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)

FES Perspectives

Digital rights are human rights

Bussiek, Hendrik

Digital rights are human rights

An introduction to the state of affairs and challenges in Africa
Windhoek, 2022

Download publication (100 KB, PDF-File)


 A new deal for journalism in Africa - Part 1

Phamodi, Sekoetlane

A new deal for journalism in Africa - Part 1

Three pillars for bringing platforms to pay fair value for public interest journalism
Windhoek, 2022

Download publication (120 KB, PDF-File)


A new deal for journalism in Africa - Part 2

Phamodi, Sekoetlane

A new deal for journalism in Africa - Part 2

How market regulation will bring platforms to pay fair value for public interest journalism
Windhoek, 2023

Download publication (165 KB, PDF-File)


Community media in Sub-Saharan Africa - Part 1

Jallov, Birgitte

Community media in Sub-Saharan Africa - Part 1

Community media for community development and change
Windhoek, 2022

Download publication (320 KB, PDF-File)


Community media in Sub-Saharan Africa - Part 2

Jallov, Birgitte

Community media in Sub-Saharan Africa - Part 2

Community media for community-driven access and rights
Windhoek, 2022

Download publication (190 KB, PDF-File)


Digital migration and access to information

Appolus, Norah

Digital migration and access to information

The Southern African experience
Windhoek, 2022

Download publication (160 KB, PDF-File)


Digital migration and access to information

Appolus, Norah

Digital migration and access to information

Impact on marginalised communities in Southern Africa
Windhoek, 2023

Download publication (160 KB, PDF-File)


Public interest journalism and good governance

Baglo, Gabriel

Public interest journalism and good governance

Access to information laws promote public interest journalism and good governance
Windhoek, 2022

Download publication (160 KB, PDF-File)


Digital spaces, rights and responsibilities

Mare, Admire

Digital spaces, rights and responsibilities

Towards a duty of care model in Southern Africa
Windhoek, 2023

Download publication (200 KB, PDF-File)


Our Thematic Pillars

Assessment of the Media and Access to Information Environment

Assessment of the Media and Access to Information Environment

A progressive media and Access to Information landscape are critical for the strengthening of democracy and the advancement of fundamental rights for all citizens. More

Political Advisory and Education Work

Political Advisory and Education Work

Fesmedia Africa’s political and policy advisory and education work. More

fesmedia Africa
Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

95 John Meinert Street
P.O. Box 23652
Windhoek, Namibia

+264-61-417523
info.fesmedia(at)fes.de

African Media Barometer

African Media Barometer

Our flagship African Media Barometer provides a home grown analysis of the health of the media landscape across 31 countries in Africa. More

fesmedia

fesmedia

fesmedia Africa has teamed up with international experts to develop online courses to support Access to Information in Africa. More