DW Global Media Forum kicks off, virtually

24 June 2020

DW Global Media Forum kicks off, virtually

As restrictions on international travel continue, a range of conferences have migrated to the cloud, including Deutsche Welle’s Global Media Forum. It will launch the first in a series of online events on 24 June with a digital session on the responsibility of the media in times of the coronavirus pandemic. It is the first of a series of digital talks and will be hosted by DW journalist Jaafar Abdul Karim. A discussion titled “The blame game: What is the media’s responsibility in the corona crisis?” will take place on June 24, at 1500 CET (GMT/UTC +2) with speakers from Africa, Latin America and Europe and will be streamed on Facebook.

The session will take a close look at how populists have hijacked the COVID-19 pandemic for their own gain. It will examine the trustworthiness of news outlets on which journalists are relying during the pandemic. It will also explore how journalists can combat misinformation and disinformation – tactics constantly employed by populists and demagogues.

The host is Jaafar Abdul Kari, an award-winning journalist and host of DW’s show Jaafartalk, which reaches an audience of millions in the Arab world.

The speakers:

John-Allan Namu, CEO of Africa Uncensored, Kenya

Africa Uncensored is an investigative and in-depth journalism production house in Nairobi, Kenya. Its aim is to be the premier source of unique, important and incisive journalism.

María Esperanza Casullo, Associate Professor at the University of Río Negro, Argentina

Casullo’s work focuses on populism, democratic theory and Latin American politics, with an emphasis on comparative studies and discourse analysis.

Guido Bülow, Head of News Partnerships Central Europe at Facebook, Germany

Bülow is responsible for the strategic initiatives and programs to promote quality journalism and an informed society in the Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. These include cooperation with independent fact-checkers and Facebook’s accelerator program for local media.

More information on this session: https://p.dw.com/p/3dUfy

Join the session here: https://www.facebook.com/events/281481139639894/

Attacks on journalists in US – AIB writes to Attorney General

23 June 2020

Attacks on journalists in US – AIB writes to Attorney General

Following the attacks on, and detention of, journalists covering the protests across the US that erupted after the death of George Floyd, the Association for International Broadcasting wrote to the US Attorney General William Barr.

Journalists and news crews from a number of AIB Member companies suffered attacks at the hand of US law enforcement officers, including injuries sustained from rubber bullets that were used against protestors in cities across the US.

The letter called on the Attorney General to respect the rights of journalists and news crews to work without hindrance. It highlighted the leadership role that the United States has in promoting democratic ideals across the world that the widespread incidents affecting the news media in the US have potentially damaged.

The AIB also wrote to the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, pointing out that the unlawful acts against journalists and news crews working in the US has the potential to endanger US journalists working in territories around the world as authoritarian governments use the example of the US to restrict media freedom.

“Journalists and news crews working for Al Jazeera, the BBC, CBC, Deutsche Welle and TRT WORLD among the AIB Membership suffered at the hands of US law enforcement agents,” said Simon Spanswick, AIB Chief Executive. “The attacks are unlawful, and the sheer volume is deeply troubling. We have called on the US to ensure that those responsible for the attacks are held to account for their actions.”

Photo: Lorie Shaull/www.lorieshaull.com

80th anniversary of iconic de Gaulle broadcast commemorated

18 June 2020

80th anniversary of iconic de Gaulle broadcast commemorated

Thursday 18 June marks the 80th anniversary of General Charles de Gaulle’s historic first broadcast to occupied France from the BBC’s Broadcasting House.

Just days after Paris surrendered to the invading Nazis, General de Gaulle made on the BBC his first broadcast to France, in which he called on the French soldiers and officers, military engineers and workers in the armament industry, who were or would be on the British soil, to rally under his command in London. “I ask you to believe me when I say that the cause of France is not lost… For, remember this, France does not stand alone… Whatever happens, the flame of French resistance must not and shall not die.”

The BBC’s Director General, Tony Hall, says: “Eighty years ago today, the BBC gave its airwaves to General Charles de Gaulle to address the people of occupied France. He called on them to keep the ‘flame of resistance’ alive. Although the world is very different today, there are still many places where media freedom is under threat. I’m proud that it is still the BBC World Service which allows people to speak freely to their compatriots.”

The broadcast, L’appel du 18 juin, became a defining moment of the French history. This and the following BBC broadcasts by de Gaulle – for which he was condemned in France to death for treason against the Vichy regime – helped to rally the French resistance movement and lift morale in the occupied country.

After the war, to thank the BBC for its singular World War Two broadcast contribution, the French government presented the BBC with a specially commissioned tapestry ‘Le Poète’ [pictured] made by Jean Lurçat, inspired by a poem by Paul Éluard, ‘Liberté’. A metaphor for the role of the Resistance in fighting against Nazism, but also for the importance of broadcasting and freedom of speech, it hangs in the Artists’ Lobby at the BBC’s Broadcasting House.

Photo credits: BBC

Voice of America directors resign

16 June 2020

Voice of America directors resign

Voice of America Director Amanda Bennett on 15 June 2020 announced her resignation and that of VOA Deputy Director Sandy Sugawara after more than four years leading the United States’ largest congressionally-funded international broadcaster.

During their tenure, VOA’s radio, television, and online audience grew by nearly 109 million people to 280.9 million a week, according to annual surveys commissioned by the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America and its sister networks.

“We depart with the gratitude and joy that has marked our time together, with a dedication to our mission and admiration for each member of the VOA workforce,” said Bennett. “We will always be grateful for the chance we were given to work with such a remarkable team and we are so proud to have been a part of VOA’s incredible mission.”

Under their leadership, VOA refocused on its core mission of bringing objective news and information to those without a free press, telling America’s story, explaining America’s government and policies to the world and representing all of the U.S.

The agency adopted a new tagline, “A Free Press Matters,” opened a Silicon Valley bureau to expand technology reporting, launched an investigative journalism unit and fact-checking team (Polygraph.info), created a dedicated blog and website for international students (Student Union) and established VOA’s first ever press freedom beat. They launched new programming in all six language divisions, including new refugee- and women-focused television and radio shows, initiated simultaneous translation for major events like the State of the Union, and introduced bridge editors across the agency to foster content sharing.

On the technology front, they oversaw a major revitalization to studios and digital systems, including the development of an artificial intelligence program that provides transcriptions and translations across VOA’s 47 language services in minutes.

The complete VOA Transformation Report is here.

“There are so many brave, heroic journalists at VOA who believe passionately in the power of a free press, because they have seen the impact around the world,” said Sugawara. “It has been inspiring to work with them and learn from them.”

Prior to joining VOA in April 2016, Bennett served as an executive editor at Bloomberg News, the editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer and editor of the Herald-Leader in Lexington, Kentucky. She also served for three years as managing editor/projects for The Oregonian in Portland and was a Wall Street Journal reporter for more than 20 years. She has also been a contributing columnist for The Washington Post. A graduate of Harvard College, Bennett shared the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for national reporting with her Journal colleagues, and in 2001 led a team from The Oregonian to a Pulitzer for public service. In October 2019, VOA Director Amanda Bennett was honored by the National Press Club Journalism Institute with the Fourth Estate Award that recognizes individuals that have made significant contributions to American journalism.

Before Sugawara came to VOA, she spent more than three decades in journalism, starting as a UPI reporter and rising to senior management positions at The Washington Post. Most recently, she served for more than three years as managing editor for Trove, a digital news startup owned by The Washington Post/Graham Holdings Company. A graduate of Wellesley College, Sugawara also served at The Washington Post as assistant managing editor for business. As a reporter for The Washington Post, Sugawara spent several years as a Tokyo-based correspondent and covered the Securities and Exchange Commission, telecommunications, government contracting and local politics.

In a farewell message to the VOA workforce, Bennett said, “Nothing about you, your passion, your mission or your integrity changes. Michael Pack swore before Congress to respect and honor the firewall that guarantees VOA’s independence, which in turn plays the single most important role in the stunning trust our audiences around the world have in us. We know that each one of you will offer him all of your skills, your professionalism, your dedication to mission, your journalistic integrity and your personal hard work to guarantee that promise is fulfilled.”

Source: VoA press release

Photo: Amanda Bennett at the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum, Bonn | DW image

More time to enter the AIBs 2020 – celebrating journalism has never been more important

15 June 2020

More time to enter the AIBs 2020 – celebrating journalism has never been more important

As the world starts to slowly regain some semblance of normality, the Association for International Broadcasting is pleased to announce that at the request of journalist, producers and editors around the world, the closing date of this year’s AIBs is being extended to 24 July 2020.

This extension provides a cushion for entrants and potential entrants as the world starts to slowly open up again as the COVID-19 pandemic recedes in many places.

We have been delighted that entries to the 16th annual AIBs have been arriving from around the world. We are also pleased that our international jury now stands at well over 30, with more experts confirming that they are looking forward to judging your work over the coming months.

There are 20 categories in this year’s AIBs, ranging from daily journalism to human interest, young journalist of the year to international channel of the year. You can see the full list here.

We recognise that many, many people are still working from home and that there are logistical and operational challenges in getting hold of programmes, authorisations and more. We will be as flexible as we can in helping you to showcase your work of the past year in the AIBs – if you need assistance, please let us know and we will do our best to help.

These are your awards, your celebration of success. Please do take the time to look at the entry information and consider sharing your work with colleagues and peers across the world.

Remember – the AIBs are for productions made for television, radio and digital platforms!

Need help or have questions? Contact the AIB Secretariat on +44 20 7993 2557 between 0900 and 1600 GMT Monday to Friday.

Closing date reminder: 24 July 2019

You can get a flavour of the immense range of journalism and productions that are entered in the awards:

Bad day for media freedom in Philippines as Maria Ressa convicted

15 June 2020

Bad day for media freedom in Philippines as Maria Ressa convicted

Monday 15 June will be marked as another day in which media freedom in the Philippines, a country of 106m inhabitants, was dealt a savage blow. It is the day that Maria Ressa, founder and editor-in-chief of independent news organisation Rappler, and Rey Santos Jr, a journalist working for Rappler, were found guilty of cyber libel.

Amal Clooney and Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC of London’s Doughty Street Chambers have, on behalf of the international legal team acting for award-winning journalist Maria Ressa, expressed condemnation following today’s judgment handed down by Judge Rainelda Estacio-Montesa in the Manila Regional Trial Court.

Ms Ressa, former CNN bureau chief and one of four journalists named Time’s Person of the Year in 2018, stood accused of libelling businessman Wilfredo Keng in an article published on news website, Rappler.com. More information about the case is available here.

Today, the Court found Ms Ressa and her co-Defendant, reporter Reynaldo Santos Jr, guilty of the crime of cyberlibel. Ms Ressa was sentenced to a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 6 years imprisonment and granted bail pending appeal. A fine of approximately $8,000 (P400,000) was also imposed.

Ms Clooney said of today’s verdict: “Today a court in the Philippines became complicit in a sinister action to silence a journalist for exposing corruption and abuse. This conviction is an affront to the rule of law, a stark warning to the press, and a blow to democracy in the Philippines. I hope that the appeals court will set the record straight in this case. And that the United States will take action to protect their citizen and the values of their Constitution.”

Ms Gallagher said: “Independent journalism in the Philippines is an act of bravery. At least 16 journalists have been killed since President Duterte came to office in 2016, and today’s verdict comes just weeks since the country’s largest media network was shut down. Maria Ressa’s conviction on baseless charges, for an article she did not write, under a draconian law which did not exist when the article was published, is an ugly stain on the Philippines’ reputation. The international community must condemn this grave attack on independent journalism and media freedom in the strongest terms.”

Ms Ressa said: “Today I have been convicted, but it is also the justice system in the Philippines on trial. For years I have been targeted by the authorities, following the government’s weaponization of social media. Today the judiciary became complicit in this insidious campaign to silence independent journalism and stifle press freedom. But neither I nor Rappler will be silenced. I will fight this conviction, and I will continue to do my duty, to speak out and report the truth.”

Remarkably, seven further cases remain pending against Ms Ressa, exposing her potentially to decades in prison. The barrage of cases against Ms Ressa, which allege illegal foreign media ownership of her news site and alleged tax offences, are equally spurious, and an act of retaliation by the current administration against her reporting, which has exposed corruption and abuses, including the execution of thousands of Filipinos in the name of a war on drugs.

The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines has characterised the cases against Ms Ressa as an act of “persecution” by a “bully government.” In December 2019, the US Senate also criticised the cases, holding that they were “widely viewed by human rights observers and a number of governments as part of a pattern of ‘‘weaponizing the rule of law’’ to repress independent media.”

The AIB adds its voice to those protesting this assault on media freedom in the Philippines. The convictions are clearly wrong and they will add to the growing impunity that those who want to silence the media feel that they have in targeting journalists and news organisations. The AIB will support Maria, Rey, Rappler and others in similar situations in any way that it can.