“I forget my name, I forget my dreams, maybe we do not have a lot of power because we are nothing, but sometimes a nothing man can change a lot” these mix of Words on Piano of Aeham Ahmad, 28 years old, from the streets of Yarmouk Camp in Syria who now lives in Germany keep lingering in my heart as another forum to discuss media, freedom and values kick starts in Bonn Germany. On the count, this will be the seventh global conference honouring our Follow The Money work.
In recent times, media organisations have been battling with innovating their newsrooms,as, challenges of its freedom and values have always resonated around newsrooms Ever since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10 December, 1948 at the Palais de Chaillot, Paris. The reason why the Annual Global Media Forum in Bonn, Germany, held between June 13 – 15 had its theme around challenges and opportunities and welcomed 2,000 participants, including media CEOs, journalists, academics, artists, and entrepreneurs from 110 countries.
“We need to rethink how we perceive, demonstrate and spread our values.” With those words, DW Director General Peter Limbourg opened the Global Media Forum in Bonn on Monday, June 13, 2016. Looking at the long list of exceptional speakers for the event, I am assured that we are living amid a communications revolution that is already significantly affecting democracy. As such, it will be pertinent to instil our values as journalists or “content creators” to research with due diligence, copy after checking the facts, stop scandalizing every harmless occurrence, and refer to sources of credible information.
Pocket FM Radio was on the side stands. Visit them at http://www.pocket-fm.com/
Our values are greatly important, especially as enemies of freedom of speech increase across borders. From Turkey clamping down on newsrooms that are highlighting to the world the human rights abuses of the regime to Nigeria, where a legislature is sponsoring a bill that infringes on the freedom of speech; to Maldives government arresting journalists. This is becoming a challenge to democracy as the “fourth pillar of democracy” is becoming threatened.
Suffice it to say that the forum was a congregation of media enthusiasts living every day with the believe that the media (be it the new or the traditional) would continue to serve as a watchdog for democracies, even as press freedom declined to its lowest point in 12 years, and 13 percent of the world’s population enjoys a free press, according to the Freedom House 2016 report
Most of the thoughts from speakers range from how media organizations can start innovating their newsrooms, privacy and security, violence against women and children, the US presidential elections, migration issues in Europe, and the relationship between media and policymakers.
I was thrilled when participants asked about the relationship of Follow The Money with the government of Nigeria during the panel on digital innovations coordinated by the DW Akademie. “Always flat and parallel”, I have answered, as only a few state agents will embrace a watchdog initiative that demeans the bureaucracy within government institutions. Maybe that might change soon, I will sure be excited!
The Panel on Standing up for Human Rights: Digital Innovations source:DW
It was not only three days of discussions. I like the fact that every closing of the day is met with social gatherings long enough for networking, meeting old friends, and chatting about new courses, as well. This time, I enjoyed the food because special considerations were given to us chicken and meat eaters. I am still not yet a veggie, and I am not sure I will be one. Talking about closing, Christiana Figueres. The Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) speech on ‘the role of the media’ was truly exceptional as it has shaken the power of the pens that break news events “You should not just inform people on and about events, you as journalist, or content producers, should use your privilege to use news to connect the dots, to point out to the public the ramifications, and implications of the news event” Figueres said
Certainly, the freedom we all enjoy as information users is threatened every day, as the connection with the world gets smaller and thinner, and digital technologies open our doors to every form of air – with 6 in 7 people living in countries where they cannot express information, and ideas freely. Nevertheless, the lens and pens’ attitude to become impartial and objective will remain pertinent, and the words from Bonn will linger – sometimes a nothing man can change a lot, and peace will come if we can connect the dots!
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