Reporters Without Borders today condemned the continuing American refusal to release Reuters photographer Ibrahim Jassam, who is beginning his second year of detention by the US military in Iraq although he has never been formally charged.
“The US military has insisted on detaining Jassam for the past year although it is withdrawing from the major cities and handing over to the Iraqi authorities,” Reporters Without Borders said. “Acquitted by the Iraqi judicial system, he is being held without charge illegally. He must be freed without delay.”
Jassam was arrested by US and Iraqi soldiers in the south Baghdad district of Mahmoudiyah on 1 September 2008. The Iraqi central criminal court ruled on 30 November that he had no case to answer and ordered his released. Nonetheless, he is still being held in Buki prison in Basra, 550 km south of Baghdad.
Reporters Without Borders has written several times to Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the commander of the US military forces in Iraq, requesting Jassam’s release without ever receiving a reply.
In its letter of 4 March, the press freedom organisation wrote: “The new US president has just announced the withdrawal of US combat troops within 16 months, thereby confirming a complete transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqi authorities. It is now incomprehensible that the US forces should continue to defy an Iraqi court order.”
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
The Sun... in praise of social workers
The Sun, which came under fire from Community Care magazine for "undermining" social workers with its coverage of the Baby 'P' case, says in a leader today that it is backing the campaign to recruit more people into the profession.
The Sun leader today says: "SOCIAL workers must sometimes wonder why they bother getting out of bed some days... it sure ain't for the money.
"They are vilified for horrific cases like Baby Peter - where criticism is justified. But for every case of child cruelty there are many more where timely intervention has brought hope without headlines.
"The fact is there are too few trained social workers - many risking danger on doorsteps where even the police fear to tread.
"So The Sun is backing movie and pop stars like Samantha Morton and Goldie in their campaign to recruit 5,000 new staff.
"If we want to help vulnerable children, we need the right people to do the job."
Community Care started an e-petition on the Downing Street website calling on the Prime Minister to urge the Sun newspaper to back the social work profession.The petition followed a letter sent by Community Care to the Sun's then editor Rebekah Wade, now succeeded by Dominic Mohan, calling on her to rethink the newspaper's "negative attitude" to social workers.
The Sun robustly defended itself. Managing editor Graham Dudman responded: "We are proud to have campaigned successfully to have those responsible held accountable, especially as they continue to refuse to apologise. I agree social work is a difficult job at the best of times but make no apologies for the way we highlighted the appalling catalogue of mistakes that led to Baby P’s death."
The Sun leader today says: "SOCIAL workers must sometimes wonder why they bother getting out of bed some days... it sure ain't for the money.
"They are vilified for horrific cases like Baby Peter - where criticism is justified. But for every case of child cruelty there are many more where timely intervention has brought hope without headlines.
"The fact is there are too few trained social workers - many risking danger on doorsteps where even the police fear to tread.
"So The Sun is backing movie and pop stars like Samantha Morton and Goldie in their campaign to recruit 5,000 new staff.
"If we want to help vulnerable children, we need the right people to do the job."
Community Care started an e-petition on the Downing Street website calling on the Prime Minister to urge the Sun newspaper to back the social work profession.The petition followed a letter sent by Community Care to the Sun's then editor Rebekah Wade, now succeeded by Dominic Mohan, calling on her to rethink the newspaper's "negative attitude" to social workers.
The Sun robustly defended itself. Managing editor Graham Dudman responded: "We are proud to have campaigned successfully to have those responsible held accountable, especially as they continue to refuse to apologise. I agree social work is a difficult job at the best of times but make no apologies for the way we highlighted the appalling catalogue of mistakes that led to Baby P’s death."
Could this work here?
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has launched PG+, a members-only web site with interactive features and exclusive content by Post-Gazette staffers above and beyond what the Post-Gazette already provides in its daily print and online versions.
The Post-Gazette says: "PG+ will not replace post-gazette.com, which will continue to offer the same breaking news, features and multimedia content as always. Rather, it will allow subscribers access to a new stream of exclusive blogs, videos, live chats and behind-the-scenes insights into the news of the day.
"The new site, hosted by a team of PG bloggers, will emphasize user interaction, with commenting throughout the site. Members also will be able to create a social networking profile to keep the conversation going."
PG+ members also will gain access to special Post-Gazette events, along with deals and discounts for sports, retail and entertainment venues.The annual membership fee is $36. Monthly memberships will be $3.99.
Via the Newspaper Project and Martin Stabe.
The Post-Gazette says: "PG+ will not replace post-gazette.com, which will continue to offer the same breaking news, features and multimedia content as always. Rather, it will allow subscribers access to a new stream of exclusive blogs, videos, live chats and behind-the-scenes insights into the news of the day.
"The new site, hosted by a team of PG bloggers, will emphasize user interaction, with commenting throughout the site. Members also will be able to create a social networking profile to keep the conversation going."
PG+ members also will gain access to special Post-Gazette events, along with deals and discounts for sports, retail and entertainment venues.The annual membership fee is $36. Monthly memberships will be $3.99.
Via the Newspaper Project and Martin Stabe.
Overwhelming support for Birmingham Mail to stay 'live' and not go to overnight printing
Posts on Birmingham Mail editor Steve Dyson's blog on the future of the Trinity Mirror-owned paper is overwhelmingly against it turning into a morning title printed overnight.
Opponents to the change - one proposal being considered by Trinity to cut losses at its Midlands centre - include four of the city's MPs.
Many of the posts note that the move would benefit the Wolverhampton Express & Star which carries on the day news.
Here is a sample of some of the posts:
Mike Olley: "The question do you want the Bham Mail as a live paper or an overnight is a bit like asking do you want a stale cream cake or a fresh one. Another question that I suspect could be asked in a short while could be “would you buy a stale Mail or the Express and Star.” No brainer…"
Martin Stote: "With the internet, broadcasting media and on-line news creating a rolling 24 hour a day supply of information, deciding to print an evening newspaper the night before can only accelerate decline. You take away its very reason for existence, its contemporaneity."
Anonymous: "Going to overnight production would surely reduce sales.Why would people bother to buy a newspaper containing 'news' already well-covered by other media? I can see the Express and Star's banner and promotion theme now, 'Today's news today'."
Martin Stote: "With the internet, broadcasting media and on-line news creating a rolling 24 hour a day supply of information, deciding to print an evening newspaper the night before can only accelerate decline. You take away its very reason for existence, its contemporaneity."
Anonymous: "Going to overnight production would surely reduce sales.Why would people bother to buy a newspaper containing 'news' already well-covered by other media? I can see the Express and Star's banner and promotion theme now, 'Today's news today'."
Paula Young: "Of course it's a no brainer. Management at the Express and Star must be rubbing their hands together with glee & praying the Mail goes overnight. You only have to look at the circulation of the existing morning paper to know that people don't rate 'yesterday's news'."
Richard Burden MP: "A city as important as Birmingham needs a daily paper. And it needs one that reports today's news, not just yesterday's. That is why the Mail should stay live.
But willing the ends also requires us to will the means. David Bailey is right about the importance of advertising income to papers like the Mail and aboout the role which the public sector can play. Birmingham City Council should indeed look at advertising its jobs more extensively in the Mail rather than spending so much on its promotional Forward free sheet. By helping to secure the future of the Mail, the Council would be backing Birmingham.
Keeping the Mail live also requires commitment from Trinity Mirror. I urge them to make that commitment."
But willing the ends also requires us to will the means. David Bailey is right about the importance of advertising income to papers like the Mail and aboout the role which the public sector can play. Birmingham City Council should indeed look at advertising its jobs more extensively in the Mail rather than spending so much on its promotional Forward free sheet. By helping to secure the future of the Mail, the Council would be backing Birmingham.
Keeping the Mail live also requires commitment from Trinity Mirror. I urge them to make that commitment."
John Hemming MP: "It would clearly be a commercial mistake to take the Birmingham Mail overnight as it would then lose one of its marketing advantages.
It is important to take the actions to maintain the history of the Birmingham Evening Mail, but this step would not be one likely to achieve that. Even if in the short term there are financial advantages, the long term outcome would be counter-productive."
It is important to take the actions to maintain the history of the Birmingham Evening Mail, but this step would not be one likely to achieve that. Even if in the short term there are financial advantages, the long term outcome would be counter-productive."
Siôn Simon MP: "As the Minister for Creative Industries, I have Ministerial responsibility for publishing and news. As such, it wouldn't normally be the done thing for me to comment on this kind of question. As a Birmingham MP, though, and as a Brummie and as a consumer, I feel that I have a right to express a view. In which latter capacity - and not my Ministerial one - it almost goes without saying that I support the general wish to keep the Mail as an evening paper for the city. It is a part of our cultural heritage which it would be a great shame to lose. I share the general hope that Trinity Mirror bosses can find the needed savings elsewhere. Whatever happens, though - whether the paper remains an evening or becomes a morning one - it seems to me that redoubled investment in the online platform will be crucial to its future success."
Andrew Mitchell MP, Shadow Minister for Birmingham: "The Birmingham Mail and its sister paper the Birmingham Post are vital to our city and the thousands of people who rely on them every day for their news. Local newspapers such as the Mail allow people to stay connected with their communities and give them a voice at a time when they may otherwise not be heard. And I think that any moves to turn the Mail from a "live" newspaper into an "overnight" newspaper would have a detrimental effect on that, especially in a world where people want their news “here and now”. The Mail is a part of our heritage and we must do all that we can to protect it."
Birmingham Post editor Marc Reeves has argued on his blog in favour of the morning title going weekly.
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
'Cutting young journalists makes it more difficult for papers to adapt to digital media'
Young journalists are disappearing from cost-cutting newspapers in the US at the same time publishers are trying to adapt to the internet, according to a survey conducted by industry group Associated Press Managing Editors, Editor & Publisher reports.
The report suggests the massive staff cuts at newspapers across the US will make it even more difficult for the industry to remain relevant in the age of digital media.
Most of the 95 editors responding to the August survey said their newsroom staffs had shrunk by more than 10 percent during the past year. And workers between 18 and 35 years old represented the largest age group affected by the layoffs, buyouts and attrition, the survey found.
The report says: "Retaining younger workers may be more important than ever as the Internet reshapes the way stories and photographs are assembled and presented. While many older journalists are adapting, the adjustment presumably isn't as difficult for younger workers who have grown up with the Internet and may have honed their digital skills in college. Having the viewpoints of younger workers also helps newspapers identify trends and issues affecting younger generations."
The survey also shows that persuading current and prospective workers that newspapers remain an attractive career option is getting more difficult as the industry's financial woes mount.
The report suggests the massive staff cuts at newspapers across the US will make it even more difficult for the industry to remain relevant in the age of digital media.
Most of the 95 editors responding to the August survey said their newsroom staffs had shrunk by more than 10 percent during the past year. And workers between 18 and 35 years old represented the largest age group affected by the layoffs, buyouts and attrition, the survey found.
The report says: "Retaining younger workers may be more important than ever as the Internet reshapes the way stories and photographs are assembled and presented. While many older journalists are adapting, the adjustment presumably isn't as difficult for younger workers who have grown up with the Internet and may have honed their digital skills in college. Having the viewpoints of younger workers also helps newspapers identify trends and issues affecting younger generations."
The survey also shows that persuading current and prospective workers that newspapers remain an attractive career option is getting more difficult as the industry's financial woes mount.
Jailed journalist gets press freedom award
The Committee to Protect Journalists has announced that it will honour imprisoned Sri Lankan journalist J.S. Tissainayagam with a 2009 International Press Freedom Award.
Tissainayagam was yesterday sentenced to 20 years in prison on charges of violating anti-terror laws. A Colombo High Court sentenced Tissainayagam to 20 years of hard labour in the first conviction of a journalist under the country's harsh anti-terror laws. Tissainayagam, known as Tissa, suffers from poor health and said his confession to the charge was extracted under threat of torture, according to his lawyers.
"We are announcing this award today to highlight the depth of outrage at this unjust sentence," said CPJ executive director Joel Simon. "Its harshness and the retroactive nature of the charges reflect vindictiveness and intolerance. We are calling today for Tissainayagam's release--an appeal we plan to repeat at our awards ceremony, when the world's leading journalists gather to demand press freedom for all of our colleagues."
Tissainayagam was yesterday sentenced to 20 years in prison on charges of violating anti-terror laws. A Colombo High Court sentenced Tissainayagam to 20 years of hard labour in the first conviction of a journalist under the country's harsh anti-terror laws. Tissainayagam, known as Tissa, suffers from poor health and said his confession to the charge was extracted under threat of torture, according to his lawyers.
"We are announcing this award today to highlight the depth of outrage at this unjust sentence," said CPJ executive director Joel Simon. "Its harshness and the retroactive nature of the charges reflect vindictiveness and intolerance. We are calling today for Tissainayagam's release--an appeal we plan to repeat at our awards ceremony, when the world's leading journalists gather to demand press freedom for all of our colleagues."
NUJ urges climate camp organisers to condemn attack on photographers
The NUJ has called on the organisers of the climate camp environmental protest in London to “unequivocally condemn” a man who assaulted two photographers at Blackheath on Sunday.
The journalists were attacked as they took pictures of climate campers arguing with Socialist Workers Party supporters.
Jonathan Warren, one of the freelance photographers who was assaulted, wrote: “As my colleague Marc Vallée and I were leaving climate camp we found a group of people arguing around the SWP stall that was selling newspapers and leaflets outside the entrance to the camp.
“As we went in to take photographs the group arguing with the SWP quickly turned their attention to us, shouting loudly that we had not asked their permission before photographing them.
“They were immediately aggressive and threatening, I managed to calm the ones around me and walk away, however, one young man was persistently threatening towards Marc.
“He repeatedly threatened to grab Marc’s camera and delete the pictures himself or smash the camera. After a while we felt that the situation had calmed. Marc said that they should both shake hands and walk away and offered his hand. The man did not take it and as we turned to leave he tried to grab the camera off Marc’s shoulder.
“I stepped in shouting ‘Oi’ and as I did the man took a step back and kicked me hard in the stomach.”
In an open letter to the camp organisers the photographers said: “We ask the man who assaulted us to come forward and apologise and that the camp's organisers unequivocally condemn his actions.”
No incidents of police harassing journalists during the protest have been reported to the NUJ so far.
Jeremy Dear, NUJ general secretary, said: “In the past journalists have exposed heavy handed policing of climate protests. Demonstrators need to understand that photographers must do their job without showing bias. I join with Marc and Jonathan in calling for the climate camp organisers to condemn this attack.”
The journalists were attacked as they took pictures of climate campers arguing with Socialist Workers Party supporters.
Jonathan Warren, one of the freelance photographers who was assaulted, wrote: “As my colleague Marc Vallée and I were leaving climate camp we found a group of people arguing around the SWP stall that was selling newspapers and leaflets outside the entrance to the camp.
“As we went in to take photographs the group arguing with the SWP quickly turned their attention to us, shouting loudly that we had not asked their permission before photographing them.
“They were immediately aggressive and threatening, I managed to calm the ones around me and walk away, however, one young man was persistently threatening towards Marc.
“He repeatedly threatened to grab Marc’s camera and delete the pictures himself or smash the camera. After a while we felt that the situation had calmed. Marc said that they should both shake hands and walk away and offered his hand. The man did not take it and as we turned to leave he tried to grab the camera off Marc’s shoulder.
“I stepped in shouting ‘Oi’ and as I did the man took a step back and kicked me hard in the stomach.”
In an open letter to the camp organisers the photographers said: “We ask the man who assaulted us to come forward and apologise and that the camp's organisers unequivocally condemn his actions.”
No incidents of police harassing journalists during the protest have been reported to the NUJ so far.
Jeremy Dear, NUJ general secretary, said: “In the past journalists have exposed heavy handed policing of climate protests. Demonstrators need to understand that photographers must do their job without showing bias. I join with Marc and Jonathan in calling for the climate camp organisers to condemn this attack.”
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