On Sunday, a delegation from the International Press Institute (IPI) will be travelling to Lebanon to meet with journalists and editors from a broad range of Lebanese media outlets, as well as political leaders, government officials, and local press freedom advocates, to discuss the current press freedom climate.
Although the media in Lebanon is diverse, dynamic, and freer than in any other Arab country, there are still concerns about excessive political influence over the media landscape, and self-censorship.
A number of journalists have also been murdered and assaulted in Lebanon in recent decades. Unfortunately, the murderers have benefited from impunity.
The IPI press freedom mission to Lebanon will highlight these and other media freedom concerns.
“IPI’s strength as an organisation that has existed for 59 years is that it meets not just the media but also key decisionmakers who can bring about real change,” said IPI Director David Dadge. “The Lebanese media is one of the most vibrant in the region and we are hoping that through our discussions with all parties we can help stress the vital role of a free and independent media.”
The delegation travelling to Beirut will include David Dadge, IPI Director, Anthony Mills, IPI Press Freedom & Press and Communications Manager, and Naomi Hunt, Press Freedom Adviser for Africa and the Middle East.
A press conference at the close of the mission is planned for the afternoon of Thursday, 22 October at Le Commodore Meridien hotel in Beirut.
Anthony Mills
Press & Communications Manager
International Press Institute (IPI)
Spiegelgasse 2/29
A-1010 Vienna
Austria
Tel: + 43 1 512 9011
Fax: + 43 1 512 9014
Cell: + 43 676 963 8315
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.freemedia.at