Festival Giornalisti del Mediterraneo, Edizione Numero 18

MEDITERRANEAN JOURNALISTS FESTIVAL, EDITION NUMBER 18

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS, ACQUIRED RIGHT? NOT ALWAYS

From September 1 to 4, Otranto will host the eighteenth edition of the Mediterranean Journalists Festival. Among the guests are the president of FNSI Vittorio di Trapani and freelance journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped last March in Baghdad.

Tommaso Forte, the festival's patron, explains: “Our festival has never stopped addressing issues of urgent importance.” Freedom of the press is at the center of the debate, a crucial topic in times of instability.

“Freedom of the press belongs to the citizens,” says Di Trapani. His presence on September 1 at the festival emphasizes the importance of dialogue between journalists and the public. “These events are essential to defend our freedoms and rights,” he adds.

Largo Porta Alfonsina, the established venue for the event, will host meetings with journalists, analysts, and writers, addressing topics such as geopolitical conflicts, environmental crises, and human rights. There will be particular focus on the need for a free and secure press.

Shelly Kittleson, who experienced the dramatic ordeal of being kidnapped, will share her testimony on September 4. Her experience highlights the risks that journalists face in critical areas, where distrust in the media is growing.

Kittleson warns: “To claim that there is no longer a need for journalists on the ground is dangerous.” The journalism profession requires commitment and risks, and misinformation undermines democracy. “These attitudes can make valuable information less accessible,” she concludes.

The Mediterranean Journalists Festival promises to be an important opportunity for reflection on freedom of the press and the crucial role of journalists in the current landscape.