Good morning, Perugia!
We invite you to check out the full festival programme on the website, but to provide a taster we have prepared the following brief overview. By clicking on +info► you can link to full details of each session, and then add it if you wish to your personal festival day-by-day agenda on your computer or smartphone.
09:00 – 10:00 > Sala Brugnoli, Palazzo Cesaroni | diversity, equity & inclusion
Reaching the 51%: learning from progressive gender representation policies +info►
We’re more than 21 years into the 21st century yet newsrooms are still lagging way behind in reaching gender parity in news coverage – both in terms of content and leadership. Covid-19 has dramatically reshaped our world with women being the most impacted. So which news outlets have been successful in addressing inequality? What constructive steps still need to be taken to correct the yawning gap? Are source quotas for everyone? And is there a link between policies designed to generate engaging stories that include women’s voices and faces, and mitigation of discrimination in newsroom leadership and management?
09:00 – 10:00 > Sala delle Colonne, Palazzo Graziani | disinformation
Lightning talks on misinformation +info►
Lightning presentation: Lawrence Bartley (The Marshall Project), Servicing an Information-Poor Community — U.S. Prisons and Jails. Lightning presentation: Jack Stubbs (Graphika), Navigating the Online Threat Landscape for Election Defenders in 2022. Lightning presentation: Jessica Dheere (Ranking Digital Rights), Ad it up: To minimize mis and disinformation, we must reshape the ad tech business, not regulate speech. Organised in association with MisinfoCon.
09:00 – 10:00 > Hotel Brufani – Sala Priori | social media platforms
Meta Reels school +info►
Join the Meta team for an interactive introduction to Reels, the new short-form video format on Facebook and Instagram. Understand the full suite of in-app tools and endless creative possibilities. Sponsored by Meta.
09:00 – 10:00 > Hotel Brufani – Sala Raffaello | AI
Opening AI’s black box +info►
Now more than ever, we need to understand the proprietary technologies that influence our daily lives. Newsrooms around the world are hiring data experts and technologists to analyze the complex algorithms that dictate what we see online and uncover the hidden biases Big Tech doesn’t want you to know about. The ever-increasing influence that algorithms play in all of our lives extends far beyond your phone. Algorithms decide who passes background checks, who has access to the most up-to-date public health information, and more. Organised in association with The Markup.
10:30 – 11:30 > Sala della Vaccara, Palazzo dei Priori | country/region focus
The development and future of Syria’s emerging media +info►
The Syrian uprising of 2011 (and the subsequent conflict) marked a fundamental breaking point in the informational environment of the country. The collapse of the Syrian regime’s authority over large parts of the country was paralleled by a collapse of its stranglehold on the public sphere. In the years following 2011, a vast multitude of new journalistic and media initiatives flourished inside Syria and later in exile in neighboring countries. The growth of this sector reached its zenith in 2014-15 with more than 90 new outlets between radios, newspapers, magazines, and online news agencies—often made possible by support of media development aid. Following that initial burst of creativity, a process of consolidation, institutionalization, and professionalization has ensued. Today, the emerging Syrian media sphere lays claim to a number of well-established (albeit, fewer) independent media outlets (e.g., Enab Baladi, Arta FM), a number of parallel institutions (such as the sector’s attempt at self-regulation through the Ethical Charter), and is able to serve up high-quality and reliable journalism for Syrians inside and outside the country as well as for an international audience. Moreover, the development of such a heterogenous and diverse array of media has allowed for a multitude of voices, debates, and issues to emerge into the open—e.g., rise of Kurdish journalism; debates on gender; environment; or debates on sectarianism and authoritarianism in the country. The aim of this panel is to trace the emergence of this media sphere, reflect on its current place in Syrian society, its potential, and its future development.
10:30 – 11:30 > Hotel Brufani – Sala Raffaello | in the newsroom
How journalism leaders learn +info►
Continuous learning in the workplace must become the norm if individuals and organisations want to stay ahead. This places more demand than ever on journalism leaders to take on a new role they might initially find unfamiliar—that of learning facilitator-in-chief. This panel will draw on insights from the senior faculty at three prominent leadership development programmes on how they foster leaders who continue to learn. Sponsored by Google News Initiative.
10:30 – 11:30 > Sala del Dottorato | journalist safety & well-being
When journalists become the story +info►
Safety is no longer just the domain of journalists covering conflict or working in disaster zones. It’s now an issue for every journalist, whether working locally or internationally, out in the field or behind a computer screen. So what is good safety practice and how can journalists and newsrooms bring it into their everyday journalism practice? With a focus on freelancers and editors, this informative session explores how journalists can build a preemptive and practical approach to safety so that they never become the story themselves. It will pay particular attention to new, effective safety resources and introduce journalists to the safety sessions on offer at this year’s festival. Organised in association with ACOS Alliance.
10:30 – 11:30 > Sala delle Colonne, Palazzo Graziani | disinformation
Investigating media manipulation campaigns +info►
In this workshop, journalists will learn how to detect, document, and debunk media manipulation and disinformation campaigns using the methods of investigative ethnography. Participants will analyze a case study where media manipulators sought to sway public opinion and media agendas by gaming sociotechnical systems. Together, we will map the lifecycle of a media manipulation campaign from its (1) initial phase of ideation and discussion, (2) to seeding the campaign across social web and platforms, (3) to challenges by journalists, platform companies, activists and regulators, (4) to observable changes in the media ecosystem, and finally (5) adaptations by media manipulators to the new environment. The goal of the workshop is to build skill sets by equipping journalists with theory and methods to analyze information ecosystems, where different groups manipulate communication systems for a range of reasons including fun, profit, and political advantage. Organised in association with MisinfoCon.
12:00 – 13:00 > Hotel Brufani – Sala Raffaello | country/region focus
Afghanistan with an Afghan lens: the role of media under the Taliban +info►
The return of the Taliban in August 2021 to Afghanistan affected all the aspects of Afghan lives including the access to information. More than 40% of the media have closed and 80% of women journalists have been unemployed since the Taliban came to power, according to Reporters Without Borders. During the previous Taliban regime (1996- 2001), media outlets were banned almost entirely. Only one radio station operated under control of the Taliban in Kabul for conveying religious messages. Similarly today, dozens of radio stations, newspapers and television networks have closed again, and dozens of journalists and photographers have been forced to flee their country for security reasons. Between 2002 and 2021, the number of media outlets increased greatly in Afghanistan. The presence of foreign correspondents also proliferated, however sometimes focusing their coverage on the Afghanistan of the burqas. However, authors of Afghan origin maintain that their country and its rich tradition is much more than that. During the panel, Afghan journalists and photojournalists led by Afghan photographer Fatimah Hossaini (who will be the moderator) will discuss how to report on Afghanistan with an Afghan lens and what room there is for media under Taliban rule. Organised in association with Outriders.
12:00 – 13:00 > Sala Brugnoli, Palazzo Cesaroni | sustainability
How can news outlets’ editorial independence be safeguarded in an era of declining revenues? +info►
The issues of financial vulnerability and media outlets’ editorial independence are inextricably intertwined. Radical changes in news consumption, disrupted business models and dire economic repercussions driven by a drop in advertising and sales have sounded the death knell for traditional revenue streams for news outlets. Local and regional newspapers have suffered the brunt of this, with many outlets forced to consider alternative support just to stay afloat. When news outlets’ economic sustainability is in jeopardy, their editorial independence at risk. Those hit by plummeting revenues are particularly vulnerable – not only to state control by autocratic regimes, but also to advertisers or individuals open to paying for editorial control. The Thomson Reuters Foundation has worked for more than 30 years to strengthen independent media and support outlets in becoming self-sufficient. Our panel will examine how can we protect independent journalism, so fundamental to upholding freedom of expression, and prevent news outlets from remaining at the mercy of the highest bidder. It will discuss the impact of recent events on press freedom and independent journalism around the world and explore its implications for the next decade. Organised in association with Thomson Reuters Foundation.
14:00 – 15:00 > Sala Brugnoli, Palazzo Cesaroni | journalism & society
Journalism is a public good. Let the public make it +info►
Based on his December 2022 essay entitled Journalism is a public good. Let the public make it in the Columbia Journalism Review, Darryl Holliday will moderate this panel on the (re)emerging civic media movement for journalism as a public good: “The solution to the current crisis in journalism isn’t simply to save jobs, but to willingly and intentionally democratize the means of journalistic production. New infrastructure that weaves together participatory media and public assets will democratize journalistic skills and could unlock a movement for collective action, a not-so-secret weapon against news deserts and misinformation hidden in plain sight. It relies on thousands of everyday people who are eager to participate, organizations with physical media-maker spaces, and communities taking collective action.”
14:00 – 15:00 > Hotel Brufani – Sala Raffaello | business models, investment & funding
Is foundation philanthropy only for non-profit newsrooms? +info►
As the news industry navigates toward sustainable revenue models, philanthropic support from foundations continues to develop as a means to support editorial gaps and priorities. In the past few years, foundation funding has fueled real growth in the non-profit news sector, giving rise to new, influential newsrooms like The 19th and Capital B. But where do traditional news organizations fit in when it comes to foundation funding? Join Hannah Stonebraker of Impact Architects, Rachel White from The Guardian and others to learn more about the landscape for foundation funding for traditional newsrooms, what kinds of projects philanthropy supports and why, and the models and tools that can assist in securing philanthropic support for the for-profit news sector. Sponsored by The Guardian.
14:00 – 15:00 > Sala della Vaccara, Palazzo dei Priori | other topics
Covering migration on European media in the age of populism +info►
At a time when the mobility of people and migration are used by populist movements in Europe, the role of the media and journalists is key to explain, contextualize and reduce prejudices. The panel will showcase long-term European journalistic projects that have been recognized for their work. They will include: #VisaToNowhere by Outriders collective (Poland): a simultaneous coverage of 10 journalists in 7 countries to explain the migration route from the Middle East to Europe via Belarus. And a short documentary. Lost in Europe, a cross-border journalism project investigating the disappearance of child migrants in Europe. Organised in association with Outriders.
15:30 – 16:30 > Sala delle Colonne, Palazzo Graziani | disinformation
Exposing the people and funding behind websites and digital ads +info►
This hands on workshop provides an overview of the tools and techniques used to investigate a website, and to determine how it makes money from digital ads. Participants learn the basics of whois searches, content analysis, and connecting websites together via ad or analytics IDs, among other approaches. The ads analysis portion shows participants how to identify ads on a website, trace their origins, and uncover a publisher’s monetization partners. Drawn from material in the Verification Handbook For Disinformation And Media Manipulation, the workshop is open to all levels and can be applied to a wide variety of reporting and research. Bring your laptop! Organised in association with MisinfoCon.
15:30 – 16:30 > Auditorium San Francesco al Prato | country/region focus
Covering Putin’s war +info►
Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine changed everything, including the information landscape. What are the consequences of this conflict for journalism in Ukraine, in Russia and beyond? What should the Western newsrooms need to be doing to continue to shine the light on the situation in Ukraine? What is the role of big tech platforms and in this new situation of near total censorship what can we all collectively do to make sure that the Russian public has access to reliable information?
15:30 – 16:30 > Sala del Dottorato | podcasting, audio, video, AR & VR
Futureproofing your newsroom for the metaverse +info►
Futureproofing your newsroom for the metaverse: what we’ve learned from five years of immersive storytelling experimentation. In this panel discussion, experts with a combined over 15 years experience on the creative, production, and business sides of immersive content will discuss failed and successful experiments in Virtual and Augmented Reality at a variety of newsrooms over the past half-decade, and what we can learn for the future. What can we learn about journalism in the metaverse from what we’ve already tried? How do you make decisions about investment in this new space? We’ll take attendees through a conversation about what we have seen work from personal experience and open up a discussion about where things are going, including: Where does journalism fit into the metaverse. How and when to train your staff to approach new formats like 3D content and AR. Creating paths towards financial sustainability in the immersive space. Intrapreneurship and shaking up the status quo. The importance of DE&I and inclusive storytelling when looking at future technology opportunities.
15:30 – 16:30 > Sala San Francesco, Arcivescovado | climate crisis
After COP: how do we keep climate crisis coverage engaging and link local communities to a global audience? +info►
The COP26 summit yielded some progress on emissions cuts but fell short on coal – the dirtiest fossil fuel. Global governments and corporate leaders are to double down on their commitments to curb greenhouse gas emissions and phase out gasoline-powered automobiles, but the lack of deadlines or enforcement mechanisms associated with these commitments means that journalists, advocacy groups, and citizens must hold these leaders accountable. When the climate crisis touches every community around the globe, and every story is in some sense a climate story, how do news outlets keep climate coverage engaging long after the hundreds of journalists left Glasgow? Thomson Foundation, along with a few of our partners and collaborators, will explore ways to reflect both the local and global aspects of the climate story, and the opportunities to connect news outlets and audiences around the world to explore shared problems and their solutions. Organised in association with Thomson Foundation.
17:00 – 18:00 > Sala del Dottorato | country/region focus
Tolo News: a canary in Afghanistan’s coal mine +info►
Can the country’s biggest news channel survive under Taliban rule? What are the challenges for its journalists… and for its founder? A conversation with Saad Mohseni, chairman of Moby Group, which owns Tolo News.
17:00 – 18:00 > Hotel Brufani – Sala Raffaello | business models, investment & funding
Meta: what’s new in news +info►
Hear about the latest investments from Meta to support the news industry, and what the company is building for the near future. Sponsored by Meta.
17:00 – 18:00 > Sala della Vaccara, Palazzo dei Priori | constructive & solutions journalism
Engaging audiences across divides +info►
Media organisations have launched innovative ways to engage their readers: by bringing them into controversial debates, both among themselves and with the respective newsrooms. The idea is to reconnect and build trust, as well as broaden and deepen the conversation about politics. The panel provides insights into four of those projects from the UK, France and Germany. Organised in association with ZEIT ONLINE.
18:30 – 19:30 > Hotel Brufani – Sala Priori | innovation
Google News Initiative: new tools and techniques for journalists +info►
A practical session to explore how tools like Google Lens, Pinpoint and Flourish can help journalists to research, verify and visualise their stories. Whether it’s starting with an online photograph, a set of statistics or a simple map from Google Earth, we’ll draw inspiration from how newsrooms around the world are using a range of digital tools from across the web. Sponsored by Google News Initiative.
18:30 – 19:30 > Sala Brugnoli, Palazzo Cesaroni | media under attack
COVID-19: a journalism extinction event or a reformation moment? +info►
As the COVID-19 pandemic took hold globally in early 2020, the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) & the Tow Center for Digital Journalism launched a study into the transformational impacts on journalists and journalism around the world. The first 30 findings from the Journalism and the Pandemic Project — based on responses from more than 2000 journalists from 125 countries — were both startling and disturbing. At a time when the public needed to rely on credible independent journalism to stay safe and informed, journalists and news organizations were grappling with a mental health crisis, financial peril, physical safety threats, and press freedom attacks, while simultaneously battling pandemic levels of disinformation. 70% identified the mental health impacts of covering COVID-19 as the most difficult challenge, and nearly half said their sources had expressed fear of retaliation for speaking to journalists during the pandemic. At the time, COVID was cast as a potential extinction event for journalism. But two years on, as COVID lingers, what are the longer-term effects and opportunities emerging from the pandemic? Can this extinction event be re-cast as journalism’s reformation moment? This panel, anchored by the Journalism and the Pandemic Project’s lead researchers, Emily Bell (Tow Center) and Julie Posetti (ICFJ), will launch the second phase of findings of the longitudinal study and discuss case studies in resilience. Organised in association with International Center for Journalists.
18:30 – 19:30 > Sala della Vaccara, Palazzo dei Priori | local journalism
How local news media around the world are rethinking everything +info►
Local journalism: most disrupted, most urgently in need of assistance. Yet it’s the sector that’s laying down the bedrock for the new, stronger media ecosystem that meets their community needs. The IPI global network has been taking a deep dive with the local journalism community around the world and brings three of the big innovators together from India, Guatemala and South Africa to share how they are building the future. Organised in association with International Press Institute.
18:30 – 19:30 > Sala San Francesco, Arcivescovado | diversity, equity & inclusion
Balas para Todas: the female gaze in reporting on the Middle East and North Africa +info►
Balas Para Todas isn’t about a female “bang-bang” club. It is a conversation, a confession, and a conclusion – that the growing presence of women reporters in war zones and post-war zones across the Middle East and North Africa shifted the simplified narratives around women and war throughout the decade following the 2011 uprisings. The book was written by six female correspondents who reported from Libya, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Yemen, and Iran. They worked in primarily patriarchal, Muslim societies – but instead of writing about women as “helpless victims,” they wrote quite simply about what they saw. Women as radicalized ISIS members who recruited other women for the jihadist struggle; women as economic engines that take over businesses when wars widow them; women as young university students who fight hard to keep studying, to be economically independent; women as activists, migrants, fighters, and reporters. In this panel, four of the authors discuss the relevance of the female gaze in reporting on the Middle East and North Africa and the changes to the industry across generations. This panel is composed of authors of the 2021 book Balas para Todas, six women journalists in the Middle East and the Maghreb.
18:30 – 19:30 > Hotel Brufani – Sala Raffaello | climate crisis
In conversation with Michael E. Mann: from climate change denial to delay +info►
Climate journalist and author Stella Levantesi interviews world-renowned climate scientist Michael E. Mann on the obstruction efforts to climate action. In most instances today, climate change denial by the fossil fuel industry and its allies has been replaced by climate delay, procrastination and greenwashing. This interview will delve into the evolution of strategies, from the early denial machine attacks on climate science to political propaganda and deflection maneuvers to divert attention from the industry’s responsibility in the climate crisis.
18:30 – 19:30 > Sala delle Colonne, Palazzo Graziani | community, engagement & trust
Reckoning with the role and the relevance of the public editor +info►
The public editor role has long been an “endangered species” in global journalism. Why has this accountability and transparency role failed to take a stronger hold in journalism? Can we reimagine the public editor role to make it more relevant to journalism’s crisis of trust and its failure to represent and reflect diverse publics? This session will focus on the purpose of the public editor and the potential and possibilities of a public editor – those working both inside and outside newsrooms – to hold journalism to public account for trustworthy journalism and diversity, equity and inclusion imperatives.