Social media platforms have created a complex information ecosystem that is both a blessing and a curse for free and independent media outlets. On the one hand, digital technologies have created unprecedented opportunities for reporting and distributing journalistic content and for many, digital innovations hold enormous potential to reshape the media landscape. At the same time, however, in an age of misinformation and disinformation, traditional media outlets are increasingly under threat as members of populist movements use digital spaces to attack their credibility. As their traditional business models fail, free and independent media outlets are now struggling to survive.
The digital revolution has also radically altered the way we communicate. This means the media development community also has to discuss, rethink and if necessary redefine its strategy to better serve the ideals of freedom of information and free speech in the digital era. The 2019 FoME Symposium brings together journalists, media managers, media development specialists, activists, academics and representatives from government, civil society and private companies from around the world to exchange their views on this topic.
Core questions at the symposium are:
· How can media development succeed in this changing information ecosystem?
· What are the most pressing challenges? What new approaches look promising?
· How should media development projects work with new innovative players?
· What are positive examples of cooperation with start-ups/innovation hubs? How do tech companies like Facebook, Google and the like come into play?
· How are media development organisations preparing for these changes?
· What are their new strategic priorities?
· What are the most important future issues for media development?
The event offers expert input in the form of speeches, short lightning talks, panel discussions, workshops and exciting interactive formats (Buzzword Check, Marketplace of Ideas). Organisations contributing with sessions include CIMA, DW Akademie, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, ECPMF, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), icebauhaus, n-ost, Reporter ohne Grenzen and Tea after Twelve.
The ECPMF will hold a panel in cooperation with n-ost on:
Dissemination strategies for journalism in captured environments: cross-border alliances and 'dark social'. More info follows!
Other topics include
· Innovate or die: The scramble for new funding schemes in media
· Surveillance laws in times of technological innovation: How to better protect journalistic sources
· Data Journalism: A win/benefit/gain for citizens and democracy?
· New strategies in development communication. Focusing on solutions instead of crisis reporting
· Artificial Intelligence and (media) development: Challenges and opportunities for human rights and inclusive innovation
· Artificial Intelligence gone wrong: What if highly automated systems make mistakes and journalists are censored on social media due to fully automated systems without an effective way to appeal?
· Media Technologies for a Translocal Citizenship: VR, AR and Digital Storytelling
· Networked Solutions: Why voices from the Global South are essential to facing the tech challenge
· From AI to blockchain, through innovation and digitalization: What is the real relevance of these buzzwords for media development
· Changing journalistic roles in a changing media world?
· Why internet governance matters for journalism? Providing policy and advocacy for journalism and news media sustainability in the digital age.
· Building MIL Momentum: Using old tricks to innovate.´
· The whole picture: How constructive journalism widens the perspective
Among the impressive line-up of speakers are:
Payal Arora (Erasmus University Rotterdam) - Keynote Speaker
Catherine Gicheru (Code4Africa)
Ivan Sigal (Executive Director Global Voices)
Indra de Lanerolle (Jamlab Africa)
Saad Akhtar Chinoy (Tusitala)
Paula Hidalgo-Sanchis (UN Global Pulse)
Sabine Dolan, San Francisco Office Director at Reporters Without Borders
Daniel O`Maley (CIMA)
Tiny Mungwe (Steps)
Mira Milosevic (GFMD)
Tara Susman-Peña (IREX)
Rishad Patel (The Splice Newsroom)
Josh LaPorte (European Journalism Center)
Amel Saidane (Digital Arabia)
Josef Slerka, Charles University, Prague
Rachel Sibande (mHub)
...and many more.
The event will be moderated by Edith Kimani (Deutsche Welle)
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