New York, October 24, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists announced today that Lydia Polgreen, the editor-in-chief of HuffPost, and Roger Widmann, CEO of Cutwater Associates LLC, have joined the organization’s board of directors.
“At a time of such peril for journalists around the world, we are very lucky that Roger and Lydia are willing to devote their considerable energy to the essential CPJ mission,” said CPJ Board Chair Kathleen Carroll. “Roger’s love of journalism began early and we will benefit from his extensive work in finance and with nonprofit boards. Lydia knows journalism from the reporting field and the front office, and understands all too well the physical and digital dangers that threaten journalists.”
Polgreen previously held several positions at The New York Times, including West Africa bureau chief. Her work has been recognized with an Overseas Press Club Award, the Livingston Award, and a George Polk Award.
“Journalists face grim new threats across the globe, at home and abroad,” Polgreen said. “In this climate, the work of the Committee to Protect Journalists is more urgent and necessary than ever. I’m proud to be joining the board of this vital organization.”
Widmann, a leader in investment banking and financial advising, is the chairman of Cedar Realty Trust and the director of Standard Motor Products. He has served on the board of the March of Dimes of Greater New York, as a senior moderator for the Aspen Institute, and as vice-chairman for Oxfam America.
“I’m honored to join such an effective and distinguished board and look forward to helping advance the mission of CPJ,” Widmann said. “This is an important historical moment for freedom of speech, protected by and exercised by journalists who now face serious threats around the world.”
Polgreen and Widmann join the board at a time when press freedom is increasingly under attack. CPJ has been leading the call for an international investigation into the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and last week met with Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to demand justice for journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, who was murdered more than a year ago. This week, CPJ released a critical report, “Nothing to declare: Why U.S. border agency’s vast stop and search powers undermine press freedom.” CPJ will be honored next month with the Chatham House Prize for its contributions to international relations. CPJ’s board of directors is composed of leading journalists from the United States and around the world.
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CPJ is an independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide.