UEA sparks debate on free speech, media and power at Latitude

By: Communications

Three people seated on a sofa panel, with a blue screen saying 'LATITUDE The Listening Post', and a crowd of people seated under a festival tent

Broadcast Journalism students and academics from the University of East Anglia (UEA) brought a lively important discussion about free speech to a well-attended debate at Latitude Festival.

The event, ‘Freedom of Speech, Media & Power’ was led by broadcaster Carole Walker and featured UEA’s Prof Anshuman Mondal and Dr Martin Scott, who discussed the complex dynamics between media, freedom of speech, and democracy.

Prof Mondal said: “‘Free speech' and related concerns, such as the right to protest, media freedom, and the power of social media and technology companies, have become key issues in contemporary society, hotly debated and deeply contested.

“But how ‘free speech’ actually works, and what is really going on behind debates about the power of social media and media freedom, is often poorly understood. Latitude offered Martin Scott and I the opportunity to take our several years of research into these matters to a wider audience, and to provoke deeper questions and stimulate critical thought about ‘free speech’ and press freedom.

“A large, lively and deeply engaged audience showed just how much appetite there is for accessible, research-led insight into complex matters of public importance.”

Since 2018, UEA has brought arts and civic engagement together through festival events led by Anne-Beth Derks, Honorary Lecturer and founder of NoDoubleDutch. Highlights have included ‘Voices of Hope and Protest’, a Youth Speakers’ Corner, The Common Lot leading on singing ‘Songs of protest’, and interactive installations exploring democracy, dialogue, and power.

Anne-Beth Derks said: “Latitude has been a live classroom for our Broadcast Journalism students. It’s where theory meets practice – and research connects with real people.

“Audiences need space to reflect on democracy – and we need to meet them where they are: at festivals, in communities, and on platforms that resonate. Exploring and debating what democracy means in different settings – and staying in dialogue – is essential.”

A short documentary filmed by UEA’s Broadcast Journalism students during the event, that will be published soon, captures the panel discussion and interviews with festivalgoers who shared their own views on free speech.

UEA at Latitude: A festival of ideas

UEA’s continuing presence at Latitude Festival reflects its mission to bring academic research into public life. Through performances, debates and creative interventions, UEA demonstrated how universities can help shape public understanding of the most pressing issues of our time – from misinformation and democratic decline to youth activism and media responsibility.

The speakers:

Prof Anshuman Mondal drew on his book Racism and ‘Free Speech’ to show how freedom of expression is often weaponised against marginalised groups, challenging the myth of ‘neutral’ platforms
Dr Martin Scott, Associate Professor at UEA and author of ‘Capturing News, Capturing Democracy’, examined how media systems are politicised and how they influence who gets heard – and who doesn’t.

Find out more about Broadcast Journalism at UEA

A UEA poster with yellow and black images of four silhouettes of people with X's on their mouths, the title is FREEDOM OF SPEECH, MEDIA & POWER

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