The preparatory workshop was opened by Indonesian President’s spokesperson, Dino Patti Djalal, and Tormod Cappelen Endresen, head of the Human Rights and Democracy section at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Every day, journalists and editors are taking decisions on what we, their readers and viewers, should know and what angles we should see issues from. This shapes our opinions and influences our images of societies, cultures and people. In a globalised world, where we do not necessarily interact physically with the people and societies we read about, the role of editors has become increasingly important. As civil servants, we clearly see the effects of the media in our daily work,” Mr Endresen pointed out to the 20 participants at the workshop. He went on to highlight the importance of the Dialogue as a multinational platform for media actors to discuss freedom of expression on their own terms.
“Our aim is to create an arena for influential journalists, editors and media owners worldwide to meet and discuss how we can strengthen freedom of expression, while fostering tolerance and mutual understanding,” he continued and pointed out that the fundamental question today is: What are the most important challenges facing the media in terms of defending freedom of expression in 2006?
The next speakers were Bangbang Harymurti (editor of the Indonesian magazine, Tempo), Thor Gjermund Eriksen (former editor of the Norwegian daily Dagbladet) and Ann Magrit Austenå (Norwegian Union of Journalists), who kicked off the discussion.
Summary
Marte Gerhardsen from the Norwegian Embassy in Jakarta summarised the fruitful and lively discussion that followed. She highlighted the following points:
• Is there a contradiction between freedom of expression and respect? What is fit for publication, and how does this vary?
• Does globalisation imply the right to insult or the right to tell? Who delivers the message and how? Who is the audience? The significance of a multicultural home audience and the global range of publications.
• Is there a need for raising awareness and further education of editors and journalists?
• How can quality and professionalism in journalism be ensured. The role of journalism in conflicts and the role of journalists as actors.
• Validity and integrity of sources. The need for diversity of points of view.
• How can we ensure the independent role of editors and journalists. Commercial and political pressure. Accountability of the press – what are its main responsibilities?
• The value of exchanging views on various codes of conduct/codes of ethics.
Editors, journalists and their organisations have further elaborated on these points, and they have been incorporated into the agenda. In addition, the agenda takes into account the views and the substantial experience of the editors and journalists who will be speaking at and moderating the six sessions of the Global Inter-Media Dialogue.
Preparing for the Dialogue
There was mutual agreement between the media representatives and the officials at the workshop that the group of participants should include a wide range of positions within media organisations, nationality, gender and age, but should share a deep commitment to the media and journalism. Embassies in 80 different countries took part in the selection and invitation process. As a result, approximately 70 leading media professionals will gather at Bali on 1-2 September to discuss the challenges facing the media in a multi cultural world, and what viable responses can be found.