The 5th Annual Press Freedom Conference is a joint project by the Jerusalem Press Club and the Union of Journalists in Israel and will be held June 30, 2022 at the Menachem Begin Heritage Center in Jerusalem.
This year, the conference will be titled “The Truth, Center Stage,” and will focus on the need to produce quality journalism that strives to investigate the truth, through factfinding, crosschecking and verifying sources. Naturally, the conference will deal with the most important issues on the media agenda – coverage of the War in Ukraine; the tracking of journalists, political opposition members, and human rights activists using the NSO Group’s Pegasus Spy software; and today’s economic challenges posed to the profession as well as possible mechanisms to address them.
Our keynote speakers are Julie Pace, Executive Editor & Senior Vice President of the Associated Press, and Richard Gingras, Vice President of Google News. The event will be opened by the President of the State of Israel, Mr. Isaac Herzog, followed by the Uri Avnery Prize for Courageous Journalism ceremony.
Additional speakers featured include Israeli Communications Minister Mr. Yoaz Hendel, top journalists from Israeli outlets including editors-in-chief, and senior media researchers, journalists and leading social media figures from across the globe.
9:30- Reception
10:00- Greetings
Nurit Canetti, Chair, The Union of Journalists in Israel; Uri Dromi, Director General, The Jerusalem Press Club; Mr. Herzl Makov, President, The Menachem Begin Heritage Center
10:20- President’s Speech
President’s greeting – recorded broadcast: The President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog
10:30- Award Ceremony: The Uri Avneri Prize For Courageous Journalism
Award Ceremony: The Uri Avneri Prize for Courageous Journalism Award bestowed by 2021 prize winners, Or-ly Barlev and Gur Megiddo
11:00- IFAT Presentation
Presentation of research conducted by Ifat especially for the Conference
11:30- Break And Refreshments
12:00- Session 1: Journalism Under Fire
Accompanied by Ziv Koren’s photos taken during the war in Ukraine. Moderator: Dov Gilhar (Kan 11). Featuring: Thomas Grove, Wall Street Journal; Ziv Koren, Photojournalist; Eldad Beck, Israel Hayom; Hadas Grinberg, Kan 11; Achiya Schatz, Fake Reporter; Maxim Glikin, TV Rain
13:30- Lunch
14:30- The Pegasus Affair
Tal Shalev interviews Hungarian journalist Szabolcs Panyi, on his involvement in Project Pegasus (recorded broadcast)
14:45- Report From Mexico
Dr. Paloma Mendoza-Cortez (Mexico) on her research on national security, defense, intelligence, and private military issues (recorded broadcast)
14:55- PANEL: Journalists Under Surveillance
Moderator: Tehilla Shwartz Altshuler. Featuring: Ilana Dayan (Galatz) Amitai Ziv (Channel 12), Galit Hami (Calcalist), Tomer Lotan (DG, Ministry of Homeland Security)
16:00- Break And Refreshments
16:15- Keynote Speaker: Julie Paceote Speaker: Julie Pace, Executive Editor and Senior Vice President, The Associated Press (AP), USA
16:30- Panel Of Israeli Editors-In Chief
Hosted by Anat Sargusti. Featuring: David Horovitz (Times of Israel), Shlomo Kook (B’Kehila), Noa Landau (Haaretz), Firas Khatib (Radio Nas), Rotem Danon (Channel 13), Eran Tifenbrun (Walla! News) Orly Goldklang (Makor Rishon)
17:45- “One On One Interview” – Interview With Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel
18:15- Google News Presents:
Richard Gingras, Vice President, News, Google
18:45- Closing Remarks
