For Julie Payne, working in the free expression field was an unexpected career path given her studies in theatre and film.
Today, she manages Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), whose mission is to boldly champion the free expression rights of journalists and media workers around the world.
Julie, who has called Toronto home for the past fifteen years, started her free expression career at PEN Canada before moving on to Canadian Journalists for Free Expression seven years ago first as Program Manager and then CJFE Manager. She works tirelessly for the legal rights of many journalists – both in Canada and around the world.
Her Vital People Grant will be used to attend the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) General Meeting in Beirut, Lebanon in June 2011. At the IFEX meeting, Julie will learn about fundraising, free expression issues, communications and campaign building, as well as press freedom. Julie will also convene members of the Journalists in Distress network to talk about plans to expand and deepen the global network, and she will build interest in the CJFE-Scotiabank Latin American Journalism Fellowship at Massey College.
