Pre-Conference Workshop 1: Journalism in Transitioning States, Thursday Oct 27, 2011 (9am to 5pm)

This pre-conference workshop will focus on “Journalism in Transitioning States: New Media, New Contexts, New Solutions.”

Specifically, the pre-conference would include sessions on the state of journalism in three transitioning states in the Middle East: Egypt, Iraq and Tunisia. Focusing on these three states—each transitioning from authoritarian to democratic media systems—provides a unique forum for journalists, regulators, educators and academics to discusses and share the opportunities and challenges that each group of stakeholders faces in working towards building a healthy, democratic media system in transitioning regulatory and political contexts.

While there is a tremendous amount of energy and focus currently targeting each of these countries media and journalism sectors, what is needed is an opportunity for the presentation and discussion of critical challenges and emerging solutions from a comparative-local perspective. Put another way, each media system is, to large extents, being treated independently from others, and this pre-conference would focus on expanding the network of stakeholders interested and working towards successful democratic transitions throughout the region. Building on lessons learned and best-practices, the pre-conference will expand and further organize empirical knowledge on the topic of journalism in transitioning states in order to improve the quality and stability of media sectors in each country. Drawing from regulators, journalism, educators and academics will ensure that numerous stakeholders’ perspectives are included and that the output will be accessible to key constituents within each country’s journalism sector.

The pre-conference workshop will include 40-50 participants only. The cost for attending will be $50 per person and will include lunch. Go to the registration page to register for this event. More information will be posted about this workshop soon.