Access to reliable, diverse, and independent information is essential to democracy. Yet, as digital platforms transform the way people communicate, access information and participate in public debate, the conditions for protecting media freedom and freedom of expression are changing rapidly.
To explore these challenges, the Global Campus of Human Rights is launching a new four-week MOOC on Media, Democracy and Human Rights, running from 2 to 29 November 2026. Enrolment opens on 28 October.
The course examines the role of information and independent media in democratic societies, the legal frameworks protecting freedom of expression, and the opportunities and risks of today’s digital landscape. It also explores possible ways forward, reflecting on how emerging approaches to digital governance, evolving journalistic practices and media literacy can help address these challenges and foster informed public debate.
Understanding the challenges facing democracy
Social media and digital technologies have expanded opportunities for communication and access to information. At the same time, algorithmic content curation, disinformation, political polarisation and declining public trust raise important questions about the quality and diversity of public debate.
Through a human rights perspective, the MOOC invites participants to examine these developments and consider what is needed to safeguard media freedom, pluralism and democratic participation.
The programme is organised around four thematic areas:
- Week 1 — Information, expression and democracy: why access to information, open dialogue and free, independent and pluralistic media matter.
- Week 2 — The international legal framework: legal protections and limitations concerning freedom of expression and media freedom.
- Week 3 — The digital media ecosystem: how digital transformation is reshaping information, media pluralism and freedom of expression.
- Week 4 — Ways forward: digital governance, the evolving role of media and opportunities for civic participation.
An international team of lecturers and experts
The MOOC brings together lecturers and experts working across human rights, law, media and digital policy: Manfred Nowak, Anja Mihr, George Ulrich, Wiebke Lamer, Nasri Messarra, Marius Dragomir, Marystella Simiyu and Vladimir Cortés Roshdestvensky.
Their contributions offer participants diverse perspectives on the relationship between media and democracy, exploring issues ranging from freedom of expression and media independence to the consequences of digital transformation, information disorder and the evolving role of journalism in the age of AI.
The course is designed for students, journalists, researchers, human rights practitioners, civil society professionals and anyone interested in understanding how media and information shape democratic life.
Enrolment opens on 28 October 2026.
Explore the course and enrol
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