World Association of News Publishers


Arab Free Press Forum

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Arab Free Press Forum

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Introduction to Programme

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Themes

For 2013 we will build on the previous five editions of the Forum and take it to a new, innovative level that will see expert discussions followed by focused, interactive, outcome-based workshops on a diverse range of themes and issues, and with a particular emphasis on including female speakers and trainers as well as case studies from women-owned, operated or led media organisations. The emphasis will be on underlining the importance of ‘independence’ for both the newsroom/editorial line and wider business operations, in order to provide the most favourable conditions for the freedom of the press.

 

In each Forum session a range of themes will examine particular areas of concern to the independent Arab press, and through a diverse programme we aim to take a holistic look at the entire media eco-system, highlighting the inter-connected nature of each element and promoting strategies aimed at strengthening independence:

 

1: Professional standards to strengthen editorial autonomy

  • Strategies for establishing credible news and regaining public trust, particularly in critical or crisis situations
  • Practicing ethical journalism and ensuring editorial quality while maintaining independence
  • Local and hyper-local news models
  • Utilising citizen journalism and social media in news production
  • Education and training – addressing the critical needs of next generation news producers; ensuring best practice in today’s newsrooms


2: Sustainable businesses key to independence of professional media

  • Integrating and monetising social media and video in the newsroom
  • Issues surrounding the viability and sustainability of modern publishing houses
  • New revenue and business models for media outlets
  • Approaching investors and funders with a viable business plan
  • Self-regulation and codes of ethics
  • Advertising – access to/distribution of, alternative models for future growth
  • Examining the pluralised structure of news – choosing the right model for success

 

3: Innovation

  • Content evolution and business development strategies
  • Issues surrounding audience engagement via digital platforms
  • New technologies and their impact on the newsroom

 

4: Legislative barriers to independence

  • Identifying restrictive legislation and examining the legal reforms necessary
  • Constitutional guarantees for the freedom of the press
  • Case studies on utilising Freedom on Information and/or Access to Information laws / Advocating for the introduction of FOI legislation

 

5: Safety

  • Discussion on the UN Action Plan on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity
  • Implementing safety protocols in the newsroom; ensuring top-down buy-in for the protection of journalists

Sunday 24 November – Tuesday 26 November 2013

Tunis, Tunisia

 

Time

Programme

 

15.00

 

 

 

 

 

Session 1 6.30pm

 

 

Day 1, Sunday 24 November

 

Participant arrival and registration

 

Networking Café & NGO consultations. 

 

Opening cocktail reception at Golden Tulip Hotel.

Exhibition of Tunisian Cartoonists

 

9:00am

 

Day 2, Monday 25 November

 

Registration and Networking Café

Morning tea served

 

 

Session 2

10.00am

 

OPENING: WAN-IFRA Press Freedom Film

 

Introduction: Larry Kilman, Deputy CEO and Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs, WAN-IFRA

 

 

 

Session 3

10.20am

 

Opening Expert Conversation 

 

Session title: Burning Issues for the Independent Arab Press

  • Ethics and professionalism – from owners to journalists, professionalization across the entire media industry
  • Business and innovation – moving the industry forward while securing its future
  • Legislation and barriers to greater freedoms – where should advocacy be focused?
  • Independence – what does it mean, what are its key components, and how do we measure it?
  • Training and education – encouraging young professionals, ensuring quality and excellence

 

Moderator:

Courtney Radsch, UNESCO programme specialist

Speakers:

Omar Belhouchet, Publisher, El Watan Algeria
Rana Sabbagh
, Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism
Kamel Labidi, Vigilance, Tunisia
Tarek Atia, Egyptian Media Development Programme

 

 

Session 4

12.00pm

 

Storyful: How to separate fact and fiction online – is it news or is it noise?

Malachy Browne, News Editor, Storyful

 

12.30pm

 

Lunch

 

 

 

Session 5

1.40pm

 

 

Session title:  The Media Ecosystem – Ensuring Independence and Survival

  • Learning from hyper-localisation, connecting better with audiences, delivering successful content
  • Differences within the modern information structure - choosing the right platform for news delivery
  • Utilising social media and citizen journalism in news production
  • Using satire to tell your story

 

Moderator: Tarek Atia, Egyptian Media Development Programme

Speakers:

Sami Ben Gharbia, naawat.org
Leila Nachawati,
Syria Untold, Professor of Communications at Carlos III University Madrid
Nicolas Beau, Editor, Bakchich
Fatemah Farag Founder and Director, Welad Elbalad Media Services

Included in this session:
Monetizing Social Media - A Mini Master-class, which will introduce innovative ways to monetize social media and contribute to the sustainability of independent media. Through a series of case studies, UNESCO expert Courtney Radsch will provide practical tips for leveraging the full potential of social media

 

3.45pm

 

Break

 

 

Session 5

16h00

 

 

Ethics and Self Regulation – the keys to a successful independent press.

Addressing legislative barriers; advocating for self-regulation and promoting strong professional ethics to empower quality investigative journalism

 

Moderator:

Aidan White, Ethical Journalism Network


Speakers:

Najiba Hamrouni, General Secretary of the Tunisian Journalists’ Union
Hisham Almiraat
, Global Voices Advocacy Director and co-founder of TalkMorocco and Mamfakinch
Ragaei al-Merghany, General Coordinator of the National Coalition for Freedom of the Media

Dr Naglaa El-Emary is with Shorouknews.com and is a Publisher of articles and studies in media.

 

6.00pm

 

6:30 - 7:30pm

 

Networking Café

 

StoryMaker Master-Class

Interested in mobile technology and digital storytelling? Come join the StoryMaker Masters Class. Open to journalists, bloggers, techies and everyone interested in telling stories through their mobile phones

 

 

 

8.00am – 9:30am

 

Day 3 Tuesday 25 November

 

Networking Café

 

 

9.30am

 

Presentation of WAN-IFRA’s new report - Online Commenting: Emerging Best Practices

Larry Kilman, WAN-IFRA

 

   

 

Session 7

 

10.00am

 

Opening Expert Conversation:

 

Title: Media in transitional democracies: Is their role to report the news or lead the news agenda through activism? 

 

Moderator:  Riadh Ferjani

Speakers:

Fatimah el-Issawi, research fellow at POLIS, London School of Economics
David Hoffman, Founder and President Emeritus Internews, author of "Citizens Rising: Independent Journalism and the Spread of Democracy"
Magdi Abdelhadi, Freelance journalist and former Arab affairs analyst for the BBC
Rami Jarrah, Award-winning citizen journalist and founder of the ANA New-Media Association.

 

11:30am

 

Coffee Break

 

 

Session 8

12:00 pm

 

Under Surveillance - A “Mini Master-class” with Alan Pearce.

Journalism has been transformed by the Internet and the Internet has opened journalists to levels of surveillance that would have horrified George Orwell. All journalists should be aware of the dangers they face in the digital world – the emerging battleground.  This workshop will take an in depth practical view about how to safeguard sources and information.

 

* Please bring your laptop

 

For those not wishing to take part in this workshop, the networking café is open and this is a great time to meet with your colleagues.

 

 

1:30pm

 

“Lunch and Learn”

The UN Action Plan on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity

What do independent journalists feel are the main threats? Help inform the UN Action Plan and take steps to implement it in your country. Hosted by Courtney Radsch, UNESCO

 

 

Session 9

2.30pm

 

 

 

Canal France Internationale organsied panel: How multi-media newsrooms can enrich your content.

Moderator:

Nour Hemici, Canal France Internationale

 

Speakers:

Nabil Wakim, Editor-in-Chief, LeMonde.fr
Fathy Abu Hattab, Al Masry Al Youm
 

 

3:45pm

 

Break

 

 

Session 10

4:15pm

 

What next for the Arab Free Press?

Q&A and discussion bringing together the major themes from our debates.

Moderated by: Magdi Abdelhadi, Freelance journalist and former Arab affairs analyst for the BBC

 

Session 10

5:15 – 5:30pm

 

6.00pm

 

 

6:30-7:30pm

 

 


 In addition:

 

Closing Keynote

 

 

Networking café

The networking café will continue to be open on the morning of Wednesday 27th November.

 

StoryMaker Master-Class

Interested in mobile technology and digital storytelling? Come join the StoryMaker Masters Class. Open to journalists, bloggers, techies and everyone interested in telling stories through their mobile phones.

 

21, 22, 23 November

Ethical Journalism Network

Seminar on ethics for Arab journalists (with Norwegian Institute of Journalism)

 

 

 

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Date and Location

  • 24 Nov 2013 - 26 Nov 2013
    Tunis
    Tunisia

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