Media Release: Federal Court judgement confirms the need for a Media Freedom Act In a major blow to press freedom in Australia, the Federal Court has ruled that the search warrants the Australian Federal Police used to raid the ABC last year were valid. The AJF believes the case underscores the urgent need for a Media Freedom Act, to…
According to the CPJ, US journalist, Michael Yon, was barred from entering Hong Kong by immigration authorities, on 05 February. Yon has been critical of China’s Communist Party in his coverage of the Hong Kong demonstrations. Read more here. Photo credit: Reuters / Hannah Mckay
MISSING: Citizen Journalist, Chen Qiushi Yet another journalist is missing in China which already has an appalling track record for restricting press freedom. Chen Qiushi and Fang Bin have documented the outbreak of Coronavirus from Wuhan since the outbreak, broadcasting from their mobile phones. Thousands rely on the two men for the latest from the province where the virus was…
Colombia Journalism Review published a piece drawing attention to a report from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at Oxford University, which surveyed journalists from 16 countries to determine their working conditions and the attacks they face. The report, titled ‘Fighting Words: Journalism Under Assault in Central and Eastern Europe’ notes the similar patterns, or tactics used, which…
In an interesting piece from Washington based Global Investigative Journalism Network, GIJN explores how they’re working with Gannett’s regional-based data and investigations team to implement tech that helps rebuild readers’ trust in investigative journalism. They’re using ‘Trust Nuggets’, which are essentially bite-sized bits of information on the ‘why’ and ‘how’ behind any investigative story, sprinkled throughout the broader piece. In…
Philip Jacobsen, 30, is an award winning young journalist who has been critical of environmental degradation and reported on alleged corruption in Indonesia. Jacobsen’s passport was confiscated in December in Palangkaraya, and on January 21 he was detained under the suspicion of committing a visa violation against the 2011 immigration law. This means he could face a sentence of up…
Luanda Leaks, a recent investigation by the ICIJ (International Consortium of Investigative Journalists) and 36 media partners, reveals twenty years worth of corruption that has made Isabel dos Santos Africa’s wealthiest woman and left Angola as one of the poorest countries in the world. Luanda Leaks provides yet another example of a collaborative, global journalism network successfully managing to expose…
Global organisation Human Rights Watch has criticised Australia’s poorly defined national security laws and critical lack of press freedom legislation in their recent annual report. The Age describe this in a recent article, which can be read here. Australia begins 2020 in 21st position on RSF’s World Press Freedom Index, having slipped two places since 2018. Recommendations from the two…
China, sitting at 177 of 180 on RSF’s global press freedom index, is not known for its liberal treatment of journalists. Major news organisations are creating specific roles for covering China remotely. Further details in Axios here.
The CPJ have released their report on journalists imprisoned, missing and killed around the world in 2019. China tops the list this year, eclipsing Turkey, with 48 journalists detained throughout the year. Read the Forbes article here.