PROGRAMME 2024
12h00-13h30 - Speakers Corner
During Speakers Corner, students not only get the chance to speak freely in front of an audience, but also to improve their presentation skills. In preparation, a master class and a coaching session are provided for all participants. This should result in an inspired five-minute speech at Bozar, as well as a shorter version of one and a half minutes recorded in a professional studio. Take a look at our Speakers Corner page for more info and videos!
13h30-13h45 – Welcome and Introduction by Ike Picone
13h45-14h30 – Act 1: Freedom of expression and the climate crisis
In this session, we stress the importance of journalism and activism to raise awareness on the current climate crisis. The focus is on fighting threats of violence to environmental journalists and promoting diverse voices in the effort of addressing dis-/misinformation on the climate crisis.
PANEL
Arthur Neslen, award-winning freelance journalist focusing on environmental topics and working notably for the Guardian.
Sevim Aktas, Policy Officer, DG Climate Action who also talks about climate issues on her Instagram account.
Miroslava Nikolić, Environmental protection analyst, Organization for Political Ecology Polekol and the Right to Water, Serbia.
MODERATOR
Laurence Gillois, Head of Partnerships at UNESCO Liaison Office in Brussels.
14h30-15h15 – Act 2: Impunity towards crimes against journalists
Conflict goes hand in hand with efforts to silence journalists who seek to uncover uncomfortable truths. In the conflicts currently emerging around the world, this is no different. But what is striking is the limited indignation, and the ensuing impunity towards the crime committed against journalists. Not that long ago, crimes against press freedom used to be much more denounced at the international stage.
PANEL
Christelle El Hayek, head of the Journalism Safety Programs at SkEYES, a Beirut based foundation aiming to monitor violations of freedom of the press and culture and defend the rights and freedom of expression of journalists and intellectuals.
Kateryna Sergatskova from 2402 Fund, a Ukraine based foundation implementing the best practices in security and self-defense as basic knowledge for people in Ukraine and worldwide.
Koen Vidal from De Standaard, Belgium based newspaper.
MODERATORS
Johana Kotisova & Yazan Badran, researchers VUB Centre for the study of Democracy, Signification and Resistance
BREAK 15h15 - 16h00
16h00-16h45 – Act 3: AI and press freedom
Artificial intelligence (AI) applications have become the tools through which many people get their news and information. They have the capacity to aggregate and amplify certain narratives over others. AI can also increase the distance between journalists and their audiences. What happens to press freedom when journalists are intermediated by AI? How is AI affecting dis/misinformation? Can AI be made to serve press freedom? If so, how?
PANEL
Juliane Von Reppert-Bismarck, Executive Director, Lie Detectors
François Lavoir, Senior EU Policy Adviser, European Broadcasting Union
Serhii Prokopenko, Editor in Chief, Gwara Media
16h45-17h30 – Act 4: An inside view
Alicja Gescinska (PACT) invites the Difference Day Honorary Title 24 laureates to a fireside chat.
17h30-19h00 – Reception