The Drum Beat 824 - Freedom of Expression

• 1.The Global Expression Report 2022: The Intensifying Battle for Narrative Control
• 80% of the global population have less freedom of expression now than a decade ago. This is one finding in the 2022 edition of ARTICLE 19's annual report tracking freedom of expression across 161 countries. The report, which measures the freedom of everyone - not just journalists or activists - to express themselves and communicate, finds that the global score has declined over the last decade, and all regional scores are either falling or stagnant. Despite the grim statistics, the report states that there is cause for hope, in large part due to civil society activism. [Jun 2022]
   
• 2.World Press Freedom Index
• This annual ranking of countries has been compiled and published by Reporters Without Borders since 2002. Covering 180 countries and territories, the report defines press freedom "as the ability of journalists as individuals and collectives to select, produce, and disseminate news in the public interest independent of political, economic, legal, and social interference and in the absence of threats to their physical and mental safety." The 2022 edition highlights the news and information chaos resulting from a globalised and unregulated online information space that encourages fake news and propaganda. It reveals a two-fold increase in polarisation that is amplified by this chaos. [2002 - ongoing]
   
• 3.The State of Media Freedom and Safety of Journalists in Africa 2022
  by Paul Kimumwe, Victor Kapiyo, Simone Toussi, and Dr. Wairagala Wakabi
• This report, published by the Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA), shares the findings of a study that assessed 8 indicators for media freedom and journalism safety across Africa. In summary, it found that "Freedom of expression and the safety of journalists have been on the decline in numerous countries on the continent....For many countries, it has been a case of one step forward and a subsequent step backwards." Per CIPESA, changing the tide will require concerted efforts by the different stakeholders; recommendations are offered. [Nov 2022]
   
• 4.Solidarity and Survival: The Story of South Asia - South Asia Press Freedom Report 2021-22
• Designed to function as an advocacy tool, this report offers an analysis of the situation of press freedom and freedom of expression in 8 countries in the South Asian region. Published by the International Federation of Journalists annually and in its 20th year as of 2022, the 2021-22 report highlights issues of sustainability, the stories of journalists in exile, and the battle being waged to maintain digital freedom as the media landscape transforms in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and due to political unrest in the region. [May 2022]
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• See also:
  Africa Media Barometer - An Analysis of Trends in AMBs for 28 Countries over 11 Years: 2011/2021

• 5.Interview with Guilherme Canela on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists
• As part of its mandate, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has launched a global dialogue to provide guidelines for regulating digital platforms, fighting disinformation and hate speech, and protecting freedom of expression and human rights. One of the key platforms for this dialogue was the international Internet for Trust conference that took place in Paris, France, in February 2023. As a basis for discussions at the conference, a draft guidance document for regulating digital platforms was developed. In this video interview, the author of this guidance document, Guilherme Canela, Chief of the Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists department at UNESCO, highlights the increasing threats to journalists, the rise of online disinformation, and the role the guidelines will play. [Feb 2023]
   
• 6.Public Interest Infrastructure: Digital Alternatives in Our Data-driven World and Journalism's Role Getting There
  by Magnus Ag, Nynne Storm Refsing, and Emilie Lehmann-Jacobsen (eds.)
• This International Media Support report examines why digital infrastructures are crucial to the work and survival of independent media, particularly in Majority World countries, and why the current infrastructures are a serious threat to press freedom, access to information, and democracy. It also presents examples and recommendations that could inspire and contribute to the creation of alternative public interest infrastructure and explains why media is a crucial actor to include in these processes. The report includes 2 in-depth case studies from Myanmar. [Mar 2023]
   
• 7.Taming Big Tech: A Pro-Competitive Solution to Protect Free Expression
• In this policy document, ARTICLE 19 seeks to address freedom of expression challenges in online content curation by proposing a solution that encourages open markets, competition, and users' empowerment. The solution is designed to transform social media from a closed space - controlled by a handful of companies and with increasing challenges related to hate speech and disinformation - to an open and diverse space where users have a real choice between service providers and can step out from exploitative relationships. ARTICLE 19 believes that this solution will lead to better protection of freedom of expression, pluralism, and diversity, as well as to more open, fair, and decentralised digital markets. [Jan 2023]
   
• 8.Social Media 4 Peace Project
• This project seeks to support the resilience of conflict-prone and polarised societies to the impact of online content that spreads disinformation and incites violence and hatred, while protecting freedom of expression and enhancing the promotion of peace. The project does this by working to maximise the potential of social media to promote initiatives and narratives that create incentives for peace rather than violence. Activities include conducting research, creating coordinating structures, and building the capacity of stakeholders, civil society, and youth around digital technologies and social media for peace. Launched in January 2021 by UNESCO, the 3-year project is being implemented in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Indonesia, and Kenya.
   
• 9.Digital attacks are becoming the weapon of choice to silence media
• "Media freedom faces a daunting range of challenges, from censorship and jailings to physical assaults and murder. As if this wasn't enough, in this connected age, a whole new line of intimidation has opened up, with politicians and the powerful increasingly seeking to silence critical outlets by attacks in the digital space." This blog discusses a trend that the Media Development Investment Fund has observed in the countries it works in: the growing number of cyberattacks, which include cyber-libel (the spreading of false information about a person), that are designed to intimidate and silence the media. [May 2022]
   
• See also:
  Perspectives: Digital Rights and Access to Information

• Since 2022, UNESCO has been conducting multi-stakeholder consultations to co-create guidelines to safeguard freedom of expression, access to information, and other human rights in the context of the development and implementation of digital platform regulatory processes. To participate in the open consultations for version 3.0 of the draft guidelines (by June 27th), click here.
   

• 10.The "Misuse" of the Judicial System to Attack Freedom of Expression: Trends, Challenges and Responses
  by Rosario Soraide
• From UNESCO, this issue brief looks at trends, challenges, and responses worldwide on defamation and related laws, specifically related to abusive legal practices that can potentially have dire consequences for media freedom. According to the brief, the issue of defamation, both criminal and civil, needs to be addressed in national legislation in line with international standards from the point of view of protecting freedom of expression and the vital work of journalists. To support this action, the brief offers recommendations for states, civil society, and the media. [2022]
   
• 11.Weaponising the Law: Attacks on Media Freedom
  by Joel Simon, Carlos Lauría, and Ona Flores
• This report, published by the Thomson Reuters Foundation in collaboration with the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University, identifies and analyses 8 legal threats to journalists around the world. Its purpose is to provide the first step towards a global overview of the weaponisation of the law as a prominent threat to media freedom. Illustrated with global case studies, it offers 10 recommendations for tangible action to curb negative legislative trends, expand legal support, and enhance cross-sector collaboration. [Apr 2023]
   
• 12.Fighting SLAPPs: What Can Media, Lawyers, and Funders Do?
  by Peter Noorlander
• Published by the Center for International Media Assistance, this report looks at how strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) are affecting the work of the media and what the media, the legal system, and funders can do about it. Besides legal reform, which can often take years to achieve, the report looks at several short-term tactics that journalists, activists, and defence lawyers can use to remove SLAPPs, including setting up mutual insurance mechanisms, pooling resources, and advocating for changes to court rules. [Dec 2022]
   
• 13.Global Toolkit for Law Enforcement Agents: Freedom of Expression, Access to Information and Safety of Journalists
• This toolkit is intended as a resource for law enforcement agencies and police training academies across the world to improve officers' understanding of issues related to freedom of expression, access to information, and safety of journalists, and how to apply them in complex situations. It was produced by UNESCO as part of its global training programme for police officers and journalists on how to develop professional relationships in order to ensure media safety and support freedom of expression. [2022]
   

• * Episode 1 shares the experiences of Indonesia's public interest platform Project Multatuli, which has had to cope with police harassment and cyber-attacks but has also discovered the power of social media and the strength of solidarity between journalists and civil society groups.
• * Episode 2 focuses on Highlands FM, a radio station broadcasting in Southern Tanzania, where staff have had to steer a difficult course between accurately reflecting the concerns of their rural audiences while avoiding antagonising the authorities.
• * Episode 3 highlights the Ethiopian media platform Wazema. Founded in exile, Wazema returned to Ethiopia during a time of opening, only to have the door closed again. It features an interview with Wazema's co-creator and with an advisor on African media for International Media Support.
   
• Click here to learn more and to find out how to listen.
   

• 14.The Chilling: A Global Study of Online Violence Against Women Journalists
  by Julie Posetti and Nabeelah Shabbir (eds.)
• This report, published by the International Center for Journalists, presents the results of a global study on online violence against women journalists, documenting trends and offering solutions. The study highlights 35 key findings that point to the need for responses to online violence to be strengthened in technological sophistication and collaborative coordination. The report also maps the online-offline violence trajectory, which represents a vicious and self-perpetuating cycle. To respond to these trends and challenges, the report offers 107 practical recommendations for action. [Nov 2022]
   
• 15.From Outrage to Opportunity: How to Include the Missing Perspectives of Women of All Colors in News Leadership and Coverage
  by Luba Kassova
• This solutions-focused report examines the realities facing women of all colours in news leadership and coverage in India, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Published by an independent consultancy AKAS, the report showcases research carried out in the 6 countries and presents 12 solutions themes to help news organisations become more representative. It reveals especially that the broader engagement of women could revitalise the news industry and generate billions of dollars of additional revenue. [Nov 2022]
   
• 16.Online Gendered Hate Speech Targets Women in Civic Spaces: Transnational Report
• This Internews report explores the results of a study on online gendered hate speech and its impact on women in civic spaces. Using real-life examples from social media in the Global South, the report seeks to answer these questions: What does online gendered harmful content look like globally? And how does online gendered harmful content impact public-facing women? In terms of the way forward, the report discusses various strategies, including legal action and platform-level interventions. [Mar 2023]
   
• See also:
  Sexual Violence and the News Media: Issues, Challenges and Guidelines for Journalists in India

• The Drum Beat 815 - Themes from the PRIMED Media Development Partnership
• The Drum Beat 810 - World Press Freedom Day 2022: Journalism under Digital Siege
   

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