Rod Macdonell appointed Executive Director of CJFE

The Canadian Journalists for Free Expression is pleased to announce the appointment of Rod Macdonell as the Executive Director of the Canadian Journalists for Free Expression.

Rod Macdonell joins CJFE after five years with the World Bank Institute in Washington as a consultant in the governance and anti-corruption team. Rod's duties with the team included capacity building of journalists to do investigative journalism, development of curriculum for journalism training and writing about comparative laws affecting freedom of the press in developing nations.

At the World Bank Institute he delivered numerous training workshops in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. In addition, he hosted more that 150 video conferences to journalists based in Africa as part of the Bank's distance-learning program. He has also written about free expression.

From 1983 to 1999 Rod was an investigative journalist and legal affairs reporter with the Montreal Gazette. Rod reported on a wide number of issues including the environment politics, corruption and the justice system. He was a three-time winner of Quebec's highest journalist award from the Fédération Professionnelle des Journalistes du Québec (FPJQ).

He was a member of the board of the FPJQ for two years.

"Rod is a first rate journalist who brings passion and commitment to free expression. His work in the past five years working internationally will continue CJFE's international work while building a national profile in Canada." said Arnold Amber, President of the CJFE.

Rod was a researcher on Stevie Cameron's book On the Take and Blue Trust. He taught at Concordia University for eight years in the Journalism Department teaching Media and the Law.

Rod has also worked for Canadian Press. He is a graduate of Bishop's University and has received a Civil Law degree from Université de Sherbrooke.

Rod replaces Joel Ruimy who served as Executive Director for two and a half years. Joel resigned in January 2004.

The CJFE is a Canadian non-governmental organization supported by Canadian journalists and advocates of free expression. The mission of the organization is to defend the rights of journalists and contribute to the development of media freedom throughout the world. CJFE recognizes these rights are not confined to journalists and strongly supports and defends the broader objective of freedom of expression in Canada and around the world.

Contact Information: