Breakfast Meeting

Kamanu Village, Katima Mulilo
Thursday, 14 June 2018
8.00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

With John Nakuta, Media Ombudsman, Human Rights Lawyer and Lecturer

Accurate and balanced reporting form the foundations for quality journalism. However, these principles are not always respected. The Media Ombudsman provides a free, fast and fair mechanism to resolve disputes between the media and the public they are meant to serve without resorting to legal action. The Media Ombudsman holds journalists to their professional Code of Ethics and Conduct.

We invite you to come and meet the new Media Ombudsman, Mr John Nakuta, and learn how the procedure works to create a level playing field between the media, their readers and listeners.

RSVP: Luise Mwanyangapo at luise(at)fesmedia.org or 061417 523 by Wednesday 13 June 2018

The Lemon Tree Restaurant
Corner of Robert Mugabe and Liliencron Streets
Eros, Windhoek
Friday, 8 June 2018
8.00 a.m. - 11.00 a.m.

With Maureen Hinda, Hon. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Immigration John R. Walters, Ombudsman Yvonne Dausab, Chairperson of the Law Reform and Development Commission

Freedom of expression is a basic and constitutionally protected right in Namibia, but does this protection extend to discriminatory or even hateful speech? In recent times, there have been calls for more stringent laws that regulate or even criminalise certain forms of speech because of the impact they may have on racial and ethnic harmony. Others have suggested that laws regulating speech may cause more harm than good. Does Namibia have a hate speech problem? What are its underlying causes? What can be done to respond to it effectively? Please join us to get an overview of the present situation and to contribute to an open discussion on how best we can respond.

RSVP: Lis Jordan at lis(at)fesmedia.org or 061 417 523 by Tuesday, 5 June 2018.

The Lemon Tree Restaurant
Corner of Robert Mugabe and Liliencron Streets
Eros, Windhoek
Friday, 23 March 2018
8.00 a.m. - 11.00 a.m.

Edetaen Ojo, Founding Member, African Platform on Access to Information (APAI) Frederico Links, Chairperson, ACTION Namibia

The APAI Declaration, both endorsed in 2011 by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and adopted at the Pan African Conference on Access to Information, further promoted a movement for the advancement of information access on the continent and beyond. Access to information (ATI) has become an increasingly salient political and governance subject in Namibia over the last five years. Namibia is on the cusp of formalising a national ATI framework; it is therefore central to understand the current state of ATI policy and legislative initiatives.

RSVP: Jane Mungabwa at jane(at)action-namibia.org or 061 279 644 by Tuesday, 20 March 2018

NICE Restaurant, Windhoek
Friday, 25 August 2017
08.00 – 10.30 a.m.

With Paul Rowney, Advisory Council Member for the Alliance for Affordable Internet and Member of the Africa ICT Alliance

Namibia is close to finalising a broadband policy that will shape the future of internet and telecommunications access in Namibia. Access to broadband impacts virtually every aspect of public and private life, including education, healthcare, trade, commerce, public accountability, the media, access to justice, banking and finance, access to information and both professional and private communications. Please join us for a critical analysis of and discussion on the merits and shortcomings of the proposed text of this broadband policy, which will be key in shaping the digital future of Namibia and its citizens.

RSVP: Luise Mwanyangapo at luise(at)fesmedia.org or 061 417 523 by Wednesday 23 August 2017

NICE Restaurant
Windhoek
Friday, 21 July 2017
8.00 a.m. - 10.30 a.m.

Lorraine Martin, Manager of the Whistleblowing Unit, Open Democracy Advice Centre, South Africa Graham Hopwood, Executive Director of the Institute for Public Policy Research, Namibia

Effective whistleblower protections are key to open democracies. The nature and extent of these protections shape the individual’s and the media’s ability to keep public and private institutions accountable. Please join us as we unravel the frameworks necessary to protect and promote whistleblowing by highlighting the structure and implementation of policies and legislation in South Africa and Namibia. How will the Namibian Whistleblower Protection Bill recently passed by the National Assembly on June 6, 2017 work in practice? Why are whistleblowers and journalists important to each other and how, together, can we forward a culture of transparency and accountability to meet the needs of citizens? These and other questions will be explored in an open discussion.

RSVP: Luise Mwanyangapo at luise(at)fesmedia.org or 061 417 523 by Wednesday, 19 July 2017

NICE Restaurant, Windhoek
Friday, 3 February 2017
08.00 – 10.30 am

With Ricardo Corredor, Chairperson of the Global Forum for Media Development and Executive Director of the Gabriel Garcia Marquez New Journalism Foundation in Columbia

Please join us for a discussion on the battle of fact versus fiction in a post truth era and how social media has contributed to this phenomenon by reinforcing convictions and false information. The role of mainstream media and journalists in defending truth in modern democracies will be discussed from both a global and local Namibian perspective.

RSVP: Luise Mwanyangapo at luise(at)fesmedia.org or 061 417 523 by Monday 30 January 2017