University news

• King’s Birthday Honours List 2023 recognises University of Sussex expert. 
  
  
• Honour recognises Professor Gaber’s commitment to media freedom internationally. 
  
  
• Alumni including author Ian McEwan and Ben Bradshaw MP also honoured

A highly respected University of Sussex professor has been awarded an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List 2023 for his services to media freedom around the world. And notable alumni have been honoured too.

The award highlights Professor Ivor Gaber’s role at UNESCO - the UN body responsible for media issues – where, as Britain’s representative, he began the process which led to the United Nations adopting a plan of action aimed at protecting journalists in danger from repressive governments and others.  

The announcement also sees honours bestowed on Sussex alumni. Ben Bradshaw, Labour MP for Exeter, who graduated from Sussex in 1982 with a degree in German, has been Knighted for his political and public service.  Author Ian McEwan, who has six times been nominated for the Booker Prize – winning it in 1998 for his novel Amsterdam - has been made a Companion of Honour for services to literature. McEwan studied English Literature at Sussex in the 1960s. In 2012, the University of Sussex awarded McEwan a gold medal for his global contribution to literature. 

Professor Ivor Gaber was described by Dr Guy Berger, the then head of Media Freedom at UNESCO, as “the father of the UN plan of action” which, since its adoption in 2012, has seen a steady reduction in the number of journalists killed in the course of their work. 

Gaber has also worked with journalists in over 20 countries, mostly new or unstable democracies, to help build and sustain media freedom. This work has mainly covered countries in Eastern Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. He is currently working with journalists and human rights defenders in a number of former countries of the Soviet Union where media freedom is under threat. 

He was Britain’s first Professor of Broadcast Journalism and first Professor of Political Journalism, which is his current post at the University of Sussex.  As an academic, Gaber has published widely on a range of topics related to media freedom; these include media regulation, the relationship between politicians and the media and, more recently, aspects of disinformation and media manipulation. 

Beyond academia, Gaber played a major role in the campaign for Britain’s readmission to UNESCO, following the then government’s decision to leave in 1979. He initiated an annual commemoration in the UK to mark the UN’s World Press Freedom Day and now sits as an official observer on the Government’s National Committee for the Safety of Journalists. He is a Life Member of the National Union of Journalists and was a founder member of the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom. He has also been an Independent Editorial Advisor to the BBC Trust.  

Professor Ivor Gaber, from the School of Media, Arts and Humanities at the University of Sussex, said: 

“I am enormously flattered to receive this award. Whenever I work in countries where media freedom is threatened or non-existent, I am struck by the immense courage and humility of the journalists who continue working, often in dangerous circumstances. I dedicate this award to them.” 

Professor Sasha Roseneil, University of Sussex Vice-Chancellor, said:  

“I am delighted for Professor Gaber and extend my warm congratulations to him on behalf of the University of Sussex. The honour is testament to the significant contribution Ivor has made in the pursuit of media freedom and freedom of expression throughout his career." 

Laura Davies, UK Ambassador to UNESCO at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, said: 
 
“It’s thanks to [Ivor]’s tireless and influential work at UNESCO that the whole UN has a globally recognised Plan of Action to improve the safety of journalists, an issue that is both challenging and critical.  His work in this space reflects positively on the UK’s international reputation and I am delighted that it has been recognised in this manner”. 

James Bridge, Secretary-General of the UK National Commission for UNESCO said:  

“Ivor (Professor Gaber) has made an outstanding contribution to the global agenda on Safety of Journalists, Media Freedom and Media Development. He initiated and then drove the discussion on the 2012 UN Plan of Action for Safety of Journalists to a successful conclusion".

Professor Gaber's expertise continues to be sought by a range of media outlets both in the UK and abroad, where he provides expert commentary and analysis on a wide range of political and media issues. 

Other alumni were honoured by the King. Shona Elizabeth Riach, who graduated from Sussex in 2003, and is the UK Executive Director to the International Monetary Fund, was awarded the Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) for Public Service. Dr Ed Garratt, who graduated in 1998, was awarded an OBE for services to the Integrated Care System. Chloe Mawson, who graduated in 1999, is a Clerk Assistant at the House of Lords and was awarded an OBE for services to Parliament and for her role in the state funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Dr Rex Strong, who graduated in 1977, was awarded an OBE for services to the civil nuclear industry. Professor Rachid Hourizi, Director at the Institute of Coding located in Bath, and was awarded an MBE for services to the Digital Sector. Prof Hourizi graduated in 1989.  Susannah Schofield, who graduated in 1988, was awarded an MBE for services to Journalism and to diversity in the broadcasting industry. And Janet Zmroczek, who graduated in 1983, is the former Head of European, Americas and Oceania collections at the British Library, has been made an MBE for services to literature and heritage.

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