More Economic Freedom - More Freedom of the Media?

Hosted by Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit

This panel aims to discuss pertinent questions connected with the relationship between the economic order and the media system. It will engage in a debate guided by the following lead questions: What are the preconditions of a free press – and is it possible to agree on a common standard or benchmark delineating a free media system? If so, which are the challenges to a free media system? While market concentration is harmful on one side, so is state control on the other. This issue would then lead us to the question of successful regulatory systems that have proven to safeguard media diversity and, thus, also media freedom. Finally, the panel will look at possible correlations between economic freedom and political freedom – and its repercussions on media freedom. Is it true that economically free societies have freer media than others?

The panel is sponsored by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty (Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung für die Freiheit/FNF). Our guests will be media practitioners and economic experts from various parts of the world (Latin America, Africa, Middle East, Europe, Asia) associated with programs of the liberal Foundation. The discussion will be moderated by FNF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Dr. Ronald Meinardus, who worked for many years as an editor at Deutsche Welle and is involved in various media projects in the Arab world.

Moderation:

Meinardus, Dr. Ronald
Regional Director Middle East and North Africa with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), Cairo

Panelists:

Enríquez, Eduardo
Managing Editor , La Prensa, Managua, Nicaragua

Khomenok, Oleg
Senior Media Advisor, Internews Network

Mhanna, Ayman
Executive Director of Skeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom, Beirut, Lebanon

Salman, Ali
Founder & Director Policy Research Institute of Market Economy (PRIME)

Vitug, Marites Danguilan
Author and Journalist, Editor of www.rappler.com and President of the Journalism for Nation Building Foundation

Complete workshop on soundcloud:

WS38 - More Economic Freedom - More Freedom of the Media?