Antonio Zappulla OMRI (@antozappulla) header
Antonio Zappulla OMRI (@antozappulla) profile picture

Antonio Zappulla OMRI

@antozappulla

CEO @TRF | @Openly Founder | #1 LGBT Exec Financial Times| @OneYoungWorld Counsellor | European Young Leader @EYL40 | Trustee @RISJ_Oxford @INSInews

 London, UK
trust.org
Joined April 2009
  • Tweets6.5K
  • Following1.9K
  • Followers4.1K
Today's challenges to democracy are interconnected and addressing them demands new partnerships and ideas. That's why @trustconf brings leaders together in the same room, at the same time. Apply to join us in November: tinyurl.com/3bbfdtdw @TRF #TC2026
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South Africa has one of the most robust constitutional protections for press freedom on the continent, yet half the journalists we surveyed faced legal threats over their work. Our new report documents 17 threats to media freedom and what needs to change: trust.org/resource/weaponisi…
The image features a quote stating, "I don’t want to lose my house and life savings over a story." It is attributed to a focus group participant for the Thomson Reuters Foundation report titled "Weaponising the law: Threats to media freedom in South Africa."

ALT The image features a quote stating, "I don’t want to lose my house and life savings over a story." It is attributed to a focus group participant for the Thomson Reuters Foundation report titled "Weaponising the law: Threats to media freedom in South Africa."

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The organisations doing the hardest work are being hit from all directions. New laws, funding cuts, legal threats meant to exhaust & silence. This is a systematic attack on those that hold power to account. I've written about what a response looks like: trust.org/2026/07/21/civil-s…
Civil society is being cut off and locked down at the same time

Civil society is being cut off and locked down at the same time

From Georgia to Venezuela, civil society faces a coordinated squeeze of funding cuts and restrictive laws. Discover how TRF’s Resilience Accelerator helps organisations withstand these challenges.

trust.org
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Antonio Zappulla OMRI retweeted
Thomson Reuters Foundation (@TRF) profile picture
Thomson Reuters Foundation@TRFApr 20
Just back from the @journalismfest in Perugia, our CEO @antozappulla reflects on this year’s festival which brought the industry together at a critical moment for journalism. Read his key takeaways ⤵️ #IJF26 trust.org/2026/04/20/reflect…
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Companies are adopting AI faster than they're governing it. That's the stark finding from @TRF's first AI Company Data Initiative report, the world's largest analysis of corporate AI adoption, looking at what nearly 3,000 companies are publicly reporting: tinyurl.com/um95b3ah
Image from Antonio Zappulla OMRI (@antozappulla)
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I am delighted to share that Michael Eastwood, outgoing Chief Financial Officer of @ThomsonReuters, has been appointed as the new Chairman of the @TRF's UK Board of Trustees. I also want to recognise the remarkable legacy of outgoing Chairman, Jim Smith: tinyurl.com/nhbkum3f
A photo of Mike Eastwood with the accompanying quote: “It is a genuine honour to be appointed Chairman of the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s UK Board of Trustees. The Foundation’s mission has never felt more vital.”

ALT A photo of Mike Eastwood with the accompanying quote: “It is a genuine honour to be appointed Chairman of the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s UK Board of Trustees. The Foundation’s mission has never felt more vital.”

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It was a privilege to set the stage at @trustconf last week for two days of powerful discussions. For those who couldn't join us, and for those who did attend but want to look over the key takeaways, my opening remarks are now on the @TRF website. trust.org/2025/10/31/trust-c…
Three key drivers are reshaping the world and eroding democracy

Three key drivers are reshaping the world and eroding democracy

View CEO of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, Antonio Zappulla’s opening remarks for Trust Conference 2025 - Day One.

trust.org
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I've been at #ExpandNorthStar in Dubai this week, joining business leaders, investors, VCs and innovators to talk about the power of data to drive forward public interest AI, and @TRF's work to build a global dataset on corporate AI adoption: bit.ly/43laK2k
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Antonio Zappulla OMRI retweeted
Thomson Reuters Foundation (@TRF) profile picture
Thomson Reuters Foundation@TRF26 Aug 2025
Our statement on Israeli strikes on Nasser Hospital in Gaza that killed and injured journalists.
White text on black background which reads: Journalists play an essential role in delivering eyewitness reporting and shining a light on the reality of conflict. It is critically important that they are able to do so safely and freely. We were devastated to learn that cameraman Hussam al-Masri, a contractor for Reuters, was killed in Israeli strikes on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in Gaza. Moaz Abu Taha, a freelance journalist whose work had been occasionally published by Reuters, was also killed, and photographer Hatem Khaled, a Reuters contractor, was wounded. We send our deep condolences and thoughts to Hussam’s and Moaz’s families and loved ones. Reuters have asked authorities in Gaza and Israel to help get urgent medical assistance for Hatem, and are seeking more information from Israeli authorities about these latest strikes.

ALT White text on black background which reads: Journalists play an essential role in delivering eyewitness reporting and shining a light on the reality of conflict. It is critically important that they are able to do so safely and freely. We were devastated to learn that cameraman Hussam al-Masri, a contractor for Reuters, was killed in Israeli strikes on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in Gaza. Moaz Abu Taha, a freelance journalist whose work had been occasionally published by Reuters, was also killed, and photographer Hatem Khaled, a Reuters contractor, was wounded. We send our deep condolences and thoughts to Hussam’s and Moaz’s families and loved ones. Reuters have asked authorities in Gaza and Israel to help get urgent medical assistance for Hatem, and are seeking more information from Israeli authorities about these latest strikes.

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Trust Conference is back. And with autocracies on the rise and fundamental freedoms being eroded, it returns at a pivotal and alarming time. Join us at @trustconf where we will explore some of society’s biggest challenges and ways forward: tinyurl.com/3r4u8zhr #TC2025 @TRF
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‘Foreign agent’ laws — the latest tactic used by authoritarian states to gag journalists — are spreading like wildfire. Read my piece in @guardian to learn more — what they are, how they're being weaponised and what can be done to push back. theguardian.com/commentisfre…
It is safe for me to write this article – and for you to read it. But globally, those rights are...

It is safe for me to write this article – and for you to read it. But globally, those rights are...

The act of labelling journalists ‘foreign agents’ is deliberately chilling, says Antonio Zappulla, chief executive of the Thomson Reuters Foundation

theguardian.com
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Antonio Zappulla OMRI retweeted
RFE/RL Pressroom (@RFERLPress) profile picture
RFE/RL Pressroom
@RFERLPress15 Apr 2025
📹 ICYMI: At the @journalismfest’s #IJF25, @RFERL’s @AlsuKurmasheva joined @HLPMediaFreedom’s @Can_Yeginsu and @TRF’s @antozappulla to discuss the global spread of foreign agent laws and their impact on journalism. journalismfestival.com/progr…
Silencing the press: the global spread of foreign agent laws and...

Silencing the press: the global spread of foreign agent laws and...

Foreign agent laws and their increasing application to media organisations and journalists have been spreading like wildfire. This panel will explore the insidious expansion of these laws and their...

journalismfestival.com
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The media face unprecedented challenges, yet the resilience & dedication on display at #IJF25 were remarkable. Here are my takeaways, highlighting the spirit of those on the front lines, the power of digital innovation, & the vital need for collaboration: trust.org/2025/04/14/five-ta…
Takeaways from the International Journalism Festival

Takeaways from the International Journalism Festival

Antonio Zappulla, CEO of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, reflects on his learnings from the 2025 International Journalism Festival in Perugia.

trust.org
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Join Deputy Chair @Can_Yeginsu today 15:00 CEST at #ifj25 with @antozappulla and Alsu Karmashva on 'The Global Spread of Foreign Agents Laws and Their Impact on Journalism' In person and online➡️ tinyurl.com/59ux9jj9
Image from High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom (@HLPMediaFreedom)
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Antonio Zappulla OMRI retweeted
Thomson Reuters Foundation (@TRF) profile picture
Thomson Reuters Foundation@TRF10 Apr 2025
As AI evolves, its impact on human rights grows, offering both opportunities and risks. In Latin America, there's a gap in media reporting on AI ethics and digital rights, limiting public awareness. [1/7] 🧵
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Antonio Zappulla OMRI retweeted
Thomson Reuters Foundation (@TRF) profile picture
Thomson Reuters Foundation@TRF9 Apr 2025
Independent journalism is being silenced worldwide, even in so-called democracies. Join our CEO @AntoZappulla at #IFJ25 in Perugia, April 9-13, where @TRF brings leading media experts to tackle key challenges. Join us there or tune into our panels: tinyurl.com/ykm7afnm
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Antonio Zappulla OMRI retweeted
Thomson Reuters Foundation (@TRF) profile picture
Thomson Reuters Foundation@TRF8 Apr 2025
Foreign agent laws are increasingly used by authoritarian regimes to silence journalism. Join our CEO @AntoZappulla, Alsu Kurmashva, and @Can_Yeginsu as they discuss this issue and strategies for resistance at #IJF25 on 11 April, or watch live: tinyurl.com/59ux9jj9
Image from Thomson Reuters Foundation (@TRF)
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Excited to bring together a powerful panel of speakers at @journalismfest to discuss the role of journalists in a challenging era. Join me, with @camposmello, @DamianCollins, @kapur_ritu, and Staffan Lindberg at #IJF25, or follow the live stream: tinyurl.com/4axs76hy
Graphic with a quote by Antonio Zappulla, CEO of Thomson Reuters Foundation: "A free press is a critical pillar of democracy. But it is being attacked and dismantled in a world where democracy is backsliding." The image features the logos of Thomson Reuters and #ijf25 on a black and orange background.

ALT Graphic with a quote by Antonio Zappulla, CEO of Thomson Reuters Foundation: "A free press is a critical pillar of democracy. But it is being attacked and dismantled in a world where democracy is backsliding." The image features the logos of Thomson Reuters and #ijf25 on a black and orange background.

Promotional poster for an event titled "Enemy of the People? The Role of Media in an Era of Rising Authoritarianism," featuring speakers Patricia Campos Mello, Damian Collins, and Ritu Kapur. Scheduled for April 9-12, 2025 in Perugia, Italy at the 25th International Journalism Festival. Includes a link to the festival's program.

ALT Promotional poster for an event titled "Enemy of the People? The Role of Media in an Era of Rising Authoritarianism," featuring speakers Patricia Campos Mello, Damian Collins, and Ritu Kapur. Scheduled for April 9-12, 2025 in Perugia, Italy at the 25th International Journalism Festival. Includes a link to the festival's program.

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Fantastic to bring together four South African newsrooms for an AI adoption workshop in Johannesburg this week. Together with @Microsoft, our programme is helping newsrooms to leverage AI to build sustainable business operations and responsibly enhance their journalism.
Image from Antonio Zappulla OMRI (@antozappulla)
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The TrustLaw Index of Pro Bono highlights how law firms worldwide are transforming the legal landscape by using pro bono work. Read our 2024 report to discover how pro bono is making a difference – globally: tinyurl.com/47wtenja
Thomson Reuters Foundation (@TRF) profile pictureThomson Reuters Foundation@TRF5 Feb 2025
The Index of Pro Bono is the only truly global survey measuring the amount of pro bono practised by law firms around the world. It provides in-depth insights into the evolving global pro bono landscape. [1/6]
Image from Thomson Reuters Foundation (@TRF)
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