What & Who is Free Voice
Free Voice is the media organization in the Netherlands that strives for:
- independent and multiform media
- balanced and reliable journalistic press freedom in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
The foundation Free Voice was established on August 25, 1986 under the name SCO /CAF (SCO means: Stichting Communicatie Ontwikkelings-samenwerking; CAF means: Communication Assistance Foundation).
On May 3, 2004 the organization has been renamed Free Voice - Dutch support for Media in development.
The founders of Free Voice are prominent Dutch journalistic and media organizations:
- the Netherlands Association of Journalists (NVJ)
- the Dutch Newspaper Publishers Association (NDP)
- the Radio Netherlands (from Dutch public broadcasting organizations)
- the Dutch Society of Chief Editors (joined after the foundation, but in that same year)
Since then prominent figures and members of the above organizations have been supporting Free Voice in word and deed. Free Voice really is an organization from the media for the media.
Right from the beginning, Free Voice' intention was to keep a small professional bureau, which is advised by experts from the Dutch field of journalism and media.
Free Voice receives financial support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Postcode Lottery of the Netherlands and other funds and institutions, with 64 per cent coming from the Ministry and 16 per cent from other funds (2007). Free Voice does not have a professional organ to raise small donations or contributions. This is very time-consuming and the market for charities is already overcrowded. Therefore, no such action is taken for the time being. Single contributions and donations are obviously accepted with gratitude.
No more than 13 per cent of the income is spent on organizational costs in the Netherlands, 87 per cent flows to partner organizations in developing countries (2007).
Since March 21, 2005, Free Voice has obtained the CBF hallmark, a sign that it meets the strict guidelines for transparent financial management and spends funds in a reliable manner.
