News

World’s press calls on established democracies to better protect freedom of expression

On the eve of the World Publishing Expo, the Board of WAN-IFRA expressed their concern over a growing number of cases of press freedom violations in established democracies, and called for greater respect for freedom of expression.

No news is good news for South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma

In an address to journalism students visiting Parliament from Tshwane University of Technology, South African President Jacob Zuma bemoaned the “overly negative” image of the country portrayed in the media, suggesting it deterred foreign investment and painted a stay-away image. Citing a trip to Mexico as deputy president, he lauded the “patriotic reporting” that kept bad news out of the country’s press. What President Zuma failed to acknowledge is that the Mexican media has been under constant violent attack for its attempts to cover the ongoing consequences of the “War on Drugs”, and that the silence he so praised is a desperate sign of the country’s democratic failings.

Have you heard the one about the prosecutor, four cops and an award-winning journalist?

Neuchâtel, Switzerland, 6:40am, 13 August 2013. A prosecutor, four criminal investigators and an IT expert enter the apartment of award-winning journalist, Ludovic Rocchi. Working on assignment, the journalist’s wife is home alone and reportedly interrogated in his place. Computer equipment and notebooks are seized before the dawn squad retreat, taking along with them a good chunk of Switzerland’s press freedom.

It is time to enshrine press freedom as an immutable right in the UK

Illegal detention and government threats to a free press, just the latest headlines to emerge from the UK in a summer of revelations connected to NSA surveillance. Both revolve around the Guardian newspaper, and both require legal precedent to change in order to prevent Britain further lurching towards the unpleasant label of 21st Century totalitarian democracy.

New York Times’ Gmail use raises concerns over protection of sources

“In the wake of this year’s disclosures, it should be clear that unencrypted journalist-source communication is unforgivably reckless”. So said Edward Snowden, NSA whistleblower, when quizzed by Peter Maass on the issue of safe interaction between journalists and informants. Though he describes himself as “famously paranoid”, Snowden would find many of his fears over email security substantiated by tech journalist Steve Henn’s article on Google’s Gmail. Writing for NPR, Henn reports on the threat posed by Google’s email service to the privacy of journalists and, crucially, their sources.

Mediapart update: interview with co-founder François Bonnet

When we first reported that the Cour d’appel de Versailles [Court of Appeal of Versailles] had ordered the removal of all content related to the Bettencourt tapes from Mediapart and Le Point’s websites, it was clear that decision wouldn’t be accepted without a fight. Within the first few hours of the ruling influential players in the French press, including Rue89 and Libération, had released messages of wholehearted support for their fellow journalists and Mediapart’s Edwy Plenel announced his intention to appeal the decision.

Stakeholder wants La Vie kicked out of Le Monde group over anti-gay marriage editorial

As stakeholder of Le Monde and an active supporter of gay rights, Pierre Bergé announced in a board meeting of the Le Monde newspaper group on Tuesday afternoon that he would like the French Christian weekly La Vie sold off and hereby disassociated with Le Monde following the magazine’s decision to publish an anti-gay marriage editorial.

Censored notes on a scandal: Mediapart, Le Point ordered to take down ‘Bettencourt Affair’ recordings

The Court of Appeal of Versailles ruled on Thursday that the French news organisations Le Point and Mediapart must remove all published copies and transcriptions of a series of recordings made at the home of France’s richest woman, Liliane Bettencourt. Based on the claim that the recordings infringed upon Bettencourt’s right to privacy, the judicial decision has been condemned by some of France’s leading media figures as an attack on press freedom.

Jordanian online press freedom is threatened as 254 unlicensed news sites are blocked

On Tuesday 2 July the Jordanian government announced it had blocked 254 news websites that had failed to obtain a government license. This move follows a controversial change to the Press and Publication Law in 2012 dictating that online news sites must register with the government, a policy that independent watchdog organisation Freedom House fear will “risk curbing their independent reporting and analysis.” Among the blocked sites are those for Al-Jazeera, Time Out magazine and AmmanNet.

Wisconsin bill sets dangerous precedent for journalism education

A bill proposed to evict an investigative journalism nonprofit from the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus could send shockwaves through journalism schools nationwide.