Learning Call: Coordinating policy and advocacy working groups (Aug.2024)

Advocating for media freedom and public interest journalism: Coordinating policy and advocacy working groups

Date: 28 August, 15.00h - 16.30h CEST (GMT+2)

Location: Zoom Room - Registration Link available here.

In advance of the meeting, we would also appreciate if you could fill this “ice-breaker” form to help us shape the conversation and assist us with the mapping of advocacy and policy initiatives around the world.

Objective

The objective of this learning call, the first in a series on this topic, is to share experiences, best practices, and challenges faced in coordinating policy and advocacy work and working groups, specifically focusing on media freedom and public interest journalism. The call aims to enhance collaboration and strategic planning among different organisations and stakeholders involved in these advocacy efforts. We will review the impact and lessons learned from existing initiatives to discuss what is needed to create and sustain an advocacy and policy work and coordination groups, and explore how to stay updated on the initiatives we aim to address. We will also discuss improvements for existing groups and new opportunities, for example, in digital governance, to advocate for media freedom and public interest journalism from national arenas to international and global fora.

This learning call will be followed by a subsequent session with donors on September 6, to further discuss coordination and amplification of advocacy efforts (see the information here)

Why is GFMD organising this learning call?

By facilitating this discussion, GFMD aims to enhance collaboration and strategic planning among its members and stakeholders, ensuring their collective efforts are more effective and impactful. This call will also help review the impact of existing policy and advocacy groups, identify what is needed to create and sustain new groups, and explore opportunities to influence digital governance and other processes affecting media and journalism. Ultimately, the goal is to strengthen local and regional organisations to engage in national and international policy fora, advocating for media freedom and public interest journalism from national to global levels.

Questions for discussion

1. What upcoming policy and advocacy areas are you going to be focussing on for the next year?

   1. National level:

   2. Regional level (2 or more countries):

   3. Global level:

2. What would be a useful strategy to support you and other organisations with their advocacy and policy work and address challenges such as competing priorities, limited resources, and time constraints? Examples (would they work, :

   1. Shared platform(s) to share resources (how would that look like?)

   2. Recurring briefing sessions to exchange insights, updates and advocacy and policy tools.

   3. Engage donors to address the gaps identified and align funding with policy and advocacy priorities.

3. What strategies have you found most effective in coordinating advocacy and policy work with diverse stakeholders? How did you measure impact?