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An open and free Internet is widely seen as essential to journalists to both conduct their reporting and to disseminate their work. But a worsening trend of authoritarian and illiberal governments moving to erect digital firewalls and cut off Internet access, particularly during times of natural disaster or political crisis, is imperiling the ability of large swaths of the global population to stay informed and for journalists to track critical news developments.

More countries than ever in 2022 saw Internet shutdowns, with at least 187 incidents documented across 35 countries, according to the digital rights group Access Now.

Join us from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 17, for a virtual panel discussion that will delve deep into the worrying spread of Internet kill switches and what it specifically means for a free press. The program is being produced by the National Press Club’s Press Freedom Committee and nonprofit affiliate Journalism Institute in honor of Sunshine Week.

The panel will discuss:

Regional and national trends in the use of Internet shutdowns in places as diverse as India, Iran, Myanmar, and Turkey;
How Internet shutdowns differ from the more comprehensive control of firewalls favored by China and more recently Russia; and
What privately and publicly funded digital tools are available to help journalists and the general public circumvent Internet controls such as throttling and filters.

Confirmed panelists include:

Ksenia Ermoshina, a senior researcher at the Center for Internet and Society and Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto
Nat Kretchun, senior vice president for programs at the Open Technology Fund, part of the U.S. taxpayer-funded U.S. Agency for Global Media

More panelists to be announced soon.

"The first step to stop doing work that’s not worthwhile is to ask your staff regularly and often: What are you doing that you don’t think is a good use of your time, and why? ... Shedding low-impact work is just as much an accomplishment — and cause for celebration — as, say, launching a new product or reporting series, or winning an award. Giving up certain work doesn’t mean it was poorly done or never important, but that your audience’s needs are evolving. Doing this helps everyone become more aligned on mission-critical work."

-- American Press Institute report “A simple framework for deciding what to stop doing”

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This newsletter is written & edited by the National Press Club Journalism Institute staff: Beth Francesco and Holly Butcher Grant. Send us your questions and suggestions for topics to cover.

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The National Press Club Journalism Institute promotes an engaged global citizenry through an independent and free press, and equips journalists with skills and standards to inform the public in ways that inspire a more representative democracy. As the non-profit affiliate of the National Press Club, the Institute powers journalism in the public interest.