The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is
extremely concerned by acts of violence and intimidation targeting journalists
in Pakistan’s North-West Frontier Province,
after the family homes of two journalists were bombed by militant insurgents.
According to the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists
(PFUJ), an IFJ affiliate, 50 hooded militants connected to groups linked under
the banner of the Taliban approached the house of Rehman Buneri, a Voice of America Deewa
Radio reporter and
Karachi bureau chief of AVT Khyber Television,
on July 8 and warned his family that they had been told to raze the building.
Buneri’s house is located in…
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) strongly
condemns the reported ban on the popular news website www.lankanewsweb.com imposed by Sri Lanka’s
Government on July 12.
According to a statement posted on the website, which continues to remain available outside the
country, Sri Lanka’s state-controlled
telecoms company and two other internet service providers within the country
have been asked to block access to the website.
The management of lankanewsweb.com,
which is yet to be formally informed of the decision,
believes the ban is retaliation for two exclusive news reports featured on the
website in recent days.
One reported…
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today expressed deep concern over continuing harassment of media in Iran amid signs of growing opposition from independent journalists to censorship and manipulation in the country's mainstream media. "There is evidence of strong pressure on independent journalism from outside and inside the newsroom. Even some media owners inside the profession are bullying their journalists who refuse to toe the official line," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "Journalists are arrested, sacked or forced to resign for standing up for ethical journalism."According to the Association of Iranian Journalists (AoIJ), an IFJ affiliate, 39…
The International Federation of
Journalists (IFJ) is concerned that the dangers faced by Afghan journalists may
be escalating rapidly as Afghanistan
prepares for nation-wide elections on August 20.
According to the Afghan Independent
Journalists’ Association (AIJA), an
IFJ affiliate, a journalist from the
Al-Jazeera English news channel was kidnapped in Pitch district of Kunar
province on the morning of July 12. Sadullah Sail,
a correspondent with the channel,
went missing as he was travelling through the district and was later confirmed
by a spokesman of the Taliban Islamic militia to be in their custody.
He was released after several
hours,…
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is shocked
at a recent article posted on the website of Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence, branding as “traitors” five lawyers appearing in a
case of contempt involving the Sunday Leader newspaper.
The article, titled
“Traitors in Black Coats Flocked Together”,
names five lawyers who appeared for the Sunday Leader at a hearing in
the Mount Lavinia
court near Colombo
as having “a history of appearing for and defending” separatist guerillas of
the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The article features pictures of
three of the lawyers.
“We have observed in…
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) welcomes the activation
of a Joint Fairness Commission as an independent dispute resolution mechanism
between staff and management at the YTN television station in South Korea.
However, the IFJ calls on YTN management to show good will by reinstating
six employees who were sacked in October 2008 as a result of the long-running
dispute at YTN.
After almost a year of in-house turmoil including management-led
sanctions against staff, bans on union members, and court arbitration, an
agreement to protect editorial independence and promote fair reporting – the
“YTN fairness pact” – was…
The International Federation
of Journalists (IFJ) today warned that a massive attack on independent media in
Iran
which has seen the jailing of journalists and a continuing crackdown on
free expression reveals the desperation of the regime to curb democracy. "The rulers of Iran
appear determined to stifle dissent and to isolate its people from the outside
world," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "It's a
desperate but futile attempt to turn the clock back." According
to reports, the head of Iran's judiciary,
Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi-Shahroudi, has
said in a memo to judges that measures are needed to contain the growing
criticism of the…
The
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) welcomes a statement by Pakistan’s
President, Asif Ali Zardari, supporting journalists’ demands that the Seventh
Wage Award be implemented immediately.
According to
the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ),
an IFJ affiliate, the President put
on record this intent in a communication to the union.
“The IFJ appreciates
this long overdue admission that Pakistan’s Government has a special
responsibility to ensure compliance with the statutory provisions of the law
dealing with working conditions in the newspaper industry - the Newspaper
Employees (Conditions of…
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is alarmed
at the growing catalogue of attacks on journalists by political agents in Nepal. These
attacks invariably are provoked by grievances related to media content.
In the latest attack,
the IFJ is informed by its affiliate,
the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ),
that two journalists were forced to flee their home district after being
threatened with death by cadre of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), until recently the leading constituent of the
coalition that governed the country.
The journalists are Labadev Dhungana,
former President of the FNJ Panchthar district chapter,
and Kumar…
A local event about women journalists will be held on July 28th, in the city of Cartagena de Indias, promoted by FECOLPER Gender Representative, Ada Echenique Soto, in alliance with the District Office of Public Policies on Gender, directed by psychologist, Claudia Ayola.
The event "Women journalists - Dangers and Challenges," will include discussions on IFJ Guide "Getting the Balance Right", and reflections from the IFJ International Gender Conference, carried out last May in Brussels. Other topics approached will be the role of women journalists in the disclosure of public policies on gender equality, the structure and decision making process surrounding these…
In the capital of the country, at least sixty journalists from different media organisations, elected journalists Constanza Vieira (President), Karen Cepeda (Vicepresident), Johanna Bueno (General Secretary) and Claudia Julieta Duque (Board Member), to be members of the first directive board of the recently founded Union of Journalists of Bogota (UPB), which will be integrated into the Colombian Federation of Journalists (FECOLPER), lead by journalist Eduardo Márquez.The event took place in the Javeriana University demonstrating journalist interest and solidarity in the defense of journalism, and protection of social and work rights of journalists in the city.…
Marta Córdoba was attacked by an individual
identified as Marcelo Alejandro Barrionuevo, who first identified himself as a
police officer and then as a journalism student. The aggressor followed the journalist through
the main streets of the city and then attacked her on neck and arm. The violent event took place during a march
of bank workers.
Marta Córdoba works in FM Capital, is currently board
member of FATPREN affiliate in Salta, and was attacked for detecting individuals
infiltrated in the protest supporting the strike of bank
workers. http://www.fatpren.org.ar/Secciones/PartesNacionales745.htm
Marta Córdoba was attacked by an individual identified as Marcelo Alejandro Barrionuevo, who first identified himself as a police officer and then as a journalism student. The aggressor followed the journalist through the main streets of the city and then attacked her on neck and arm. The violent event took place during a march of bank workers. Marta Córdoba works in FM Capital, is currently board member of FATPREN affiliate in Salta, and was attacked for detecting individuals infiltrated in the protest supporting the strike of bank workers.http://www.fatpren.org.ar/Secciones/PartesNacionales745.htm
According to the new norm passed to the Mayor of Bogotá for final approval, public officials must use inclusive language in speeches, decrees, resolutions, concepts, notifications, newspapers, brochures, posters, signs, web sites and blogs. Critics claim the measure makes comprehension of public documents more difficult, and puts an end to tradition and harmony of the language. Watch testimonies of councilor Ángela Benedetti and columnist and economist Alejandro Gaviria: http://www.semana.com/noticias-politica/polemica-sobre-acuerdo-obliga-concejo-usar-lenguaje-incluyente/125034.aspx
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its local affiliate, the Cambodian Association for the Protection of Journalists (CAPJ) in calling for the immediate repeal of a prison sentence against journalist Hang Chakra.
Hang Chakra, the publisher and editor-in-chief of Khmer Machas Srok, was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and fined 9 million Riels (approximately USD 2,250) on charges of ”disinformation” and ”dishonouring” public officials on June 26, CAPJ reports.
The charges related to a series of articles published in Khmer Machas Srok which alleged the involvement of Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An in corrupt activities.
Chakra was…
Diversity is both a reality and a necessity in European societies. At a time when the media shares with our political institutions - and, most recently, with our financial institutions - a crisis of trust and credibility in the eyes of the public, the Study Media4Diversity (PDF - 2,8 MB) aims to provide inspiration in how the media sector, civil society organisations and policy makers can help strengthen the very fabric of our diverse societies, despite the major challenges that both society and the media sector itself currently face.
Three leading media assistance organisations - Internews Europe, project coordinator and its partners, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and…
A Study on Media and Diversity in EU Member States and 3 EEA countries
Diversity is both a reality and a necessity in European societies. At a time when the media shares with our political institutions - and, most recently, with our financial institutions - a crisis of trust and credibility in the eyes of the public, the Study Media4Diversity (PDF - 2,8 MB) aims to provide inspiration in how the media sector, civil society organisations and policy makers can help strengthen the very fabric of our diverse societies, despite the major challenges that both society and the media sector itself currently face.
Read the study in English HERE
Read the study in French HERE
Three leading…
30
June
UK:
Guardian Asks Users to Help Investigating British Parliamentarians’ Expenses
Following the political scandal over the fiddling of
expenses claims by British Members of Parliament, The Guardian newspaper
is asking its readers to help checking the 457,153 pages of documents and
expenses reports submitted by Members of Parliament. This is certainly the
first time that readers are directly involved with media at such a large scale
in a “watchdog experiment”.
http://mps-expenses.guardian.co.uk/
Netherlands:
Media Minister to Impose Ceiling on Public Broadcasting Salaries
Dutch Media Minister Ronald Plasterk proposed to cap
salaries of…
The Argentinean Federation of Press Workers (FATPREN), warned of serious health conditions of journalist Valeria Gamboa, of Channel 10 in Córdoba, brutally beaten by presidential guards on May 31st, in the city of Río Tercero.
Medical exams determined three fractured ribs, sunken sternum and thorax trauma.
Valeria was covering the visit of President Cristina Kirchner to the Military Factory of Río Tercero, in Cordoba province, in which the Head of State announced the payment of indemnizations to victims of moral, psychological and material damage during the explosion in the installations, in 1995.
FATPREN condemned the attack and demanded authorities clarify the events and sanction…
The Centre of Solidarity of the International Federation of Journalists (Ceso-FIP), indicated the first semester of 2009 was deadly for press freedom in Colombia, in particular for women journalists, with one woman journalist murdered and 17 attacked.On February 5, the lifeless body of young journalist María Eugenia Guerrero, was discovered on the outskirts of Tulcan, Ecuador. Forensic exams proved Guerrero was beaten to death and sexually assaulted. Maria Eugenia was last seen on February 2, when she mentioned a trip to Ipiales where she collaborated with several media organisations. The case remains unsolved.The aggressions recorded by Ceso-FIP range from death…
The Argentinean Federation of Press Workers
(FATPREN), warned of serious health conditions of journalist Valeria Gamboa, of
Channel 10 in Córdoba, brutally beaten by presidential guards on May
31st, in the city of Río Tercero.
Medical exams determined three fractured ribs, sunken
sternum and thorax trauma. Valeria was covering the visit of President Cristina
Kirchner to the Military Factory of Río Tercero, in Cordoba province, in which
the Head of State announced the payment of indemnizations to victims of moral,
psychological and material damage during the explosion in the installations, in
1995.
FATPREN condemned the attack and…
The International Federation of
Journalists urges immediate police investigation into the motive behind the
fatal shooting of radio broadcaster Jonathan Fetalvero in Agusan del Sur province
in the Philippines’ troubled
island of Mindanao.
According to the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), an
IFJ affiliate, Fetalvero, 43, was
shot in the head by a gunman at a restaurant at around 7:30pm in the town of
Bayugan in Agusan del Sur. Witnesses told police the gunman, who was reportedly wearing a ski-mask, fled on a motorbike.
News reports stated that the
murder occurred on June 27. However,
police reports claim it happened on June 25,
the…
The International Federation of
Journalists is shocked that the systematic campaign of threats and harassment
carried out against Uthayan,
a Tamil newspaper in the northern Sri Lankan city of Jaffna,
has culminated in a “final warning” to shut down or risk lethal retaliation.
According to reports received from
IFJ sources in Sri Lanka, a letter
written to all Uthayan staff and news agents on June 27, and purporting to be a “final warning”, accused the newspaper of being “pro-terrorist” and
of “confusing” the Tamil people of Sri Lanka from the time it began
publication.
With “harmony and liberty”…
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its
affiliate, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), in calling for
broader consultations and the active involvement of journalists’ unions and
associations in the formulation of a code of ethics for the profession.
According to the PFUJ, the Pakistan Broadcasters’
Association (PBA) has reportedly sent a draft code of ethics to Pakistan’s
Federal Government for vetting and approval. The draft reportedly covers
contingencies for when the media reports on incidents of “terrorism”.
“The PBA’s approach is questionable as the IFJ believes that
a code of…
The International Federation of
Journalists (IFJ) strongly condemns an attack on three Tamil newspapers in the
northern Sri Lankan city of Jaffna
on June 24.
According to reports from IFJ
sources, news agents for Jaffna’s three main
newspapers – Uthayan, Valampuri and Thinakkural – were attacked early that morning as they began
distributing the day’s editions.
In the case of Uthayan, which with its Colombo-based sister publication, Sudar Oli,
been an essential link between dispersed elements of Sri Lanka’s Tamil community, the attack was particularly violent, with the delivery agents physically and…
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the world’s largest organisation of journalists, has called on Iranian leaders to end the intimidation of local and international media which has seen leaders of Iran’s journalists’ union forced into hiding for their safety.
In a letter to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian President re-elected in controversial elections which led to widespread protests over the past week, IFJ leaders have expressed particular concern over the fate of Karim Arghandepour, a well-known Iranian journalist and an elected member of the IFJ’s global Executive Committee. He has not been heard of since his arrest in the official…
The outgoing President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering yesterday gave his backing to an initiative of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Vintu Foundation for Excellence in Education and Journalism to facilitate the creation of an international media victims support committee.
President Pöttering made the remarks during a meeting with the delegation led by the IFJ Deputy General Secretary, Paco Audije and Communications Officer Ernest Sagaga, who briefed him on the work of the IFJ on safety of journalists and, in particular, on the initiative to launch an international committee to provide assistance to families of journalists…
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its
affiliate organisations in Sri Lanka – the Free Media Movement, the Sri Lanka
Working Journalists’ Association and the Federation of Media Employees’ Trade
Unions – in strongly condemning the Sri Lankan Government’s decision to revive
the Press Council that was established by an act of parliament in 1973.
The Sri Lankan Press Council Act of 1973 contains stringent
provisions, including the power to prosecute for contempt and sentence
journalists to extended periods in prison and to prohibit the publication of
certain kinds of content by the media,…
Today the European Federation of Journalists(EFJ),
the European group of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), called
for a broad support to Italian journalists in their opposition to the reform of
the Criminal Code and their struggle for press freedom. "The Italian Parliament is asked to vote a text
that would restrict journalists' possibility to use or to refer to telephone
tappings. This vote takes place at the time media and individual journalists
are pushed to censorship by politicians. So, we can genuinely say that Italy's
basic democratic values are currently at stake," said EFJ President Arne König.
"Press freedom and the right to information need to be…
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today said that management at theNew Indian Express are using bullying tactics to scare off journalists and media workers who are demanding implementation of the wage award ordered by the Government.The New Indian Express, according to information received from the All India Newspaper Employees Federation (AINEF), an IFJ affiliate, reportedly declared a lock-out in its Bangalore establishment after workers' demands for the implementation of the lawfully mandated wage structure escalated. The management has since summarily dismissed no fewer than 50 employees, for alleged "indiscipline"."The management has…
The European Federation of Journalists(EFJ) and its member unions
throughout Europe fully support the 24 hours strike announced by its affiliate,
the Journalists' Union of Athens Daily Newspapers (JUADN), along with all other
media workers starting today at 17.00 in all media - print, broadcasting and
digital- whether private, public or city owned. The reason for the strike is the sudden decision by Theodoros and
Gianna Angelopoulos, owners of Eleftheros
Typos and Sunday Typos newspapers, radio station CITY
99,5 and the group's information
site to dismiss 450 journalists and media workers as a result of closing down
these media. These latest dramatic events add up…
The
International Federation (IFJ) has today welcomed the decision to lift the ban
on the Arabic version of the Gulf News newspaper after the authorities stopped its publication on
Sunday 21 June 2009. "We
welcome the lifting of the ban which was a serious violation of press freedom,"
said Paco Audije, IFJ Deputy General
Secretary. "It is not for governments to tell newspapers what to publish and
this type of vindictive reaction to media work is unacceptable." According
to media reports, the decision to ban the publication of the Gulf News Arabic version followed an
article in its Saturday paper which criticised the Iranian
leadership for their reaction to massive…
The
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) last week hosted a meeting of
representatives of families of journalists who lost their lives during the
course of their work to discuss the establishment of a support network which
would provide assistance to families of media victims of violence. The
meeting, organised jointly with the Vintu Foundation and attended by the Rory
Peck Trust, brought together relatives of journalists from Africa, Europe and the Asia Pacific regions. It was a follow up
of previous meetings held in London in January
2009 and in Spain
in 2008. "These
meetings showed that families of journalists have different needs," said IFJ
President, Jim…
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) stands in solidarity
with its affiliate, the Association of Taiwan
Journalists (ATJ), and members of Taiwan’s
independent media in demanding that the new owners of Taiwan’s
largest media syndicate, China Times Group, make a public commitment to press
freedom and media independence.
Taiwan’s media regulatory body, the National
Communications Council (NCC), announced a conditional approval on May 27 of the
takeover of the China Times Group by the Want Want Group, after a series of
public hearings. Want Want Group is chaired by Taiwan
businessman Tsai-Eng-ming, who owns a food products conglomerate…
Today
the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the European group of the
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), accused the European Commission
of confusion and contradiction in its response to Europe's
media crisis. The
European Federation of Journalists says a statement by competition Commissioner
Nelly Kroes calling on Sweden
to reduce its support to the crisis-hit press sector flatly contradicts the
opinion of EC President José-Manuel Barroso who recently told the European
Federation of Journalists that the economic problems overwhelming much of the
European press required public intervention. "There
is a muddle of confusion and contradiction in…
The International Federation of
Journalists (IFJ) calls on the Unified CPN Maoists and all political groups in Nepal
to end attacks on media personnel reporting on street protests.
The Federation of Nepali
Journalists (FNJ), an IFJ affiliate, reported repeated incidents of violence
against journalists across Nepal
instigated by activist groups affiliated to the Unified CPN Maoists during
street protests in the past week.
Students affiliated with the All
Nepal National Free Students’ Union (Revolutionary), a student wing of the Unified
CPN Maoists, reportedly attacked a vehicle carrying FNJ secretary Ram Dahal, Himal Khabarpatrika editor Kiran Nepal,…
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
today condemned massive arrests of members and leaders of
independent media organizations in Gambia, including the Gambia
Press Union (GPU) an IFJ affiliate. "We firmly condemn these massive arrest of journalists
and leaders of the Gambia Press
Union. This climate of terror against the journalists and the media is
unacceptable," said Gabriel Baglo,
Director of IFJ Africa Office. "The unprecedented arrests and illegal detention
of journalists in The Gambia are systematic violations of the fundamental rights of journalists orchestrated by the Yahya Jammeh regime to suppress freedom of expression in
the country. It is a…
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today
launched ‘Partial Justice' report, a review into the deaths of more than 300 Russian journalists since 1993, at a conference in Moscow hosted by the Russian Union of Journalists. "The murder of Anna Politkovskaya in October 2006
shocked the world. Yet for every Anna, there have been many less widely known
journalists killed for their work across Russia,"
said Jim Boumelha, IFJ President. "For the first time this report and the accompanying
database present a comprehensive record of these murders, whether taking place
in cross-fires in conflict zones, or homicide and contract killings, whether
journalists killed for…
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) demands an immediate
police inquiry into the mob-attack of two media workers at a casino in the Lazimpat
district of Kathmandu, Nepal,
on June 10.
According to the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), an IFJ affiliate,
Avenues Television correspondent Diliraj Pokhrel and cameraman Niran Raj Bana
were severely beaten by a group of more than 50 to 60 people when they arrived at
Casino Venus to report on a confrontation between staff and police.
Pokhrel and Bana told the FNJ they had been at the casino the previous
day to report on a police raid and returned at the request of the casino staff.
Bana…
The European Federation of Journalist (EFJ), the
European group of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), today
reaffirmed its solidarity with and support to striking journalists at Radio
France Internationale (RFI), as the industrial action enters its second month. « This action, supported by over 60% of the
staff, is justified in view of the threats over RFI. We are calling on management
to engage in a genuine dialogue with the striking unions," said EFJ President
Arne König. "The strike is about the respect for journalists but it is also in
the interest of RFI as a public service provider and a major international
media». The strike started…
The International
Federation of journalists (IFJ) says that forcing a journalist to reveal her
sources in Northern Ireland will put
her life at risk and weaken the fragile peace and democracy in the region. At a hearing yesterday
in Belfast, the
Police Service of Northern Ireland
(PSNI) sought to enforce an order that Suzanne Breen, a journalist of the
Sunday Tribune, should provide materials over articles concerning the murder of
two British soldiers in the province. The case, says the IFJ, highlights the
threats to press freedom and the safety of journalists forced to hand over
materials that will reveal their sources.
"The protection
of sources is of the essence for…
The International Federation of
Journalists (IFJ) condemns police intervention to disrupt a peaceful protest by
members of the Rawalpindi Islamabad Union of Journalists (RIUJ) outside Pakistan’s Parliament in Islamabad on June 9.
According to the Pakistan Federal
Union of Journalists (PFUJ), an IFJ
affiliate, nine journalists were
injured when police baton-charged the rally.
Among the injured were National
Press Club secretary Afzal Butt, RIUJ President Shehryar Khan, RIUJ Finance
Secretary Bilal Dar and journalists Raja Aftab, Mehboob Shah and Khalid
Gardazi.
“Journalists have a right to voice
their legitimate concerns through…
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate,
the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines
(NUJP), in condemning the murder of
radio commentator Crispin Perez on June 9.
According to the NUJP, Perez
was returning home around 9am after broadcasting his morning show on dwDO in
western Occidental Mindoro when he was attacked.
Witnesses said Perez was talking to an unidentified man in front of his
house in Barangay 7, San Jose,
when the man stabbed him and shot him with a .45 caliber gun before fleeing on
a motorcycle, police reports said.
Perez was declared dead on arrival at hospital.
The NUJP reports that…
The
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) demands Pakistan’s Government and senior security officials
abide by United
Nations Security Council Resolution 1738 after security
forces reportedly opened fire on journalists in Pakistan’s
North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) just after granting the team permission to
enter the Swat Valley conflict zone.
AVT Khyber
cameraman Malik Imran and his driver,
Mushtaq, suffered serious bullet
injuries on June 9 when security forces fired at a vehicle carrying a team of
journalists who were on their way to report on the conflict between Pakistan’s
armed forces and insurgents in the Lower Dir district.…
Brussels, 31st May 2009 The women and men representing press workers' unions around the world, in
the frame of the World Conference on "Ethics and Gender", who met in Brussels
on 30th and 31st of May: Exhort, especially, the governments of Colombia and Mexico to guaranty the
security, physical integrity and personal welfare of women journalists threatened
to death, assaulted or harassed. They demand the International Federation of
Journalists (IFJ) to promote policies of urgent help to women journalists
exiled, threatened, attacked, harassed and displaced colleagues. They appeal to the Gender Council to pay special…
Brussels, 31st May 2009The women and men representing press workers' unions around the world, in the frame of the World Conference on "Ethics and Gender", who met in Brussels on 30th and 31st of May:Exhort, especially, the governments of Colombia and Mexico to guaranty the security, physical integrity and personal welfare of women journalists threatened to death, assaulted or harassed. They demand the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) to promote policies of urgent help to women journalists exiled, threatened, attacked, harassed and displaced colleagues.They appeal to the Gender Council to pay special…
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns
the Fiji military regime’s
extension of strict media censorship and emergency regulations, saying the regime’s
effort to stamp out public discussion is undermining all fundamental rights of
the people of Fiji.
Under the emergency rules, initially
imposed in April, the media is forbidden to publish or broadcast anything
negative about the regime. Censors are now posted in all media outlets.
“The attempt by Fiji’s military leaders to eliminate any
opportunity for free expression are denying journalists their right to report
in the public interest and the right of the people…
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is horrified that young
political activists in Nepal
have again issued violent threats against media personnel for the content of
their reporting.
According to the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), an IFJ affiliate,
Young Communist League (YCL) cadre threatened to “cut into pieces” four
journalists who went to report on a confrontation between the activists and
local people in Lamgunj, central Nepal, on June 8.
The FNJ said the journalists were Avenus Television correspondent Milan
Sharma Danai, Sagarmatha Television and Ujyalo Network reporter Asha Gurung
Prateek, Lamjung Mirror…
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has urged
the international community to help stop violence against media in Somalia
after the murder of Muktar Mohamed Hirabe, Director of Radio Shabelle in
Mogadishu, who was shot dead by gunmen in the war ravaged Somali Capital,
Mogadishu, on Sunday 7 June 2009. The IFJ Executive Committee, meeting in Oslo, Norway from 6 to 7 June ,
passed a motion tabled by Omar Farouk Osman, General Secretary of the National
Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), condemning Muktar's murder which brought
the total number of journalists killed in Somalia in 2009 to five. "The IFJ Executive Committee is deeply disturbed that,
in the face of on…
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) welcomes the
unconditional release on June 4 of Afghan reporter Noorajan Bahir, who was
detained for two days without charge by US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan’s
southeast.
However, the IFJ questions the manner in which Bahir was detained, and
the failure of coalition forces to provide an explanation or apology.
Bahir, a reporter for the independent Killid Media Group, was detained with
his two brothers during a search of their home late on June 2, according to the
Afghan Independent Journalists’ Association (AIJA), an IFJ affiliate.
Coalition forces reportedly broke and destroyed…
The International Federation of
Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Pakistan Federal Union of
Journalists (PFUJ), in expressing outrage that the All Pakistan Newspapers
Society (APNS) is claiming newspapers need government financial support, after
nine years of newspaper owners failing to uphold the law and pay their employees
a decent wage.
“All through the recent boom years of
a rapidly expanding media industry in Pakistan, newspaper owners failed
to abide by the law and pay their workers fairly. It is disingenuous for them now
to say they cannot act in accordance with the law because the newspaper
industry would be ruined if workers were fairly…
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns
the latest efforts of security officials in China to restrict the movement of
journalists, academics and bloggers on the eve of the 20th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen
Square massacre on June 4.
Zeng Jinyan, a blogger and the wife of imprisoned human
rights defender Hu Jia, and her young daughter were prevented from leaving
their house by several security bureau officers on June 3, despite Zeng telling
them she intended to collect a cake for her mother’s birthday, a blogger told
the IFJ.
Zeng has been under house arrest and constant security
surveillance since Hu’s detention on…
The International Federation of
Journalists (IFJ) appeals to the international community to take urgent action
to demand that Sri Lanka’s Government end immediately its campaign of accusing
journalists of treason and association with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam
(LTTE), after a prominent media rights defender was abducted and brutally assaulted
yesterday.
Poddala Jayantha, a journalist and
general secretary of the Sri Lanka Working Journalists’ Association (SLWJA), an
IFJ affiliate, was abducted by at least six unknown people. He was bashed repeatedly
with wooden and metal poles and his beard and hair were shaved off.
Local media…
Brussels, May 30-31st 2009
Brussels Declaration
We, the 60 participants from 45 countries around the globe attending the International Federation of Journalists' conference onEthics and Gender: Equality in the newsroom, held in Brussels, on May 30-31st 2009,
Considering
The International ILO conventions on equal treatment between men and womenThe International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) 1993 Declaration on equal opportunities between men and women adopted in HarareThe resolution and plan of action adopted at the IFJ Congress in Seoul, 2001 and the resolution on gender rights adopted at the IFJ World Congress in Athens,…
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is deeply concerned
to learn that mainstream Hong Kong newspapers removed items regarding the 20th anniversary of the June 4 Tiananmen Square massacre on the instruction of
senior officials.
It is unclear whether the instruction was made in Hong Kong
or Beijing,
but mainland subscribers to three Hong Kong newspapers – Ming Pao Newspaper, Hong Kong
Economic Times and South
China Morning Post – found that parts of the newspapers were missing and delivery
was delayed.
Ming Pao reported in an editorial on May 28 that publication of its papers had
been delayed or some of the pages in its editions…
Ministers of the human rights network of the Council of Europe have called on their governments to review anti-terrorism laws in the face of strong criticism from journalists that some laws are in practice limiting free expression and press rights.Meeting in Reykjavik today the 1st Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Media and new Communications Services bowed to pressure from press freedom groups, including the International Federation of Journalists (EFJ), to accept that the time was right to assess the impact of terror laws enacted since attacks on New York and Washington in 2001."This recommendation sends a strong message," said Aidan White, IGeneral…
The
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) welcomes the arrest of seven
suspects in the murder of Radar Bali journalist Agung Gede Narendra Prabangsa in Bali, Indonesia.
As a
result of rigorous campaigning by the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), an IFJ affiliate,
local police reopened an investigation into Prabangsa’s murder and connections
to his work as a journalist.
Prabangsa’s
body was found on February 16 in the Bungsil
Strait, off Karangasem regency,
six days after he was reported missing.
At the
time, police denied a connection
between his death and his work as Radar
Bali regional editor.
However, Bali…
