04 May 2009
Ambassador Stewart Discusses U.S. Support for Independent Media
CO.NX webchat transcript, May 4
Ambassador Karen Stewart, a career member of State Department’s senior foreign service, discussed the United States’ support for the free flow of information and ideas in a May 4 CO.NX webchat.
Following is the transcript:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of International Information Programs
Webchat Transcript
CO.NX Webchat: U.S. Support for Independent Journalism
Guest: Ambassador Karen Stewart
Date: May 4, 2009
Time: 12:00 p.m. EDT (1600 GMT)
CO.NX Moderator (Marie): Please join us for four webchats during the week of May 4 to commemorate World Press Freedom Day. Feel free to submit your questions now. Look through the presentation and include the name of the speaker you would like to answer your question. Our webchats kick off on Monday, May 4 at 16:00.
CO.NX Moderator (Mark): Welcome to today's Webchat! We will begin posting answers at 1600GMT. Today's webchat guest is Ambassador Karen Stewart.
CO.NX Moderator (Mark): We are taking your questions now, welcome to the webchat. Ambassador Stewart will join us at 16:00GMT.
CO.NX Moderator (Kristin): Welcome! We will begin at the top of the hour with Ambassador Stewart.
CO.NX Moderator (Kristin): Please continue submitting your questions. Once added to the queue, they will appear in red.
CO.NX Moderator (Kristin): Today we will be discussing U.S. support for independent media. We look forward to your comments and questions.
CO.NX Moderator (Kristin): Ambassador Stewart has just joined us. We'll begin shortly.
Ambassador Stewart: Hi! Sorry to be late. I'm Ambassador Karen Stewart and I'm pleased to join President Obama and Secretary Clinton in marking World Press Freedom Day.
Ambassador Stewart: On May 1, President Obama issued a statement calling World Press Freedom Day one “in which we celebrate the indispensable role played by journalists in exposing abuses of power, while we sound the alarm about the growing number of journalists silenced by death or jail as they attempt to bring daily news to the public.”
Ambassador Stewart: Secretary Clinton has said, “We live in a world where the free flow of information and ideas is a powerful force for progress.”
Question [Mjellma Doli]: What is the importance of independent media?
Answer [Ambassador Stewart]: Independent media is a bedrock of democracy and economic development. It allows the free exchange of ideas and opinions, shines a light on corruption and abuse of power. This freedom of expression is what allows the people to control their form of government.
Q [sarra]: is media's role as a watchdog becoming more and more powerful?
A [Ambassador Stewart]: Yes, the media’s role as an independent watchdog is an important and powerful one. Not surprisingly, members of the media who courageously expose abuses of power through their reporting often become targets of persecution. We stand in solidarity with them.
Comment [cairoirc@state.gov]: In your opinion press freedom improve society or it can be the opposite
A [Ambassador Stewart]: Press freedom – the free flow of information and ideas -- is essential to the healthy functioning of any society and to accountability in government. As Secretary Clinton said today, an independent press exposes abuses of authority, fights corruption, challenges assumptions, and provides a constructive outlet for new ideas and dissent.” Free media is essential to creating the climate of transparency and accountability necessary to sustain development.
Q [Sun Maker]: I saw in face book a event called Is the Economic Downturn a Threat to Journalism?
A [Ambassador Stewart]: This event will take place May 7 at 13:00 GMT. Should be an interesting discussion of the intersection of business and journalism.
Q [Fanja Saholiarisoa]: I want to ask question for Ambassador Stewart: how can a journalist have support from the US government to learn more about this independance in media. You should offer more trainings in that.
A [Ambassador Stewart]: Support for independent media is a major focus of my bureau's assistance programs. USAID and other USG programs also work with independent media. Currently my bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor has several programs in many regions to train journalists. For example, in advance of the September 2008 Parliamentary elections in Angola, a DRL grantee provided training to 38 journalists to strengthen their capacity to provide representative and responsible media coverage and to promote peaceful participation in upcoming elections. The majority of the trainees reported that they had never received training on how to cover elections before!
Q [guest]: how should the press follow press freedom once it conflicts with the national interest?
A [Ambassador Stewart]: Let me be clear: it is in the fundamental national interest of the United States that we have a free press, and I believe that applies to other countries and free societies also. A free press safeguards our democracy by helping our citizens stay informed. That said, on occasion, members of the press and government officials alike confront and grapple with real dilemmas as to whether making some kinds of information public could actually pose a risk to public safety or the national security. In such cases, tough questions of both journalistic ethics and the law can come into play, and journalists and officials alike have sobering responsibilities to think through and to shoulder. That said, our accountable, democratic system of checks and balances, and the vibrancy of our media and the independence of our courts work to ensure that the government does not invoke national security as an excuse to stifle freedom of expression, silence criticism or suppress inconvenient information. In most cases, the bright light of free flow of information and opinion is the best safeguard.
Q [TiaCuTe]: What's your significant action to permit media being independent?
A [Ambassador Stewart]: Thanks for the question. In accordance with the objectives of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the U.S. strongly supports media freedom around the world through our public statements in support of persecuted journalists, through our diplomacy with other governments and at the UN and other international bodies, and through our funding of programs that help to professionally train journalists all around the world. For example, my own bureau funded a non-governmental organization that produced a program in Cambodia which conducted radio broadcasts for a general audience and youth on democracy and human rights, including such topics as civic participation, national elections, women and leadership, and youth and violence. The broadcasts sparked over 200 listening clubs, led youth organizations to meet regularly, and stimulated over 5,000 interactions through phone calls, SMS, and letters.
Q [ekounda olivier 3]: has she ever talk to the president,
A [Ambassador Stewart]: I haven't yet had the occasion to speak personally to President Obama although I was in his first meeting with about two hundred people here at State Department. In my job, I am able more often to meet with Secretary Clinton.
Q [Ahmed Aly]: With a great respect to you, do you think that we believe your lies and propaganda about "Freedom of speech", “human rights”, and "Democracy"?
A [Ambassador Stewart]: I think this very exchange demonstrates freedom of expression. USG officials are expected to discuss issues even with critics of our country. But I believe very deeply in the universality of fundamental human rights of which freedom of expression is key.
Q [TG]: What about new journalists like bloggers? How will US support new journalists in China, Iran, other place?
A [Ambassador Stewart]: Our assistance programs include internet access and training, and initiatives to support global internet freedom against official censorship. The new journalists on the internet are growing in numbers and influence. Sometimes they are the best way to share information in closed societies, especially with youth. Unfortunately, bloggers are increasingly subject to persecution. The Committee to Protect Journalists 2008 Prison Census report reported that for the first time the largest group of journalists behind bars were internet writers.
CO.NX Moderator (Kristin): We see your questions coming in. The Ambassador is reviewing them now. Thank you for your patience.
Q [Lara]: What do you see as a mechanism for allowing the free flow of information while guarding against misinformation (such as wrong information about the spread of the H1N1 virus) in this age of Twitter and a perhaps shorter attention span of people looking for the latest (accurate) news?
A [Ambassador Stewart]: A lot of responsibility falls on the reader to look at different sources of information and compare. I admit to being cautious about the first information that comes out quickly in a crisis. Take a little time to reflect.
Q [Rondo]: The US has a very biased media and it's not very outward looking for the most part. Isn't this dangerous too when it comes to the way US deals with other countries?
A [Ambassador Stewart]: Some of the protection against bias in media anywhere is to have a number of competing sources with different editorial points of view. The U.S. is a large country and our media respond to the interests of their areas - papers in bigger cities may do more international news, for example. But, in general, I would encourage Americans to read and travel and learn more about other countries. Obviously, I enjoy that or I would not have joined the Foreign Service.
Q [Ahmed Aly]: Does the American administration has a "hidden agenda" behind the campaign of supporting independent media in the world, specially in Egypt and other middle east's countries? Are you doing it to press on our governments? I am from Cairo, Egypt, by the way.
A [Ambassador Stewart]: There's no "hidden agenda" in our support for independent media. We do it because it's a fundamental freedom in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and because we think it helps build stronger democracies and free economies.
Q [guest]: how is situation with human rights in belarus now?
A [Ambassador Stewart]: This is a broader question than just independent media, but I do continue to follow Belarus after my assignments there. Last fall, there were some positive steps by the authorities including allowing distribution of two independent newspapers nationally, but we still seek a more open political and economic system, including a free environment for non-state media.
Comment [journalism]: I am working in a USAID project to enchance local media in governorates,, still I think there is no much attention to their power and little support, knowing that independant media should start by decentralizing itself, with good governance,, we establish a local media association which needs support to make their voices heared in Qena
A [Ambassador Stewart]: Good for you. Local media associations can be a good forum for strengthening journalistic professionalism and ethics as well as making the media's voice stronger. We should look at this model for other places.
Ambassador Stewart: I want to thank everyone for joining this webchat. It's been my first try on this forum and I've enjoyed it very much. I'm sorry I couldn't answer all the questions but my hour is up. I hope you will log in on the other days this week to exchange views with the other presenters in honor of World Press Freedom Day. Goodbye.
CO.NX Moderator (Kristin): Thank you so much for your time, Ambassador Stewart. And thanks to all who joined us today! We hope you will join us tomorrow at 0900 EDT (1300 GMT) for a chat with Deborah Potter to discuss the question: Is Independent Journalism Possible?
Ahmed Aly: Good bye!
guest: thanks
CO.NX Moderator (Kristin): This chat is now closed.
(end transcript)
