Debate and Discourse Shaping

Pillar 2: Debate and Discourse shaping

Open and inclusive dialogue and debate are vital to a healthy, participatory democracy as it shapes discourse and a common agenda. Fesmedia Africa is committed to providing platforms for constructive dialogue and debate, formation of fresh ideas and sharing of experiences.  We believe that for strong democratic societies to emerge and be sustained, it is crucial that all citizens, political players, advocates, and campaigners are given the opportunity to examine the decisions, policies, and laws taken and implemented in their country. This creates room for constructive debate, which leads to bold and innovative ideas and the building of consensus and inclusive development, good governance, and peace.  We strive to achieve this through commissioning papers and convening meetings and conferences such as:

Digital Rights, Access to Information and Human Rights Series

We commission and publish a series of papers in the format of "FES Perspectives", covering themes such as Digital Rights, Access to Information, Freedom of Expression, Media and Press Freedom, Media Viability and Human Rights. The papers analyse these themes and propose new and innovative ideas and strategies that can be deployed to galvanise democracies in Sub-Saharan Africa.

FES Perspectives

Digital Rights are Human rights, Hendrik Bussiek

A New deal for journalism in Africa : Part 1, Sekoetlane Phamodi

A New deal for journalism in Africa : Part 2, Sekoetlane Phamodi

Community media in Sub Saharan Africa: Part 1, Birgitte Jallov

Community media in Sub Saharan Africa: Part 2, Birgitte Jallov

Digital Migration and Access to Information, Norah Appolus

Digital migration and marginalised communities Norah Appolus

Public Interest journalism and good governance, Gabriel Baglo

Digital spaces, rights and responsibilities in Africa, Admire Mare

Virtual Dialogues

Following a regional conference on Information and Communication Rights in Africa held in June 2023, Fesmedia Africa convenes virtual discussions on Digital Rights, Access to information, Freedom of Expression, Media and Press Freedom, Media Viability, Human Rights, and other related themes. The virtual dialogues with translation to French and Portuguese are a platform for all interested stakeholders to unpack issues and have dialogue guided by our "Perspectives" and other relevant papers and publications.

Breakfast meetings and Conferences

Fesmedia Africa convenes regional conferences on Digital Rights, Access to Information, Freedom of Expression, Media and Press Freedom, Media Viability, Human Rights and other relevant themes. The conferences bring together government officials, advocates, academics, and media professionals, as well as regional and international bodies and institutions, to exchange ideas and collectively formulate roadmaps and strategies to advance these notions at the local, regional, and continental levels.

 In June 2023, we co-hosted a regional conference on Information and Communication Rights in Africa together with the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), in partnership with UNESCO Windhoek Office and the Namibia Media Trust (NMT). The objectives of the conference were to:

• deliberate on the major challenges affecting freedom of information, expression, the media, and digital rights in Africa,
• exchange strategies and learnings in developing the policies and practices that give practical effect to the right to information, expression, and a free and independent media, and
•  frame the regional investment, development, and advocacy agenda required to advance the comprehensive elaboration of information and communication rights in Africa. The Outcome Statement from the regional conference can be accessed here (link to the Outcome Statement)