Deadline: 18 February 2019
UNESCO in collaboration with a local university in Ethiopia (tbc) is organizing the Academic Conference on the Safety of Journalists, as part of its annual flagship World Press Freedom Day celebration.
The Academic Conference aims at bridging the gap between academic research and the experience of journalists on the ground. The theme of World Press Freedom Day 2019 is “Media for Democracy: journalism and elections in times of disinformation.
During the 23rd edition of the WPFD celebration (2016, Helsinki, Finland), the Journalism Safety Research Network (JSRN) (link is external) was launched, coinciding with the first edition of the Academic Conference. The network aims to strengthen the field of research and ultimately, contribute to safer environments for journalist by creating a space where multidisciplinary research on the safety of journalists can be developed, shared and promoted worldwide.
Journalists throughout the world are increasingly faced with threats that range from harassment to arbitrary detention, kidnapping, physical attacks, and in the most extreme cases, killing. Threats to journalist occur both online and offline and women journalists are particularly affected by gender-specific forms of attacks, such as sexual harassment and violence.
UNESCO is the mandated agency within the United Nations that promotes freedom of expression and freedom of the press as well as leads the coordination of the the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity. Their statistics show that in the past decade more than 800 journalists, media workers and social media reporters have been killed.
Topics for the Academic Conference
Topics that are especially encouraged for the 2019 Academic Conference are:
- Specific threats faced by women journalists online and offline
- The safety of journalists during times of elections
- Journalists engaged in debunking and /or investigating disinformation
- Journalistic partnerships against disinformation
- Impact of internet cut offs on journalistic work
- How best to monitor and report on safety of journalists in terms of Sustainable Development Goals indicator 16.10.1 which specifies the “number of verified cases of killing, kidnapping, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention and torture of journalists [and] associated media personnel” each annual cycle.
Eligibility Criteria
- The Academic Conference committee welcomes submissions/ papers/ research on all aspects of safety of journalists, impunity for crimes against journalists and governance and justice.
- It brings together researchers from different disciplines working on issues related to the safety of journalists.
- It also offers the possibility for researchers to connect with decision-makers and media practitioners.
How to Apply
Applicants can submit their abstracts of a maximum 300 words at the email address given on the website.
For further information, please visit https://en.unesco.org/news/academic-conference-safety-journalists-call-papers