FULL – World Press Freedom Day Debate: New Media is Killing Journalism
As newspapers wrestle with declining circulation and the rise of the new media, is the profession behind the headlines in jeopardy?
The internet’s influence has drastically changed the media landscape, often to the detriment of print newspapers. Is new media edging out accountability and standards with ill-informed opinion and user-generated rants? Or is it the evolution of journalism, breaking down barriers which previously restricted the flow of information and narrowed the range of debate?
Our panel of experts debate the implications of new media on journalism and what it means for press freedom in the digital age.
Speakers include:
Andrew Keen – Author of the critically acclaimed book The Cult of the Amateur: How Today’s Internet is Killing Our Culture. A Silicon Valley veteran, prominent media commentator and regular contributor to numerous publications including the Guardian.
Nazenin Ansari – Diplomatic editor of the London edition of Kayhan (London), a weekly Persian language newspaper and President of the Foreign Press Association. A regular media commentator and analyst on Iranian issues, Nazenin’s perspective of Iranian affairs has been shaped through her work as a journalist and her active involvement with various foundations.
Robin Lustig – Presenter of Newshour on BBC World Service and the World Tonight on BBC Radio 4. He further engages with his audience through new media including his blog ‘Lustig’s Letter’. He has extensive experience of covering major world events and interviewing world leaders for the BBC, and has broadcast live programmes from around the world. He is the recipient of number of awards, including the 1998 Sony Silver Award for Talk/News Broadcaster of the Year.
Kim Fletcher – Former editor of The Independent on Sunday and editorial director of the Telegraph group. He is the chairman of the board of the National Council for the Training of Journalists, a member of the BJR editorial board and author of The Journalist’s Handbook (Macmillan).
Moderated by William Horsley – Former BBC Foreign Affairs Correspondent and current UK Chairman of the Association of European Journalists.
