ABOUT THE EVENT
The Foreign Policy Centre (FPC), the Justice for Journalists Foundation (JFJ) and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) are pleased to announce the inaugural UK Media Freedom Forum will take place on Tuesday 04 and Wednesday 05 March 2025, in partnership with City St George’s, University of London.
We are delighted that the Forum is being realised in cooperation with the Safety of journalists platform of the Council of Europe (CoE), with additional support from UNESCO’s Global Media Defence Fund, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the law firm RPC. Notably, the event is also serving as the UK launch of the CoE’s Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists 2025 Annual Report.
Today media freedom faces an ever complex range of challenges, with an interconnectivity between the domestic and global environment. States and other stakeholders play a vital role in addressing these issues, but there is often a gap between their stated commitments and delivery.
This two-day Forum will explore a number of themes impacting media freedom around the world, including strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) and other legal threats, transnational repression, misinformation and disinformation, journalism in exile, economic pressure, spyware and surveillance and the impact of artificial intelligence.
The conference will assess the effectiveness of the UK and other States’ involvement with global initiatives, including the 50+ members of the Media Freedom Coalition (MFC), and stakeholder engagement with the United Nations, OSCE, the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee, and CoE when it comes to taking concrete action to defending media freedom.
The conference will provide space to evaluate the extent of existing and emerging problems, and also act as a vehicle through which journalists, policy makers, academics and civil society organisations can develop concrete policy recommendations for the UK government and other national stakeholders, with the aim of creating greater transparency and accountability on media freedom related issues.
ORGANISERS
The Foreign Policy Centre (FPC) is an independent, non-partisan international affairs think tank based in the UK. FPC’s mission is to inform both the British and global debate, seeking sustainable solutions for the world’s most pressing challenges.
FPC takes a global perspective, informed by the values of democracy, human rights, good governance and conflict resolution. Media freedom is a core theme for FPC, particularly through the work conducted as part of its Unsafe for Scrutiny project, which examines issues at the nexus of safety of journalists and anti-corruption. Notably, FPC published the 2022 landmark report ‘London Calling’: The issue of legal intimidation and SLAPPs against media emanating from the United Kingdom’, with ARTICLE 19.
The Justice for Journalists Foundation (JFJ) is a London-based charity whose mission is to fight impunity for attacks against the media. JFJ monitors attacks against media workers and funds investigations worldwide into violence and abuse against professional and citizen journalists. JFJ also organises media security training and creates educational materials to raise awareness about the dangers to media freedom and methods of protection from them.
JFJ’s activity consists of three main components:
- Media risk mapping via monitoring, analysing and publicising violence and abuse against media workers;
- Training and education via online and offline media safety trainings in Orkhan Dzhemal Media Safety Academy;
- Raising public awareness about the realities of media work worldwide via visual and print materials, as well as conferences, roundtables, seminars.
The International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) works with the global legal community to promote and protect human rights and the independence of the legal profession worldwide. Since 2019, IBAHRI has acted as the Secretariat to The High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom, the independent advisory body of the Media Freedom Coalition. The High Level Panel comprises a diverse group of leading international lawyers tasked with providing legal advice for the purposes of promoting and protecting a vibrant, free, and independent media.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Based in the heart of London, City St George’s, University of London is a short walk from both historic Fleet Street and the Inns of Court. City’s Department of Journalism is a nationally renowned centre for journalism education and research. Founded in 1976, the Department has over 7000+ alumni at the top of newsrooms around the world, from the BBC and the Washington Post to the Times of India, Al Jazeera and Tik Tok. City is ranked 1st in the UK for Journalism, 1st in the UK for Media and Communications, and 1st in the UK for graduate jobs and employability in media.
SUPPORTING ORGANISATIONS
SPONSORED BY
PROGRAMME
DAY ONE
09:15 - 10:00
10.00 - 10.05
Welcome to the conference
Justice for Journalists Foundation, Director
10.05 - 10.25
Keynote on Media Freedom and Democracy
Speakers to be announced
Session 1
10:25 - 11:30
Turning States’ media freedom commitments into action
Today media freedom faces an ever complex range of challenges, with increasing interconnectivity between the domestic and global environment. Governments and other stakeholders play a vital role in addressing these issues, yet there is often a gap between their stated commitments and delivery. This session will begin by setting the scene of global trends and initiatives relating to press freedom, before turning to an expert Panel to review how sufficient current responses are to addressing these issues. Speakers will consider what can be done to spur state led action to ensure effective protection and promotion of media freedom and uphold democracy.
Opening presentation by:
Professor of International Journalism and Politics, at City St Georges, University of London
Chair:
Director, International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute. Member of the UK House of Lords and Barrister with over 50 years experience. Chair of The High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom
Speakers:
Director of Advocacy at the International Press Institute, and Co-Chair of the Media Freedom Coalition Civil Society Consultative Network
Director, Institute of Commonwealth Studies
Barrister and Deputy Chair of The High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
11.30 - 12.00
Session 2
12.00 - 13.00
How can we limit the impact of corporate interests on media freedom?
Corporations and other private entities are not party to international standards like sovereign states, yet they have an ever increasing, often negative, influence on media freedom issues. Tech companies’ dominance has disrupted traditional revenue models, led to fierce debates as to their role in censoring online content (particularly at the behest of States); and to what extent they should effectively manage and restrict the spread of mis-and-dis-information on social media platforms. While long standing concerns regarding media ownership continue, the rapid development of AI has brought a new slate of issues – from copyright and content production to reduction in employment. This session will explore what states, and institutions, can do to curb the power of corporations for the protection and promotion of media freedom.
Chair:
Speakers:
Director, Center for Journalism and Liberty
Director of Legal, Policy and Regulatory Affairs, News Media Association
Professor of Practice, Director of Polis and the Polis/LSE JournalismAI project, London School of Economics
Others to be announced
13.00 - 14.00
14.00 - 14.40
Spotlight On: The Authoritarian Playbook
What are key tools in the authoritarian playbook used to suppress media freedom and how can they be countered? A short presentation followed by an ‘in conversation with’ session with two journalists working in exile.
Director, Foreign Policy Centre
Chair:
UK Director, Reporters without Borders
Speakers:
Exiled journalist from Hong Kong
Another speaker to be announced
Session 3
14:40 - 15:40
Foreign Agent laws: a double edged sword?
Foreign Agents laws are proliferating across the globe. In some countries – such as Russia, Kyrgyzstan, and Georgia – they are used as a tool to harass and smear journalists, whilst in others, like the US, Europe and UK, they are aimed (with varying success) at exposing malign foreign influence, which can also be targeted at journalists in the West. This session will explore the impact of foreign agent laws, to gain a deeper understanding of how these laws have been framed and utilised in different national contexts.
Chair:
Advisor, Justice for Journalists Foundation
Speakers:
Investigative journalist, author and Russian security services expert
Kyrgyz Journalist
Co-Founder, Ahali & Coalition for Change
Senior Legal Advisor & Coordinator for Multilateral Engagement, International Center for Not-for-Profit Law.
15.40 - 16.10
Session 4
15.45 - 17.00
Media Freedom: Integral to Democracy and Security
This session will explore the importance free and fair media has in protecting democracy and democratic resilience, and the necessity to embed media freedom principles in an effective, holistic, cross cutting way across Government strategy.
Editor in Chief of The Kyiv Independent
Chair:
Adviser, Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
Speakers:
Distinguished Policy Fellow in the Department of Media and Communications, LSE
Executive Director of the Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD)
Director of Broadcasting Competition, OFCOM
Director of the V-Dem Institute at University of Gothenburg
17.20 - 17.30
Day One Closing Address
EVENING EVENT
17.45 - 19:00
Journalism under Surveillance – Film Screening and Q&A
Screening of the film “Uncontrolled: Journalism under Surveillance,” (Sin control: periodismo bajo vigilancia) about the use of Pegasus spyware against journalists in Latin America, followed by a Q&A with the film’s director Jonathan Bock, Executive Director of FLIP, Colombia.
Synopsis: In the last decade, States have acquired sophisticated surveillance tools that are installed in cell phones and other devices and can access cameras, microphones, information and private documents of the user. The use of these tools by Latin American States against citizens and journalists has been proven, thus violating their privacy, their rights and the freedom of the press and expression. The trade in intrusive technologies is increasing, secret surveillance operates in all markets of the world and journalists have become the main target.
The film runs to 55 minutes, and is in Spanish with English subtitles. Drinks will be provided.
Executive Director, Flip, Colombia
DAY TWO
09:15 - 10:00
10.00 - 10:10
Opening address
Chair of the APPG on Media Freedom
Session 5
10.10 - 11.30
How are European states responding to the most pressing media freedom threats today?
This session marks the UK launch of the 2025 annual report by the Council of Europe’s Platform to Promote the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists. The report is prepared by the Platform’s Partner Organisations, a coalition of fifteen press freedom NGOs and journalists associations. The report highlights key areas of law, policy and practices affecting media freedom and safety of journalists in Europe and identifies actions required to improve effective protection of journalists. This session will bring together representatives of the Platform’s members, and other experts, to discuss how to respond to the most pressing media freedom threats in Europe today.
Head of Policy and Campaigns, Index of Censorship
Speakers:
Co-founder and director, International Director, Centre for Freedom of the Media (CFOM)
Head of Europe and Central Asia Region, PEN International
UK Director, Reporters without Borders
Investigative journalist
Others to be announced
11.30 - 12.00
Session 6
12.00 - 13.00
How can public interest journalism be better protected?
Public interest journalism plays a vital role in democratic societies by informing citizens, holding power to account, and fostering public debate. There is no doubt that public interest journalism needs to be better protected, but how do we go about this? This session will look into possible solutions to maintain the integrity and reach of public interest journalism – from practical support; changes in the funding models; the enabling environment for public interest, including freedom of information; as well as examining questions around media ownership and the promotion of public service broadcasting.
Chair:
Executive Director, Public Interest News Foundation
Speakers:
Journalist-in-Residence, International Fund for Public Interest Media
Investigative journalist at Democracy for Sale and visiting lecturer at City University, Democracy for Sale
Professor in Media & Development, School of Global Development, University of East Anglia
Chief Executive, Internews Europe
13.00 - 14.00
14.00 - 14.40
Spotlight On: Weaponised Legal Threats
Globally, legal or quasi-legal tools are being used to harass journalists, as well as those defending them, including lawyers. Those on the receiving end of weaponised legal threats need better support, whilst the ability to launch such threats needs to be mitigated. This session will explore this topic further, with a short presentation followed by an ‘in conversation’ with those pushing back against this type of threat.
Short presentation by:
Associate Project Officer, Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists, UNESCO
Chair:
Executive Director, Media Defence
Speaker:
Founder and Executive Director, Tornavoz
Co Director/ Attorney-at-law, Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA)
Session 7
14:40 - 15:40
Developments on Anti-SLAPP Legislation and Regulation
This session will discuss the positive progress of both legal and regulatory developments made by States, in particular with the adoption last year with the European Anti-SLAPP Directive and the Council of Europe Recommendation, whilst also examining the issues that remain in the ongoing battle and further reform needed in tackling SLAPPs.
Chair:
FPC Director, Co-Chair of the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition
Speakers:
UN Office of the Commissioner for
Human Rights
CASE Steering Group and UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition co-chair
Partner at Webber Wentzel and Member of The High Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom
Senior Associate, RPC
15.40 - 16.10
16.10 - 16.35
‘Spotlight on’ Safety of Journalists – National Action Plans + Campaigns
Among initiatives to better protect and promote media freedom are the establishment of national action plans on the safety of journalists. This session will examine national action plans in two contexts, the UK and the Netherlands, to find out how they work and the kind of impact they can have. This will be followed by a short presentation on the Council of Europe’s pan-European ‘Journalists Matter’ Campaign.
Chair:
Head of the Freedom of Expression and CDMSI Division, Council of Europe
Speakers:
Project Manager, Persveilig
Deputy Director at Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Session 8
16.35 - 17.20
Media Freedom and Democracy – How to fight together against weaponised disinformation and malign interference?
To close the inaugural UK Media Freedom Forum, this Panel will reflect on the conference, outlining key takeaways as well as highlighting how we can take the learnings forward in order to protect media freedom, push back against disinformation and malign interference in the fight for democracy and democratic integrity.
Chair:
The UK rep for UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication
Speakers:
Head of Division for Cooperation on Freedom of Expression, Council of Europe
Global Director of Research at the International Center for Journalists and Professor of Journalism at City St George's, University of London
Professor of International Journalism and Politics, at City St Georges, University of London
Executive Director, Flip, Colombia
17:20 - 17:30
17:30 - 18:30
Closing Drinks and Networking