Between survival and integrity: journalism in repressive regimes

In a world where authoritarian and repressive actors - from the Taliban in Afghanistan to weak rule-of-law contexts in parts of Latin America - either shape or coerce media narratives, journalists and media houses face acute ethical dilemmas. This panel will explore how news organisations ensure they keep on reporting without compromising journalistic ethics. Our expert panel will discuss how to stop interaction with regime players becoming cooperation, how press freedom and ethical standards can be upheld not compromised, and what norms should govern reporting under duress. Journalists will discuss how they grapple with powerful pressures including legal harassment, economic coercion and political interference that can blur the line between reporting and complicity, and make sure they come out on the right side.
Questions will include:
> When, if ever, should journalists work with officials in repressive regimes to secure access?
> At what point does access become propaganda?
> How do ethical standards like accuracy, independence and “do no harm” adapt when refusal to comply could mean imprisonment or worse?
> Are there models of ethical reporting under authoritarian pressure that can be shared across regions?
In many ways this is the issue of our time. More countries are becoming authoritarian, with populism more broadly growing around the world. Navigating how to responsibly report is crucial. Discussions such as these help the global journalism community reflect on how reporting practices uphold democratic values or inadvertently enable repression.
Moderated by Jemimah Steinfeld.
Organised in association with Index on Censorship.