Media Freedom Coalition statement on arrest of Roman Protasevich

29 May 2021

Media Freedom Coalition statement on arrest of Roman Protasevich

Global Affairs Canada, representing the Media Freedom Coalition, released this statement on the detention of Roman Protasevich.

The undersigned members of the Media Freedom Coalition condemn in the strongest terms Belarus’ forced diversion and landing of a commercial aircraft and subsequent arrest of journalist Roman Protasevich.

This unprecedented and shocking action constitutes a full frontal attack on media freedom and has serious implications on the right of freedom of expression and opinion more broadly. This action is all the more troubling when seen in the context of the large-scale campaign to silence independent voices in Belarus, including the May 18 raid on the offices of independent news site tut.by and the subsequent arrest of several staff. Some 400 journalists and workers in the media in Belarus have faced various forms of repression in the course of the August 9 election and its aftermath.

The Media Freedom Coalition demands the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Protasevich as well as other journalists and media workers who have been detained in Belarus for doing their jobs. Those responsible must be held accountable for attacks on journalists and media workers.

Media freedom is an important part of democratic societies and essential to the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States

AIB Members receive latest media intelligence briefing

20 May 2021

AIB Members receive latest media intelligence briefing

The AIB has published its latest Media Intelligence briefing for Members, covering:

the explosion in subscription media services, now including radio;
the pandemic and its impact on journalism;
cyber security, with reflections from the CyberUK 2021 conference held this month;
the media’s coverage of media freedom;
procurement, tenders and contracts.
This is part of the AIB’s regular package of services to its Members, helping them to keep up-to-date on developments that may impact their businesses. If your company is not yet a Member, talk to us about the whole range of benefits.

#intelligence #subscriptioneconomy #cybersecurity #tenders #CyberUK21 #briefing #mediafreedom

ABC appoints new Head International Services

17 May 2021

ABC appoints new Head International Services

The ABC has appointed respected media executive Claire Gorman as Head International Services, an expanded role that reflects the ABC’s commitment to communities in the Indo-Pacific region.
Claire has been acting in the role of Head International Strategy since November, and in this new expanded role of Head International Services will manage both the International Strategy team and the International Development team.

Claire’s impressive career at the ABC over almost two decades has included Policy Advisor for ABC Radio, Senior Investigator at A&CA, Policy and Strategy Manager in Commercial, Editorial Policies Advisor, and Manager International Strategy.

ABC Director of Strategy Mark Tapley said Claire will bring many years of experience both inside and outside the ABC to the role.
“Bringing together the two internationally-focussed teams in the ABC – International Development and International Strategy – demonstrates the ABC’s full commitment to audiences and the media sector in the Indo-Pacific region,” he said.

“Given her experience in Canberra in development assistance and researching human rights, and her work across PNG, China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia, Claire is an excellent candidate for this role.”

“The new Head International Services, with the support of the Corporation, will be focussed on continuing to strengthen our portfolio of international channels, to enhance our digital offering, and to engage with the media sectors across the Indo-Pacific region, and indeed globally.”

Claire will officially start as Head International Services on Monday 24 May.

[Source: ABC press release]

AIB condemns attacks on building housing media outlets in Gaza

15 May 2021

AIB condemns attacks on building housing media outlets in Gaza

The Association for International Broadcasting condemns the attacks by the Israeli military on the building housing Al Jazeera Media Network – one of its Members – and Associated Press in Gaza.

The destruction of the building with an hour’s notice appears to have been undertaken to restrict reporting by international media organisations in Gaza as the conflict in the region intensifies.

“It is appalling that a building housing international media is targeted by the Israeli military, whether during a conflict or at any other time,” says Simon Spanswick, chief executive of the Association for International Broadcasting. “It appears that this is a concerted effort to restrict the flow of impartial news and information from Gaza during the conflict. The attack on this building – irrespective of the warning that was apparently issued by the IDF – is contrary to all norms and contravenes the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki tweeted: “We have communicated directly to the Israelis that ensuring the safety and security of journalists and independent media is a paramount responsibility.” The AIB welcomes this important intervention.

Covering conflicts has always been challenging and dangerous for journalists and media organisations and this latest case demonstrates that governments continue to target media outlets during times of crisis and conflict. In view of the gravity of this specific case, the AIB will be referring the matter to the Consultative Network of the inter-governmental Media Freedom Coalition as a matter of urgency.

Al Jazeera condemns destruction of its offices in Gaza

15 May 2021

Al Jazeera condemns destruction of its offices in Gaza

Al Jazeera issued the following press release:

Al Jazeera condemns in the strongest terms bombing and destruction of its offices by the Israeli military in Gaza, and views this as a clear act to stop journalists from conducting their duty to inform the world and report events on the ground. Al Jazeera vows to pursue every available route to hold the Israeli government responsible for its actions.

Residents and occupants of Al Jalaa building, which houses Al Jazeera’s offices along with major international media outlets, such as AP, and Middle East Eye, were informed by the Israeli army via a phone call that they had less than one hour to vacate the building.

Al Jazeera calls on all media and human right institutions to join forces in denouncing this ruthless bombing and to hold the government of Israel accountable for deliberately targeting journalists and media institutions.

Commenting on the bombing of Al Jalaa building, Dr Mostefa Souag, Acting Director General of Al Jazeera Media Network said, “We call on the international community to condemn such barbaric actions and targeting of journalists and we demand an immediate international action to hold Israel accountable for its deliberate targeting of journalists and the media institutions.”

Dr Souag continued, “The aim of this heinous crime is to silence the media and to hide the untold carnage and suffering of the people of Gaza.”

“The destruction of Al Jazeera offices and that of other media organisations in Al Jalaa tower in Gaza is a blatant violation of human rights and is internationally considered a war crime. We call on all media and human rights institutions in denouncing this heinous crime, and to stand with Al Jazeera and other media organisations targeted by the Israeli army, despite knowing their use of the building as their headquarters for many years.”

Al Jazeera promises its audience to continue its coverage and to uncover the truth of what is happening in Gaza, the Palestinian Territories and in Israel, regardless of the attempts to suppress it. The assault on the building hosting international media institutions aims to silence the truth by killing the messenger.

Journalism is not a crime.

[Source: Al Jazeera press release]

[Photo by Nidal Alwaheidi / SOPA Images/Sipa USA via Alamy]

AIB launches search for outstanding coverage of media freedom

6 May 2021

AIB launches search for outstanding coverage of media freedom

New award category for the best media freedom coverage added to the AIBs

The Association for International Broadcasting has launched a new award category for its 17^th annual competition for journalism and factual productions, the AIBs. The AIB Media Freedom Award complements the Association’s media freedom initiatives that supports its members around the world.

The ground-breaking award will recognise the TV or radio broadcaster or digital media house that has actively covered, promoted and protected media freedom. The prize may go to the organisation that has developed a special strand of programming around media freedom, or it could be awarded to a company that has stood up to attacks against it through intimidation of staff or by means of illegal “judicial dragnets”, for example.

“This Media Freedom Award is an important development in the work of the Association for International Broadcasting in this vital subject,” says Tom Wragg who represents the AIB on the consultative network to the inter-governmental Media Freedom Coalition. “The AIB is committed to helping its members, as well as all journalists at risk, raise awareness of issues around media freedom. The AIB supports them in engaging audiences and helping them to understand the vital need for media freedom in all parts of the world. This award will celebrate the organisation that’s making a substantial mark in this area and encouraging others to add to their coverage of media freedom issues.”

The constant and growing number of attacks on news organisations that seek to hold power to account are designed to have a chilling effect on journalism. This new award provides a focus on those telling stories about upholding media freedom across the world.

The AIB Media Freedom Award is one of 21 categories in the AIBs 2021 that reward journalism and factual productions across TV, radio and digital platforms. The AIBs are open to work in any language and produced anywhere in the world. The judging panel is made up of experts from across the media industry worldwide, from Oceania, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.

Past winners of the AIBs include ABS-CBN, CNN, Al Jazeera, RTHK, BBC World Service, VoA, RFA, RFE/RL, ABC, DW, STV, CBC, Mediacorp, eTV and many other broadcasters and production companies. Full information about the AIBs 2021 is online at www.theaibs.tv. The winners of all the AIBs 2021 will be announced in November.