Regional Events
Title: One Region, One Goal: “Journalism without Fear or Favour in the Time of Covid-19 | Latin America and the Caribbean”
Dates: 3 – 8 May 2020
Place:
Description: To mark the 27th annual World Press Freedom Day, UNESCO Field Offices throughout Latin America and the Caribbean have come together to coordinate a week of a series of online events dedicated to press freedom. In light of the COVID-19 the focus of the events will be in the framework of offering knowledge, resources and sharing best practices on how to stay safe and maintaining good journalistic standards, keeping freedom of expression alive in Latin America and the Caribbean in these challenging times.
Please find the programme and further information here.
Contacts: Sandra Sharman (s.sharman@unesco.org) and Isabel Viera Bermúdez (i.viera@unesco.org)
Title: Violence against women journalists in Latin America and the Caribbean
Dates: 7 May, 10:00 am Colombia and Ecuador: 12:00 pm Uruguay
Place: https://www.facebook.com/FlipCol/
Description: As part of the World Press Freedom week, ‘One Region, One Goal’, in Latin America and the Caribbean, UNESCO partners up with FLIP (la Fundación para la Libertad de Prensa) to host an online panel debate on violence against women journalists and the challenges they face in the exercise of their profession. Moderated by Guilherme Canela, Chief of Section for Freedom of Expression and the Safety of Journalists at UNESCO, prominent journalists and human rights defenders will engage in conversations that will center around issues related to journalistic coverage, protection measures, impunity and resilience.
The event will begin with a tribute to Jineth Bedoya, winner of the UNESCO Guillermo Cano Award 2020. Lidia Brito, UNESCO Director for Latin America and the Caribbean and Saadia Sánchez, UNESCO Director in Quito and Representative for Colombia, will give opening remarks.
Panelists
Jineth Bedoya Lima - Colombian journalist and founder of the No es Hora de Callar campaign. Winner of the 2020 UNESCO Guillermo Cano Prize.
Nausícaa Palomeque - Uruguayan journalist, winner of the 2019 Marcelo Jelen Prize.
Matilde Campodónico - Uruguayan photojournalist, winner of the Marcelo Jelen Award 2019.
Viviana Krsticevic - Director of CEJIL.
Moderator: Guilherme Canela, Chief of Section for Freedom of Expression and the Safety of Journalists at UNESCO
Please access the event here.
Contacts: Sandra Sharman (s.sharman@unesco.org)
Title: World Press Freedom Day 2020 Design Competition "Journalism without Fear or Favour"
Dates: 6 – 30 April
Place:
Description: In the run-up to World Press Freedom Day, the UNESCO Regional Office in Jakarta organized a design competition for illustrators and designers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, the Philipines and Timor-Leste. The designers were encouraged to visualize this year’s global WPFD theme, ‘journalism without fear or favour’.
Mohammad Nanda Subkhi, a communication student and freelance designer was selected as the winner. The designsers Hanna Khairunnisa, Arif Priyono, and John Luwie Pascual were each awarded an honorable mention.
For more information about the competition and to see the winning cartoons, please kindly visit the website here.
Contacts: Ming Kuok Lim (mk.lim@unesco.org) and Cresti Fitriana (c.fitriana@unesco.org)
Title: Journalism without fear or favour in the period of the pandemic
Dates:
Place: Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=266322101163289&ref=w...
Description: UNESCO Abuja, in collaboration with Channels Media Group, organised a webinar to commemorate World Press Freedom Day 2020. The webinar expounded on this year’s WPFD theme, ‘journalism without fear or favour’, in the context of the ongoing pandemic. Following opening remarks by Regional Director of UNESCO Abuja, Yao Ydo, and Resident Coordinator of United Nations in Nigeria, Edward Kallon, presenting the UN Secretary General’s message on WPFD, the floor was given to John Momoh, Chairman of Channels Media Group who gave a keynote speech shedding light on independent journalism and the current challenges related to the ‘disinfodemic’.
The webinar concluded with a panel of Journalists Unions Presidents in Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. The panellists elaborated on the challenges faced by journalists reporting during the health crisis in the said countries. They stressed the urgent need to initiate remedial measures to ensure the viability of the profession, and they reiterated the importance of guaranteeing an environment where impunity does not prevent journalism without fear and favour.
The webinar is available here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=266322101163289&ref=w...
National Events
Title: Difference Day
Dates: 3 May 2020 17-18:10
Place: Brussels
Description: UNESCO Belgium co-organize the celebration of the annual ‘Difference Day’ to commemorate World Press Freedom Day with a live talkshow hosted by journalists Annelies Beck and Safia Kessas. The talkshow will be focused on the current state of press freedom around the world, and the virtual audience will be able to participate by writing questions and answering polls. The event will conclude with an award ceremony of the Difference Day Honorary Title for the Freedom of the Press.
Contacts: Adeline Hulin (a.hulin@unesco.org)
Title: World Press Freedom Day in Brazil
Dates: 3 May 2020
Place:
Description: In commemoration of World Press Freedom Day 2020, UNESCO Brazil, in partnership with several organizations defending freedom of expression, brought together government entities, media and civil society in an online movement drawing attention to the importance of free and independent media in times of crises.
As a part of the activities, UNESCO Brasilia, the Brazilian Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters (Abert), the Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism (Abraji), the National Association of Newspapers (ANJ), the Brazilian Association of Magazine Publishers (Aner), the Education Journalists Association (Jeduca) and Instituto Palavra Aberta disseminated to Brazilian press and media a manifesto that calls for a strengthening of independent journalism. The manifesto was emboldened by short video presentations with journalists providing perspectives on the importance of ‘journalism without fear or favour’.
Elaborating also on the importance of independent journalism in times of the pandemic and ‘disinfodemic’, UNESCO Brazil organized a webinar featuring Marlova Noleto, Director and Representative of UNESCO in Brazil, Antônio Gois, journalist and President of Jeduca and Counselor of EducaMidia, and Atila Iamarino, Biologist and Scientific Promoter.
Webinar: https://www.facebook.com/190324400988587/videos/908747916238...
Manifesto: https://pt.unesco.org/news/unesco-e-parceiros-lancam-manifes...
Journalists video reports: https://www.youtube.com/user/unescoPortuguese
Contacts: Marlova Jovchelovitch Noleto, (m.jovchelovitch-noleto@unesco.org)
Visibility report: https://en.unesco.org/sites/default/files/visibility_report_...
Title: World Press Freedom Day ceremony in Burundi
Dates: 4 May 2020
Place:
Description: Celebrating the theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day, ‘Journalism without Fear or Favour’, prominent members of media organizations, senior government officials and ambassadors from the EU, France, China and Belgium came together in a ceremony jointly organized by UNESCO, ‘Maison de la Presse’, the National Council for Communication (CNC), the Ministry of Communication and Media and with the support of ‘Maison de la Paix’ in Burundi.
During the ceremony the speakers, including Denise Mugugu, President of ‘Maison de la Presse’, Laurent Kaganda, Vice-President of the CNC, and Joséphine Ntahobari, National Professional Officer at UNESCO Bujumbura, focused on the importance of journalists during elections and in combating the ‘disinfodemic’ related to the current health crisis. Frédéric Nahimana, Minister of Communication and Media highlighted benefits of an inter-professional dialogue between journalists and administrative officers.
The commemoration was concluded with an award-ceremony organized by CNC and honoring the role of media during elections.
The ceremony was followed by a panel debate that was broadcasted on 17 community radio stations from ‘l’Association Burundaise des Radiodiffuseurs’ (ABR). The debate featured Jacques Bukuru, Executive Secretary of the CNC, Sylvère Ntakarutimana, Director of Isanganiro Radio, Diane Ndonse, President of ‘l’Association Burundaise des Femmes Journalistes’ (AFJO) and Pierre Nkurikiye from the Ministry of Public Security and Disaster Management. The panelists addressed the role of media during elections and the challenges of the sector in providing the public with information on the current pandemic. The debate was concluded with a mutual commitment to combat media capture and corruption, especially during elections, to build a framework for dialogues between journalists, administration and the police, to promote professional and ethical journalism and to ensure the safety of women journalists.
Contact:Josephine Ntahobari (j.ntahobari@unesco.org) /p>
Title: Cambodia celebrates journalists on World Press Freedom Day
Dates:
Place:
Description: Partnering up with Cambodian Journalists Alliance, Cambodian Center for Independent Media, Voice of Democracy, Citizen News and Department of Media and Communication at Royal University of Phnom Penh, the UNESCO Phnom Penh Office built momentum around World Press Freedom Day by highlighting the importance of a fact-based and free press and how it saves lives amid the pandemic. The UNESCO global WPFD campaign, ‘FACTS’, was translated into Khmer and disseminated nationwide. In the spirit of the campaign, Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, used WPFD as an occasion to praise journalists for reporting facts about COVID-19.
Contacts: Mikel Aguirre Idiaquez (m.aguirre-idiaquez@unesco.org)
Title:
Dates: 29 or 30 April 2020
Place:
Description: The UNESCO Amman Office plans a radio interview with a prominent UNESCO official on Oryx FM.
Contacts: Cedric Neri (c.neri@unesco.org)
Title: UNESCO and Ghana Journalists Association’s commemoration of World Press Freedom Day
Dates: 4 May 2020
Place:
Description: In collaboration with Ghana Journalists Association and Media Foundation for West Africa, the UNESCO Accra Office organizes a live radio conference with the President of Ghana Journalists Association, the Minister of Information and UNESCO representatives in Ghana.
Contacts: Abdul Hamid Yakub (ah.yakub@unesco.org)
Title: How can journalists join the efforts to stop the ‘disinfodemic’?
Dates: 3 May 2, PM (GMT +3)
Place: Zoom
Description: On World Press Freedom Day, the UNESCO Amman Office organizes a webinar that will present an opportunity for discussion, sharing experiences and highlighting good practices on covering the coronaviruses pandemic.
In the spirit of the World Press Freedom Day, UNESCO and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom are officially launching the Arabic version of the handbook, “Journalism, 'Fake News' and Disinformation: A Handbook for Journalism Education and Training” that provides a powerful tool to media in the battle to confront disinformation.
UNESCO Amman Office is collaborating with Al Rai Media Training Centre and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation to host an online training and a series of webinars to mark the launch of the Arabic version of the handbook.
The first webinar will coincide with World Press Freedom Day, during which experts will examine national trends in COVID-19 disinformation.
The webinar will take place on 3 May at 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. Amman Time (GMT +3). It is open to practicing journalists, media professionals and students, who can register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Ih-3oEUwRqOy2hwVmugpNQ
Contacts: Ikhlas Aal Khawaldh (i.aal-khawaldh@unesco.org)
Title: UNESCO WPFD Celebration 2020 in Kenya
Dates: 4 May 2020
Place:
Description: To commemorate the 27th Annual World Press Freedom Day in Kenya, UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa collaborated with Media Council of Kenya and Transparency International to organize a webinar on press freedom in light of the COVID-19 crisis.
The webinar brought together Government representatives, media regulatory bodies, journalist associations, editors, reporters, programmers, development practitioners, bloggers, academic and students. Among the speakers was Guilherme Canela, UNESCO Chief of Section for Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists, Ann Therese Ndong Jatta, UNESCOs Director and Regional Representative for Eastern Africa and David Omwoyo, CEO of the Media Council of Kenya.
Read more about the WPFD commemorations in Kenya here: https://en.unesco.org/news/covid-19-pandemic-dominates-world...
Contact: John Otieno Okande (jo.okande@unesco.org)
Title: Celebrating World Press Freedom Day in Lebanon
Dates: 1 – 5 May 2020
Place:
Description: The UNESCO Beirut Office launches a five-day social media campaign to mark World Press Freedom Day 2020. The campaign will have two channels: 1) a challenge encouraging journalists to tag each other and UNESCO on social media platforms and 2) daily messages on this year’s theme, ‘Journalism without Fear or Favour’ and on UNESCO’s work globally and in a Lebanese context. The campaign will be complimented by a radio programme on 2 May.
Contacts: George Awad (g.awad@unesco.org)
Title: Video conference: the role of journalists in times of crisis
Dates: 3 May 2020
Place:
Description: Mali, like the international community, celebrated World Press Freedom Day on 3 May. This year’s theme, ‘journalism without fear or favour’, was an opportunity to reflect on the importance of independent media, especially in times of crisis.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Communication and ‘Maison de la presse’ in Mali, the UNESCO Bamako Office organized a video conference with the participation of Yaya Sangaré, Minister of Communication, Dramane Alou Koné, President of ‘Maison de la presse’, Massamba Daniel from the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), and Edmond Moukala, Representative of UNESCO in Mali, who spoke on behalf of Mbaranga Gasarabwe, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Mali, as she, due to technical issues, was unable to participate.
The video conference that was attended by editors-in-chiefs as well as journalism students was focused on the importance of journalism and how to support and strengthen the capacity of journalists to report in times of crises.
Contacts: Pouaghue Clarisse Njikam (pc.njikam@unesco.org)
Title: World Press Freedom Day celebrations in Mongolia
Dates: 1 May
Place: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=642181879672094&ref=w...
Description: In Mongolia, UNESCO and Globe International Center (GIC) mark World Press Freedom Day with an online event and award-ceremony. Khashkhuu Naranjargal, President of GIC, gave an update on the challenges to press freedom and safety of journalists in Mongolia and was joined by Boldkuyag Purevsuren, Lawyer at the GIC, who provided legal advices for Mongolian journalists. The event included inputs by Tapan Mishra, UN Resident Coordinator in Mongolia, EU Ambassador to Mongolia, H.E. Traian Laurentiu Hristea and Uyanga Sukhbaatar, Secretary-General of the Mongolian National Commission to UNESCO, who highlighted the importance of independent journalism. The event was concluded with an award-ceremony where G.Tsolmon, investigative reporter of the daily newspaper, “Unuudur”, was honoured with the 12th annual ‘For the Truth’ Media Freedom Award.
Please watch the event here
Contacts:
Title:
Dates: 2 – 4 May 2020
Place: Yangon
Description: To celebrate World Press Freedom Day, UNESCO Myanmar Office post videos on the UN Myanmar Facebook page on the following dates: 2 May, UN Secretary General’s video message on WPFD; and a video message of a well-known editor-in-chief 3 May, UN Myanmar Resident Coordinator’s video message on WPFD; and a video message of a well-known female journalist 4 May, UNESCO Head of Office’s video message; and a video message of a well-known journalist.
Contacts: Naing Naing Aye (nn.aye@unesco.org)
Title: Namibia World Press Freedom Day 2020
Dates: 3 May 2020
Place:
Description: On 3 May, the UNESCO Windhoek Office together with the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies (MICT), the Namibia National Commission for UNESCO and media associations, host a TV (Namibian Broadcasting Corporation-NBC) and radio broadcasted debate at the Covid-19 Information Centre that will be moderated by the Deputy-Minister of Information and Communication Technologies (MICT) in Namibia. The debate will address issues of community engagement, dis- and misinformation, ethics and social media in light of the pandemic..
Contacts: B. Djaffar Moussa-Elkadhum (B.Moussa-Elkadhum@unesco.org)
Title: Webinar – Press Freedom & Journalism during Crisis
Dates: 5 May 2020
Place:
Description: The UNESCO Islamabad Office partners up with the EU delegation to Pakistan, the Embassy of Kingdom of Netherlands, the Embassy of Sweden in Pakistan and civil society partner, Media Matters for Democracy, to host a webinar on World Press Freedom Day 2020. In the webinar a panel of experts will explore the role of journalism in effective response to current health crisis, implications of emergency measures on freedom of press, and dealing with the so called ‘misinfodemic’.
How to register: Send an email at h.swati@unesco.org with your full name, and name of organization/affiliation. Use the subject: WPFD Webinar Registration
Contacts: Hamza Khan Swati (h.swati@unesco.org)
Title:
Dates: TBA
Place:
Description: In collaboration with the Sudanese Ministry of Culture and Information and National TV and Radio Corporation, the UNESCO Khartoum Office celebrate World Press Freedom Day 2020 with a talkshow that address will address: freedom of expression and information access in light of Sudan’s democratic transitions and safety of women journalists in Sudan.
Contacts: Pavel Kroupkine (p.kroupkine@unesco.org)
Title: Launch of the Media Advisory Committee for Freedom of Expression and Access to Information
Dates: 4 May 2020
Place: Dar es Salaam
Description: On World Press Freedom Day 2020 and due to the COVID-19 outbreak, UNESCO Tanzania and partners plan an online campaign to profile the launch of the new Media Advisory Group in Tanzania.
Contacts: Nancy Kaizilege (nk.kaizilege@unesco.org)
Title: ‘Journalism without Fear or Favour’: Social Media Campaign on 2020 World Press Freedom Day, UNESCO Bangkok
Dates: 1 May to 5 May 2020
Place:
Description: To celebrate World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), UNESCO Bangkok launches a social media campaign to highlight the importance of freedom of expression, independent media and access to information amid public health emergencies. The campaign recalls the essential role and pays tribute to journalists who cover the Covid-19 pandemic, and share tips for their reporting.
Friday 1 May: 1. Video message of David Kaye, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression 2. Gallery of 10 tips for journalists covering COVID-19 (collaboration with International Journalists’ Network (IJNet))
Saturday 2 May: 1. Gallery of quotes and photos on the 2020 WPFD from H.E. Kees Rade, Ambassador of Kingdom of Netherlands to Thailand, and Mr Shigeru Aoyagi, Director of UNESCO Bangkok 2. Joint UN Secretary-General and UNESCO Director-General video message
Sunday 3 May: 1. Gallery of quotes and photos on the 2020 WPFD from journalists based in Southeast Asia 2. UN Myanmar Resident Coordinator video message
Monday 4 May: Video message from the Head of UNESCO Yangon Project Office
Tuesday 5 May: Gallery on access to information during COVID-19: 7 keys points based on human rights principles.
Contacts: Misako Ito (m.ito@unesco.org) in partnership with the UNESCO Yangon Office, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Bangkok, Thailand Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and International Journalists’ Network (IJNet)
Title: World Press Freedom Day 2020
Dates: 4 May, 9.00 – 10.30 CET
Place: Online
Description: The UNESCO New York Office and the UN Outreach Division host an online webinar featuring high-level UN officials and prominent journalists highlighting the crucial role of the media during the current global health crisis.
Contacts: Estelle Zadra (e.zadra@unesco.org)
Title: World Press Freedom Day in Zimbabwe
Dates: 3 May 2020
Place:
Description: Partnering up with Media Alliance of Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe Association of Community Radios (ZACRAS), the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa organized a TV interview with the UNESCO Regional Director for Southern Africa, Hubert Gijzen, and the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa. The interviews were followed by a panel discussion featuring media experts.
Contacts: a.yusuph@unesco.org
Events organized by UNESCO partners
Title: Webinar: Types, sources, and consequences of COVID-19 misinformation in the Arab countries
Dates: 2 May, 20:00 CET
Place: Online: Al Jazeera Journalism Review Facebook page
Description: In a conversation with representatives from Ta’akad, a fact-checking platform covering Syrian news and Akid, a Jordan-based fact-checking platform specialized in tracking, Al Jazeera sheds light on the implications of the spread COVID-19 related misinformation across the Arabic region. The webinar will be followed by an online training “Debunking misinformation: The basic tools and techniques”.
Contacts:
Title: Media Freedom and the Safety of Journalists during the Outbreak of COVID-19: Shared Responsibilities and Duties
Dates: 13 May 20:00-21:00 Doha time, 19:00-20:00 Paris time
Place: The Al Jazeera Mubasher channel and its digital platforms
Description: As a part of the World Press Freedom Day celebrations, Al Jazeera Center for Public Liberties and Human Rights and Al Jazeera Mubasher organize a webinar, where Guy Berger, Director of Division Freedom of Expression and Media Development (UNESCO), will be joined by representatives from International Federation of Journalists, International Press Institute and Reporters Without Borders to assess the important role of media workers during emergencies and the impact on the pandemic on press freedom.
Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of human rights and sustainable development, but many, including the UN High Commissioner of Human Rights, have voiced concern that the steps taken to contain the virus and combating the ‘disinfodemic’, in some cases, are accompanied by undue restrictions in press freedom. The emergency legislations adopted to curb the spread of disinformation are sometimes too vague causing criminalization of journalists and building grounds for self-censor.
The panelists will assess the current state of press freedom internationally and regionally, and they will examine the requirements for the physical and psychological protection of the safety of journalists reporting on the pandemic and its social and political implications.
Contacts: Hassan Saeed Elmogummer Taha (tahahass@aljazeera.net)
Title: “Without Borders”: World Press Freedom Day
Dates: 6 May 20:00-20:55 GMT
Place: https://www.aljazeera.net/program/withoutbounds
Description: As a part of the World Press Freedom Day week, UNESCO Director for Freedom of Expression and Media Development, Guy Berger, will be interviewed in the weekly programme “Without Borders” on Al Jazeera’s Arabic news channel.
Contacts: Hassan Saeed Elmogummer Taha (tahahass@aljazeera.net)
Title: World Press Freedom Day in the Era of COVID-19: Community Radio Provides Life-saving Information to Rural Communities of Bangladesh on COVID-19
Dates: 3 May
Place: Online: Al Jazeera Journalism Review Facebook page
Description: On World Press Freedom Day, Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication with the support of Free Press Unlimited organized panel discussion that was broadcasted by 17 community radio stations across the country. The debate addressed the challenges to ensure the free flow of information during the COVID-19 crisis faced by community media. More than 50 panelists, including representatives from local media, media practitioners, civil society members, local administration and delegates from different level of the society, also debated the necessary measures and the role of community media in mitigating the pandemic.
The conversations were concluded with set of principles to support local media and ensure that community radios can continue their public service function amid and beyond COVID-19.
Contacts: AHM Bazlur Rahman (ceo@bnnrc.net)
Title: Emergency Appeal for Journalism and Media Support
Dates: 2 May, 20:00 CET
Place: Online: Al Jazeera Journalism Review Facebook page
Description: On World Press Freedom Day, the partners of Global Forum for Media Development and organizations promoting press freedom honour independent journalism and call for robust support of those who work tirelessly to keep the public informed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement that will be issued on 3 May, the organizations urge governments, media organizations, donors and Internet companies to promote and protect human rights, journalists’ safety, media industries and information access during the current health crisis.
Millions of people around the world are looking for reliable, fact-based, and gender-sensitive journalism that can help them navigate one of the biggest shared challenges. The need for trustworthy information has never been greater and more urgent than during this pandemic. Access to timely, high-quality information is imperative during a global health crisis; it is one of the key pillars required to slow the spread of this virus, mitigate its impacts, and underpin collective societal responses. Journalism is also the best antidote to fight the misinformation that fuels the pandemic.
But at this crucial moment, independent media are facing an unprecedented existential challenge. With the perfect storm of disinformation and misinformation, repression of critical voices in many countries, and disruption caused by the COVID-19 crisis, the situation facing journalism and news media is dire. Revenues for these institutions are collapsing, and funding is decreasing just when they need it most.
In response to the challenges, journalism and media communities are making an urgent appeal to support journalists and media workers in these critical times. Stakeholders are encouraged to sign the appeal that can be accessed here. The document closes on 3 May.
Contacts: Global Forum for Media Development (dc-sustainability@groups.io)
Title: Webinar: Press independence During the Coronavirus Pandemic Era
Dates: May 2, 2020, 3.00 – 4.30 PM
Place:
Description: As part of the World Press Freedom Day celebrations, Indonesian Women’s Journalists Forum held a webinar to discuss the challenges to press freedom and how powerful actors, including authorities, threaten media independence, especially in times of COVID-19.
Among the speakers was Muhammad Nuh, Chairman of the Indonesian Press Council, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Norway, H.E Todung Mulya Lubis, Ninuk Mardiana Pambudy, Senior Editor of ‘Kompas’ and Olha Mulalinda, head of Papua FJPPI. Moderated by Uni Lubis, head of FPJI and Editor of IDN Times, the panelists discussed the improvements in press freedom in Indonesia compared to 2019, but it was noted that there is still a significant level of violence against journalists, and the panelists debated how to further improve on journalists’ safety and independence. The webinar was concluded with a focus on press freedom in light of COVID-19.
Contacts: Restu R Putri (restu.putri@idntimes.com)
Title: World Press Freedom Day: the impact of COVID-19 on Palestinian and Arab media
Dates: 9 May 2020
Place: Quds Radio 102.7 FM: http://qudsradio.ps/episode/20140
Description: Working together with Quds Radio, Journalist Support Committee has organized an online and radio broadcast conference on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2020. The speakers, counting Fathi Sabah (Director of the Media Development Center at Birzeit University), Khader Al-Jamali (Chairman of the Palestinian Forum), Saleh Al-Masry (President of Journalist Support Committee), Wafa Abdul Rahman (Director of Palestinian Foundation) and Makram Khoury Machool (Director of the European Centre for the Study of Extremism), debated media freedom and safety of journalists during COVID-19 in Palestine and in the Arab countries.
The recordings of the conference are available here: http://qudsradio.ps/episode/20140
Contacts: Yaser Al-Sayegh (yaser@journalistsupport.net)
Title: Virtual talk: No lockdown for press freedom! Misuse of Corona crisis to silence journalism in Europe
Dates: 4 May 18:30 – 20:00 CEST
Place:
Description: On the occasion of 2020 World Press Freedom Day, the partners of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) invite you to a virtual discussion on how to counter the abusive strategies used by governments in Europe to limit press freedom in the current coronavirus pandemic.
The speakers include press and media freedom experts, policy makers and journalists: Meera Selva (Oxford's Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism); Ramona Strugariu (MEP Renew Europe); Márton Gergely (HVG Hungary); Virginia Pérez Alonso, (PDLI Spain) with interventions by: Attila Biró (RISE Romania) and Branko Čečen, (Serbian Investigative Center (CINS)).
Contacts: wehofsits@ecpmf.eu
Title: World Press Freedom Day: Support Local Journalism
Dates: 3 May – 31 May
Place:
Description: On World Press Freedom Day, New York Times launches its campaign encouraging people to find a trustworthy local news organization and support it.
During this difficult time, staying informed is more important than ever. Yet many local publications we rely on to keep us up to date are struggling and need your support. These are the vital sources that help our communities understand what a global phenomenon means at home, that provide crucial, specific guidance during crisis, and that seek to tell the full story behind local decisions that can affect us and our neighbors for generations.
Support local journalism here.
Contacts: Holly Harnisch (holly.harnisch@nytimes.com)
Title: PEN America Marks World Press Freedom Day, Celebrating Journalists Providing Life or Death Coverage Amid a Crisis
Dates: 3 May – 31 May
Place:
Description: Amid the coronavirus pandemic, PEN America marks World Press Freedom Day by focusing on the heroic work that journalists across the U.S. are doing on the front line of the emergency—even when, as in many cases, their own livelihoods and news organizations are in peril, and their health at risk. Elevating and spotlighting the excellent work being done by local journalists in the U.S. amid the pandemic, PEN America has launched a website, ‘Local Heroes: Journalists Covering COVID-19’ with profiles of journalists from across the country. Read more about the brave journalists here
Local reporting in U.S. has faced a cataclysm, now exacerbated by the COVID-19 crisis. To support local media outlets, PEN America is leading a campaign on Capitol Hill, in partnership with Free Press and Common Cause, to include support for local reporting in future economic stimulus bills, and have appealed to all 50 state governors and the mayor of the District of Columbia to do the same. Read more here and here.
PEN America also invite their members and allies to sign their petition asking Congress to include funding for local news in the next stimulus package. They call for at least $5 billion to support local journalists and to make information accessible to communities of color, rural communities, working-class communities and immigrant communities. Read more here.
Read more about PEN America’s commemorations of World Press Freedom Day here.
Contacts: Summer Lopez (slopez@pen.org)
Title: Drawing lessons from COVID-19: towards a consistent framework to promote free and reliable information
Dates: 6 May, 10:30 AM New York time
Place: https://www.facebook.com/franceonu/
Description: Together with Group of Friends for the Protection of Journalists, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) celebrates World Press Freedom Day on 6 May with an online panel discussion. Moderated by Elaine Cobbe (CBS News), the panel will tackle the following questions:
How to draw lessons from the COVID19 crisis in order to ensure consistent access to reliable information?
How to address these challenges in a coordinated manner and in compliance with international freedom of expression standards?
How to fight Infodemics without falling into censorship?
Follow live the event on the Facebook page of the French Mission to the UN: https://www.facebook.com/franceonu/
Contacts: Isabel AMOSSE (iamosse@rsf.org)
Title: Webinar: the Syrian Media Landscape
Dates: 5 May 12:00 – 14:00 Paris time
Place: Zoom
Description: On 5 May, the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression commemorate World Press Freedom Day with at webinar to launch the report “Syrian Media Mapping”. In the webinar Enrico De Angelis (Free Press Unlimited), Riad Muasses (EuroNews), Yazan Badran (Vrije Universiteit) and moderator, Yara Bader (Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression) will engage in a conversation about the Syrian media landscape, its development and the legislation that regulates journalism Syria. The panelists will also debate the effects of unstable political and military conditions on media institutions and they will consider the importance of independent journalism and press freedom to ensure the transparency and pluralism that are fundamental to democratic reforms.
The webinar will be in English.
Contacts: Alia MATAR
Title: Launch of the 2020 Joint Declaration of freedom of expression special rapporteurs
Dates: 30 April 2020 3pm BST, 4pm CEST, 7am GMT-7, 10am GMT-4
Place:
Description: The 21st Joint Declaration responds to challenges to freedom of expression in the context of elections in digital age. Free and fair elections are not only about casting a vote in proper conditions. Citizens must be informed about candidates and political parties and their programs so they can make an informed choice. The media play a crucial role in democratic elections. We are facing many new challenges in to free and fair elections in new media ecosystem, with major role of social media, access to and restrictions on the Internet, disinformation, hate speech and access to election related information. n the Joint Declaration, the special rapporteurs outline a series of recommendations on how to address these challenges in compliance with international freedom of expression standards. Moderator: Barbora Bukovska, Senior Director for Law and Policy, ARTICLE 19.
Speakers:
David Kaye, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression
Edison Lanza, the Organization of American States Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression
Harlem Desir, the Representative on Freedom of Expression, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Toby Mendel, Executive Director, the Center for Law and Democracy.
Contacts: Barbora Bukovska (barbora@article19.org)