THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION OF JOURNALISM IN TUNIS, TUNISIA

500 journalists gathered in Tunis to discuss key media issue at the first “Assises Internationales du Journalisme” (International Convention of Journalism), in Tunis 

Representatives of the journalism profession from the Arab world, West Africa, and the European Union will discuss media issues with the Tunisian civil society and general public on until the 17 November 2018 at Cité de la Culture in Tunis. The aim is to promote  journalism that is useful to citizens and to formulate specific proposals to promote quality media content in all participating countries will be the focus of this first edition of the “Assises Internationales du Journalisme of Tunis, Tunisia financially and programmatically supported by the OPEN Media Hub implemented by the Thomson Foundation.

The Assises in Tunis are a regional continuation of the Assises Internationales du Journalisme of Tours, France, which for the last 12 years fostered debate among media and the public on the role of journalism in society. The thematic focus for the first Tunisian edition will be “Journalism Useful for Citizens” which participants will address in over 45 thematic panel discussions and public debates, four exhibitions, a book fair and over side events. The event will be held in French and Arabic.

To help set up this large event, the OPEN Media Hub has associated with the Tunisian Committee of the Assises, which brings together the Tunisian professional organisations, the Assises founding NGO Journalisme & Citoyenneté (Journalism & Civic Society), and CFI, the French Agency for Media Development, the International Union of the Francophone Press, Reporters without Borders, UNESCO through the EU project NET-MED Youth, Internews and Fondation Hirondelle. Watanayia TV, AFP and France Médias Monde are among media sponsors. 

A second edition of this biennial event is already planned for the autumn of 2020, on the occasion of the Summit of the Francophone countries’ Heads of State and in relation to the 39th Assises of the Francophone press.

- Youssef Chahed Prime Minister. ( in Arabic ):
“How to protect journalists and their sources ?, how to protect journalism from rumours and fake news ?, how to build and ethical and responsible journalism at the same time ?, how to protect democracy from hate speech and incitement ?, and how to make citizen become the core of the story “

Marc Saikali Director of France 24 - Arabic - French - English : (in Arabic):
“Citizens themselves know what and effective journalism means for them, citizens are now well educated and no one should think on behalf of them, no one should assume that citizens do not know”

- Jerome Bouvier Founder of the International Convention of Journalism (in French): 
“ Tunisia is the light in this whole area of the Mediterranean, even with all the difficulties and disappointments that our Tunisian colleagues face, we are still at the heart of the democratic debate, it was obvious for us that we had to hold the convention here”

-Dominique Thierry Thomson Foundation / Open media hub team leader (in English ):
“ While we do share a number of challenges on the both side of the Mediterranean the fact that this is taking place in Tunisia is to take into account that Tunisia after the Arab spring is the single one country south of the Mediterranean that truly managed to build up the framework for a freedom of the press”

• Ext: Cite de la Culture in Tunis, Tunisia
• Interior: Cite de la Culture in Tunis, Tunisia 
• Interviews