News Assistant (Dec. 08 – Jan. 09)
- Runner – Adviser to the director of a film maker about South Sudanese marathon runner (2013)
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE: NGO & CIVIL SOCIETY
- Overseas Development Institute (ODI) – Researcher for Humanitarian Policy Group on urbanisation in Sudan and South Sudan. (Feb. 2010 – April 10)
- Diar (Women) for Rehabilitation and Development Association (DRDA) – Developed project proposals and reports for (DRDA), a Sudanese NGO working with displaced persons. (Oct. 04 – Sept. 05)
- Sudan Volunteer Programme (SVP) – Taught English at four universities and colleges in Sudan, including the University of Khartoum. (2004/2005 & 2010/2011)
EDUCATION & TRAINING
- BA (2:2) International Development Studies, University of East Anglia (2002 – 2006)
- Five-day ‘Newsroom Management & Mentoring’ training workshop for organised by the FOJO Media Institute. (June 2012)
- Blue Dot Safety hostile environment, news safety and first aid training. (2009)
- UN level 1 field safety course. (2005)
