22 – 24 January 2012
Tunis, Tunisia 

'So this is freedom? A revolutionary media, or a media in revolution; what role should an independent Arab press now have?'

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The Forum

Dictatorships have fallen in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt while elsewhere in the region those still clinging to power face defiant and increasingly growing opposition. Popular revolutions are rejecting authoritarian leaders and bringing the Arab street to international attention in all its diversity. The transition to democracy places basic freedoms and rights at the heart of these new societies, requiring a strong independent media to play a crucial role in holding fledgling governments to account.

But for many, the media requires its own particular revolution for it to be considered the legitimate watchdog of democracy. How should the press articulate newfound freedoms and best relay the hopes and fears of ordinary people? How does it achieve balance and ensure the highest professional standards? How can we ensure younger generations are brought from the periphery to the centre of the debate? In short, what role should an independent Arab press now have?

In the face of such challenges, the independent Arab media is responding on all fronts: as critics, educators and business innovators. Holding power to account in emerging democracies and established states, Arab journalists, editors and publishers are on the front line when it comes to defending freedom of expression. Given the huge level of expectation in the region as a whole, there has never been a better time to understand what the role of the independent Arab press should be.

Now in its 5th edition, the Arab Free Press Forum is a unique event that brings together media professionals from across the Arab world to provide a platform for the exchange of ideas, experience and best practice at every level of the news industry. As part of WAN-IFRA’s ongoing commitment to supporting the independent press in the Arab region, the Forum compliments longstanding engagements with partners from across the media industry and the freedom of expression community.

The Forum will ask penetrating questions about the future of Arab media from both editorial and business perspectives. Our speakers include some of the most prominent players from the regional and international media and freedom of expression communities, with a programme designed to explore the present situation and future needs of the independent Arab press.

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About WAN-IFRA's MENA region engagements

WAN-IFRA’s unique position as the global representative for the newspaper industry with a clear human rights mandate is reflected in the organisation’s conviction that financially healthy media is an essential condition for the existence of a free press. Unlike the political, social, educational or judicial sectors of society that are essential for good governance and development, but that are mainly funded from fiscal revenues, the independent media sector carries out its public interest role while at the same time responding to commercial imperatives.

• WAN-IFRA has been actively involved in the International Freedom of Expression Exchange – Tunisia Monitoring Group (IFEX-TMG), and in 2011 took the lead in the current phase of the campaign to examine censorship in the media and the arts.
• WAN-IFRA’s Arab Newspaper Development Programme (ANDP), conducted in partnership with the Danish-Egyptian Dialogue Institute (DEDI), is a groundbreaking project in which newspapers throughout the region learn from each other's experiences and exchange information on commercial and editorial strategies. The overall aim of the ANDP is to strengthen the viability of the independent press in the region.
• WAN-IFRA supports the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) in the publication of its bi-monthly media affairs journal, MADA El-Elam.
• WAN-IFRA has led and actively participated in press freedom missions in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and Yemen to support and strengthen local media throughout the region.

More information can be found on the Arab Press Network

WAN-IFRA, based in Paris, France, and Darmstadt, Germany, with subsidiaries in Singapore, India, Spain, France and Sweden, is the global organisation of the world’s newspapers and news publishers. It represents more than 18,000 publications, 15,000 online sites and over 3,000 companies in more than 120 countries. Its core mission is to defend and promote press freedom, quality journalism and editorial integrity and the development of prosperous businesses.

Learn more about WAN-IFRA at www.wan-ifra.org