Connecting the dots: How to use existing mechanisms to protect media freedom online? (January 2025)

GFMD Policy and Advocacy Meeting on January 21, 2025

Date: January 21, 2025

Time: 14:00–16:00 UTC / 15:00–17:00 CET / 17:00–19:00 EAT / 09.00–11.00 EST

Registration: Please register here to attend

Objective

This policy meeting will explore the effectiveness of reporting mechanisms and escalation channels for journalism organisations online, their challenges and lessons learnt, and why their data matters to ensure evidence-based policies that address the gaps in safeguarding media freedom online. This discussion will gather civil society organisations, journalism support organisations, media advocacy groups, and policy experts, academics, and researchers.

By presenting insights into existing mechanisms for reporting press freedom violations online and identifying policy opportunities, the meeting aims to explore how strategic information exchange and collaboration can drive evidence-based advocacy to influence key policy opportunities to strengthen the digital information ecosystem. The meeting will also present what can be learnt from the implementation of existing or upcoming policies and mechanisms and how these could impact other regions.

Where and how can a wrongful or arbitrary action be reported on digital platforms?
What are the existing gaps in regulation or tech platforms’ policies?
How can evidence-based policies be made? Where is the data?
How to influence policies that impact media freedom and journalist’s safety online?
Can regional policies impact policies outside the initial region? How do we use existing initiatives as part of an advocacy toolkit?