Spokesperson at The United Nations Office of the Special Envoy for Syria
Jenifer Fenton
Journalist, Media Advisor | Switzerland
Short Bio:
Jenifer Fenton has been the Spokesperson at the United Nations Office of the Special Envoy for Syria since May 2019. Previously, she worked for Al Jazeera in Doha and New York, and CNN in Atlanta, Jerusalem, London, and Abu Dhabi holding various senior positions. Ms. Fenton also worked for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Palestine, and the UN Refugee Agency in New York. With 16 years in the television news industry, she has won several major industry news awards, including multiple Peabody Awards. Jenifer Fenton also played a pivotal role in opening the CNN Abu Dhabi bureau and was also the Senior Planning Producer overseeing the Middle East for all CNN networks worldwide. She held the Yale Poynter Fellow-in-Residence for the 2017–18 academic year.
Event: SDGs Conference 2024 | Date: Sept 25, 2024 |
SPEECH
Information Integrity on Digital Platforms and Mainstream Media explores the critical role that journalists and media play in addressing the most pressing global challenges we face today. It is clear that the role of journalism has never been more vital, whether it is covering conflict, protecting freedoms, ensuring transparency and governance, or in shaping the public discourse that drives global action. Journalists and media outlets are more than just conveyors of information. They are vital pillars of truth, accountability, and democracy. Their role is particularly crucial as we navigate an increasing number of complex global challenges. As we have just been discussing during earlier sessions of the SDGs Conference, world leaders have just adopted a pact for the future that includes a global digital compact as well. This compact is not only about advancing technology but also about ensuring that this progress aligns with the protection of fundamental rights. From closing, digital divides to fostering a safe, inclusive, and secure digital space. These efforts seek to balance innovation with responsibility. This initiative also highlights the importance of addressing issues such as misinformation, cybercrime, and the need for equitable access to digital tools and information. The compact also notes that Sustainable Development Goal 16 emphasizes the role of media and promoting peace, justice, and strong institutions.
Panel Session 2 focuses on five key themes: 1) Journalists in humanitarian crisis and human rights reporting noting the essential role that accurate and unbiased information plays in exposing human rights violations and influencing international policy. 2) Building sustainable and resilient media outlets: how we can empower journalists, including through secure digital platforms, and how to sustain independent media in the face of financial and digital challenges. 3) Combating misinformation and disinformation addressing the rise of information pollution. 4) Defending election integrity in an AI-dominated media landscape as AI becomes more prevalent in shaping media narratives. 5) The global crisis of press freedom with increasing threats to press freedom the journalists face around the world, including persecution, censorship, and even exile.