The S-INFO project is launching a series of university seminars in the four partner countries—Italy, Malta, Romania, and Belgium—dedicated to exploring the crucial relationship between journalism and democracy. These events will serve as a moment to collect inputs for our Manifesto for Sustainable Information and they will be part of our campaign “No Democracy Without Journalism”.
Journalism is an essential pillar of democratic societies, ensuring that citizens have access to reliable, fact-based information. Yet, independent journalism is under increasing threat—its credibility questioned, its funding eroded, and its practitioners often targeted by political and legal pressures. In an era dominated by digital misinformation and deepening polarization, the role of journalism in safeguarding democratic values has never been more vital. Through this campaign, the S-INFO project seeks to raise awareness among students, researchers, and the wider public about the necessity of a free and sustainable press.
The events will focus specifically on the following themes:
- Overcoming Polarization in Journalism: the focus will be on how independent journalism can strike a balance between two seemingly conflicting needs: on the one hand, countering the spread of fake news, with specific attention to the conspiratorial bent that often accompanies it; on the other hand, defending freedom of expression as an indispensable value. How can journalism act without resorting to censorship solutions and maintaining a critical and autonomous position will be explored.
- Neutrality versus activism: we will explore the dialectic between journalism’s (alleged) neutrality and the need for it to become an active participant in processes of social transformation. How journalism can be an engine of change without compromising its credibility and independence will be discussed
The events:
- S-INFO seminar in Malta: Major Challenges Facing Journalism in Malta and Europe, Wednesday, 26th March, from 5 PM to 7 PM at Ghollieqa Shed, Campus Hub, Msida, Malta – click here to learn more
- S-INFO seminar in Italy: No democracy without journalism – the role of journalism in today’s world, Thursday, 20th March, from 5 PM at the Padoan Lecture Hall of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice – click here to learn more
- S-INFO seminar in Belgium: Les défis du journalisme contemporain – no democracy without journalism, Monday 12th May from 9AM at the ISFSC, rue de la Poste 111, 1030 Schaerbeek – click here to learn more
- S-INFO seminar in Romania: No democracy without journalism, Tuesday, 15th April, at London House in Bucharest – click here to learn more