Saturday, October 3, 2020
Theme
“Journalism Without Fear or Favor”
Overview
MISA Malawi will this year celebrate the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI) on Saturday, October 3, 2020.
The celebrations will include a panel discussion on the state of Access to Information and media freedom in Malawi and the annual MISA Malawi Media Awards.
The overall theme for the celebrations is ‘Access to Information in Times of Crisis,’ to cast the spotlight on the importance of Access to Information during a crisis, such as the Covid – 19 pandemic.
The media awards will however narrow down and focus on ‘Journalism Without Fear or Favor,’ to secure independent journalism, which is one of the fundamental principles of the Windhoek Declaration.
Media independence is a key element in the 1991 Windhoek Declaration for the Development of a Free, Independent and Pluralistic Media, which led the UN to proclaim World Press Freedom Day in 1993. Media freedom requires not only laws that provide strong guarantees for freedom of expression, but also conditions that ensure media pluralism and independent journalism.
A detailed program for the celebrations is provided below.
Detailed Programme
1.) Panel Discussion: Saturday, October 3, Lilongwe
08:30 – 09:00 Arrival at Lilongwe Hotel
09:00 – 09:10 Registration
09:10 – 09:20 Welcome remarks
- MISA Malawi Chairperson
- EU Head of Delegation to Malawi
09:20 – 11:00 Panel discussion: ‘Access to Information and Media Freedom in Times of Crisis’
Guiding Questions
- What is the status of ATI and media freedom in Malawi?
- What is the importance of ATI and media freedom in times of crisis?
- Has ATI and media freedom helped Malawi effectively respond to the Covid – 19 Pandemic?
- What are the barriers to access to information in Malawi? What needs to be done? By who?
| 11:00 – 11:30 | Golden Key and Golden Padlock Awards | ||
| 11:30 – 12:00 | Plenary | ||
| 12:00 – | End of meeting | ||
| End of morning Programme | |||
| 2.) Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony: Sunbird Capital Hotel, Lilongwe | |||
| 18:00 | – 18:30 | Arrival of guests | |
| 18:30 | – 19:00 | All guests seated | |
| 19:00 | – 19:15 | Arrival of Guest of Honor | |
| 19:15 | – 19:50 | Opening prayer and remarks | |
| Speeches: | Welcome Remarks, Misa Malawi Chairperson | ||
| Remarks by UNFPA Representative Ms Young Hong | ||
| Testimony of attacks on journalists – Bobby Kabango | ||
| Key Note speaker – Germany Ambassador to Malawi | ||
| Remarks by Guest of Honor: Minister of Information, and | ||
| Communications Technology, Hon Gospel Kazako | ||
| 19:50 | – 20:35 | Dinner |
| 20:35 | – 22:00 | Presentation of Awards: Awards Committee Chairperson |
| 22:00 | Dance floor opens | |
| END OF PROGRAMME |
