Amal Clooney is using her platform and experience to speak out about the state of journalism around the world and why we should be concerned. On September 28, the Clooney Foundation's Instagram shared a portion of her discussion with some of the biggest names in journalism at the University of Oxford about protecting freedom of the press.
© GettyAmal is a visiting professor and co-founder of the Oxford Institute of Technology and Justice. "Our topic tonight is: how can we protect freedom of the press?" she said after pointing out many in the audience were her students.
Before the conversation could even get going, Amal pointed out just how quickly things had changed. “I was looking at my notes and realized they all needed to be updated just from what's happened this week,” the human rights lawyer told the audience.
The 48-year-old highlighted several recent developments, including two podcasters who were reportedly barred from entering the United Kingdom before an appearance at Oxford, "basically because the government didn't like their opinions," protests in the Maldives following the arrest of journalists who "exposed alleged corruption and adultery" by the country's president, and the firing of veteran 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley from CBS after 37 years.
Amal explained that these incidents point to a much bigger problem. “These are, of course, not isolated incidents,” she said. “They are emblematic of trends that we're seeing in many countries all over the world and even in democracies.”
Amal has spent years working on cases involving freedom of expression, international law, human rights, and holding powerful people accountable. She also co-founded the Clooney Foundation for Justice with her famous husband, George Clooney, in 2016. The organization works to advance justice through accountability for human rights abuses and provides legal support to people whose rights have been violated.
The mother of twins has represented journalists who have faced prosecution and detention, including Nobel Peace Prize winner and Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, who was a part of the discussion with Reuters Editor-in-Chief Alessandra Galloni, Committee to Protect Journalists CEO Jodie Ginsberg and The Economist Editor-in-Chief Zanny Minton Beddoes. The prominent journalists have worked across different countries and media organizations with the common concern about independent journalism.
They discussed the challenges and what needs to happen to protect a free press, making it clear that this issue doesn't just affect journalists.
Why protecting journalism matters
© GettyWhen people think about threats to the press, they might imagine reporters being arrested, kicked out of press conferences, or news outlets being shut down.
But the attack on journalism can look like restrictions on what reporters can publish, intimidation, and interference that make it harder for them to do their jobs.
When journalists cannot freely investigate powerful people or report on issues that matter to the public, everyone loses access to information that helps them understand what's happening around them, who to hold accountable, and how to change it. It also makes it easier for governments, even democratic ones, to silence and hide issues.
