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Press release: World's most dangerous region for journalists: the Arab World

Posted by Federica Cherubini on January 5, 2012 at 3:41 PM

Repression of uprisings makes the region the world's most dangerous place for journalists.

Sixty-four journalists and other media workers were killed world-wide because of their professional activities in 2011, with nearly half of them killed in Pakistan, Iraq, Libya and Yemen, the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) said Thursday.

Ten journalists were killed in Pakistan for the second consecutive year, making it again the most deadly country for journalists.

The Arab region was the world's most dangerous region for media professionals, with twenty-two journalists killed. The brutal repression that followed widespread popular uprisings in Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen cost the lives of sixteen journalists. Journalism in Iraq remains a dangerous profession, as six journalists lost their lives in the country last year.

A defence of British tabloids

Posted by Federica Cherubini on January 4, 2012 at 1:16 PM

At a time when the conduct and the ethics of the red-top press (and others) is under the lens of the Leveson inquiry, the British press is defending tabloids in the wake of the conviction of two of Stephen Lawrence's killers.

The Guardian published an editorial - taken up by PressGazette's blog - which praised the Daily Mail for its coverage (entirerly summerized by the Mail itself here), starting from the famous page one accusation back in 1997. "It did not simply keep the case in the public eye. It also became a national reprimand to the criminal justice and political system in a wider sense", the editorial said.

"The Daily Mail deserves credit for its courageous campaign", the Financial Times underlighted.

Female journalists receiving recognition

Posted by Katherine Travers on October 7, 2011 at 5:52 PM

As three women receive the Nobel Peace Prize , Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Tawakul Karman and Leymah Gbowee, women journalists are also gaining significant recognition for their admirable work around the world.

This week the Pakistan Rural Media Network awarded its press freedom award to Sadia Sehar Haideri, a video journalist based in Islamabad. At the award presentation speakers highlighted the importance of allowing women the opportunities to rise through the ranks and attain positions of power within media organisations and to rectify the numerical disparity between the numbers of male and female district correspondents in Pakistan.

Media links of the day

Posted by Katherine Travers on October 4, 2011 at 6:31 PM

Rural Media Network Pakistan delivers a WAN-IFRA sponsored award for press freedom to Pakistan's first female video journalist, Sadia Sehar Haideri.

Shine, Elizabeth Murdoch's television production company, sees profits fall before take over.

Tablet and smart-phone consumption habits: how the tablet is changing the way we use our smart-phones and why 11 pm is becoming peak traffic time for news sites.

Mashable's rise to power: from one-man job to techno-bog supreme. And it all began in a bedroom in Scotland...

The London-based Irish Post will be rescued by the publisher Loot, after public outcry at the possibility of its closure.

For more industry news please see WAN-IFRA's Executive News Service

Sources: The Guardian, Journalism.co.uk, Nation.com, Nieman Lab, The New York Times,

Corrected: 07/10/11

An overview of how Bin Laden's death was covered in the news

Posted by Federica Cherubini on May 3, 2011 at 4:46 PM

Not surprisingly, the news of the death of Osama Bin Laden monopolized the news yesterday.

Here are some of the most interesting articles analyzing the way the event was covered by media.

Nieman Lab noted that, despite the fact that New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. announced at the time of the implementing of the paid online content strategy that a gate for breaking-news stories that were, essentially, must-reads, would be opened, for Bin Laden's death this didn't happen. All the articles and blog posts remained behind the paywall.

While it was noted that Internet led the information tide, newspapers played their role as well, increasing their press runs in response to interest among readers, as News & Tech reported. The New York Times printed 165,000 extra copies, 125,000 of which were for distribution in the New York market, more than twice the usual order. The Washington Post said it produced an additional 35,000 copies.

Osama Bin Laden killed by US. forces: how the news spread

Posted by Federica Cherubini on May 2, 2011 at 2:56 PM

US President Obama has given a statement confirming the death of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, killed by US Special Forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan, as the BBC News reported (you can find the video here).

The way that the news of such a dramatic, sudden development spread around the world provides an interesting impression of today's news landscape.

Unsurprisingly, before Obama's official announcement on TV, the news had already hit Twitter.

Press release: "Elders" contribute to WAN-IFRA World Press Freedom Day materials

Posted by Emma Heald on April 29, 2011 at 1:54 PM

Thousands of newspapers world-wide will commemorate World Press Freedom Day on Tuesday, 3 May, by publishing thoughtful editorial and provocative advertising materials from the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA). There is still time to join them.

WAN-IFRA has made available essays, opinion pieces, interviews, infographics, editorial cartoons, photographs, advertisements and more for publication on or around 3 May, and has just added an editorial from The Elders, an independent group of eminent global leaders, brought together by Nelson Mandela, who support peace building, help address major causes of human suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity. The materials are available, free of charge, here.

Media blackouts vs media coverage: can news organisations be blamed for the consequences of their reporting?

Posted by Federica Cherubini on April 11, 2011 at 1:32 PM

When does an event become newsworthy? Does media coverage in itself make an event newsworthy? Can news organizations and journalism be blamed for giving a made-for-media event the attention it was looking for?

These and other similar questions arose from the coverage (or the non-coverage) of evangelical pastor Reverend Terry Jones, who runs a small church in Gainesville, Florida, burning a copy of the Quran on March 20.

The story is well summed up by Poynter's Steve Myers, who wrote an article analysing the media's ability to shape the news.

Press release: Newspapers world-wide to commemorate World Press Freedom Day

Posted by Emma Heald on April 6, 2011 at 4:29 PM

What do the Nobel Committee, Google, a Tunisian novelist and a Mexican journalist on the front lines of a drug war all have in common? They all have contributed to a package of editorials, essays and other materials being offered to newspapers world-wide to commemorate World Press Freedom Day on 3 May.

The wide ranging editorial and advertising materials, provided to newspapers and other media for publication on or around 3 May, are offered free of charge by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA). Thousands of newspapers publish WAN-IFRA materials each year to remind readers of the central role a free press plays in democracy and in economic, cultural, social and political development.

Media links of the day

Posted by Federica Cherubini on April 1, 2011 at 3:56 PM

It's April Fools' Day today and Journalism.co.uk reported hoax headlines from the UK media morning news.

EJC's Magazine reported on the curse of yellow journalism in Pakistan. "The rise of sensationalist media and yellow journalism in Pakistan has led to the emergence of a debate in various circles in the country about the accountability of the media and the journalistic profession", the article said.

Trinity Mirror has launched a premium royal wedding app featuring content from monarchy experts, NewMediaAge reported. The app, called Wills and Kate: A Royal Love Story, costs £1.19 to download and it features commentary by royal family expert James Whitaker and details the progress of Prince William and Kate Middleton's relationship.

Zimbabwe has a new newspaper. The Mail has made its way to the streets, reported The Guardian. The paper is apolitical, but rumors say that a political party financed it. It is the country's 5th newspaper.

For more industry news please see WAN-IFRA's Executive News Service

Reporting on drug wars: the challenges for Mexican journalists

Posted by Federica Cherubini on March 8, 2011 at 3:24 PM

There are times when it seems like a movie.

"Tell as few people as possible where you are staying and what your plans are.
Have a plan for how you will be getting out of the area if something goes wrong, and review it hourly. Know the roads in and out of the places you go to.
You must be extraordinarily deceptive. Arrive early for appointments to see if there are suspicious people lurking about the location.
Be as inconspicuous as possible, almost chameleon-like. Nothing says reporter like a polo shirt, baseball cap, khaki pants, and a press pass dangling from a lanyard around your neck. Try to blend in with the population."

This is just some of the advice that Mike O'Connor, a veteran war correspondent and representative in Mexico for the Committee to Protect Journalists, gave to reporters going into Mexico.

Same ethical dilemma, two different responses

Posted by Federica Cherubini on February 28, 2011 at 1:07 PM

Some news organizations this February faced the same ethical dilemma, but chose different and opposing answers. How should newspapers handle information that may endanger a life?

Monday 21st Feb the Guardian revealed that Raymond Davis, an American now in prison in Lahore after being charged with the murder of two Pakistanis in Lahore, worked for the CIA.

Press release: Mexico, Pakistan most deadly places for journalists in 2010

Posted by Emma Heald on January 12, 2011 at 11:31 AM

Sixty-six journalists and other media workers were killed world-wide because of their professional activities in 2010, with Mexico and Pakistan emerging as the most deadly countries for journalists, the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) said today.

Ten journalists were killed in both Mexico and Pakistan in 2010, as narcotics trafficking in the former and insurgency in the latter have put journalists in the line of fire. That compares with nine killed in Mexico and eight in Pakistan in 2009.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists hails the appointment of the Express Tribune ombudsman

Posted by Federica Cherubini on November 5, 2010 at 5:09 PM

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) warmly welcomed the decision of the Express Media Group for appointing a news ombudsman, reported the Associated Press of Pakistan.

A news ombudsman acts as a mediator between the expectations of the public and the responsibilities of journalists in order to promote accuracy, fairness, transparency and quality standards of journalism. His main task is to handle complaints from the public about news reporting and to provide a sort of internal quality control, writing columns or internal memos about complaints.

Newspaper to launch in UK for the Muslim diaspora

Posted by Heather Holm on October 12, 2010 at 1:19 PM

A Muslim newspaper is going to be launched in the UK "aimed at Muslim people across the world," according to the Guardian. The weekly paper will be based in London and will be backed by the Pakistani pay-TV operator ARY Digital. The paper will appear early in 2011.

"ARY, known for broadcasting the Pakistani version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, also broadcasts to several Gulf states and in North America and the UK, where it launched in 2000 as the Pakistani Channel on Sky," reports the article. The unnamed paper is going to be edited by Burhan Wazir, who is the former deputy features editor for the Times and was awarded young journalist of the year in 1999. He also used to be an executive at the National, the English-language newspaper based in Abu Dhabi launched by former Telegraph editor Marvin Newland, adds the Guardian.

Media Links of the Day

Posted by Heather Holm on September 16, 2010 at 5:56 PM

The Pakistani Taliban have admitted to the murder of journalist Misri Khan in Hangu and Ugandan journaists Paul Kiggundu and Dickson Ssentongo were beaten to death recently, according to The Guardian.

The Wall Street Journal plans to "launch a free-standing book review section," but this has caused concerns about "conflicts of interest the newspaper may have given that its parent company, News Corp., owns a major book publisher and a conservative cable news outlet that produces numerous best-selling authors."

The Travel Writers Association announces the Travel Journalism and Photo Competition today, which is open to the public. The winner will get a cash prize, trophy and two tickets to the awards ceremony.
The four categories are Travel Journalist of the Year, Travel Photographer of the Year, Travel Site of the Year and Travel Blogger of the Year.

The Newspaper Society has recently complained about the "restrictions in family court cases." It said that cases covered by the Children, Schools and Families Act made cases "covered by the Act less transparent because they are virtually unreportable."

The Times and Sunday Times are launching Dashboard, which is a feature that allows customers to get notification on news stories, notifications when a previously-read story is updated and a history of previously-read articles.

Source: Guardian, Mediamatters.org, Travelio.net, Paidcontent.co.uk

Media Links of the day

Posted by Colin Heilbut on May 27, 2010 at 5:58 PM

The OJR's Tom Grubisich on The Washington Post's launch of a new politics section online. [OJR]

In a speech at an annual Al Jazeera forum, foreign correspondent for The Independent Robert Fisk has warned journalists against thoughtlessly using the "words of power" in war reporting. [PressGazette]

Approximately 30 staff members, nine percent of the New York Daily News' editorial team, have accepted a buyout offer. [New York Observer's MediaMob]

In the aftermath of 'Everybody Draw Mohammed Day', Pakistan lifts its ban on YouTube but keeps blocks 1,200 web pages [Yahoo! News]

Thailand has extended censorship against anti-govt protesters and journalists. [Reuters]

The Mail Online became the first UK newspaper website to top 40 million monthly unique visitors in April. [The Guardian]

The Christian Science Monitor's Yemma: paywalls and multimedia are not the answer to the newspaper's woes

Posted by Maria Conde on March 30, 2010 at 1:35 PM

John Yemma, the editor of The Christian Science Monitor, had some strong words for newspaper websites in an article he wrote for PaidContent: neither paywalls nor multimedia content will save you.

Although Yemma believes that content is king, no news organization has formulated an appropriate response to the problem of losing the value of content on the Internet. Erecting paywalls, like the ones News Corp and the New York Times will in the near future, is just like "sandbagging the tops of levies on the Mississipi," but they are not the answer. Paywalls can't hold the flood back, and the "Internet flood never recedes."

New newspaper opening in Pakistan

Posted by Elizabeth Redman on January 13, 2010 at 5:33 PM

Pakistan is set to get a new English-language newspaper focusing on Pakistani news and business, under an alliance between the International Herald Tribune and Century Publications. The launch date is tentatively set for March of this year, and the paper will be distributed inside the IHT.

Publisher of the yet-unnamed newspaper Bilal Lakhani told Media Mughals that Pakistan needs "a credible and authoritative news source" because of the social and political turmoil the country faces.

Pakistan editor-in-chief Najam Sehti accepts Golden Pen of Freedom Award

Posted by Spencer Jenkins on December 1, 2009 at 7:56 AM

The editor-in-chief of two Pakistani newspapers received the Golden Pen of Freedom Award today at the WAN-IFRA 2009 World Newspaper Congress - World Editor's Forum.

Najam Sethi, editor-in-chief of the Daily Times and Friday Times accepted his award Tuesday, 1 December, in Hyderabad, India, at the opening ceremony of the conference.

Investigative journalism gone global

Posted by Helena Humphrey on October 12, 2009 at 1:28 PM

The image of the lone wolf journalist, sniffing out local crime and corruption, may be a thing of the past - that's according to the results of a new enquiry launched by the International Journalists' network, which has summarised the latest changes in the field of investigative journalism.

Hunting in packs

Collaborative efforts have proved both efficient and effective: Editor of the International Journalists' network, Jessica Weiss cites the International Consortium of Investigative Journalist's recent 13-month investigation into the illegal global tobacco trade as one such success. The investigative series, "Tobacco Underground", unearthed stories surrounding a multibillion-dollar business of trafficking, which has contributed to crime, corruption, terrorism and illness internationally. Its team was composed of some 22 reporters in 14 countries, spread across a dozen different time zones, and reported on anything from "counterfeiters in China and renegade factories in Russia to Indian reservations in New York and warlords in Pakistan and North Africa".

The pragmatics of "Tobacco Underground" were by no means unusual. In the digital age many of today's investigative journalists are working in regional and cross-border networks, enabled by technology and tools that are revolutionising reporting. The European Fund for Investigative Journalism actively encourages this- providing research grants from a fund of €20,000 for stories that have the potential to make an impact; its main stipulation being that projects should include "cross-border research, networking between colleagues, established and innovative investigative methods" and be "original, innovative and intensive".

As mentioned earlier, the Internet facilitates this: On a basic level journalists have the means to communicate with each other effectively and inexpensively, benefiting from the use of a secure, online workplaces to communicate, share documents, photos and videos, and edit each other's work. But the web offers other advantages too: The information super highway is being tamed by social networking sites, such as the journalist's virtual grapevine, Twitter. Fans or otherwise, few journalists would refuse to acknowledge the speed with which the tool relays news stories globally, often providing important leads. Latest reports regarding the development of Wikileaks - "the online clearinghouse for leaked documents", permitting access to sensitive documents, is another exciting development for journalists and could provide a powerful tool for investigation.

The importance of watchdog journalism

According to ICIJ director and Tobacco Underground lead editor David Kaplan, good investigative journalists delve "deeply into complex subjects, and look at whether people in a given society who have power are exercising that power in an accountable way". Put like that, one can hardly ignore its necessity as a direct means to regulate society. Yet newspapers seeking to cut costs have cut jobs, and with investigative journalism proving to be time-consuming as well as costly, floundering local papers no longer have the means to support it.

As a result citizen start-ups have been cropping up around the globe, particularly in the U.S. The most well-known publications to date, MinnPost and Voice of San Diego, exist on a total budget of a little more than $1 million a year (with almost all of the budget going directly on reporting). The start-ups have done away with expensive print, delivery and ad sales costs as well as sports reports, breaking crime news and so on, in order to deliver serious reporting. A number of the n ew non-profit units, such as Pro Publica, also focus exclusively on investigative reports also. The UK's newly set up "Investigations Fund" is also looking to support "risky, challenging reporting" for which it has recognised that there is a "crying demand".

The growing trend for Citizen start-ups is mirrored by non-profit investigative centres worldwide: The current number stands at 50, with more than half of those having been established since 2000. Though the first three non-profits dedicated to investigative journalism were American: the Fund for Investigative Journalism (1969), Investigative Reporters and Editors (1975), and the Center for Investigative Reporting (1977), it is an idea that is now taking off internationally: In August of this year, the Latin American Conference on Investigative Journalism lauded two exposés of public corruption in Brazil and the management of illicit accounts within the Catholic Church in Costa Rica - an important development for two countries where a tradition of investigative journalism does not exist.

Challenges

One of the biggest threats facing investigative journalism is simply that of not having enough trained professionals within the field to safeguard its survival. In countries where media freedom is seriously restricted, reporting of this kind can be dangerous - and even life threatening. Caijing, a Chinese magazine, has manoeuvred around this by training their investigators in the reportage of finance and financial investigations - which is permitted, as opposed to direct criticism of the country's Communist government. Similarly, Arab Reporters in Syria have sponsored consumer reporting on food safety in order to train people in the method. According to Kaplan "The important thing is that you establish a methodology - you get a generation of reporters trained in how to do this kind of reporting and the rest will come".

But even in countries with independent media, investigative stories have other hurdles to overcome. Kaplan commented that during "Tobacco Underground", language, cultural and technological barriers were often difficult to work with, as well as the fact that reporters were working across different time zones. Furthermore, reporters in different regions had different levels of training, varied reporting styles and standards.

A future rooted in its past

All in all however, technological advancements have so far had a positive effect on news reporting states Kaplan, which he refers to as the "great equaliser" at a time when so many other resources are being cut.

Technology aside, Kaplan maintains that "investigative journalism as a craft remains rooted in the same principles it was founded upon", calling upon its journalists to "think about stories systematically, think about multiple sourcing, look up public records, interview and follow trails - trails to people, trails of money, trails of accountability", drawing parallels between investigative reporters and "good cops and honest prosecutors" who ultimately, are "driven by the hope to leave the world a little better than how they found it."

With the emergence of non-profit start ups it is clear that these "good cops" do exist. But are there enough of them to fill in the gaps in reporting left by the recent financial crisis? By Poynter Media Business Analyst Rick Edmond's estimations, it would take roughly 1,600 MinnPosts or Voice of San Diegos to replace the spending on journalism newspapers have cut. Either non-profit grows or the newspaper industry faces facts: investigative reporting is - and should continue to be - the very backbone of quality journalism.

Sources: International Jounalists' Network, The Investigations Fund, European Fund for Investigative Journalism, Poynter Online

McClatchy considers changes to foreign coverage

Posted by Emma Heald on September 23, 2009 at 3:32 PM

McClatchy is considering making changes to its foreign coverage that could see bureaus opening and closing, Editor & Publisher reported. Although no decisions have been made, one possible scenario would close bureaus in Jerusalem, Nairobi and Caracas, and re-open one in Mexico City. Bureaus in Cairo and Beijing would remain and McClatchy would open another in either Afghanistan or Pakistan.

Washington bureau chief John Walcott, who oversees McClatchy's foreign coverage, told E&P that there were likely to be some changes, but "the only bottom line that is clear is that we are positioning in the places that are most important to the country and the readers of our newspapers."

Pakistani journalism: fighting extremism

Posted by Marion Geiger on April 24, 2009 at 3:05 PM

Madiha Sattar, HuffingtonPost contributor, wrote a passionate opinion piece about how the media plays a crucial role in the fight against extremists. The writer said that Pakistan is unique in its region because it has a "news media that relentlessly pursues the country's failures, with journalists routinely speaking out against the government, extremists, and the notion of a theocratic state, among other things."

Pakistan Editor Awarded Golden Pen of Freedom

Posted by Lauren Drablier on December 15, 2008 at 12:56 PM

Najam Sethi, Editor-in-Chief of Friday Times and Daily Times in Pakistan, has been awarded the 2009 Golden Pen of Freedom, the annual press freedom prize of the World Association of Newspapers.

Mr Sethi, whose newspapers advocate liberal and secular ideas in a country too-often torn by religious extremism, was honoured for his outstanding defence and promotion of press freedom under difficult circumstances and constant personal danger.

Opinion: Media embargos to protect abducted journalists: serving a greater good?

Posted by Lauren Drablier on November 28, 2008 at 3:01 PM

In 24-hour news cycle, the public becomes aware of news items instantaneously. At the same time, within the context of 24-hour news, it become increasing difficult to protect those who need to remain out of the spotlight.

Recently, the focus has been on war correspondents for news organizations - those who get kidnapped in areas such as Somalia and Afghanistan. After an abduction, most news organizations request an embargo on all information out of a given country if one of their staff has been kidnapped, as means of protection.

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