Leon Willems

Background

About Leon Willems

Free Press Unlimited supports independent journalism worldwide and initiates & assists the creation of independent media because "people deserve to know". Free Press Unlimited works in 40 repressive and fragile countries. We are 45 people strong and we are proud to be involved with some of the most successful media development projects in the business: Kids News Network, Radio Dabanga, Investing in the future, Association des radios communautaires de proximite DRCongo, Radio Zamaneh, Independent Media Center Kurdistan, Democratic Voice of Birma, The Zimbabwean and many many other projects. Freedom of the Press and Freedom of Expression cannot exist without an independent professional media sector and skilled and courageous journalists. Amongst our most breathtaking new projects are: Radio Hirad Somalia, Reporters Respond and Kids News Network Bolivia, Nepal, Nicaragua and South Africa. See for yourself and support our work at Personal background: As television-addicted journalist I joined IKON, a small broadcaster specialized in conflict reporting and development issues. I eventually managed the news and information department of this public television broadcaster in the Netherlands. For years I have roamed and commissioned the most important news stories of the Middle East and Sub Sahara Africa in the nineties. From 2003 onwards, as Chief of Project, I build Miraya FM, the United Nations FM radio-chain in Sudan. Since 2007 I was involved in the set up of a Radio Network for Darfur called Radio Dabanga. After that I became director of Press Now and since May 2011 I am heading Free Press Unlimited, tirelessly working on the further spread of independent information and support to free media, because "people deserve to know". Bringing independent media to the people is the principle aim of my work. Media can be used as a tool for democracy building and it can assist in development in general. Specialties: Intercultural management is a job that requires a clear vision as well as patience and impatience at the same time. Using the expertise, skills and cultural knowledge of people and bringing them together in a coherent project is my specialty.