The Berlin Freedom of Expression Forum
Censorship and Freedom in Traditional and New Media: The Revolution of Media as a tool of Freedom of Expression
(Berlin, International Conference, February 28th - March 2nd, 2012)
Conference Report
Thank You!
The ICD would like to extend its sincere gratitude to all those in the organisation of the conference and to the entire UN and Cultural Diplomacy team including; Nora Sarga, Bastian Renner, Richard Brown, Manus O Donnell, Timea Klebercz and Laurens Bluekens . Special thanks go to team leader Giuseppe Colucci for all of his hard work, inspiration and dedication to the success of the conference.Finally, the ICD and all of the organizers would like to thank the participants and speakers at the conference, whose enthusiasm and participation were a vital contribution to the phenomenal success of this exciting and vibrant international event that was thoroughly enjoyed by all involved.
Introduction
The 'Berlin Freedom of Expression Forum' is held annually at the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy's international headquarters in Berlin. With the rising importance of online media, and the increasing role they play in civil society, this year's theme was 'Censorship and Freedom in Traditional and New Media: The Revolution of Media as a tool of Freedom of Expression'. The aim of this year's conference was to reflect on the concepts of freedom and censorship and look at both past and future challenges to realizing complete freedom of expression. The conference was composed of lectures, speeches, question and answer sessions and panel discussions with many high level journalists and freedom of expression advocates participating.One of the highlights of the conference was the "Speakers Corner", which was inspired by a place of the same name in London. Speakers and participants moved from the ICD House to a stage in Pariser Platz, in front of the backdrop of the Brandenburg Gate, a symbol which stood in the center of a divided Berlin for nearly half a century. The location highlighted the importance of the role that freedom of expression and freedom of the press can play in preserving our human rights.
Conference Speakers
| Alexandra Föderl-Schmid Editor in Chief, Der Standard, Austria "Why is Press Freedom an important Issue in Central Europe"" |
Arnold Amber Director of CWA-SCA Canada "Free Expression, the Use of Media in Waging Mass Public Protest, and the Political Realities Facing those who Wield Power and those who Seek to Remove Them" |
| Anatoly Golubov Delfi.Lv russian edition editor-in-chief "Freedom of Expression and Technology - Mixing UGC vs. Mainstream Media: Pro"s and Contra"s" |
Amb. Craig Murray Former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan; Chairman of Westminster Development Ltd "Realism or Hypocrisy" - Western Diplomacy and Freedom of Expression" |
| Derrick Z. Jackson Journalist, the Boston Globe "American Media Stereotypes: The Decline of Old Ones, Concerns of the New" |
Prof. Gavin Phillipson Professor in Durham Law School, UK "´Strasbourg` Privacy and the Purpose of Free Speech: Reflections on Von Hannover v Germany (No 2)" |
| Jerry Edling Editor in Chief of "PD" Magazine, University of Southern California "Cultures of Collaboration: Making the 21st Century Safe for Journalism" |
Dr. Joel Mathewson Assistant Professor of Journalism, Medill School, Northwestern University "The Forfeiture of Freedom of Expression" |
| Judy Muller Journalist, Reporter for ABC, NBC, NPR "News Literacy in the Digital Age: Educating and Involving the News Consumer" |
Lluís Foix Director, La Vanguardia "Freedom of Speech in Democratic Countries" |
| Peter Craven Deutsche Welle Presenter Conference Moderator |
Renate Schroeder European Director, International Federation of Journalists "Media Freedom and Challenges in Europe" |
| Alexandra (Dordea) Postelnicu Senior Editor, Evenimentul Zilei "The New Role of Social Networking: Facebook and Protests (Case Study: Romanian Protests)" |
Rudolf Porsch Director, Axel Springer Academy "Don"t be a Maybe - Challenges and Attitudes in Modern German Journalism" |
| Clive Myrie BBC Reporter "Rights & Freedom in the Age of New Media-Conflicts of Freedom of Expression In The Modern World" |
David Gow Former European Business Editor, The Guardian "The De- Professionalization of the Fourth Estate: Social Media and their Consequences" |
| Heather Blake Head of Reporters without Borders (UK) "Human Right of Press Freedom and Freedom of Information for New and Traditional Media" |
John Hemming (MP) Member of the British Parliament "Secret Courts and the Rule of Law, the Right to Petition and Narrow Rights of Freedom of Expression" |
| Josh Wolf Documentary Filmmaker and Freelance Journalist "Why Students and independent Journalists must have the same Protections as their professional Peers" |
Kathleen Carroll Executive Editor, Associated Press; Co-Chair Pulitzer Board "It"s None of Your Business: The Challenges of Getting Public Information to the Public" |
| Rebecca MacKinnon Co-founder of Global Voices Online "The Global Struggle for Freedom and Control of the Internet" |
Marta Cooper Editorial Assistant, Index on Censorship "Journalism in the Age of New Media: Implications for Freedom of Expression" |
| Ribal Al Assad Founder & Chairman of the Iman Foundation "The Situation of Freedom of Expression & Human Rights in Syria" |
Vicky Hayward Freelance Journalist "Los Gitanos: the Spanish Gypsies - Media Access and Expression as a Tool for Integration" |
Conference Participants
| Ashley Ferrari | USA |
| H.E. Amb. Chief. Don Alexander | Ivory Coast/Nigeria |
| Jerald Edling | USA |
| Veronika Mackova | Slovakia |
| Bård Drange | Norway |
| Franziska Rundfeldt | Germany |
| Thomas Wein | UK |
| Matthew Bell | UK |
| Madeline Storck | USA |
| Meghan Stevenson-Krausz | USA |
| Matylda Wierietielny | Poland |
| Ingrid Kragl | Belgium |
| Rusudani Gvazava | Georgia |
| Verena Schneider | Germany |
| Kirsten Gollatz | Germany |
| Dorota Glowacka | Poland |
| Vuk Vukotic | Serbia |
| Habib Saleh | Syria |
| Willemien Groot | Netherlands |
Conference Timetable
| Tuesday, February 28th, 2012 |
Wednesday, February 29th, 2012 |
Thursday, March 1st, 2012 |
Friday, March 2nd, 2012 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09:30 | Registration Tea, Coffee & Refreshments |
Tea, Coffee & Refreshments |
Tea, Coffee & Refreshments |
Tea, Coffee & Refreshments |
| 09:45 | - Video Lecture - The Hon. Frank La Rue (UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression) |
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| 10:00 | "Rights & Freedom in the Age of New Media-Conflicts of Freedom of Expression In The Modern World" (Lecture & Discussion) Speaker: Clive Myrie (BBC Reporter) Location: ICD House of Arts & Culture |
"The Global Struggle for Freedom and Control of the Internet" (Lecture & Discussion) Speaker: Rebecca MacKinnon (Co-founder of Global Voices Online) Location: ICD House of Arts & Culture |
"News Literacy in the Digital Age: Educating and Involving the News Consumer" (Lecture & Discussion) Speaker: Judy Muller (Journalist, ABC News) Location: ICD House of Arts & Culture |
"Media Freedom and Challenges in Europe" (Lecture & Discussion) Speaker: Renate Schroeder (European Director, International Federation of Journalists) Location: ICD House of Arts & Culture |
| 10:45 | "The Situation of Freedom of Expression & Human Rights in Syria" (Moderated Discussion) Speaker: Ribal Al Assad (Founder & Chairman of the Iman Foundation) Moderator: Peter Craven (Deutsche Welle Presenter) Location: ICD House of Arts & Culture |
"Free Expression, the Use of Media in Waging Mass Public Protest, and the Political Realities Facing those who Wield Power and those who Seek to Remove Them" (Lecture & Discussion) Speaker: Arnold Amber (Director of CWA-SCA Canada) Location: ICD House of Arts & Culture |
"Realism or Hypocrisy" - Western Diplomacy and Freedom of Expression" (Lecture & Discussion) Speaker: Amb. Craig Murray (Former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan) Location: ICD House of Arts & Culture |
"Secret Courts and the Rule of Law, the Right to Petition and Narrow Rights of Freedom of Expression" (Lecture & Discussion) Speaker: John Hemming (MP) (Member of the British Parliament) Location: ICD House of Arts & Culture |
| 11:30 | Tea, Coffee & Refreshments | Tea, Coffee & Refreshments | Tea, Coffee & Refreshments | Tea, Coffee & Refreshments |
| 12:00 | "Freedom of Expression in the Triangle of Russia, China and Syria: Can Cold War Cultural Diplomacy Strategies be re-applied to assist Here"" (Interactive Panel Discussion) Moderator: Peter Craven (Deutsche Welle Presenter) Speakers: Ribal Al Assad Clive Myrie Derrick Z. Jackson Arnold Amber Dr. Alexandra Föderl-Schmid Marta Cooper |
"Speaker Corner" | "The New Role of Social Networking: Facebook and Protests (Case Study: Romanian Protests)" (Lecture & Discussion) Speaker: Alexandra Postelnicu (Senior Editor, Evenimentul Zilei)  (Lecture & Discussion) Speaker: Anatoly Golubov (Editor in Chief, Delfi.Lv, Russian Edition) |
"Los Gitanos: the Spanish Gypsies - Media Access and Expression as a Tool for Integration" (Lecture & Discussion) Speaker: Vicky Hayward (Freelance Journalist) (Lecture & Discussion) Speaker: Lluís Foix (Director, La Vanguardia) Location: ICD House of Arts & Culture |
| 13:00 | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch Break |
| 14:30 | "Why is Press Freedom an important Issue in Central Europe"" (Lecture & Discussion) Speaker: Dr. Alexandra Föderl-Schmid (Editor-In-Chief, The Standard) Location: ICD House of Arts & Culture |
"Freedom of Expression: The Essential Civil Liberty. Its Demands and Constraints" (Lecture & Discussion) Speaker: Anthony Grayling (Philosopher, First Master of New College of the Humanities) Location: ICD House of Arts & Culture |
´Strasbourg` Privacy and the Purpose of Free Speech: Reflections on Von Hannover v Germany (No 2) (Lecture & Discussion) Speaker: Prof. Gavin Phillipson (Professor, Durham Law School, UK) Location: ICD House of Arts & Culture |
"The Forfeiture of Freedom of Expression" (Lecture & Discussion) Speaker: Prof. Joel Mathewson (Assistant Professor of Journalism, Medill School, Northwestern University) Location: ICD House of Arts & Culture |
| 15:00 | "Journalism in the Age of New Media: Implications for Freedom of Expression" (Lecture & Discussion) Speaker: Marta Cooper (Editorial Assistant, Index on Censorship) Location: ICD House of Arts & Culture |
Continue....Q&A (Moderated Discussion) Moderator: Mark Donfried Speaker: Anthony Grayling (Philosopher, First Master of New College of the Humanities) Location: ICD House of Arts & Culture |
Continue" Speaker: Prof. Gavin Phillipson (Professor, Durham Law School, UK) Location: ICD House of Arts & Culture |
"Why Students and independent Journalists must have the same Protections as their professional Peers" (Lecture & Discussion) Speaker: Josh Wolf (Documentary Filmmaker and Freelance Journalist) Location: ICD House of Arts & Culture |
| 15:30 | "Cultures of Collaboration: Making the 21st Century Safe for Journalism" (Lecture & Discussion) Speaker: Jerry Edling (Editor in Chief of "PD" Magazine, University of Southern California) Location: ICD House of Arts & Culture |
"Human Right of Press Freedom and Freedom of Information for New and Traditional Media" Speaker: Heather Blake (Head of Reporters Without Borders, UK) Location: ICD House of Arts & Culture |
(15:15) "Don"t be a Maybe - Challenges and Attitudes in Modern German Journalism" (Lecture & Discussion) Speaker: Rudolf Porsch (Director, Axel Springer Academy) Location: ICD House of Arts & Culture |
Participant Papers Madeline Storck "The Role of Social Media in Political Mobilization: a Case Study of the January 2011 Egyptian Uprising" Tom Wein "A Call for Focus in Cultural Diplomacy" Vuk Vukotic "The Reception of the Jolie film In the Land of Blood and Honey in Serbian Press and Internet Portals, a Case Study" |
| 16:00 | Tea, Coffee & Refreshments | Tea, Coffee & Refreshments | Tea, Coffee & Refreshments | |
| 16:30 | "American Media Stereotypes: The Decline of Old Ones, Concerns of the New" (Lecture & Discussion) Speaker: Derrick Z. Jackson (Journalist, the Boston Globe) Location: ICD House of Arts & Culture |
"The De- Professionalization of the Fourth Estate: Social Media and their Consequences" (Lecture & Discussion) Speaker: David Gow (Former European Business Editor, The Guardian) Location: ICD House of Arts & Culture |
"It"s None of Your Business: The Challenges of Getting Public Information to the Public" (Lecture & Discussion) Speaker: Kathleen Carroll (Executive Editor, Associated Press; Co-Chair Pulitzer Board) Location: ICD House of Arts & Culture |
Farewell |
| 17:15 | Reception | Reception | Reception | |
| 17:30 | "The Application of Cultural Diplomacy Practices in the Media to promote greater Freedom of Expression" (Interactive Panel Discussion) Moderator: Peter Craven Speakers: Ribal Al Assad Clive Myrie Derrick Z. Jackson Rebeca MacKinnon David Gow Marta Cooper Jerry Edling Alexandra Postelnicu Prof. Joel Mathewson Josh Wolf Location: ICD House of Arts & Culture |
"The Rise of Economic Protest Movements: the Revolution of the Media and Cultural Diplomacy as Tools to Mitigate Economic Inequality" (Interactive Panel Discussion) Moderator: Mark Donfried Speakers: Derrick Z. Jackson David Gow Lluís Foix Prof. Gavin Phillipson Heather Blake Arnold Amber Alexandra Postelnicu Anatoly Golubov Jerry Edling Josh Wolf |
"Different Cultures, Different Forms of Freedom of Speech: How can Cultural Diplomacy assist in bridging the Gap" (Interactive Panel Discussion) Moderator: Mark Donfried Speakers: Kathleen Carroll John Hemming (MP) Rudolf Porsch Lluís Foix Judy Muller Renate Schroeder David Gow Amb. Craig Murray Prof. Gavin Phillipson |
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| 18:30 | Welcome Group Dinner | Free Evening | Social Program: Reception, Dinner, Concert |
Conference Interviews
A number of speakers were interviewed at the Freedom of Expression Conference 2012 including;- Clive Myrie, BBC Reporter
- Ribal al Assad, Founder & Chairman of the Iman Foundation
- Dr. Alexandra Föderl-Schmid, Editor-in-Chief, The Standard
- Marta Cooper, Editorial Assistant, Index on Censorship
- Jerry Edling, Editor in Chief of "PD" Magazine, University of Southern California
- Derrick Z. Jackson, Journalist, Boston Globe
- Rebecca MacKinnon, Co-founder of Global Voice Online
- Arnold Amber, Director of CWA-SCA Canada
- Heather Blake, Head of Reporters Without Borders, UK
- David Gow, Former European Business Editor, The Guardian
- Judy Muller, Journalist, ABC News
- Ambassador Craig Murray, Former British Ambassador to Uzbekistan
- Anatoly Golubov, Editor in Chief, Delfi. Lv, Russian Edition
- Prof. Gavin Phillipson, Durham Law School, UK
- Renate Schroeder, European Director, International Federation of Journalists
- John Hemming (MP), Member of British Parliament
Participant papers
A number of academic papers were delivered from participants as part of the 2012 Freedom of Expression Forum. Papers on a variety of subjects related to freedom of expression and cultural diplomacy were presented by:- Madeline Storck
- Tom Wein
- Vuk Vukotic
