Conference — Media and Democracy in Africa

This conference brings together journalists, academics, and press freedom advocates to examine the status of media freedom and democracy in Africa, and how journalists and academics can collaborate in advancing free speech and democracy. Thursday, April 17, 1:15 – 6:30 Friday, April 18, 9:00 – 5:00 In recent years, threats to freedom of the press in Africa have increased substantially with alarming implications. Throughout the continent, journalists face physical, verbal, and online attacks. Measures aimed at intimidating, silencing, and punishing those deemed as threats include imprisonment, displacement, and de facto exile. As of December 2024, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that 67 journalists were imprisoned across Africa, which is nearly 20% of the 361 journalists jailed globally. In addition to arbitrary imprisonment, African countries are increasingly weaponizing laws against journalists, using national security, antiterror and cybercrime legislation to justify crackdowns on free speech and democratic expression. While these developments are not unique to Africa, the continent has experienced various kinds of authoritarian and antidemocratic regimes (from elected autocrats to military dictators and kleptocratic civilian presidents) that particularly are threatened by and antagonistic towards a free and vibrant press. How have journalists in Africa responded to these authoritarian regimes and their continuing crackdowns on free speech and media freedom? What lessons can we learn from African media responses to democratic backsliding in Africa and beyond? What role can the academy play in advancing free speech and media freedom? How can journalists and academics collaborate in promoting democracy and protecting free speech? IN-PERSON, registration is required.Please use your Brown email address and register here. (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeq1rP4AiLcrZBSlwrS-EYj_kxIPtmTg131bcqV_BW1fz-D-g/viewform?usp=sharing) OR:WATCH LIVE ON THURSDAY, DAY 1 (https://www.youtube.com/live/IS0DDeZWjUA)WATCH LIVE ON FRIDAY, DAY 2 (https://www.youtube.com/live/xMuj8s1hCyc)  Thursday, April 17 1:15-1:45 Opening Statement/Introductions – Daniel Jordan Smith, Director of the Africa Initiative, Charles C. Tillinghast, Jr. ’32 Professor of International Studies, Brown University 1:45-3:15 Panel on State of Democracy and Press Freedom in AfricaChernoh Alpha M. Bah, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Africa Initiative, Brown University (Moderator) Sheriff Bojang Jnr., Deputy Political Editor, The Africa Report, UK William Onyango Oloo, Secretary General, Congress of African Journalists, Kenya Fatou Touray, Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Kerr Fatou TV, Gambia Pamela Amunazo, BBC Correspondent, Congo 3:15-3:30 Coffee Break 3:30-5:00 Panel on Investigative Journalism: Techniques & ChallengesAnne B. Wallis, Associate Professor, University of Louisville, KY – Moderator Alex Brutelle, Director, Environmental Investigative Forum (EIF), France Zubaida Ismail, Press Freedom Advocate and Media Trainer, Ghana Chernoh Alpha M. Bah, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Africa Initiative, Brown University 5:15-6:30 Keynote address – From Elections to Coups: Journalism in an Era of Instability in Africa, Sadibou Marong, Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Director, Reporters Without Borders 6:30-8:00 Reception (at Watson)  Friday, April 18 8:30-9:00 Light breakfast (outside Joukowsky) 9:00-10:30 Roundtable on Building Collaboration: Media and the AcademyDaniel Jordan Smith, Director of the Africa Initiative, Charles C. Tillinghast, Jr. ’32 Professor of International Studies, Brown University (Moderator) Anne B. Wallis, Associate Professor, University of Louisville, KY Nwenna Kai Gates, Assistant Professor, Community College of Philadelphia, PA Pamela Amunazo, BBC Correspondent, Congo Sheriff Bojang Jnr, Deputy Political Editor, The Africa Report, UK 10:30-10:45 Coffee Break 10:45-12:15 Roundtable on Financing Independent MediaKelley Lane, Editor, Assange Countdown to Freedom Series, NC (Moderator) Sadibou Marong, Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Director, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) William Onyango Oloo, Secretary General, Congress of African Journalists, Kenya Fatou Touray, Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Kerr Fatou TV, Gambia 12:15-1:45 Lunch & 2ndKeynote: “The Global Assault on Press Freedom and What it Means for African Journalists,” Mohamed Abdelfattah, Communications Director, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) 1:45-3:15 Panel on Media, New Technology, and Artificial Intelligence Nwenna Kai Gates, Assistant Professor, Community College of Philadelphia (Moderator)Zubaida Ismail, , Press Freedom Advocate and Media Trainer, Ghana Kelley Lane, Editor, Assange Countdown to Freedom Series, NC Alex Brutelle, Director, Environmental Investigative Forum (EIF), France Sheriff Bojang Jnr, Deputy Political Editor, The Africa Report, UK 3:15-3:30 Coffee Break 3:30-5:00 Roundtable on Future of the Media and Democracy in AfricaChernoh Alpha M. Bah, Africa Initiative, Brown University (Moderator) Sadibou Marong, Sub-Saharan Africa Director, Reporters Without Borders, Senegal Fatou Touray, Founder/Chief Executive Officer, Kerr Fatou TV, Gambia William Onyango Oloo, Secretary General, Congress of African Journalists, Kenya Mohamed Abdelfattah, Communications Director, Committee to Protect Journalists