Meera Selva is the CEO of Internews Europe, a nonprofit organization that supports independent media in over 40 countries. Meera agreed to talk with us to explain how the fight for truth has shifted. It’s no longer about physical borders — it’s about navigating a dangerous digital world.
Borders have changed, but the mission remains
Internews originally aimed to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western Europe during the Cold War. At that time, governments heavily restricted cross-border communication.
“A lot of effort went into preventing people from understanding what life was like elsewhere. Internews felt very strongly that the first step to promoting peace and building bridges was simply letting people talk to one another,” says Meera.
“Originally, [Internews] used very innovative satellite technology to connect people in the former USSR with people in North America and Western Europe, allowing them to ask very normal, everyday questions about each other’s lives.”
Today, the mission remains similar, but the barriers have changed. The organization focuses on what it calls “closing civic spaces” — regions where press freedom is restricted. It also supports post-conflict societies and areas facing humanitarian crises.
Meeting people where they are
Effective media support requires a ground-up understanding of how people consume news. To achieve this, Internews investigates local needs before acting.
“When we enter an area, we conduct an information ecosystem assessment and ask: Where are people getting their information? What support do they need? We then design our programming around that, meeting audiences where they are, in the languages they speak, and on the platforms they use,” says Meera.
This strategy proved vital in Moldova, where the organization supported both Moldovan- and Russian-language outlets: “This support has helped ensure communities receive reliable information, not only about Moldova but also about Ukraine. Moldova hosts many Ukrainian refugees, and by connecting journalists and communities, we’ve helped foster understanding.”
According to Meera, this connection changed how refugees were treated: “Instead of [showing] hostility, people are better able to welcome newcomers and provide them with essential information about housing, shelter, and survival.”
The threat of misinformation and censorship
Accessing information today presents two major challenges: an overwhelming number of digital sources and targeted attacks on truth.
“We live in a world with an enormous amount of information, much of it delivered digitally on our phones. At the same time, there’s a huge amount of misinformation, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to tell what’s true and what’s false,” says Meera.
Additionally, authoritarian regimes often attack independent journalism because it challenges their control: “This combination — confusion about reliable information and concerted attacks from those in power — poses a serious threat to independent journalism.”
To counter this confusion and hostility, Internews cooperates with journalists and content creators. These people help communities get the data they need to make informed decisions:
“That means ensuring they can participate in elections, but it also means knowing where to get good healthcare, where to find reliable information about schools, and most importantly, understanding that there are spaces where they can tell their own stories.”
Technology helps protect the truth
As journalism moves online, digital security becomes vital for free speech. Meera explains how the organization protects its partners:
“We have a very strong digital safety unit that works to ensure people can continue operating safely in civic spaces. This includes providing newsrooms with tools like VPNs and other digital security solutions.”
She also highlights the practical necessity of these tools in high-risk zones like Afghanistan and Sudan: “VPNs allow journalists to keep working even when they’re under attack or forced to flee to neighboring countries. They’re essential for keeping websites running and protecting communications, and NordVPN has been particularly useful in these contexts.”
But digital protection extends beyond infrastructure. Internews also supports marginalized groups, particularly women, who face disproportionate online harassment. The organization has developed resources to help them stay safe, preventing threats and cyberattacks from pushing them out of public discourse.
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Future challenges
Independent media faces a volatile future. Technological shifts and broken business models threaten newsrooms worldwide.
And while digital tools solve many issues, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) create unforeseen difficulties: “While we expected disruption, we didn’t foresee the scale or speed of adoption. AI has affected search, information discovery, and how people consume news.”
Beyond that, Meera anticipates that Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia will need the most support in the future: “Platform companies have dramatically reshaped media ecosystems, but haven’t delivered sustainable economic models. They’ve reduced newsrooms’ ability to survive financially, while also failing to provide the data needed to understand audiences and monetize content.”
But support from nonprofits can only go so far. Meera notes that the survival of independent journalism ultimately relies on active public support:
“One of the most important things you can do [to support independent media] is subscribe to news outlets. Find an outlet that speaks to you, support it financially, read it, and engage with it. That’s how independent media survives.”
A message of hope
Even with these hurdles, Meera remains optimistic. She believes that regardless of algorithmic shifts, the fundamental human need to communicate endures.
“Even in this era of AI, misinformation, and rapid digital change, people still find ways to tell stories, to communicate who they are and what matters to them. That’s what makes us human. That’s why Internews has existed for so long and why we’ll continue to exist. Platforms and technologies change, but storytelling will always remain.”
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About Internews
Internews is a politically neutral nonprofit that has strengthened independent media for more than four decades. Operating in over 40 countries, the organization defends free speech, trains reporters, and helps newsrooms achieve financial stability.
