RNW Media

‼️ The fall of the Assad regime on December 8, 2024, marks a pivotal moment for press freedom in Syria 🇸🇾 For over five decades, the regime systematically stifled journalistic expression through severe measures, including torture, enforced disappearances, imprisonment, and exile of media practitioners, as well as harassment and terrorization of their families. This repression extended to online platforms: websites such as Wikipedia Arabic, YouTube, and Facebook were frequently blocked between 2008 and 2011. Internet cafés were compelled to monitor and report users' comments on forums, and numerous bloggers and digital content creators were arrested under vague and sweeping "national security" charges. The Assad regime's control over digital media fostered an environment of fear, with pervasive internet surveillance forcing widespread self-censorship. As RNW Media, we recognize that the toppling of this repressive regime presents an unprecedented opportunity to rebuild Syria's media landscape as a pillar of democracy and accountability. We join the voices calling for the establishment of a free and independent press, with a particular focus on strengthening digital media as a vital space for expression and dialogue. To realize this vision, we urge action in the following areas: 1/ Enact Legal Protections for Press Freedom: Implement robust laws that safeguard freedom of expression across all media platforms, including online spaces. Journalists, bloggers, and content creators must be able to work without fear of censorship or persecution. 2/ Promote Digital Literacy: Equip citizens with the skills to critically engage with digital media, enabling them to navigate and challenge misinformation while fostering an informed and empowered public. 3/ Ensure Open and Unrestricted Internet Access: Guarantee unrestricted access to the internet and digital platforms, creating a space where diverse viewpoints can thrive and information can flow freely. 4/ Support Independent Digital Outlets: Encourage the growth of independent online news platforms, blogs, and social media channels, which are essential for offering alternative perspectives, holding power to account, and amplifying marginalized voices. As RNW Media, we stand in solidarity with Syrian citizens, journalists, and digital media practitioners, advocating for a new era of media freedom in Syria. A vibrant, open, and independent digital media environment is crucial not only for safeguarding human rights but also for fostering inclusive dialogue and democratic development. https://lnkd.in/eqtUg8nP #Syria #PressFreedom #DigitalMedia

💭 Reflections from IGF 2024: Bridging Global Policies with Local Realities Participating in IGF 2024 was an important opportunity to join discussions on shaping a fair, inclusive, and equitable digital future. As a journalist and a woman coming from a challenging environment, I am passionate about defending free speech and access to reliable information, particularly in online spaces where the definitions and boundaries of these important human rights concepts have evolved and expanded. A key question to ask ourselves is: “What does human rights mean in the digital age, and how can we defend it best?” IGF 2024 reinforced my belief in the critical role NGOs play as intermediaries—supporting independent and local voices in navigating complex digital governance issues while relying on them for expertise and know-how in leveraging digital tools to achieve their goals. Participating in multiple policy discussions, I was reminded of the urgency of addressing the disconnect between high-level global policy discussions and the realities faced by marginalized groups and independent journalists on the ground. Often, the presence or "stamp" of Western governments on local initiatives can inadvertently put these projects at risk, even framing them as espionage in some settings. This is why NGOs are uniquely positioned to bridge the gap—providing resources, building capacity, and advocating for protective policies while respecting local autonomy. Independent journalists and content creators working in difficult contexts are not passive actors—they are resourceful, adept at leveraging technology to amplify their voices and their causes. However, their efforts will only gain momentum when their rights and work are officially recognized within internet governance frameworks. This means creating policies and funding mechanisms that prioritize inclusion and protection, allowing them to operate without fear of censorship, surveillance, or persecution. As we look to the future, let’s advocate for multi-stakeholder, multilateral collaborations that prioritize ethical AI governance and practices and create space for local voices in policymaking. The road ahead is challenging, but with a concerted focus on bridging global and local realities, I believe we can create a digital ecosystem that is fair, inclusive, and empowering for all. #InternetGovernance #MediaViability #DigitalInclusion #GlobalSouth #AIethics

Every second, someone faces online violence—hateful messages, threats, and harassment that leave lasting scars. It's not "just words." #ItIsRealViolence and it needs to stop. Join the fight to end tech-facilitated gender-based violence. Learn how you can make a difference: 👉 https://lnkd.in/gRrxGwRu #ItIsRealViolence #OnlineSafety #StopOnlineAbuse #DigitalRights

🌍Internet Governance Forum 2024: Important, but Flawed🌐 What a week! After some deliberation about attending, I left IGF 2024 with a reinforced conviction: being at the table matters—and I am grateful to have represented RNW Media in these critical discussions alongside my colleague Hounaz Beheshti. IGF24 highlighted significant challenges of the digital future: -Underrepresentation of civil society voices, particularly from the Global South. -Urgent need for inclusive multistakeholder collaboration. The location of this year’s IGF—Saudi Arabia—added to these challenges, but it also underscored the importance of showing up, engaging, and advocating. Key Reflections: ✨ Multistakeholderism Anriette Esterhuysen noted during a session: “It takes all these imperfect processes together to make us more effective and inclusive.” The IGF remains a critical space for fostering dialogues. But, representation gaps must be addressed to ensure voices from civil society and the Global South have equal footing in shaping digital policies. ✨ Media Viability and Information Integrity Mis/disinformation is dominating elections and public discourse, but inspiring examples of resilience and innovation exist-such as Technology Organization for Peace 360° approach to combating disinformation in MENA. Our focus on sustainable media ecosystems and tools for combating disinformation at RNW Media underscores the importance of public interest media as a cornerstone of trust and democracy. ✨ The Fight for Civic Space Sessions on internet shutdowns and FoE were sobering reminders of the threats faced by marginalized voices. While there were many underrepresented voices, Lina Alhathloul online presence at IGF left a mark! It reinforced the importance of being present and amplifying voices that might otherwise go unheard. ✨ AI’s Dual Role AI has emerged as both a powerful tool and a potential danger—from influencing elections to shaping content moderation policies. Across discussions, there was a call for rights-based regulatory frameworks to govern AI. At RNW Media we advocate for human-centered AI. Through our global Vine community and the Haarlem Declaration, we’ve committed to using AI for good. We invite digital media makers, journalists, and civil society to join this global movement and sign the Declaration✍️ While IGF24 was about engaging in these discussions, it also served as a sobering reminder of the voices still missing—voices essential for building an inclusive and equitable digital world. I left more determined to continue working with partners globally, amplify voices and continue fostering media viability and information integrity as foundations for democratic, inclusive societies. Now time for a short break, and looking forward to later sharing with Hounaz Beheshti an op-ed that will further unpack IGF 2024’s discussions and their implications for the future. #MediaViability #InformationIntegrity #IGF2024

The future of digital media is here – and we must shape it responsibly! ✍️ Sign the Haarlem Declaration today and be part of the change! https://lnkd.in/guQiptxB   🚨 AI is transforming how we create, share, and consume media, but its rapid rise brings both opportunities and risks. Misinformation, bias, and threats to privacy are growing concerns.   That’s why we’re joining forces to create a more inclusive, ethical, and transparent digital space. 🌍 The Haarlem Declaration outlines our commitment to using AI for good: ✅ Prioritizing transparency and accountability ✅ Safeguarding data privacy and user consent ✅ Combating misinformation and preserving media integrity ✅ Reducing AI’s environmental footprint   Join the global movement of digital media makers, journalists, and civil society groups dedicated to creating a fair and safe digital world.

This week, RNW Media actively engaged in critical discussions at the Internet Governance Forum. In a forum where civil society is underrepresented, we find it important to amplify underrepresented voices, particularly from the Global South, and contribute to shaping a fair, inclusive, and resilient digital future. 📢 Key Takeaways: 🔹 Defending Voice & Expression in Africa and the Middle East: Cybercrime laws and digital regulations are increasingly used to restrict free expression, disproportionately impacting marginalized groups. Advocacy efforts must be strengthened to resist censorship and protect civic spaces and their advocates. 🔹 AI and Disinformation-Safeguarding Elections: AI’s role in elections revealed risks and opportunities. While some countries utilized AI to expand voter engagement and accessibility, others faced challenges with algorithmic bias, mis/disinformation, and lack of transparency in platform governance. 🔹 Internet Governance and Elections-Maximizing Potential for Trust: Amid a global election megacycle, discussions highlighted the importance of information integrity and the dangers of reduced platform accountability, especially following widespread tech layoffs that impacted election monitoring tools. 🔹 Multistakeholderism Best Practices: Multistakeholder models remain essential for accountable and inclusive governance. However, Anriette Esterhuysen, Chair of the Internet Governance Forum’s Multistakeholder Advisory Group. noted, "We’re scratching the surface of this. Representation gaps, particularly from civil society, highlight the need for frameworks that prioritize equity and ensure all voices are meaningfully included in the process.” 🤝 RNTC Media Training Centre Alumni meet-up: We met our alumni, Aws Al-Saadi founder of Technology Organization for Peace, who shared their innovative, multifaceted approach to combating disinformation in the MENA region. 💡 Reflections from our Head of Global Partnerships and Strategic Development, Larisa Christina Triantafyllidi: - Multistakeholder collaboration is critical but requires meaningful inclusion. - Ethical AI practices and transparent platform governance are essential for safeguarding democracy, human rights and media integrity. - Addressing the digital divide and ensuring representation from marginalized voices are vital steps toward a fairer digital future. #IGF2024 #InformationIntegrity #DigitalFuture

🌍 Honouring International Migrants Day 🌍 Migration is a transformative force that shapes cultures, economies, and societies worldwide. Today, we honour the courage, resilience, and invaluable contributions of migrants worldwide. The stories we tell about migration matter. Through digital media and storytelling, we can challenge harmful stereotypes, amplify marginalized voices, and foster empathy. A single narrative has the power to shift public perceptions and influence policies. This International Migrants Day, we encourage you to explore diverse stories that celebrate the richness of migrant experiences. Here’s a curated list on powerful migration narratives: 🎥 The Swimmers (Netflix): A tale of two sisters fleeing war-torn Syria, their perilous journey to Europe, and the resilience they find through their love of swimming. 📖 Exodus by Sebastião Salgado: A stunning photo collection that humanizes the journeys of migrants and refugees, portraying their strength amidst displacement. 🎶 "Home" by Michael Kiwanuka: A soulful anthem exploring themes of belonging, displacement, and the universal quest for home. 🎵 Land of Gold by Anoushka Shankar: A musical odyssey inspired by the refugee crisis, blending classical and contemporary sounds to evoke empathy and action. 🎬 The Namesake (Directed by Mira Nair): A moving portrayal of an Indian-American family navigating cultural identity, generational divides, and the meaning of home. 📰 Contrapuntal Magazine: An online platform amplifying stories of displaced and exiled writers, offering diverse perspectives on migration and belonging. 🎙️ Podcast: "New Roots: Refugees in America": Real-life accounts of refugees rebuilding their lives, celebrating resilience and exploring adaptation challenges. 👁️ Looking Ahead to 2025 We’re thrilled to announce a new collaboration with the Utrecht University - Faculty of Humanities to explore how immigrant digital content creators in the Netherlands navigate online spaces. This project will examine how these creators negotiate identity and belonging amidst anti-immigrant sentiment, investigate the Dutch media landscape’s role in shaping migration narratives, and study how algorithms amplify or constrain these frames. Stay tuned as we uncover the intersection of technology, identity, & storytelling. This holiday season, let’s open our minds and hearts to these narratives, each a testament to the humanity and complexity of migration. By changing how we speak about migration, we take the first step toward a more inclusive and compassionate world. 📷 Images from "The Swimmers" (Netflix) #InternationalMigrantsDay #MigrationStories #DigitalStorytelling

Key highlights from the opening day of the Internet Governance Forum 2024 in Saudi Arabia where global leaders, innovators, and stakeholders unite to shape the future of Internet governance: 🗣️ UN Secretary-General emphasized the urgency of addressing the digital divide, information integrity, and the role of governments in driving transparent policies, reminding us that: “Digital tech has proven its power: impacting individuals and their future while shaping economies and societies.” – Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs. 💡 ITU Secretary-General, Doreen Bogdan-Martin spotlighted the challenges and opportunities: “1/3rd of humanity is offline today. That’s not acceptable.” Key priorities include affordability, resilient infrastructure, skilling, and ensuring that the 68% of the world already online are joined by the remaining third. 🤝 UNESCO's Assistant Director-General, Tawfik Jelassi called for action: “We need to foster collaborations and drive meaningful change. Let’s continue leveraging these pillars to advance an inclusive digital future.” 🌍 At RNW Media, we are committed to two key pillars: #MediaViability and #InformationIntegrity. Our work partly focuses on tackling disinformation by fact-checking and by crafting counter-narratives and fostering strategic partnerships to drive impactful change. Let’s not forget—the vision of a safe, accessible and inclusive Internet cannot be realized without amplifying the voices of the Global South. By strengthening capacity, fostering cooperation, and ensuring inclusive participation, we can build a truly equitable digital future for all. Hounaz Beheshti Larisa Christina Triantafyllidi #MediaIntegrity #DigitalInclusion #IGF2024

This week, RNW Media is in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia at the Internet Governance Forum 2024 addressing pressing challenges like misinformation, AI ethics, and digital inclusion. Our delegation comprised of our Policy Advisor Media and Human Rights, Hounaz Beheshti, and our Head of Global Partnerships and Strategic Development, Larisa Christina Triantafyllidi contributed to shaping solutions that foster resilient media ecosystems and amplify underrepresented voices in the digital age. 📢 RNW Media Contributions: • Misinformation Maze: Highlighted how ethical content creation, media literacy, and AI tools can rebuild public trust. • Marginalized Communities & AI: Discussed AI’s potential to address harmful narratives while supporting inclusive storytelling and community engagement. • Tackling Internet Shutdowns: Advocated for multistakeholder collaboration to safeguard open, inclusive digital spaces and protect human rights. 🤝 Connecting with RNTC Media Training Centre Alumni: Our team met with Fridah Naliaka from Kenya, an RNTC alumna, who shared valuable insights on the intersection of traditional and digital media and their role in strengthening community engagement. It is always a pleasure connecting with the more than 6K alumni around the world! ✨ Day 1 - Takeaways: • Media viability is essential for sustaining independent voices and countering disinformation. • Inclusive governance ensures marginalized voices are heard in digital spaces. • Collaboration is the cornerstone of building equitable, sustainable digital futures. Follow our journey at the IGF 2024 as we continue driving change toward a digital future that leaves no one behind. If you are an alumni or are interested in meeting our delegation in Saudi Arabia connect with us! #MediaViability #InformationIntegrity #HumanRights #DigitalInclusion #IGF2024 #RNWMedia #InternetGovernance

✨A Journey of Resilience, Hope, and Shared Humanity ✨ Another year of being part of the journey leading to the Human Rights Tulip Award, this time with RNW Media! Five exceptional nominees: Stella, Blert, Wilker, Vasile and Kamaran-representing the Community Peacemakers Team. Each of them standing on the frontlines of the fight for human rights in their unique ways. 🫶🏽Stella, Blert, Wilker, Vasile and Kamaran you reminded me once again of the critical importance of standing together for collective freedoms, online and offline. Especially at times when it seems impossible. Your stories moved me, your determination inspired me, and your unwavering commitment to human rights reminded me of the profound strength of the human spirit. ✨Being part of this journey of yours gave me something invaluable: hope. Hope that, despite the immense challenges we face, we can and will continue advocating for human rights in our own spheres. And for that, I thank you! 💡 To everyone working towards a better world: Know that your efforts are seen, your struggles are valid, and your contributions are invaluable. The Human Rights Tulip, is more than just an award. It represents the relentless courage and dedication of individuals and organizations fighting for human rights worldwide. A heartfelt thank you to the Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken for making this possible. 📸 Some behind the scenes from this experience and the wonderful people behind it. Cheers 🥂 #HumanRightsTulip2024