Civic space is wherever people organize, participate, protest, or communicate with each other to influence the political and social structures around them. Protecting it is our highest priority.
Press Freedom and Civic Space
On this World Press Freedom Day, let’s think about our information climate, where the media fit in, and what this means for the rest of us.
Journalists provide essential access to reliable, accessible, and accurate information that helps us all make the decisions that shape our lives – and the societies we live in. They also work to counter the scourge of disinformation that often escalates during times of crisis.
The media’s important work defending information integrity is often carried out alongside and with support from civil society organisations, and it is needed now more than ever to protect civic space from the escalating assaults on it.
To protect civic space, we must demand press freedom.
Featured Articles
Organisations express indignation and deep sorrow at the murder of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira
We stand in solidarity, first of all, with the families and loved ones of the most recent victims of Brazil’s escalating violence. We know our sorrow will not be enough to lessen the pain, and we stand with you in the pursuit of justice and reparations.
Open Letter: On the State of Freedom of Expression and Civic Space in Turkey
The case against journalist Erol Önderoğlu and his co-defendants – postponed yet again this week, until October 2022 – is indicative of the much larger issue of how civic space is being actively and systematically constrained in Turkey.
Human Rights Organizations demand immediate freedom for Cuban artists Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel Castillo Pérez, who face persecution due to their pro-democracy activities
Over a dozen human and civil rights organizations have called for the immediate release of Cuban artists Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel “Osorbo” Pérez, who stood trial on May 30 and 31 on trumped-up charges and have been detained since the summer of 2021.
Turkey: 16 media workers jailed under pre-trial arrest
A court in Diyarbakır ordered the arrests of the 16 on 15 June. The specifics of the charges are unclear due to a gag order on the investigation, but all those detained were questioned about their journalistic activities.
Office 365 and working from home: Is your boss spying on you?
“Imagine your performance at work was assessed directly from the amount of e-mails sent, the amount of time consumed editing a document, or the time spent in meetings or even moving your mouse. This may sound ludicrous but your boss might be doing exactly that.”
Stories by MFWA’s journalism fellows are holding authorities to account in Ghana
Young journalists taking part in MFWA’s five-month intensive investigative journalism fellowship produced compelling content holding authorities to account in Ghana.
