Annual report 2020
2020 was a powerful reminder of why civil society is vital to our democracies and why supporting, preserving, and promoting civic space is critical. In many countries, CSOs have effectively and quickly managed to adapt their activities and address the emergency of the situation and respond to the immediate needs of the most vulnerable. The current Covid-19 crisis has persuaded popular social media platforms to start monitoring and removing misinformation on topics related to public health – an unprecedented move that comes with its pros and cons. Aware of misinformation and disinformation populating our digital lives, a lot of people turned to reliable independent media as a main source of information. As a result, independent media saw some growth in traffic and individual donations.
Despite all difficulties, our grantee partners remained committed to their work and mission to counter restrictive measures by exposing wrongdoings and engaging with decision-makers. They mobilised when needed, researched, and advocated for a healthier digital sphere with positive and encouraging outcomes that will be developed in this report.