WORLD

‘Media freedom is cornerstone of meaningful democracy’

Consul General of US Consulate General, Kolkata Melinda Pavek on Thursday emphasised the role of free and independent media as the cornerstone of a healthy democracy.

She was speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day media workshop for women journalists from the Indo-Pacific region on their roles in countering misinformation and disinformation in the region.

The workshop was organised by the US Consulate General Kolkata in partnership with Consumer Unity and Trust Society (CUTS) International with support from South Asian Women in Media (SAWM) and East West Center (EWC) at Lincoln Room, American Centre, 38 A, JL Nehru Road Kolkata.

She cautioned against the adverse impacts of the asymmetry of information and its potential to derail the people’s trust in democratic institutions. In this regard, she mentioned the Digital Communication Network (DCN) established by the United States.

The DCN is a network of more than 8,000 journalists, educators, communicators, new media professionals, and public officials who are working to combat disinformation and propaganda, she said.

The network develops and shares tools that provide people with accurate information and fact-checking capabilities, she said.

She concluded by saying that the United States is working  on developing, strengthening, and integrating more such networks across the Indo-Pacific region to promote media literacy, popularize fact checking, and support press freedom.

Executive director of CUTS International Bipul Chatterjee underlined the issue of information literacy among journalists as a critical step for combating misinformation and disinformation.

He underlined the need for disseminating correct information about the U.S led initiative of building an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). He mentioned that often the IPEF is viewed solely as a tool for extending market access by the US.

Such incomplete narratives often overshadow the other pillars of the IPEF namely: regional security and climate change, he added.

He concluded by highlighting the role of the Civil Society Organisations in the Indo-Pacific in creating information literacy among various stakeholder groups, including the media.

Nilova Roy Chaudhary, General Secretary, SAWM, shared challenges faced by women journalists in South Asia.

She mentioned that such challenges range from misogyny to trolling to misinformation.

She emphasised the need for establishing cross-border collaboration among women journalists in the Indo-Pacific region as a tool for combating the harassment of women journalists in the workplace.

Susan Kreifels, Media Programs Manager, East West Center, argued that combating misinformation is not a one-time exercise and requires long-term effort and investment.

She cited various reports indicating loss of people’s trust in the media on account of misinformation and stressed the need to call out and prosecute actors who bombard society with misleading information.

The workshop is being attended by around 60 women journalists from different countries including the U.S and country in the Indo-Pacific region,  such as India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore among others.

During the course of the workshop, discussions will be held on the threats and challenges women journalists face in their respective countries along with the good practices adopted to counter them.

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