2nd Al Jazeera Forum Agenda

The 2nd Al Jazeera Forum
Defending Freedom, Defining Responsibility
Doha, Qatar: January 31st – February 2nd, 2006:

Tuesday January 31st, 2006
10:00 – 20:30 Registration
10:00 – 16:00 Tours of Al Jazeera
17:00 – 18:30 Press Conference for Al Jazeera Channel and Al Jazeera International
19:00 – 20:30 Cocktail/ Networking Reception

Wednesday February 1st, 2006
9:00 – 9:05 Welcoming Remarks: Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani, Chairman, Al Jazeera
9:05 – 9:10 Introduction: Wadah Khanfar, Managing Director, Al Jazeera
9:10 – 10:30 The World Media: Building Bridges of Understanding or Creating Divisions?

Many believe the information revolution is creating a common social and political space, an environment of understanding between cultures, and bringing people together. Yet in the global political reality there is no proof that the expansion of the information revolution has increased tolerance. The last decade has witnessed an explosion of regionally based satellite networks and other media representing multiple points of view. Does the traditional notion of objectivity need to be re-defined? Should it be the media’s job to build bridges? Does it carry responsibility for mutual antagonism or divergence of views? Are there limits the media should respect in order to reduce friction and conflict among peoples?

Moderator: Riz Khan – News and Program Presenter, Al Jazeera International
Panelists:
· Abdul Bari Atwan- Chief Editor, Al Quds Al Arabi
· Fahmy Howeidy- Columnist, Al Ahram
· Andres Izzara- President of TeleSUR
· Marc Lynch- Professor, Williams College
· Chandra Muzzafar- President, International Movement for a Just World
· Allister Sparks- Former Editor, Rand Daily Mail

11:00 – 12:30 Journalism at the Crossroads: Who Defines Professional Ethics?

Major media are accused of being tools of government, others of being enemies of government. Are the media honoring their contract with the audience to be independent and to fulfill the public’s right to know as well as their need for unbiased information? When does the public interest outweigh the law of the land? When do the interests of government or national security override the responsibility of journalists to investigate and disclose a story?

Participants will discuss the journalistic code of ethics and professional standards. The panel will offer a global roundtable discussion on the right of journalists to conceal their sources and the legal proceedings they are being confronted with.

Moderator: Muhammad Krichane – News Presenter and Host of "Behind the News,"- Al Jazeera
Panelists:
· Abdul Wahab Al Affendi- Director, The Centre for the Study of Democracy- University of
Westminster
· Abdul Wahab Badrakhan- Deputy Chief Editor, Al Hayat
· Alain Gresh- Editor. Le Monde Diplomatique
· Aref Hijjawi- Director, The Media Institute- Bir Zeit University
· Wadah Khanfar- Managing Director, Al Jazeera
· Deborah Turness- Editor, ITV News

14:30 – 16:00 The New Media: Bloggers and Participatory Journalism

This panel will deal with new media such as the phenomena of blogging and participatory journalism. Participants will analyze the effects of “new media” on traditional journalism and discuss the increasing role of the independent voice. Does the appearance of new media indicate a collapse of public trust in mainstream forms? Are traditional media institutions responding to the expectations of their audiences? How have new media transformed the media field and what are the next steps in their development?

Moderator: Veronica Pedrosa – News and Program Presenter, Al Jazeera International
Panelists:
· Dan Gilmore- Founder, Center for Citizen Media
· Oh Yeon Ho- CEO, Ohmynews.com
· Walid Noueihed- Deputy Chief Editor, Al Wasat Newspaper
· Bertrand Pecquerie- Director, World Editor’s Forum
· Haitham Sabbah- Middle East Editor, Global Voices Online
· Nathan Stoll- Product Manager, Google News
· Ethan Zuckerman- Co-founder, Global Voices Online

16:30 – 18:00 Challenges to News Organizations in the 21st Century

A broad outlook on the future from global media leaders as they look ahead and offer their views and opinions on the industry and the future of journalism. Panelists will define the coming challenges and address the issue of how media institutions must develop to face these challenges.

Moderator: Joumana Namour – News and Program Presenter, Al Jazeera
Panelists:
· Samira Kawar- Senior Producer, Reuters TV
· Javad Mottaghi- Director, Asia- Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development
· Andrew Nachison- Director, The Media Centre, American Press Institute
· Nigel Parsons- Managing Director, Al Jazeera International
· Richard Porter- Head of News, BBC World
· Ahmed Al Sheikh- Chief Editor, Al Jazeera

Thursday February 2nd, 2006
9:00 – 10:30 The Media and Power: Freedom of Expression and Political Manipulation

Today the media field is crowded with news and culture channels. Individuals, organizations and governments seek to exploit the power of the media to push political and other agendas at home and abroad and to deny opponents the same platform. Some believe political power and corporate interests already control and lead the largest media institutions. How independent are we? Are the media reporting all sides of the story without fear or favor? What is the role of the media in maintaining freedom of speech and safeguarding its integrity, and how can it avoid lapsing into propaganda and political manipulation?

Moderator: Faisal Al Kasim – Host of "The Opposite Direction" - Al Jazeera
Panelists:
· Martin Bell- former BBC Foreign Correspondent and UNICEF Ambassador
· Christopher Dickey, Middle East Regional Editor and Paris Bureau Chief, Newsweek
Magazine
· Amy Goodman- Executive Producer and Host, Democracy Now!
· Belal Al Hassan- Columnist, Al Sharq Al Awsat
· Muhammad Al Musfir- Lecturer, Qatar University
· Joseph Samaha- Editor, Al Safir- Lebanon

11:00 – 12:30 Listen! Voice of Youth
What do young people expect from the media and what do they believe are its responsibilities toward youth and toward society at large? What do young people see when they turn on the television, and what do they feel is missing? How important are new forms of media to them? Youth leaders from around the world will give their opinions on what they expect the role of the media to be and how this sector can respond to their needs. The panel will offer leaders in the media sector a chance to hear the ideas and hopes of representatives directly from the youth.

Moderator: Fairouz Zayani – News Presenter and Host of "Between the Lines," - Al Jazeera
Panelists:
· Shaden Abdul Rahman- Palestinian Blogger- Jordan
· Muhammad Ghozlan, Student Leader and Media Maker- Egypt
· Joslyn Massad – Founder, National Arab American Journalist's Association - USA
· Jamal Al Shayyal- Member, National Executive Committee, National Union of Students-
Britain
· Vuyiswa Tulelo- Commissioner, National Youth Commission- South Africa

Thursday February 2nd, 2006
14:30 – 16:00 Al Jazeera in the Mirror
A critical study on the case of Al Jazeera. Participants will analyze the experience of Al Jazeera and how satellite channels have transformed communications and access to information in the Middle East. They will also analyze the impact of Al Jazeera on the Arab
political scene, as well as the presumed role of Arab media in the current unstable political reality.

Moderator: Martin Bell – Former BBC Correspondent and UNICEF Ambassador
Panelists:
· Dawud Kuttab- Director, Al Quds University and Amman Net
· Hugh Miles- Author, Al Jazeera- How Arab TV News Challenged the World
· Lawrence Pintek- Director, Adham Center for Electronic Journalism and Author,
Reflections in a Bloodshot Lens
· Noami Sakr- Senior Lecturer, University of Westminster and Author of Satellite Realms
· Mahmud Shammam- Bureau Chief, Dar Al Watan and Newsweek Arabic
· Mostefa Souag- Director, Al Jazeera Center for Research and Studies
· Steve Tatham- Author, Losing Hearts and Minds: Al Jazeera, the Coalition, and Muslim Public Opinion