News organisations, media associations and individuals in more than 100 countries will join forces on Saturday, World News Day, to highlight the importance of fact-based journalism.

They will invite their audiences to support trusted news outlets under the slogan, ‘Choose Truth’.

The event is co-organised by WAN-Ifra’s World Editors Forum and the Canadian Journalism Foundation. The campaign theme was developed by Project Kontinuum, a campaign incubator led by Daily Maverick founder Branko Brkic.

“World News Day offers a moment to reflect on the vital role that independent and courageous journalists play in communities worldwide,” said World News Day founder David Walmsley, editor-in-chief of Canada’s Globe and Mail. “Their work provides the evidence that leads to truth.”

The campaign emphasises the unwavering commitment of journalists to report the facts, while acknowledging the public’s challenge of navigating a toxic information environment flooded with misinformation and disinformation.

In a joint article for World News Day, Brkic and Nobel laureate Maria Ressa wrote: “The noise and violence will eventually subside, and the discourse based on truth and decency will return.

“For now, we fight – every moment of every hour, of every day … We will defend Truth.”

WAN-Ifra president Ladina Heimgartner, who is media head of Ringier and chief executive of Ringier Media Switzerland, said: “With ‘Choose Truth’, we underscore our shared commitment to defend the principles of fact-based journalism.

“In a world overwhelmed by misinformation, the responsibility of journalists to provide accurate, reliable, and independent news has never been more critical. This campaign is a reminder that truth is not just a choice – it is the foundation of a free and democratic society.”

The global initiative aims to draw public attention to the role that journalists play in providing trustworthy news and information that serves citizens and democracy. World News Day takes place annually on September 28, and is presented by the World Editors Forum, The Canadian Journalism Foundation and Daily Maverick’s Project Kontinuum.

For more information contact Cherilyn Ireton at worldnewsday@wan-ifra.org

Pictured: A world map shows countries supporting the event