Webinar to be held on freedom of the press and access to information
A free public webinar on access to information and freedom of the press will take place today.
Information Commissioner Gitanjali Gutierrez said people can see the webinar, hosted by the International Conference of Information Commissioners, at 11am when it is streamed live on the ICIC’s YouTube Channel.
Ms Gutierrez said: “Freedom of the press is critical for accountability in any democracy, including Bermuda. It ranges from traditional print journalists to cutting edge digital programmes.
“The media often takes the initiative to ask the probing questions that allow the public to hold the Government of the day and other public bodies to their promises and mandates.”
She added: “Public access to information and freedom of the press are deeply intertwined. The right to make a Pati request allows journalists to go beyond the information that public authorities voluntarily provide and allows for a deeper dive into the information that the public wants, and needs to know.
“Members of the media, journalism students, human rights advocates and anyone in the public can join the ICIC’s Wednesday Webinar to learn how access to public information supports freedom of the press.”
The overall theme for this series of webinars is Access to Information for a Changing World – Using Technology to Promote Inclusion. Each session brings together experts and professionals from around the world to discuss specific themes around transparency and access to information.
The ICIC’s webpage added that the webinars will be marked by appreciating the diversity of opinions and points of view, with representatives from academia, the public sector and the private sector.
“More than offering unilaterally the transmission of information or knowledge, the event will seek to encourage dialogue, discussion and the development of critical reasoning, being free and open to all and all those interested in the proposed themes.”
The recording of this session, as well as the remaining sessions for 2021, will be available on the ICIC’s YouTube Channel. The free webinars are offered on the last Wednesday of every month. The full schedule of webinars for 2021 and viewing details are available on www.informationcommissioners.org
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