Academics, journalists share concerns over the rise of global misinformation and the fate of journalism as fundamental to human rights.
NEW YORK – “There is a need for increased multi- and interdisciplinary work in our research projects,” said Dr. Tawfik Jelassi, assistant director-general for Communication and Information at UNESCO since 2021. “To very much to produce a comprehensive understanding of the complex nature of the contemporary and rapidly evolving safety threats that are facing journalists and our fundamental rights.”
As part of UNESCO’s 30th annual World Press Freedom Day conference, academics and journalists met in early May at Columbia University in New York at a hybrid event. Dr. Jelassi welcomed guest speakers with a call to action to the challenges facing journalists today.
Speakers from Ghana, Belgium, U.K, Romania, Canada and the U.S. shared their concerns and conclusions on the state of journalism amid widespread global misinformation and a lack of faith in its civic purpose from the public.
The future of the profession, according to a panel consensus, lies in the collaboration of interdisciplinary practices, ranging from legislation to behavioral science research. Dr.Vera Slavtcheva-Petkova, reader in Global Journalism and Media at the University of Liverpool, said, “It’s incredibly important that there are mechanisms in place whereby young people from all backgrounds are at the table where the biggest decisions are made in newsrooms.” She argued, “They have to be involved from the very beginning to the end to be able to understand journalism’s value and impact.”
Scholars reflected on academia’s contributions to promoting human rights and understanding the challenges faced by journalists in improving safety and media freedom in all its intricacies.
Dr. Sejal Parmer, a senior lecturer in law at Cardiff University, spoke on UNESCO’s mission of promoting international trust in newsrooms amidst the current climate of disinformation.
“The emphasis on how to empower individuals who do not have power in society ought to be much more focused,” Parmer said. “We need to look beyond the traditionally-relied-upon tools of law and straightforward policies in order to tackle the underlying drivers behind the threats of the freedom of expression that we are seeing.”
Dr. Leire Iturregui Mardaras, an associate professor from the University of the Basque Country, presented on the collaborations amongst Spanish students, academics and journalists.
“From the beginning we understood that it was essential to have interdisciplinary practices,” Mardaras said. “Collaborating internationally and across all institutions provides us with a different angle on how to tackle the issues that journalists face today.” Mardaras argued that academics should systematically acknowledge journalism’s role as a vital form of social discourse and institutional accountability.
As a self-described “optimist,” Mardaras cited her collaborative research project at the University of the Basque Country as an alternative approach to journalism’s current crisis. The academic and nationally financed research project collaborated with Spanish journalists to improve and understand their safety conditions throughout their research and publications.
Journalists and academics worldwide were adamant that freedom of expression is inextricably tied to the fate of our democracies worldwide. However, Mardaras believes that the future of journalism will be defined by the next generation of reporters.
“It’s so important to teach media literacy at a young age,” said Mardaras. “Introducing the importance of journalism and media should be at the beginning and core of our children’s education.”
