Our governance

The Reuters Institute’s constitution commits us to providing an independent forum for exchanges between practitioners and analysts of journalism, and all those affected by it, and to the pursuit of impartial scholarship of the highest standard.

It makes us an integral part of the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Oxford, and accountable for to the Department's General Purposes Committee and the Head of the Department, as well as to our Steering Committee, which has general oversight of our activities.

Our Steering Committee comprise of a mix of members from the University and beyond and is chaired by Alan Rusbridger, former editor-in-chief of the Guardian and Principal of Lady Margaret Hall college in Oxford. 

The Institute Director and executive team reports to the Steering Committee at regular meetings. Our constitution determines how members are appointed. It ensures that the majority of Steering Committee members are from the University of Oxford and stipulates that the chair of the committee is nominated by the Head of the Department of Politics and International Relations at the university.

Our Advisory Board provides more general input and suggestions for our work and helps create a network between the Institute and major organisations in the world of journalism, the academy and public policy connected with journalism. It is chaired by the Chancellor of the University of Oxford and former Chairman of the BBC Trust, Lord Patten of Barnes.

It has no role in our governance. It consists of high profile international figures from news organisations, technology companies, media policy-making and the academy.

The institute carries the Reuters name because our core funding comes from the Thomson Reuters Foundation, which has supported the institute since it was launched in November 2006 (building on a fellowship programme first launched in 1983).

Beyond this, we receive support from a wide range of other funders including academic funding bodies, foundations, non-profits, and industry partners. More about our funding here.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation is the only funder who has any role in our governance structure, which is set up to maintain our independence.

As part of the Department of Politics and International Relations we are covered by all of Oxford’s policies and review processes for academic practice, research ethics, and fundraising due diligence.

• Our academic researchers are employed by the Department and we are covered by the University’s Academic Integrity in Research: Code of Practice and Procedure which states that all its researchers, be they staff, students or visitors, are expected to maintain the highest standards of rigour and integrity in all aspects of their research.
• Our academic work is subject to review by Oxford’s Central University Research Ethics Committee (CUREC), and all activities covered by the university’s conflict of interest policy which requires all staff to recognise and disclose activities that might give rise to conflicts of interest or the perception of conflicts and to ensure that such conflicts are seen to be properly managed or avoided.
• Our major funders are reviewed and approved by the University’s Committee to Review Donations and Research Funding, and major grant applications are reviewed by the Department of Politics and International Relations’ Research Committee.