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	World Press Freedom Day - Critical Minds for Critical Times by UNESCO, agencies United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Jakarta, Indonesia   Critical Minds for Critical Times: Media’s role in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies.   Every year, 3 May is a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.   This year UNESCO World Press Freedom Day activities were held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from 1-4 May 2017, involving participants from around the world.   ‘Fake News’ is not Journalism, highlights Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO.   Would you trust your news from any source? How are we able to ensure that ‘fake’(d) news does not overtake the flow of information?   Journalism plays a vital role for society, bringing verifiable news and informed comment to the public. Every day, the news provides a basis for dialogue and debate, and to make informed decisions on the issues that affect us.   It helps us build our identity and, as global citizens, better understand the world around us; it contributes to meaningful changes towards a better future.   Today, however, news producers face many challenges. In depth and fact checked news is being overshadowed by shared media content that is all too often far from this standard.   On social media in particular, collecting clicks and being first reign supreme over properly verified news and comment. All this further compounds long existing problems of unjustifiable curbs on press freedom in many parts of the world.   In these circumstances, where does the responsibility lie for ensuring that fact-based debate is not stifled? Whose duty is it to strengthen the media’s potential to foster a better future for all?   And how do we protect the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and freedom of information, which are the preconditions for independent and free journalism?   The answer is that we must look to ourselves as agents of change – whether we are Government actors, civil society members, business people, academics or members of the media. Each of us has a role to play, because each has a stake in press freedom, which facilitates our ability to seek, receive and impart information.   What happens to journalists and to journalism is a symbol of how society respects the fundamental freedoms of expression and access to information. Society suffers whenever a journalist falls victim, whether to threats, harassment or murder. It affects us all when press freedom is curbed by censorship or political interference, or is contaminated by manipulation and made-up content.   When the free flow of information is hampered, the void is more easily filled by disinformation, undermining the ability of communities to make informed choices.   With this in mind, the global theme of this year’s World Press Freedom Day is Critical Minds for Critical Times: Media’s role in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies.   This refers to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, an ambitious 15-year commitment of all UN Member States and stakeholders toward worldwide prosperity, peace and development. Journalism is central to achieving the agenda’s 16th goal, which aims for justice for all, peace, and inclusive institutions.   Free and independent journalism reinforces democracy, justice and the rule of law. It also serves as a prerequisite for combating gross economic inequalities, reversing climate change, and promoting women’s rights.   But without audiences demanding well-researched and conflict-sensitive narratives, critical reporting will be increasingly side-lined.   Every citizen has a direct stake in the quality of the information environment. ‘Fake’(d) news can only take root in the absence of critical thinking and the assumption that if it looks like news then in must be. Media and Information Literacy efforts have a central role in building the necessary defences in the minds of individuals to face these phenomena.   On World Press Freedom Day, let us all be reminded that fact-based journalism is the light that illuminates the pathway to a future where informed communities can work together, mindful of their responsibilities to each other and to the world we live in.   Themes for 2017:   At a time described by some as critical for journalism, World Press Freedom Day 2017 will focus on why it is vital to strengthen free and quality journalism to enable the media to effectively contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 16 (link is external).   Specifically, the interrelationships between freedom of expression, justice for all and the rule of law, peace, and inclusiveness will be explored.   Justice for all as a prerequisite for freedom of expression and sustainable development   The rule of law forms an integral part of a democratic and inclusive society. It protects fundamental freedoms and applies universally to each individual and entity. Weak institutions, a weak judiciary, and lack of access to justice greatly impede sustainable development.   Without a well-functioning legal and regulatory environment, the public loses confidence in the democratic process and no longer invests in its sustainable future.   Only when media are free, independent and pluralistic can they ensure that the rule of law is applied and respected in full.   Conversely, only a legal framework that safeguards freedom of expression and freedom of information allows for such a media sector to emerge. Free media and an independent, effective judiciary play a mutually reinforcing role as pillars of democracy.   Journalists are not only major users of the cherished right to freedom of expression but also symbols of the extent to which a society tolerates and/or promotes freedom of expression.   The current state of safety of journalists worldwide is discouraging: over the course of the last decade 827 journalists and media workers have been killed. Even more alarming is the fact that in less than one out of ten cases the perpetrators have been caught.   Championed by UNESCO since 2012, the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity serves as the platform on which these complex issues are tackled.   Judicial systems worldwide need to be strengthened with a key focus on protecting freedom of expression and the safety of journalists. The call of the 2030 Development Agenda for universal justice is relevant to all elements of the three “P” approach in ensuring a safe media environment: Prevention of violence against media; Protection of journalists in danger; and Prosecution of perpetrators of crimes committed against media professionals.   Promoting the media''s potential as a catalyzer of peace and mutual understanding   The media often play a central role in conflict and crisis situations. Independent, objective, neutral media can help defuse tension, promote dialogue, and contain conflicts. Conversely, biased and untrue reporting can exacerbate violence.   When misused for propaganda purposes, the media can contribute to inciting hatred and spreading rumours. Moreover, in situations of armed conflict and disaster, the risks faced by journalists are significantly multiplied.   An additional threat to peace and security, human rights, and justice is the spread of violent extremism catalyzed by terrorist and extremist groups. These groups have used social media as a tool for the global and real-time communication of intolerant messages.   The digital era has enhanced opportunities for access to information, the creation and sharing of knowledge, facilitating exchange as well as intercultural dialogue. However, the rise of online hate speech shows that digital technologies also carry with them a number of challenges.   One of these is striking the right balance between freedom of expression online and respect for equality and human dignity. Countering hate speech and violent extremism online calls for a holistic approach that addresses the root causes of tension and division within societies.   The media can provide a platform for a multitude of voices and perspectives that can help strengthen tolerance, dialogue and critical thinking. They can also offer counter narratives to challenge the ideas promoted in violent extremism narratives.   Finally, countering extremist narratives comes hand in hand with empowering media users with the skills needed to navigate the Internet, and interpret, reject and react to hateful and inciting messages.   Freedom of expression and freedom of information foster more inclusive societies   Enabled by digital technologies, public participation in the media has allowed for a democratization of narrative and intercultural dialogue.   However, the increased supply and demand of information has laid bare the role of internet intermediaries, the compromise of the confidentiality of sources, the risks in terms of digital safety faced by journalists, the rise of online hate speech, and the digital divide.   The large discrepancy of access to information both between and within countries, as well as between men and women, demonstrates that the Information Age duly supplied the tools but not the envisioned fully connected world.   In order for freedom of expression to be universally applied and for sustainable development to thrive, information must become available to all without restrictions. Digital illiteracy is another obstacle in this regard.   By enabling the empowerment of citizens, freedom of information is a cornerstone of participatory democracy. It also plays an essential role in promoting accountable and effective institutions which support the rule of law.   Media are important actors in promoting social inclusion. Their potential to promote dialogue, reflect the diversity of opinions and perspectives in society, and challenge stereotypes and misrepresentations, is to be encouraged. Supporting pluralism and gender equality in the media is central to this process.   UNESCO’s concept of Internet Universality proposes four principles for an inclusive Internet that can contribute to the development of Knowledge Societies as foundations for sustainable development: Human Rights, Openness, Accessibility and Multi-stakeholder participation.   Only an inclusive society, facilitated by independent and pluralistic media and a safe media environment where the free flow of information is fostered, provides the necessary conditions to achieve a better future for all. http://en.unesco.org/wpfd   # Jakarta Declaration: http://bit.ly/2pWWvNv   * World Press Freedom Day statement by David Kaye, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, who was appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor freedom of the media and the safety of journalists globally: http://bit.ly/2pBCADJ   http://www.ipsnews.net/topics/world-press-freedom-day-2017/ http://www.cpj.org/ http://rsf.org/en/ http://ethicaljournalismnetwork.org/ http://scalingupnutrition.org/news/reflecting-on-the-important-role-of-the-media-as-a-driver-of-change/
	Ethical journalism: back in the news by Aidan White UNESCO Courier, Ethical Journalism Network   The core values of ethical journalism are more important than ever today, as we fight for quality and democracy in the media in the digital age. While new laws might lead to potential censorship, a commitment to ethics is essential to build public trust.   Journalism is on the move like never before. Today the news business is faster, more pressurized, and infinitely more complex. The media have learned the hard way how the information revolution - for all its liberating qualities - is a double-edged sword.   While news media can deliver stories around the world in seconds and communications have the potential to build stronger, more informed and more engaged communities, the business models that paid for journalism in the past are broken, and in many cases, beyond repair.   With less money to pay for public interest journalism, newsrooms struggle to maintain their ethical base. Problems that have always been on the radar - political bias, undue corporate influence, stereotypes and conflicts of interest - are now magnified.   The past fifteen years have seen a dramatic decline in news journalism, as technology has changed the way people communicate and the way the media business works. Today, most of us get our news through mobile telephones and from online platforms that have grown rich by exploiting people’s personal data, while at the same time, draining lucrative advertising from traditional media.   Thousands of news outlets, mainly newspapers, have closed. Tens of thousands of journalists have lost their jobs. People’s access to reliable and trusted sources of news has narrowed as traditional news sources - particularly at the local and regional level - have contracted, even though the space for free speech has expanded dramatically.   The Ethical Journalism Network (EJN) was created five years ago, to strengthen journalism in the face of this crisis.   As a coalition of more than sixty groups of journalists, editors, press owners and media support groups, EJN promotes training and practical actions to strengthen ethics and governance. Its work - whether it is developing a test for journalists to expose hate speech, guidelines on reporting conflict or producing reports on covering migration - resonates with journalists around the world.   Because the network has its roots within media, EJN’s multi-country reports and even those that lift the lid on the untold stories about the realities of how media work and the challenges of self-regulation, have credibility inside journalism.   The EJN’s soundings in this period of uncertainty are that despite the increasingly hostile economic and political climate, journalists everywhere - from Turkey, Syria and Egypt to Pakistan, China and Indonesia - remain committed to truth-telling and ethics.   Building public trust   This commitment is a golden asset at a time of social transformation, when the global communications culture is in chaotic transition. To people inside media and anyone striving for the key to safe and secure communications in future, the defence and promotion of ethical journalism has become more important than ever.   Fake news, political and corporate propaganda, and shameless online abuse threaten democracy and open up new frontlines for free-speech defenders, policymakers, and media professionals alike.   A toxic mix of digital technology, unscrupulous politics and commercial exploitation of the new communications landscape is creating stress fractures across the wider landscape of public information.   With this in mind, EJN has promoted a new debate about the need to recognize why journalism, which is constrained by its framework of ethics, is essential for building public trust.   We find that there is no widespread yearning for a new code of ethics among the media or the public. The core values of accuracy, independence and responsible reporting - which have evolved over the past 150 years - remain as relevant as ever, even in these digital times.   What is needed, says EJN, is a new partnership with media audiences and policymakers to persuade them that ethical journalism should be strengthened, and that it can be used as an inspiration for new programmes to promote information literacy.   Today, it’s not just journalists who need to watch their language and show respect for the facts; everyone with something to say in the public information sphere needs to show some ethical restraint.   The EJN argues that ethical values of journalism - such as fact-based communications, humanity and respect for others, transparency and owning up to errors - are cardinal principles which should guide everyone, including social media users and citizen journalists. But this should be a voluntary process and not driven by law.   Worried by online abuse and fake news, some governments, even in democratic countries, have threatened to fine technology companies that don’t act to remove malicious and dangerous information when it pops up on their platforms. This could limit legitimate dissent and free speech - this is increasingly more likely to happen, unless these companies act to support ethical communications.   The problem is that the tech giants that dominate the public information space, such as Google, Facebook, Amazon and Twitter, circulate information in a value-free environment. They give no priority to information as a public good, such as professional journalism. For them, journalism competes on an equal footing in their marketing with other information, even if it is malicious and abusive.   Using algorithms to attract clicks   Using sophisticated algorithms and limitless databanks that provide access to millions of subscribers, this business model is driven by one simple objective - to encourage “viral information” that delivers enough clicks to trigger digital advertising. It matters not whether information is ethical, true or honest; what counts is whether it is sensational, provocative, and stimulating enough to attract attention.   No matter how sophisticated they are, digital robots can’t be encoded with ethical and moral values. The best people to handle ethical questions are sentient human beings - well-trained, informed and responsible journalists and editors.   After recent scandals - like the outrage over censorship of iconic photographs, the live streaming of torture and murder, and major corporations complaining about their advertisements being placed on websites preaching terrorism, hate and child abuse - the technology companies have promised to act. But will it be enough?   On the 3rd of May 2017, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg promised to employ 3,000 content reviewers (to add to the company’s 4,500-strong “community operations team”), following outrage over the broadcasting of a spate of violent videos of murder, suicide, and gang rape.   Facebook has a subscriber base of two billion, which means that there is one content reviewer per 250,000 or so, users. It’s a fraction of what is needed to monitor and control the growth of unethical, abusive content and the dangers posed by propaganda and fake news.   Exploiting people’s privacy   One simple answer would be for tech companies to accept their role as publishers in the digital age and to draw upon the vast pool of informed and ethical journalists currently displaced by the information revolution. We know they can afford it - in early 2017, it was reported that Facebook was worth around $400 billion, and Google more than $600 billion. These are among the world’s richest companies.   While policymakers and technology moguls wring their hands over these issues, the use of technology by unscrupulous politicians to undermine democracy and to interfere in elections is growing. And fake news laced with malicious lies is all part of the strategy.   The crisis was recently highlighted by Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web. The British scientist and academic warned that the online world is being overwhelmed by governments and digital corporations and that the exploitation of people’s privacy is squeezing the life out of the internet.   His criticism highlights the disruptive and pernicious threat posed by the marketing of false information in politics.   In an open letter (on 12 March 2017, the web’s 28th birthday), Berners-Lee wrote of the 2016 election in the United States: “.. as many as 50,000 variations of adverts were being served every single day on Facebook, a near-impossible situation to monitor. And there are suggestions that some political adverts - in the US and around the world – are being used in unethical ways to point voters to fake news sites, for instance, or to keep others away from the polls. … Is that democratic?”   Exposing fake news   It’s a good question, and one that was also asked in France on the eve of the French presidential election in May 2017, when online hackers dumped thousands of confidential email files, many of them fake, concerning Emmanuel Macron, the eventual winner.   This information mountain couldn’t be examined, verified or debunked by journalists, because French law forbids public discussion of election information in the last hours before people vote. But it circulated freely on social media.   News reporting can be rough and ready, but ethical journalism owns up to its errors. More importantly, because it is fact-based and has civic purpose, it also provides a road map for policy to build a safe and reliable public information space. http://bit.ly/2wvjYIN   * Aidan White is Director of the Ethical Journalism Network. He is the former General Secretary of the International Federation of Journalists, which he led for twenty-four years until March 2011. He is a founder of the International News Safety Institute and the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX). Visit the related web page
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