Bali Media Forum 2011
3rd Bali Media Forum
Being Heard: The Role of Ethical Journalism and Media Support in Enhancing Democratic Participation in a Changing Information Environment
In conjunction with the Bali Democracy Forum “Enhancing Democratic Participation in a Changing World: Responding to Democratic Voices”
Bali, December 8-10, 2011
Photos:
Background Note
Around the world, digital media technologies are having a profound impact on the production and dissemination of news. These tools allow journalists to reach broader audiences, faster than ever before and allow citizens to play a greater role in the democratic debate. New technologies are expanding the information space and especially in Asia use of the internet, mobile phone news services, blogging and social media have seen enormous expansion.
The rising popularity of websites such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter means that news is no longer the exclusive preserve of reporters working for traditional media. Instead, information is the result of a wider, more diffuse and sometimes more exciting online conversation between journalists, bloggers, policymakers, readers and viewers.
Social media has emerged as a tool to promote democratic debate. They provide a unique platform for accessing and sharing news and opinions, challenging the traditional hierarchy of information. At the same time social media, blogs and new information players pose a challenge to maintaining high standards of journalism and public information. Blogs are largely expression of individual’s opinions and social media has been used to spread falsehoods and rumours. Web-sites and mobile phone news services provided by “traditional” media remain the most trusted and popular sources of information.
The challenge posed to journalists, editors, media support organisations and press councils in promoting high standards of journalism is how to engage with the new players in the media field, how to make the best use of the myriad of sources of information for high quality coverage of news and, most importantly, how to harness the new tools available to promote increase democratic debate and to help to ensure that the voices of the citizens are being heard and that they can hold their governments to account.
The 3rd Bali Media Forum will address these questions and will develop strategies for press councils, media support organisations, journalists and editors.
The 3rd Bali Media Forum builds on the success of the 1st and 2nd Bali Media Forums, which established key principles for Ethical Journalism and self-regulation:
That building democracy and creating the conditions for social and economic development requires the rule of law, a community of citizens that is fully informed, and systems of governance that enjoy public trust,
That creating an environment to ensure free media and independent journalism, without any form of legal or political pressure, must be a priority for all governments committed to democracy,
That government should support the creation of transparent, professional and independent forms of media accountability to:
• advocate and campaign for press freedom and good governance in media,
• contribute to education within society on the role of free media in democracy,
• mediate problems that arise between media and their audience,
• promote access to public information and to information technology that will ensure the full participation of citizens in democratic society.
Government must avoid imposing forms of regulation that may curb independence of journalism and must protect and nourish the rights of media and the information rights of citizens and journalists, including free expression and freedom of association.
Even though different codes of ethics, different media laws and different cultural traditions exist throughout the region, journalists were guided by generally accepted principles summed up as:
• Tell the truth;
• Be independent;
• Minimise harm.
Independent media accountability systems strive to promote high standards of journalism guided by core values of journalism:
• Ask questions, challenge the conventional wisdom;
• Check out the whole story and strive for balance;
• Provide context to readers, viewers and listeners.
Independent media accountability systems should engage with the public and civil society on the role of media in democratic society.
The Bali Media Forum should become a regular annual event around the Bali Democracy Forum in order to continue to highlight the key role of free, independent, pluralistic media play in building and strengthening democratic society and to promote independent and trustworthy media accountability structures in the region.
Building on these principles, the 2nd Bali Media Forum created the network of independent media councils in the region, which has been working in support of quality journalism.
The Bali Media Forum is further a continuation of the work launched by the Norwegian and Indonesian governments – the Global InterMedia Dialogue.
This year’s theme of the Bali Democracy Forum offers the perfect opportunity to address the issues of ethical journalism in a new information environment and how to promote democratic participation through media.
This will be the focus of discussion at the 3rd Bali Media Forum.
The programme will look at some relevant cases studies – use of social media to promote democratic debate, issues of ethics in new media, increasing voices of participation through new media, challenges to press councils.
Press councils, journalists’ representatives and experts from ASEAN Countries as well as the Asia Pacific Region will participate. International speakers from Norway and the Global Forum for Media Development will also attend.
The conclusions adopted will guide the work of the network of press councils as well as of the participating media support, journalists’ and editors’ organisations.
Here are the documents of the Forum:
BMF_2011-Program_draft_01122011.pdf
Bali_media_forum_2011_Opening._Homme_.doc
BMF_2011_FINAL_PARTICIPANTS_LIST_attendees.pdf
bali_presentation_final_final-veronica.doc
Smita_CGNet_Swara_Overview.pdf
New_Media_Mizzima_Democracy_Ethics_Soe_Myint.pdf
Opening_Bagir_Speech_BMF_-_English.doc
Social_media_and_the_Press_Complaint_Commission.pdf
Coalition_for_Ethical_Journalism.pdf