RNW Media

This article is about the current non-governmental organisation. For RNW Media's former existence as a shortwave radio station, see Radio Netherlands Worldwide.

RNW Media

Stichting RNW Media
Formation	1 January 2013 (2013-01-01)

RNW Media is an international media development organisation based in Haarlem, the Netherlands, dedicated to harness the power of independent digital media to uphold human rights and advance the public good.

With over 75 years of experience, RNW Media has evolved from an international radio broadcaster into a champion of independent digital media. Our work with our partners has demonstrated how a diverse, resilient, and trustworthy digital media ecosystem can inform people, shift narratives, influence social norms, and drive policy change, reinforcing the essential role of independent media in open and democratic societies.

RNTC, the internationally renowned training centre of RNW Media, provides journalism and media training to journalists, media makers and communication professionals.

Through The Vine, RNW Media’s global community, with more than 25 independent and public interest digital media, 80 media trainers, and 10,000 RNTC alumni, we facilitate media coalition, partnership and movement building.

RNW Media works towards two focus areas: Media Viability and Information Integrity. Together, they form the foundation of a diverse, resilient and trustworthy digital media and information ecosystem that upholds democratic values and fosters open societies.

History

Founded in 1947, Radio Netherlands Worldwide Radio Netherlands Worldwide or RNW (Dutch: Radio Nederland Wereldomroep), began as the Dutch international public broadcaster, dedicated to foster the free flow of information. In 1968, the Radio Netherlands Training Centre (RNTC) was established to provide professional capacity building for journalists and media makers.

In 2012, RNW transitioned fully into a digital media organization called RNW Media. By 2021, 85% of media brands and outlets we established—such as Manasati30 in Yemen, Yaga Burundi, Benbere in Mali or El Toque in Cuba, as well as the Love Matters brands in China, India, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, and Mexico—had become independent, self-sustained locally registered organizations until today.

Since 2021, RNW Media has solidified its role as an international media development organization. We co-create innovative and locally relevant digital media solutions to support independent media in maximizing their digital impact. Our integrated training arm, RNTC, provides cutting-edge courses to journalists and media makers worldwide, ensuring they are equipped to navigate the complexities of today’s digital ecosystem.

Locations

Working in more than 40 countries across Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, West and East Africa, East Asia, Central and South America, we defend media and internet freedom, the right of every human being to access to information and freedom of expression.

Funding

RNW Media's main funder is currently the Dutch Foreign Ministry. It also receives funding from AmplifyChange, EuropeAid, the Dutch Nationale Postcode Loterij, the Swedish Postcode Foundation and Nuffic.

Governance

RNW Media is led by a CEO, Wouter van Tongeren a leader with 20 years of experience building partnerships across governments, businesses, and civil society. As CEO of RNW Media, he is dedicated to strengthening independent media in the digital space, ensuring people have access to reliable information to make informed decisions and create positive change.

Supervisory Board

RNW Media is governed by a supervisory board which is responsible for overseeing the policy of the CEO and the general running of the organisation.

Personnel

RNW Media employs a core staff in the Netherlands who are responsible for strategic planning, programme management, communications, branding and stakeholder management, business development and data and digital processes. They manage, coordinate and support the local teams and partners based in the target countries who are responsible for programme implementation. At the beginning of 2025, RNW Media had 40 staff members, 15 Nationalities who work to harness the power of independent digital media to uphold human rights and advance the public good.

Activities

Integrated digital media solutions with and for media makers:

RNW Media collaborates with independent and public interest media to co-create and implement locally relevant digital media and learning solutions that drive reach and engagement, sustainability, and impact. Their ISO-certified Solution Development Cycle ensures that each solution is data-driven, context-specific, and quality-controlled, aligning with the digital habits, challenges, and needs of global audience. RNW Media solutions, in multiple formats including assessments, consultations, masterclass, training, coaching, collab digital products, and data tools etc., supports partners navigate digital media complexities, guide decision-making, and deliver tangible products that provides significant value to their audience.

Through RNTC Media Training Centre (RNTC), they provide cutting-edge capacity-building programs tailored for journalists, media makers, and communication professionals. Their learning solutions blend interactive, hands-on training, and locally relevant case studies to equip professionals with practical skills in ethical AI journalism, persuasive storytelling, countering misinformation, and audience engagement. RNW Media prioritizes accessible, multilingual learning experiences through regional learning hubs and blended online training to ensure that media professionals across diverse regions can develop the expertise needed to sustain media viability and integrity.

Facilitate Media Coalition, Partnership, and Movement Building:

RNW Media fosters strategic media coalition, partnership and movement building through The Vine, a global community of 25 independent and public interest media organizations, 80 media trainers, and 10.000 alumni working together to strengthen the digital media and information ecosystem. Their work contributes to SDG17 by building partnership of public interest and independent media at a global scale through innovation, funding and research.

Research and advocacy for sustainable media funding and tech accountability:

RNW Media leverage data-driven research and evidence- based advocacy to advance media viability, information integrity, and the right to access to information and freedom of expression in digital space.

Collaborating with top research institutes and universities, our research agenda explores emerging trends in media business models, AI-generated content consumption by young audiences, public trust in media, tech platforms content moderation and advertising policies and others, providing insights that inform policy recommendations and best practices.

Through evidence-sharing and strategic engagement with policymakers, tech platforms, and other advocacy organizations, they advocate for more flexible and reliable direct and core funding for independent and public interest media by bringing to the front related issues, and greater tech platform transparency and accountability with a focus on their content curation, moderation and advertising policies. We are also aiming to bridge the gap between global and EU media and tech policies to ensure the EU policy framework represents diverse voices from the global majorities countries and translate the EU policies into local initiatives.

External links

• Official website