The Association for International Broadcasting (AIB) has today – 12 May 2016 – condemned the leaking of the personal details of thousands of journalists and media workers who have reported from eastern Ukraine and the support for the publication by member of the Ukrainian parliament.
Above – Simon Spanswick, AIB chief executive, interviewed on RT English
On 7th May, a group of hackers claimed on the website Myrotvorets (Peacemaker) that they had breached computers used by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine to keep track of journalists they had allowed to work in the region. The hackers published a database containing the names, affiliations, and contact information of more than 7,000 individuals. The database includes over 4,500 local and international journalists and media workers who have reported from the conflict zone.
According to the US based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) the separatists have been collecting journalists’ contact information as part of an accreditation process even though their authority over eastern Ukraine is not internationally recognised.
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office on Wednesday announcedthat it had opened an investigation into the publication of the journalists’ names and contact information under article 171.1 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code, which covers “obstruction to journalism.”
The hackers wrote that they did not know what the consequences of their action would be, but added, “Be certain: It is important to publish the list because these journalists collaborate with terrorist guerillas.”
“The Association for International Broadcasting and its Members condemn without equivocation the publication of these data,” said Simon Spanswick, chief executive of the AIB. “The names and contact data of many journalists and news crews working for AIB Members – and hundreds of other agencies, TV channels, radio stations and newspapers – are included in the release. There is no excuse for releasing information of this sort. The journalists working in East Ukraine were there legitimately, reporting the situation for the benefit of audiences and readers throughout the world. Accusations that the journalists ‘collaborated with terrorists’ are completely unfounded and without any substance. We call on the authorities in Ukraine to take steps to have these data removed from the Internet and to prosecute those involved in this hack.”
Oksana Romanyuk, head of the Institute for Mass Information, a press freedom group in Kiev, told the CPJ that the hackers’ actions had remained largely unnoticed until Tuesday, when Anton Geraschenko, a member of Ukraine’s parliament, praised them on the social media site Facebook. Geraschenko suggested that Ukraine’s authorities should introduce specific actions to “counter Russian propaganda.”
Geraschenko’s recommendations included: “imposing control over broadcast programming and cable networks to prevent distribution of information that could destabilize Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity;” “imposing control over accreditation of reporters, specifically those from Russia;” “deportation of reporters found in breach of national laws;” and “developing legal and technical resources to block online content that incites to violence and destabilises Ukraine’s national security.”
Ukrainian and foreign journalists have condemned the publication of personal data of reporters, including those from the Ukrainian broadcaster Hromadske TV, the Moscow-based newspaper Novaya Gazeta, Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza, the BBC, The New York Times, The Daily Beast, The Economist, and others. In a statement signed by 37 journalists and published on Wednesday 11th May, they rejected the description of the accredited journalists as “collaborators with terrorists” and demanded that the personal data leak be investigated by law enforcers, saying it violated Ukraine’s privacy laws, the nation’s constitution, and the European Convention on Human Rights
According to the statement, journalists started receiving threats by phone and email after the list was made public. The signatories said that by obtaining accreditation from the separatists, they were able to inform the public of the crimes committed in the area, including the downing of the Malaysian Airlines plane over the region in July 2014.
The journalists also said that in 2014 alone, at least 80 journalists were detained by eastern Ukrainian separatists in connection with their work and that some of them were tortured. They urged the hackers to remove the list from the Internet.
The AIB encourages the journalists and media workers on the list to take extra precautions for securing their email accounts and digital information.
RT has pioneered in offering a VR broadcast of the parade as part of its special coverage of the 71st anniversary of Victory Day.
The 360-degree panoramic video captured by RT’s camera gives a bird’s-eye view of the Red Square, as seen from a group of Mil Mi-8АМТSh helicopters, as well as a real feel of being in the cockpit of a Sukhoi Su-27 fighter, part of the famous Russian Knights aerobatics team.
Earlier, RT was the first TV channel to offer a live 360-degree HD broadcast of the Victory Day parade rehearsal using its special, fully immersive camera.
CNN International Commercial today announced a historic news affiliate and consultation agreement between Turner Broadcasting System Asia Pacific, Inc., the distributor of CNN International in the Asia Pacific region, and Shwe Than Lwin Media Co., Ltd., (known as ‘SkyNet Myanmar’) to help the company launch the country’s first 24-hour local language news network, Channel One.
As part of this multi-year agreement, SkyNet will receive detailed consultation and comprehensive training from CNN on all aspects of launching a news channel, including newsgathering and production, digital and technical operations, program development and best-practice management. Once Channel One launches, SkyNet will continue to receive on-going training from CNN at CNN’s Asia headquarters in Hong Kong, its global U.S. headquarters in Atlanta, and on-site in Yangon.
As part of the agreement, Channel One will also broadcast CNN content and programming in local Burmese language, another first for the country. The alliance also includes supporting SkyNet in its development of a complementary Channel One news website.
Vice President, Content Sales and Partnerships, CNN International Commercial, Greg Beitchman: “Myanmar is such an exciting market for growth and we couldn’t be happier to align with SkyNet in its efforts to lead the transformation of the media landscape in the country. Launching the first local 24 hour news channel is a significant milestone and it’s our privilege to be affiliated with an organization that aspires to CNN’s vision and values. A comprehensive and tailored training program will be put together to ensure the channel offers the best in class in news content in Myanmar.”
Chairman, Shwe Than Lwin Media Co., U Kyaw Win: “CNN has been synonymous with 24 hour news for more than three decades. As the world’s leader in news, there is absolutely no one better to learn from. Through this strategic affiliation with CNN we are giving Channel One the very best chance to succeed by delivering a first-class service that gives the people of Myanmar the best of local and international news.”
The alliance between CNN International and SkyNet Myanmar is part of a strategic effort by CNN International Commercial’s Content Sales and Partnerships Group to support the development of high quality journalism, and grow the reach of CNN’s content by working with other leading media organisations. (Source: CNN)
3 May marks World Press Freedom Day. The international day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a Recommendation adopted at the 26th Session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 1991. This in turn was a response to a call by African journalists who in 1991 produced the landmark Windhoek Declaration on media pluralism and independence.
Every year, 3 May is a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.
France 24’s community of some 13.5 million Facebook subscribers will now be able to access “instant articles” in English, in French, and also – world premiere – in Arabic.
Thus, France 24 offers its growing Facebook audience a new browsing experience in three languages as well as fast, easy access to the news.
These new formats can be accessed on Facebook applications for iOS and Android. They are designed and optimized for consuming news on the move. As “instant articles” are actually hosted directly on Facebook, text and video content loads ten times faster.
In concrete terms, when Facebook users click on one of the articles identified by a lightning bolt icon, they remain in the Facebook environment and the France 24 article opens seamlessly in their application, with no load time.
This Facebook feature, first developed in English and French,is now available in Arabic, allowing France 24 to offer its 5 million Arabic-speaking Facebook subscribers more comfortable content consumption.
Global Media Services Company Recognized With A Bronze Award
New Delhi, Delhi (April 25, 2016)—MediaGuru, a leading provider of digitization and media asset management services announced today that the company received a bronze Stevie® award for its Innovative Services in Audiovisual Digitization in the category “Excellence in Innovation in Technology Industries.” This recognition comes on the heels of MediaGuru’s recent recognition for outstanding contribution in digitization by SCTE.
The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards are the only business awards program to recognize achievement in innovation in 22 nations of the Asia-Pacific region. More than 600 nominations from organizations across the Asia-Pacific region were considered this year in various categories. Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 50 executives around the world acting as jury.
With over a decade of experience in delivering media services globally, MediaGuru specializes in providing content digitization, media asset management and technology solutions to broadcasters and media organizations.
“This award reflects our commitment and dedication to develop innovative solutions and services for preserving and managing valuable content for enterprises and content owners. We are glad that the organizations around the world are recognizing the value of our digitization services, as we help them drive alternate revenue streams from their content,” said Sanjay Salil, Managing Director, MediaGuru.
Details about the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards and the list of other Stevie Award winners are available at http://Asia.Stevieawards.com.
