Media Defence

Media Defence, formerly The Media Legal Defence Initiative, is a UK charity, established in 2008, dedicated to protecting independent media and public interest journalism globally by countering legal threats. Its work focuses on four areas: violence against journalists, lawfare, digital rights, and accountability. The organisation provides emergency legal support, pursues strategic litigation to challenge repressive laws, and trains a global network of over 400 lawyers and 22 partner organisations to offer pro bono national legal support.

The Trust previously supported the organisation from 2008 – 2021.