By Darren Smith, Weekend Contributor
In honor of the day first proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993 at the recommendation of UNESCO, and to garner attention to how press freedom fares twenty years later, Deutsche Welle has compiled a series highlighting the issues journalists and the public generally are facing.
Journalists in Danger
- Amnesty International Releases Damning Report on Pakistan’s Media Situation
The situation for journalists has deteriorated since the restoration of democratic rule. - Helping the pople of Bangladesh
One of Bangladesh’s pre-eminent bloggers, Asif Mohiuddin, faced death threats and was forced to flee to Germany after denouncing Mosque and State issues, and being imprisoned. - Kremlin Attacks Dissent On the Internet
The Kremlin is going beyond just censorship and is stifling dissent on social media and the blogosphere. - Journalists killed or missing in Syria
Dozens of reporters have been killed or are missing after reporting on the Syrian Civil War. - Impunity Index lists nations where journalists’ murders have remained unsolved
Iraq is the top of the list where murder cases of journalists who cause controversy are the least likely to be properly investigated.
Standing up for Free Speech
- Reporters Without Borders hosts Wistleblower Debate
A recent panel discussion sponsored by Reporters Without Borders showed the tension between journalists and intelligence agencies when it comes to whistleblowing. - Pakistani Broadcaster risks ban for conflict with spy agency.
A private news channel in Pakistan has come under sharp criticism for accusing the country’s military of attempting to kill one of its journalists. The country’s most popular channel now risks going off the air. - Hong Kong protesters demand media freedom
Protesters have rallied in Hong Kong to demand that the city government halt a perceived erosion of media freedom. Journalists claim mainland China is increasingly seeking to influence editorial decisions. - Courage Foundation promotes defense of Whistleblowers
A whisteblower rights group hosted an online interview and offered a method for individuals to contribute to Edward Snowden’s defense fund
Deutsche Welle offers in its article some case studies that are worthwhile reading, HERE
We all have a stake in freedom of the press and should today offer not only some reflection on what reporters and others endure in the struggle for liberty, we also should each take an active effort to promote this in our own countries and abroad since were are, in the end, the ones who can change things for the better.
For Further Reading, UNESCO provides additional perspectives on World Press Freedom Day.
By Darren Smith
Sources:
Deutsche Welle
UNESCO
The views expressed in this posting are the author’s alone and not those of the blog, the host, or other weekend bloggers. As an open forum, weekend bloggers post independently without pre-approval or review. Content and any displays or art are solely their decision and responsibility.
All the money we have wasted on Haiti, we barely beat them.
Notice that years before Snowden, right at the beginning, he mentioned that the military NSA was listening to everything.
“If any of you at the tables need anything, just speak into the number on your table and the NSA will forward the message to those who serve you.” (paraphrased) …
Thanks Max-1 … at least we are number one at something.
Stephen Colbert At The White House Correspondents Dinner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWqzLgDc030
This is the beginning of the “tuthi-ness” of Media press.
… “Copy, paste, goodnight!”
How many newspapers does Papua New Guinea have?
FYI,
Last night during the Munk Debates
Glenn Greenwald Faces Off Against Former NSA Chief Michael Hayden
http://mashable.com/2014/05/02/glenn-greenwald-nsa-michael-hayden-debate/
(Starts at 24 min mark)
Enjoy.
p.s.
Edward Snowden’s Munk Debate entry
http://www.munkdebates.com/snowden
Freedoms???
USA!!! USA!!! USA!!!
We’re #46!
We’re #46!
We’re #46!
… Check out them braggin’ points people.
I want to see Carney explain this at the next press conference.
In the race to the bottom the Italians beat Papua New Guinea.
In the race to the top Papua New Guinea beat the U.S.eh?
We have a former “journalist” as White House spokesman. His idol was Baghdad Bob.
We’re Number 46!!!
We have a ton of former journalists (and I use the term loosely) in the WH. Where were we listed last year? Are we up or down?
I misspoke.
“We also beat the Italians.
They have a thing with dishonesty that beats us by only one point …”
Actually the Italians be us by 49-46= 3 points on the who has the worst press.
Sorry Italians, it was Haiti that beat us by only one point.
The Italians even beat the Niger people.
They beat a lot of people.
In addition to the PC and political problem the American media spends too much time on the Kardasians and other fluff so that the market they serve isn’t interested in news. And the print media too often just follow the broadcasters.
I can’t speak for the rest of the world, but here in the U.S., the press has done itself no favors.
Being a “newsman” comes with responsibilities and many in the press have abdicated these responsibilities.
Too many stories are not covered because of political correctness, career expediency, partisanship, and economics (money from both the right and the left intimidates the press).
One brief example: many of the police abuse stories referenced in this blog are covered in depth by the British press. Why do we have to rely of a foreign press to report on the misdeeds of our cops?
I (and I suspect many of the readers of this blog) follow foreign periodicals because we want greater depth and more analysis than is provided by our national press.
Shame on much of the American press.
We also beat the Italians.
They have a thing with dishonesty that beats us by only one point (It Takes A Culture To Raise A Compulsive Liar).
The U.S. dropped to #46 on the list of “journalism is ok”:
(A Tale of Coup Cities – 9). At least we beat N. Korea.
Dredd – given how little transparency there is in Obama administration, I am surprised we beat anyone.
Has the president evolved to the point where he will at least not investigate those participating?
With the category “Journalists in Danger”, I guess that means the US press in already dead without having to publish it.
I was watching MSNBC yesterday. Andrea Mitchell, who claims to be a journalist, said Congress put John Kerry in even greater danger than he already is, by issuing him a subpoena while he is in South Sudan. Her credentials need to be revoked.
I would feel better if the UN did not keep electing rights violators to the watch groups.
The White House had no comment.