Press freedom advocate Peter Greste hosts a ‘journalism, accountability and democracy townhall’ this afternoon (Thursday) organised by activist group Democracy Counts.
The PIJI-supported event takes place on May 7 from 4-5pm AEST. Visit this site for more details.
It promises to bring together working journalists, editors, media leaders and Australians who care about our information environment for an “honest conversation about the state of public interest journalism” in Australia and the reforms needed to sustain it.
“Good journalism is crucial to a well functioning democracy,” organisers say. “When reporters can investigate, scrutinise and hold power to account, governments and institutions are more likely to act in the public interest.
“When they can't, decisions get made in the dark.”
Orgainsers point to the pressure, social media companies having stripped advertising revenue from traditional media “without reinvesting it in journalism. Local and regional outlets have closed. Coverage of state and federal politics has thinned. The result is a less informed public, and less accountability for the people who make decisions that affect our lives.
“This year, World Press Freedom Day (May 3) focussed on reaffirming freedom of expression and aligning journalism, technology (including AI), and human rights actors around practical ways to strengthen information ecosystems for the future.”
The Democracy Counts online townhall on public interest journalism focuses on what it does, why it needs to be protected, and what needs to change.