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Understanding the link between a media and information literate citizenry and the (un)-safety of journalism

Silvia Chocarro, Jackie Harrison, Sara Torsner, Albana Shala

World Press Freedom Conference 2020 Paper Presented at the Academic Conference on the Safety of Journalists (2020), 17 pp.

"The very basis for journalism to perform its societal role of enabling a well-informed citizenry through the factual reporting of news, grounded in professional standards of accuracy, sincerity and objectivity is that it is undertaken safely. Indeed, the ability of journalism to pursue what we here ... name a “civil role” (Harrison, 2019), which fosters solidarising inclusion among members of society in support of a shared communicative civil life, is conditioned by its inextricable relationship with a well-informed citizenry. Key to this relationship is a media and information literate public that is able, not only to critically evaluate media, but also has the capability to understand the societal value of journalism. This paper therefore argues that strategies to secure journalistic safety must consider how this relationship between journalism and a media and information literate citizenry is prone to attack by divisive anti-civil forces (e.g. from illegitimate state and market intrusion) that produce conditions of civil diminishment and un-safety for journalists (Harrison, 2019 and Torsner, 2019). This paper first develops a theoretical understanding of the link between a media and information literate citizenry and the (un)-safety of journalism. It establishes how journalistic safety is both positively linked to a media and information literate public that functions as a potential bulwark against attacks targeting journalism – forms of civil resistance, and negatively interlinked with a media and information illiterate citizenry that engenders hostility towards journalism. We conclude that strengthening the media and information literacy of society should be considered as a strategy to safeguard a free, independent and safe environment for journalism. Second, the paper uses empirical case studies to illustrate the role of citizens and communities of audiences in protecting journalism through expressions of solidarity that articulate an understanding of the societal value of journalism. Doing so the paper examines how a strong relationship of trust between journalism and communities of audiences, and between journalism and members of society, via media and information literacy, can serve to protect journalism in contexts where independent journalism is restricted and regularly attacked." (Abstract) more

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Safety of Female Journalists Online: A #SOFJO Resource Guide
Key Guidance

Silvia Chocarro, Sarah Clarke, Paulina Gutiérrez, Judy Taing

Vienna: OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (2020), 231 pp.

"Online harassment and abuse against women journalists has become a major hazard to the profession. One that threatens women journalists’ ability to do their jobs. It violates their right to freedom of expression as much as it hampers free and open access to information for all members of society. ... more

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The Safety of Women Journalists: Breaking the Cycle of Silence and Violence. An Overview of Nine Countries

Silvia Chocarro

Copenhagen: International Media Support (IMS) (2019), 58 pp.

"This report assesses the question of how women in media are being targeted and how journalism is impacted by gender specific harassment and violence. It also looks at to what extent this issue is being effectively addressed on a national level and supported by the international community since the ... more

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Estándares internacionales de libertad de expresión: Guía básica para operadores de justicia en América Latina
Key Guidance

Silvia Chocarro

Washington, DC: Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA) (2017), 39 pp.

"[...] es una herramienta indispensable para operadores de justicia que tratan casos sobre la libertad de expresión. La guía, producida conjuntamente por la UNESCO y la oficina del Relator Especial para Libertad de Expresión (RELE) y escrita por Silvia Chocarro, es un mapa esencial de los estánd ... more

Understanding the link between a media and information literate citizenry and the (un)-safety of journalism

Safety of Female Journalists Online: A #SOFJO Resource Guide Key Guidance

The Safety of Women Journalists: Breaking the Cycle of Silence and Violence. An Overview of Nine Countries

Estándares internacionales de libertad de expresión: Guía básica para operadores de justicia en América Latina Key Guidance

Safety of Female Journalists Online: A #SOFJO Resource Guide
Key Guidance

Estándares internacionales de libertad de expresión: Guía básica para operadores de justicia en América Latina
Key Guidance