TORONTO, Aug. 19,
2024 /CNW/ - Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) is
pleased to announce that its Executive Director Rachel Pulfer has moved into a new role as the
organization's first-ever President. This leadership update came
into effect on August 6, 2024 after
Ms.Pulfer's return from completing the Martin Wise Goodman Canadian
Nieman Fellowship at Harvard
University. Bill Killorn, who
served as JHR's Interim Executive Director during Pulfer's
sabbatical, has been named the new ED.
JHR is Canada's leading media
development organization, having trained over 21,000 journalists
globally to report on human rights ethically and objectively. Now
in its 23rd year, the organization is running sector-wide programs
in more than 16 countries.
Under their new remits, Ms. Pulfer will focus on JHR's growth
strategy, building from the momentum of the past year under Mr.
Killorn. Mr. Killorn will continue to contribute to the
organization's growth, while also overseeing the organization's
day-to-day operations.
"As the need for JHR's work intensifies and its global presence
expands, the Board is proud that the leadership team is stepping up
to steer the organization towards even greater impact and
effectiveness," said Michael Cooke,
Chair of the JHR Board of Directors. "Together, Rachel and Bill's
dynamic partnership will guide us into this new chapter and
strengthen our efforts in promoting press freedom and human
rights."
"Journalists for Human Rights grew 10x over the past 12 years,
but the job description of Executive Director remained largely the
same," said Ms. Pulfer. "This new leadership structure allows me,
as President, to lean into growth, while Bill can continue to do
the amazing job he's been doing, and be formally recognized for it,
in the role of Executive Director."
"It is an honour to work for an organization like JHR with
colleagues around the world who are committed to progressive
change. I look forward to continuing to support our team in the
incredible work they do day in and day out," said Mr. Killorn.
Ms. Pulfer has served as JHR's Executive Director since
October 2011. Mr. Killorn has served
as its Deputy Director since March
2020, and as Interim Executive Director since July 2023. Over the last 12 years, the
organization expanded its scope of operations from one continent to
four. This included adapting JHR's innovative community-led model
of media development work overseas to successful programming on
Indigenous and then BIPOC rights in Canada, working to help journalists in
Canada and across 12 countries in
Africa and the Middle East combat misinformation and
disinformation during the global pandemic and beyond, moving into
the Middle East and North Africa in the wake of the Arab Spring,
and safely evacuating and resettling over 2000 Afghans from
Afghanistan after it fell to the
Taliban in August 2021.
Under Ms. Pulfer's leadership, with a significant assist from
Mr. Killorn's, JHR has won several awards acknowledging the impact
of its programs, including the Michener-Baxter Award for
Exceptional Service to Canadian Journalism in 2022.
For additional information about Journalists for Human Rights,
please visit https://jhr.ca/ and follow @jhrnews
on Twitter.
Our thanks to CNW Group for their partnership
SOURCE Journalists for Human Rights (JHR)