Our Mission & Story

Journalist.net began life as Paydesk, founded by journalist Henry Peirse and technologist Morgan Sowden. The two first met during the siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s, Henry was reporting from the front lines, Morgan was helping to build one of the region's first public internet providers. That shared experience in a place where truth and information were under attack shaped the mission that drives us to this day: journalism matters, and journalists need better support.

In 2015, we launched Paydesk with just 400 journalists on the platform. The idea was simple: give newsrooms a fast, reliable way to find and pay trusted freelancers, while ensuring those freelancers were treated fairly. Over the next decade, the platform grew quietly but steadily. By 2025, more than 10,000 vetted professionals in over 180 countries were using it, and we had paid out more than $50 million directly to freelancers.

That growth took us to a turning point. Journalism itself has changed dramatically, newsrooms have shrunk, platforms have multiplied, and yet demand for local, trustworthy reporting is higher than ever. In 2025, we relaunched as journalist.net to reflect that bigger vision: not just a marketplace, but a home for the global journalism community.

Today, we remain true to our roots. We're still a small, international team based in London, but our reach is worldwide. We exist to connect the people telling the world's stories with the editors, broadcasters, and publishers who need them. Whether you're an independent podcaster, a local newsroom, or a global broadcaster, journalist.net is your trusted gateway to journalism

Morgan is a technology leader and entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience building platforms at scale. He was previously Engineering Manager at Meta, CTO at Octopus and LendInvest, and led technology for fintech platforms with billions under management. Earlier in his career he built one of the first social networks, Ringo.com. At journalist.net , Morgan drives product and technology, ensuring the platform remains the trusted place to connect with over 10,000 journalists worldwide.

Henry Peirse has spent three decades on the frontlines of global media, from reporting wars in the Balkans to reshaping journalism for the digital age. He was in Sarajevo under siege, built the first post-war radio station for the UN, and launched Africa’s first pan-continental satellite TV network. As founder of Global Radio News, he connected top broadcasters to reporters worldwide, including exclusive coverage from Baghdad in 2003. Today, as CEO of Journalist.net, Henry leads the world’s largest network of freelance news professionals.