Freedom2Connect Foundation Appoints Former Journalist and Media Expert as CEO
Craig A. Newman to spearhead global internet freedom public awareness campaign
WASHINGTON, Aug. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Freedom2Connect Foundation (F2CF) announced today the appointment of Craig A. Newman to the position of Chief Executive Officer. F2CF, a private non-profit corporation, supports and facilitates global internet freedom by leveraging private and public funds with governmental funding for the freedom2connect (f2c) program at Radio Free Asia. Mr. Newman is a partner and member of the Executive Committee at Richards Kibbe & Orbe LLP, the New York-based law firm.
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Established in 2011, F2CF's mission is to raise awareness of global Internet censorship and support the tools to circumvent it. The Foundation supports the development and implementation of state-of-the-art technology which allows access to the Internet in countries where their governments routinely censor information.
"As a former journalist, I'm a passionate supporter of technologies that support Internet freedom for individuals and members of the media in repressive regimes," said Mr. Newman. "I'm honored to serve in this position, and I know our collective efforts will have a real impact on global censorship."
Radio Free Asia's f2c program began in January 2012 with an initial grant of approximately $7 million from Congress through the Broadcasting Board of Governors. The program fosters global Internet freedom by supporting and funding research, due diligence, testing, analytics, development and implementation of globally accessible secure communications and innovative technologies. The program staff works with technologists in the field to fund and secure communication tools that are sustainable, utilize a cross-fertilization of technology and accessible to individuals in repressive countries who have access to only the most basic online and mobile communications tools.
An example of this technology is the so-called "Internet in a suitcase." Using everyday materials that can be smuggled into contested regions, the suitcase provided dissidents with Internet access independent of a government-controlled network. The technology was field deployed in Afghanistan, where it created a shadow digital network to allow uncensored and unrestricted cell phone and Internet service.
Mr. Newman has also been a partner with Arnold & Porter and General Counsel of Americast, the Disney-led media, technology and telecommunications venture with the former regional bell telephone companies. Newman is a regular contributor to leading publications including the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Fortune, Bloomberg, the Columbia Journalism Review, Editor & Publisher, American Banker, among others. Newman also serves as Chairman of the National Board of Advisors of the Cronkite School of Journalism & Mass Communication at Arizona State University and is a member of the Advisory Board of Newsy, a multi-source news service. Mr. Newman's oped on the topic of global Internet freedom, Winning the Internet Arms Race, was published in the Wall Street Journal: http://webreprints.djreprints.com/2975481077842.pdf
Board members of F2CF include Danforth Austin, President and former director of the Voice of America and Diane Zeleny, Vice President of Strategy and Communications at the Legatum Institute. For more information about F2CF, go to www.f2cf.org
SOURCE Freedom2Connect Foundation
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