The Foreign Policy Centre (FPC), the Justice for Journalists Foundation (JFJ) and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) held an inaugural UK Media Freedom Forum on March 4 and 5 at City St George’s, University of London.
The forum hopes to provide a vehicle for journalists, policy makers, academics, and civil society organisations to 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.
Mel Bunce, professor of international journalism and politics, at City St Georges, University of London, offered his highlights summary here.
During the forum meetings, AEJ UK chair William Horsley helped launch the 2025 Annual Report of the Council of Europe’s Platform to promote the protection of journalism and safety of journalists at a panel session on March 5 on how European states are responding to the most pressing media threats today.
The two day media freedom forum with multiple expert guests explored many impacts on 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 forum is available online at: https://mediafreedomforum.co.uk/
UK Media Freedom Forum
Europe Press Freedom Report for 2024
