As the pandemic sweeps through countries, access to information is critical in efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19. However, some governments have enforced restrictions on both digital and traditional media such as Internet restrictions and shutdowns of newspaper outlets, television and radio stations which prevent many people from accessing vital information about how to protect themselves against the virus.

Internet restrictions on the grounds of security cannot be justified during a global health emergency. Information is key in the fight against COVID-19: connections should be restored in all communities and, where possible, states and businesses should work together to reduce data costs. This will enable people to connect to the internet and share essential knowledge.

Join the Consortium for Human Rights and Media in Africa Members for our first webinar on a discussion on these and many more.

When: Wednesday, 06 May, 2020,

Time: 13:00 (Johannesburg) (11am GMT)

Please register below for this session and we will send you the joining link for the webinar.

Journalists around the world are grappling with the biggest story of their lifetimes. The task raises many challenges: how to deal with a highly complex subject where even the experts don’t have all the answers?

Head of Wits Journalism, Franz Kruger unpacks this question and more with Chiara Carter, editor of the Daily Dispatch; Muthoki Mumo, Sub-Saharan Africa representative of the Committee to Protect Journalists and Katy Katopodis, news director of Newzroom Afrika.

Watch the full webinar here.