Media Quotes of the Week: From why Russian journalists keep 'little suitcases' to covid coverage ranges from brilliant to 'grandstanding wallies'

Russian journalist, quoted by the Committee to Protect Journalists about local media covering the protests against Putin: "We [local journalists] also have our 'little suitcases' prepared, just like in Stalin’s 1937 [the year of Stalin’s 'great purge', when political dissidents kept suitcases packed in case they were sent to prison or labor camps]. I personally have a small cosmetic bag that I carry with me that contains a toothbrush, a bottle with face wash, and a hairbrush for emergency needs in case of an arrest. But I also have a bigger bag at home with clothes and some books so in case I am placed in detention, I would give the key to my apartment to someone who would bring it to me if I am in jail."

• PEN America says: "Russian authorities are engaged in a disgraceful pressure attack on the free press detaining over the weekend some 80 journalists amid ongoing protests in the country."
• CPJ claims: "During nationwide protests by supporters of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny on January 31, as well as in their immediate run-up, police throughout the country detained, intimidated, or harassed at least 122 journalists, according to news reports and a report by the Professional Union of Journalists and Media Workers."

The New European in a company announcement: "The New European is today under new ownership, following the acquisition of the title from owners Archant by founder Matt Kelly and a consortium of investors including former New York Times CEO Mark Thompson and former FT editor Lionel Barber. Former Independent CEO Gavin O'Reilly becomes executive chairman of the new company, with Kelly assuming the role of chief executive officer and editor-in-chief."

Ian Murray, executive director of the Society of Editors, in a statement on the arrest of freelance photographer Andy Aitchison after covering a protest at a barracks housing asylum seekers in Kent: “This is very concerning. We are constantly told journalists, including press photographers, are an essential part of our democratic system in this country and a free media is to be protected. But words are not enough. It is actions that count and arresting press photographers is not something that should be happening in a liberal democracy.”

• Aitchison has been told he will not be charged and has had his memory card and mobile returned. The NUJ is calling for an investigation into his arrest.

The Mirror reports: "Number 10 has defended a minister who branded a journalist 'creepy and bizarre' for asking a basic question. Equalities minister Kemi Badenoch publicly attacked a reporter, baselessly accusing her of 'sowing distrust' and 'undermining' efforts to increase take-up of Covid-19 vaccines, after she sent an email asking why she didn’t take part in a video campaign. And today Number 10 refused to condemn the minister’s outburst, saying she felt she 'has grounds' to describe basic journalism as 'creepy' - and that she had been 'civil'. HuffPost journalist Nadine White had approached the minister, as well as her press team, to ask for her comment on claims she had refused to take part in the cross-party video. But instead of replying to the question, Ms Badenoch tweeted images of the emailed request for comment, accusing the journalist of trying to 'sow distrus' in the vaccine by 'making up claims'."

Hatice Cengiz, fiancée of journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, interviewed by The Sunday Times Magazine [£]: “Nothing can bring back Jamal. But I’m waiting for the UK and other countries to do something to show these people that you can’t just kill someone like that without there being repercussions...Jamal loved the UK. He used to praise the UK for being the pioneer of freedom of speech.”

Dan Wootton announcing on Twitter he is joining new tv channel GB News: "After seven life-changing years at The Sun and, more recently, talkRADIO, I have made the very tough decision to leave News UK.Later this year, I'm joining the on air team of GB News and MailOnline as a columnist. And I'll still break scoops too, of course!"

Ofcom group director of broadcasting and online content Kevin Backhurst in The Times [£]: "Our rules allow broadcast news channels to explore issues from their own viewpoint as long as they comply with some key principles: news presenters and reporters must not give their views on politically controversial matters (and news channels must report the facts with due accuracy), whereas in non-news programmes presenters and reporters can express their opinions. In all programming, these channels must reflect alternative viewpoints. How they do it is up to them. Freedom of expression is vital to our democracy. "

Former Nottingham Post editor Mike Sassi in a podcast, quoted by Holdthefrontpage, on the loss of local journalists to PR: “There’s been a fundamental change in that there are certainly fewer independent journalists. The people who were junior or trainee reporters and who learned their trade and then would traditionally go and become a crime reporter or a health reporter, and then perhaps a news editor and then an assistant editor, well, once they get to trainee level and then they’re qualified, the money runs out. So therefore to get a salary which allows them to buy a house or move into a decent house with a higher rent, they have to go and move into public relations or to marketing."

The Times [£] on the Leicester-based Bellingcat investigative website: "Social media analysis of the kind Bellingcat has pioneered helped to secure the first conviction for the war crimes of cultural destruction at the International Criminal Court. With China’s Xinjiang province blocked to outsiders, much of what has emerged about the measures against the Uighurs is coming through similar channels. Bellingcat has put dictators and kleptocrats on notice that no corner is too dark to be spied upon."

David Aaronovitch on Twitter: "One of the depressing things about the pandemic is that it has has shown that while some of our fellow journalists are brilliant at finding out and telling the public what they need to know, many others are grandstanding wallies."

 [£]=paywall