UNESCO World Press Freedom lecture to tackle NZ media challenges
The UNESCO World Press Freedom lecture will be livestreamed here tonight - Tuesday 6 May.
Media researcher and commentator Dr Gavin Ellis will tackle the challenges of media freedom in a developed nation such as New Zealand in the second annual UNESCO World Press Freedom Day lecture in Auckland tomorrow night (Tuesday 6 May).
Dr Ellis will be speaking as part of a global series of events marking Press Freedom Day on May 3 with a theme of Media Freedom for a Better Future – shaping the post 2015 development agenda.
His address at AUT University on Tuesday evening (6 May) is entitled “No-one died covering celebrity news”.
He warns about the “fundamental danger in taking freedom for granted” in New Zealand and argues for a return to responsible journalism values.
Dr Ellis is a former editor-in-chief of The New Zealand Herald and a weekly commentator about media issues on Radio New Zealand National. He was chairman of the New Zealand Media Freedom Committee and recipient of the British Commonwealth Astor Press Freedom Award in 2005.
He is the author of Trust Ownership and the Future of News: Media Moguls and White Knights to be published in London in June.
At the UNESCO lecture, he will also engage with the audience in a discussion of the issues raised.
The discussion will be moderated by New Zealand National Commission of UNESCO board member Trish Carter.
The event has been organised by the National Commission in partnership with AUT’s Pacific Media Centre.
The inaugural lecture last year was delivered by Dr Mark Pearson, professor of journalism and social media at Griffith University, Queensland.
When: Tuesday, May 6, 5.30-7.30pm.
Where: Sir Paul Reeves Building, Lecture Theatre WG126, Mayoral Drive
Light refreshments available.
For more information please contact:
PMC Professor David Robie david.robie@aut.ac.nz or 0211122079
NZ National Commission for UNESCO Susan Isaacs Susan.Isaacs@minedu.govt.nz