ARIJ 11Th ANNUAL FORUM "The Future of Investigative Reporting:Trends, Tools, & Technology"
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ARIJ 11th ANNUAL FORUM "The Future of Investigative Reporting:Trends, Tools, & Technology" 29 NOV - 2 DEC 2018 Dead Sea - Jordan WWW.ARIJ.NET WWW.ARIJ.NET Overview OVERVIEW he 11th Annual Forum for Investigative Journalism, hosted by ARIJ, took place at the T King Hussein Conference Center at the Dead Sea in Jordan on Nov. 30 to Dec. 2, 2018. The Forum was ARIJ’s biggest yet: nearly 500 participants from 37 countries attended. Some 18 Arab countries were represented. In addition, ARIJ boosted the outreach of the Forum by livestreaming and recording sessions. This meant that journalists unable to attend in person - including many Gazans, Yemenis, Syrians, and Libyans - could still benefit. ARIJ’s Forum has evolved into the most important journalism Forum in the Arab world and an unmissable event for media professionals in the region. 492 +50 +90 PARTICIPANTS SESSIONS SPEAKERS 2 ABOUT THE FORUM – TOPIC, FOCUS, BACKGROUND INFORMATION The year 2018 was challenging for investigative journalists in the Arab region and internationally. It was a deadly year: at least 54 journalists were killed for doing their job. The killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at his country’s embassy in Istanbul in October received widespread media coverage, but ARIJ also remembered those whose names were not so well publicized. The increasingly hostile environment was reflected in the theme of the Forum’s opening session, Life on the Edge. This theme was illustrated in an op-ed by ARIJ Executive Director Rana Sabbagh, which explored the constant dangers and rising repression that journalists in the region face. [See Annex 1] Local media refused to publish the hard-hitting article, so it was distributed to Forum participants by email. Several international news organizations also ran the piece. The umbrella theme of the workshops, sessions and plenary was The Future of Investigative Reporting: Trends, Tools and Technologies. As in previous years, the program included workshops conveying the skills and tools needed for investigative journalism, as well as themed sessions focused on pressing public issues. More than 40 workshops, plenaries and discussions were held, with entertainment provided in the evenings. [See Annex 2 for the full agenda] 3 OPENING CEREMONY The opening ceremony began with a stunning performance by the Circassian dance troupe Jeel Al-Jadeed (New Generation). This was followed by welcoming addresses from ARIJ Executive Director Rana Sabbagh, Mediterranean-Asia Director of Canal France International David Hivet, and Executive Director of International Media Support (IMS) Jesper Hojberg. Sabbagh then led a moment of silence to commemorate Jamal Khashoggi and all Arab journalists who lost their lives for doing their jobs in recent years. In her address, Sabbagh described the lives of journalists in the Arab world in 2018. Stressing the importance of freedom of speech, accountability, independence, and fearlessness, she told the stories of journalists from Syria, Yemen, and Gaza who risk their lives and their freedom in pursuit of truth. She congratulated every journalist who continues to pursue this public service, even in these difficult social, political, and economic times. Sabbagh gave a special, heartfelt welcome to journalists from the besieged Gaza Strip, who were able to travel for the Forum for the first time in five years. Welcoming participants and guests, Hivet highlighted the vital importance of investigative journalism to transparency, peace and democracy, and both Hivet and Hojberg congratulated ARIJ, stressing the significance of the Forum for regional journalism. Hojberg talked about the positive history IMS’s history with ARIJ and said the partnership would continue. He too expressed gratitude to journalists who persevere in the region. He especially mentioned journalists in Yemen and Syria risking their lives to report the truth. Members of the ARIJ Board of Directors and longstanding ARIJ partners also welcomed guests to the Forum. As well as participants, some 50 special guests attended the opening ceremony including representatives of European embassies, international organizations, partner organizations, donors and sponsors. 4 It's my first time to engage with ARIJ. Indeed, the first time for Global Witness to attend one of your events I think. It was brilliant. I was humbled and inspired by what I heard and saw and the people I met. Sophia Pickles - Global Witness Thanks so much for the invite and your amazing hospitality at the ARIJ Forum, I hugely enjoyed the event. George Turner - Finance Uncovered 5 HIGHLIGHTED SESSIONS Step by Step: How to Fact-Check Correctly Rawan Damen Rawan Damen shared tools and techniques to separate truth from fiction. Targeting misinformation and “fake news”,she discussed how to weigh information and verify online and offline news. Whistleblowing for Investigative Journalism: A Case Study and Discussion Plenary Session: What Can Block- Journalism is facing crises of trust and chain and Artificial Intelligence do sustainability. This session examined how for Journalists? emerging technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence could improve the Journalism is facing crises of trust and quality of news and restore trust in the sustainability. This session examined how media. Participants emphasized the need emerging technologies like blockchain and to respond to these technologies quickly, artificial intelligence could improve the quality of Digital Security with a Focus on noting that the news media’s slow response news and restore trust in the media. Participants Gender-Based Violence Online to the emergence of the internet had far- emphasized the need to respond to these reaching consequences that the industry is technologies quickly, noting that the news The 7amleh Center presented its still grappling with. media’s slow response to the emergence of the research on online gender violence in The plenary session was moderated by internet had far-reaching consequences that the Palestine. Through face-to-face surveys, Lukasz Krol, digital projects coordinator industry is still grappling with. the center discovered that one in four at the College of Europe. The speakers The plenary session was moderated by Lukasz women withdraws from social media were: Ali Ghamlouch, digital manager of Krol, digital projects coordinator at the College accounts due to online harassment. This MBC Group; Vivian Schiller, CEO of Civil of Europe. The speakers were: Ali Ghamlouch, harassment corresponds with women’s Media Foundation; and Henrik Grunnet, digital manager of MBC Group; Vivian Schiller, experiences offline: it is an exertion of strategic advisor for International Media CEO of Civil Media Foundation; and Henrik control by male relatives or partners. Support. The panellists discussed ways Grunnet, strategic advisor for International Women told the 7amleh Center that that blockchain technology and artificial Media Support. The panellists discussed their privacy settings were not their intelligence could benefit journalism, by ways that blockchain technology and artificial personal decisions, and they were building public confidence, opening new intelligence could benefit journalism, by building often forced to share their passwords. financing avenues and enabling publishers public confidence, opening new financing The 7amleh centre has launched an and readers to retain more control over avenues and enabling publishers and readers awareness-raising campaign about online their data. Grunnet presented the IMS’s to retain more control over their data. Grunnet harassment. Media Bridge project as an example of presented the IMS’s Media Bridge project as an howtechnology can connect media outlets example of howtechnology can connect media Hosted by DW Akademie with journalists around the world. outlets with journalists around the world. Hosted by Free Press Unlimited Hosted by Free Press Unlimited 6 Reporting Is Telling A Story- Host- ed by The Norwegian Institute for Journalists This workshop, hosted by Torben Schou and Frode Rekve, focused on how to transform an investigation into a story, and the importance of thoughtful, engaging storytelling to ensure that reporting reaches audiences. They shared tips on how to structure and pace a story, as well as technical advice on how to Labor Migration: Investigating Suffering, Pointing to Solutions use camera angles, shots and sound to create compelling video stories and TV In this session, journalists in two fellowship programs on labor migration talked about documentaries. their work investigating human trafficking, highlighting the abuse of foreign workers, and changing attitudes in news rooms about this critical, underreported issue. A new curriculum on migration reporting created by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development was presented. To accompany this session, the Ethical Journalism The New Frontline: Support for Network also hosted an evening screening of the documentary “The Workers Cup” about Local Investigative Journalists migrant laborers building facilities in Qatar for the FIFA World Cup. Journalists face multiple, hybrid threats, Hosted by The Ethical Journalism Network and not just on the frontlines of conflict. Investigative journalists reporting on How Multinational Companies Avoid Taxes corruption and criminal activities face considerable danger. In this session, This session examined how companies structure themselves to avoid paying corporation representatives from three international taxes. George Turner