
The onslaught of false news against real news is unprecedented. In the Middle East, an alarming trend of people doubting published news is overwhelming, Mohammed Komani, Thomson mentor and coach for Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ).
In a debate organised by Thomson Foundation and co-hosted with Reporters Without Borders to mark World Press Freedom Day, Mohammed, a mentor on our Connect 6 programme, said mis and disinformation had a big impact on the work of journalists he trained with ARIJ.
As an organisation we are doubling up our skills to have fact-checkers to help ensure everything is verified and documented, he added.
Responding to how this verification process delays their work he said, Its a challenge but they have to take their time to verify information to escape these kinds of rumours against journalists publishing fake news.
Mohammed was taking part in the discussion The Media Siege: how the tools of repression have changed with fellow panellists, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Ewen MacAskill and Rebecca Vincent, Director of Programmes and Campaigns for Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF).
2023 World Press Freedom Index RSF published its annual index on the state of media freedom in 180 countries on World Press Freedom Day which revealed seven out of ten countries to be in a bad situation with an unprecedented 31 countries deemed to be in a very serious situation .
Pointing out that each year has its significant rises and falls, Rebecca highlighted some of the positive and negative instances.
The change in leadership in Brazil played an active role in the rise of the countrys rankings.
After many years of talks about the rise of the strongman model, she said. Figures like Jair Bolsonaro's departure and the return of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva moved Brazil 18 places in the rankings.
In Turkey, the active crackdown and targeting of journalists and media organisations lead to its drop in rankings.
Twenty-five Turkish journalists remain detained, she said. Resulting in a drop of 16 places to 165th on the index.
With all eyes on Iran and the protest that broke out in August 2022, more journalists were targeted. Twenty-five journalists remain jailed today, she added. But 70 were targeted, detained at some point in the months following Mahsa Aminis death.
Artificial Intelligence The rapid developments in Artificial Intelligence were highlighted in the press index and during the debate. Rebecca also reiterated the need for the industry to find solutions fast to ensure the protection of quality and independent ethical journalism.
Mohammed agreed AI was one of the challenges journalists now faced. We have to ensure good journalism as we benefit from new technologies, he stressed.
Surveillance is increasingly seen as a tool of repression against journalists.
Recalling his involvement in sensitive projects like the Panama Papers, Mohammed revealed that he did not put his name to six of the investigations in which he was involved to protect his family and himself.
He offered practical steps for journalists to ensure their safety advising them that, the first step is to check your mobile phone, your laptop, encrypting all your documents, emails, messages as well as operating in a safer environment.
Ewen MacAskill was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his work on the revelations about mass surveillance from US National Security Agency contractor and former CIA official Edward Snowden. When he first met the whistle blower in Hong Kong, Snowden told him to turn off his smartphone and lock it in the fridge in his hotel room.
I wasnt aware at that point a mobile phone was basically a speaker, and anyone could easily activate it and listen, he said.
Legal crackdown Media freedom can be achieved through the enforcement of laws, but increasingly the law is being used to try to silence journalists. Libel and defamation laws were the favoured choice to use against journalists but recently that's changed.
Ewen described how governments attempt to intimidate journalists using charges such as irresponsible breaches of national security.
One of the commonest things you see in some countries is not just about jailing people, or torturing or killing, sometimes the law is keener than that, he said. For some journalists, they end up in a form of self-censorship to avoid getting into more trouble or leave journalism all together
Mohammed described how one particular law is used against journalists, forcing them into silence.
There is something called pre-trial detention law, which allows authorities to hold journalists before arraigning them before court every 15 days, he said. Resulting in some journalists spending 4 years without knowing what is going on.
Going forward both Mohammed and Rebecca said that there was a growing need to help financially support journalists under threat including those living in exile. Ewen emphasised the need for transparency, saying the way to combat disinformation is for journalist to be more open about their sources.
Enjoy the full discussion.
-- Play
-- --
The Media Siege: how the tools of repression have changed
A debate to mark World Press Freedom Day 2023
Celebrating 60 years Sixty years after it was founded,Thomson Foundation - now joined by the Berlin based Thomson Media, continues to innovate. Our blended approach to life-long learning supports and inspires journalists and media organisations worldwide because - journalism matters.
Explore our projects across the globe
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
07/10/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the latest Long-Term Supported (LTS) release of Dalet Flex. Build...
06/09/2026
June 9 2026, 23:00 (PDT) Dolby and MagentaTV Bring Fans Closer to the FIFA Worl...
01/09/2026
Bridge Technologies will announce at IBC2026 (Booth 1.A71) that its VB440 produc...
01/09/2026
DAZN has announced an agreement to acquire EverPass Media, a commercial sports distribution platform serving bars, restaurants, hotels, and other venues in the ...
01/09/2026
The USTA and Kalshi have announced a multi-year partnership making Kalshi the Official Prediction Market Partner of the US Open, beginning with the 2026 US Open...
01/09/2026
MASV will exhibit at IBC2026 (Booth 5.B40, RAI Amsterdam, September 11-14). CTO Majed Alhajry will appear on a panel session, A Tale of Two Feeds: Automation o...
01/09/2026
FingerWorks Telestrators has announced a partnership with Broadcast Rental to ex...
01/09/2026
FOR-A has announced the expansion of viztrick AiDi into two dedicated products: Go Vertical! AiDi and AiDi Sports Hub. Developed by Nippon TV and delivered glob...
01/09/2026
Sony Pictures Television has launched Live TV on PS5, a free ad-supported streaming experience available to PS5 players in the United States. The service is acc...
01/09/2026
Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin has installed a Riedel production infrastructure spanning video, intercom, control, and I/O across the venue, implemented in col...
01/09/2026
Arkona technologies GmbH has announced an OEM partnership with BFE Studio und Medien Systeme GmbH to offer arkona-branded control panels for its SDI-IP routing ...
01/09/2026
Cricket Australia has launched Cricket TV, a direct-to-consumer streaming service built on Eluvio's Content Fabric platform. The service is currently in ear...
01/09/2026
Eluvio has announced it was selected to power Pasifika , a new direct-to-consume...
01/09/2026
Layercake, the company behind the intelligent media workflow platform Streamcake, has appointed Jon Marquard as Director and Chairperson. The appointment marks ...
01/09/2026
Gravity Media has announced a multi-year renewal of its agreement with Stawell Gift Event Management to produce the complete broadcast of the Powercor Stawell G...
01/09/2026
Beam Dynamics will exhibit at IBC2026 for the first time (Stand 14.FT29, Hall 14), introducing License Intelligence, a new module for managing software licenses...
01/09/2026
Interra Systems has announced that ZOO Digital has selected BATON for file-based quality control across its media workflows. ZOO Digital delivers localized ente...
01/09/2026
Bridge Technologies has announced the deployment of its VB330 monitoring probe at Sunrise, supporting the Swiss telecommunications provider's IP-based telev...
01/09/2026
Riedel Communications has announced the continued expansion of its managed coach communications partnership with Scottish Rugby Union, now entering its third se...
01/09/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, includ...
01/09/2026
SMPTE today detailed the centerpiece of its IBC2026 program: the SMPTE Roadshow: Future of Media Infrastructure, a full-day workshop on Monday, 14 September, th...
01/09/2026
Inside the Music and Sound of Michael
Sound Particles have announced an upcoming webinar with John Warhurst, the Academy Award- and BAFTA-winning supervisin...
01/09/2026
Piano offers tutorials, lessons & feedback via app
Roland have just launched a new digital piano that integrates with a mobile app in an effort to encourage...
01/09/2026
Update introduces 7.1.4 support via Dante
Trinnov have just announced a software update that will allow Nova units with eight licensed Optimizer channels to...
01/09/2026
SBS secures exclusive rights to FIFA World Cup 2030
1 September, 2026
Media releases
Major sports rights deal ensures all Australians will be able to view...
01/09/2026
SBS announces the launch of outcomes-based measurement across its network
1 September, 2026
Media releases
New offer sees national broadcaster put outcomes...
01/09/2026
Revealed: The Booster Economy' how $140bn+ in everyday inheritances'...
01/09/2026
SBS census explorer to provide new insights into contemporary Australia
1 September, 2026
Media releases
The 2026 Census Explorer will give marketers new i...
01/09/2026
SBS and oOh!media launch exclusive SBS News content partnership across office, a...
01/09/2026
SBS offers marketers greater reach with extension into outdoor, creator economy ...
01/09/2026
SBS and The Guardian join forces to supersize sustainability challenge for 2027
1 September, 2026
Media releases
SBS Media and Guardian Australia have join...
01/09/2026
SBS goes deeper in 2027 with provocative Australian documentaries, star-studded ...
01/09/2026
Amazon MGM Studios have commissioned a new thrilling 6-part drama, Crouch End, b...
01/09/2026
New York August 31, 2026 Nielsen is announcing four new local methodology enhancements that will be activated into Local TV currency data starting today, Au...
01/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/09/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
01/09/2026
Pronology, a developer of cutting-edge broadcast workflow solutions, showcases the newest capabilities for its StreamFile Core platform at the 2026 IBC Show (S...
01/09/2026
PROTON Unveils Next-Generation FLEXY Camera at IBC 2026
Brie Clayton September 1, 2026
0 Comments
10-metre serialised coax unlocks new perspectives an...
01/09/2026
Hulu Drama The Season Graded with DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton September 1, 2026
0 Comments
Senior Colorist Mark Kueper of Picture Shop crafts ...
01/09/2026
Pluxbox Launches CoreOC to Transform Mission-Critical Media Operations
Brie Clayton September 1, 2026
0 Comments
A vendor-agnostic operational control l...
01/09/2026
Layercake, the company behind the intelligent media workflow platform Streamcake, today announced the appointment of Jon Marquard as Director and Chairperson. T...
01/09/2026
Actus Digital, a LiveU company, will unveil the next generation of its Actus X platform at IBC2026 on LiveUs Stand 7.C24, demonstrating how broadcasters can sim...
01/09/2026
Broadcast Solutions, a leading systems integrator and provider of innovative solutions for the broadcast media industry, delivered transformational technology a...
01/09/2026
Quortex, the intelligent video technology company carved out from Synamedia by Lumine Group, today announced that Odisha Television Network (OTV), the leading r...