Media’s Double-Edged Sword: Power, Influence, and Integrity
Note to get in the building - if there's not someone there to greet you - use the call box to the left of the door. Use the search box to find "3" - you'll see one entry. Press the call box and the door will unlock. Take the elevator to the third floor.
This session will explore media's power to drive social change and support the SDGs, while addressing risks to press freedom, the influence of commercial interests, and the challenge of maintaining integrity alongside financial sustainability. This conversation will explore media’s potential to shape public discourse and its vulnerabilities to external pressures.
Discussion Questions
- Media—from investigative journalism to social platforms—holds the power to drive social change and support the SDGs. Yet, as commercial pressures and advertising influence grow, how do we prevent harmful interests from exploiting media for negative purposes?
- What are the risks to press freedom?
- How can media maintain integrity while balancing financial sustainability?
Discussion Leaders
David Akana currently serves as the Director of Programs for Mongabay Africa, a member of the Global Commons Alliance's steering council, and a co-chair of the Strategic Communications group of the UN Oceans Decade.
Faisa Ali is the Social Media Lead at Mercy Corps, specializing in creating impactful content to amplify climate change and humanitarian initiatives through strategic communication and digital storytelling.
Giles Dean is the Global Director at BBC Studios, leading documentary-style series that explore how digital technologies address complex global challenges like disinformation, climate change, and data privacy.
Kelsey Flitter is the Founder and Head of Strategy at Rubi Group, a boutique communications and branding agency focused on sustainability sectors across the U.S. and Latin America.
Leah Tronel is the Director of Development at The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, bringing a background in grantmaking and a passion for using investigative journalism to spark meaningful change.
Nina Staer Nathan is the Founder & CEO of Sunflower Communications, leveraging a background in philosophy, digital marketing, and international development to help organizations tell their stories and amplify their social impact.