Zoe Titus is a formidable leader in African and global media development, renowned for her enduring commitment to press freedom, media policy reform, and universal access to information. She currently serves as the Director of the Namibia Media Trust (NMT) and is the Chairperson of the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD)—becoming the first woman to chair this prestigious international network of media support organizations.
With over 26 years of experience in the media and advocacy sectors, Zoe has led some of the most transformative initiatives for press freedom and journalist protection in Southern Africa and beyond. Her journey began in the newsroom, including a five-year tenure as Editor of The Weekender newspaper in Namibia, where she built a reputation for ethical reporting and bold editorial leadership.
Zoe’s work blends strategic policy reform, grassroots activism, and regional collaboration. As former Regional Director of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), she led regional campaigns to safeguard journalists under threat and to strengthen enabling legal and regulatory environments for independent media. Her efforts have directly contributed to the transformation of media policy frameworks across multiple African states.
A passionate advocate for universal access to information, Zoe played a pivotal role in the establishment of the African Platform on Access to Information (APAI) Working Group. This high-level lobby group led the successful global campaign that resulted in the UN’s recognition of September 28 as the International Day for Universal Access to Information—a landmark achievement in global transparency and rights advocacy.
As Strategic Coordinator and now Director of NMT, Zoe has continued to position the organization at the forefront of continental media advocacy. In 2018, under her leadership, NMT became the first African institution to contribute financially to the sustainability of UNESCO’s Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize, reaffirming Africa’s role in global press freedom solidarity.
Zoe’s work has gained international recognition. She has served in advisory roles for numerous global and regional initiatives, including the Advancing Rights in Southern Africa (ARISA) project. She is also the co-founder of the Jeanette Minnie Memorial Course in African Media Policy in the Digital Age, an online platform hosted by Wits University and the Link Centre, aimed at advancing media policy literacy across the continent.
Zoe Titus is more than a journalist—she is a visionary changemaker whose leadership continues to elevate media as a public good, a tool for accountability, and a driver of democratic transformation in Africa and globally.