Media Freedom in MENA

The Southern Talks #10 - Full Webinar

MEDIA FREEDOM IN MENA AND BEYOND

This highly interesting and topical discussion of journalism today introduces our esteemed guest, Professor Peter Greste, an award-winning foreign correspondent who spent 25 years working for the BBC, Reuters and Al Jazeera in some of the world’s most volatile places.

He began by describing his harrowing 400-day incarceration in Egypt in 2013, followed by a summary of how Media Freedom has changed over the past three decades, in particular since 9/11. He then went on to discuss the ‘War on Journalism’ and the erosion of the ‘Grey Zone’, ending with the dangers of misinformation/disinformation today.

The YouTube video is timestamped for easy viewing.

Highlights

The effects of national Security legislation on Media Freedom worldwide – The ‘Global War on Journalism’ has led to increases in attacks on journalists, and often their imprisonment. The treatment of Whistle-blowers is often unacceptable.
G.W.Bush – “In this war on terror, you are either with us or with the terrorists”. This statement allowed for the demonization of journalism as a whole by creating a binary environment. The “War on Terror” is a war on an abstract noun, and is therefore unwinnable. In effect, it aids the erosion of our democratic values.
Iran and Egypt are both 5th in detention and imprisonment of journalists, primarily under dubious accusations of being connected with terrorism.
The ‘Grey Zone’ is being destroyed. It is the space required for open discussion in a democratic, pluralist society where differences can exist without violence and fear.
European Media Freedom Act – can legislation help reconstruct the Grey Zone and bring us back to better Freedom of the Media?
Malign actors are taking advantage of the ease with which misinformation can be used to push any particular narrative.
Russia is one of the leading protagonists of using AI in highly effective misinformation campaigns. The objective is not to change people’s views, as seeding distrust is often enough.
Worries about the US elections, interference and online conspiracy theories.
It is now so challenging for members of the public to identify the truth and become media literate.
We must moderate the current, malicious use of algorithms, which are based on business models to monetize our attention, not inform us.
The future and protection of journalism and Media Freedom is possible and is based on the greater involvement of those seeking the truth and the correct use of modern technology.