News

Four tech innovations that might save the life of a journalist

Mobile personal security apps and devices are enabling journalists to instantly alert human rights groups and their own networks about physical threats of abduction, unlawful arrest and violence. Sydney Pead reports on innovations in journalism safety targeting journalists on the frontline.

Top quotes and takeaways from the Turin World Editors Forum

When journalists and editors from around the globe met in Torino for the 21st World Editors forum this month, the key themes of discussion were: the onward progression of the digital transformation of newsrooms and story-telling; the impact of the Snowden-effect; abuses of press freedom; the increasingly important role of video stories; the boundary crossing of globalised journalism; and the evolving role of the editor.

Trends in Newsrooms: the urgent need to shield journalism in the age of surveillance

In the post-Snowden era, newsrooms are increasingly aware of state-sponsored breaches of privacy and the threat they pose to journalists and their sources. Some newsrooms have introduced sophisticated anti-surveillance technology, and others have literally reverted to notepad, pen and clandestine meetings in the interests of shielding their sources and avoiding state, and corporate, electronic surveillance.

Rwandan editor released from prison after four years

After four years, Agnes Uwimana Nkusi, editor of Umurabyo newspaper in Rwanda, has been released from prison.

Al Jazeera journalist Abdullah al-Shami released from Egyptian jail as others await verdict

After more than ten months in jail without charges, Abdullah al-Shami was released from Cairo’s Scorpion prison on Tuesday 17 June. The Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent was arrested by security forces in August 2013 while covering the violent dispersal of a pro-Morsi sit-in that left hundreds of protesters dead. Jailed Al Jazeera journalists Peter Greste, Mohamed Fadel Fahmy, Baher Mohamed await their verdict on 23 June.

UNESCO call to editors: report more on the killing of journalists

UNESCO’s Director of Freedom of Expression and Media Development, Guy Berger, has urged editors to plan coverage on journalists’ safety to coincide with the UN’s new International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists. November 2nd is the designated day and Berger told the 2014 World Editors Forum in Turin, Italy, that editors could profitably use this ‘news peg’ to draw attention to the need for justice for slain journalists.

Nigerian military clamps down on newspapers in the name of “national security”

From the early hours of Friday 6 June, the Nigerian army began halting the distribution of major national newspapers in what it claimed was part of a security operation. After five days of restricted circulation, newspapers returned to the news stands on 11 June.

Open source platform maps media freedom violations in Europe

While Europe leads rankings for press freedoms worldwide, its position is put to test in some countries where restrictions to media freedom and increased pressures on journalists continue to raise concerns. In efforts to spark awareness about press freedom violations, a mapping project led by Index of Censorship and the Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso is crowd-sourcing media freedom violations across the European Union and five candidate countries at Mediafreedom.ushahidi.com.

Journalists under threat as protests grip Brazil

Protests are spreading across Brazil’s major cities as the country readies itself for the beginning of the World Cup on the 12 June. In the wake of last year’s violent clashes, there are growing concerns for the safety of journalists as tensions continue to escalate.

Humanity in the News: An Italian Case Study on How to Tell the Migrant Story

One of the toughest tests of ethical journalism in Europe is the tragic story of migration involving thousands of poverty-stricken men, women and children from Africa and the Middle East – many of them fugitives from war – who risk their lives to make the perilous crossing of stormy seas to seek sanctuary on the southern shores of Italy and Spain.