News

Mediapart update: interview with co-founder François Bonnet

When we first reported that the Cour d’appel de Versailles [Court of Appeal of Versailles] had ordered the removal of all content related to the Bettencourt tapes from Mediapart and Le Point’s websites, it was clear that decision wouldn’t be accepted without a fight. Within the first few hours of the ruling influential players in the French press, including Rue89 and Libération, had released messages of wholehearted support for their fellow journalists and Mediapart’s Edwy Plenel announced his intention to appeal the decision.

Stakeholder wants La Vie kicked out of Le Monde group over anti-gay marriage editorial

As stakeholder of Le Monde and an active supporter of gay rights, Pierre Bergé announced in a board meeting of the Le Monde newspaper group on Tuesday afternoon that he would like the French Christian weekly La Vie sold off and hereby disassociated with Le Monde following the magazine’s decision to publish an anti-gay marriage editorial.

Censored notes on a scandal: Mediapart, Le Point ordered to take down ‘Bettencourt Affair’ recordings

The Court of Appeal of Versailles ruled on Thursday that the French news organisations Le Point and Mediapart must remove all published copies and transcriptions of a series of recordings made at the home of France’s richest woman, Liliane Bettencourt. Based on the claim that the recordings infringed upon Bettencourt’s right to privacy, the judicial decision has been condemned by some of France’s leading media figures as an attack on press freedom.

Jordanian online press freedom is threatened as 254 unlicensed news sites are blocked

On Tuesday 2 July the Jordanian government announced it had blocked 254 news websites that had failed to obtain a government license. This move follows a controversial change to the Press and Publication Law in 2012 dictating that online news sites must register with the government, a policy that independent watchdog organisation Freedom House fear will “risk curbing their independent reporting and analysis.” Among the blocked sites are those for Al-Jazeera, Time Out magazine and AmmanNet.

Wisconsin bill sets dangerous precedent for journalism education

A bill proposed to evict an investigative journalism nonprofit from the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus could send shockwaves through journalism schools nationwide.

Video: Editor Zaffar Abbas on the dangers of journalism in Pakistan

Zaffar Abbas is Editor of Dawn, Pakistan’s most prestigious English language newspaper. His career includes a 16-year stint for the BBC as one of its Pakistan correspondents.

2013 Golden Pen of Freedom Awarded to Than Htut Aung of Myanmar

2013-06-03. Than Htut Aung, Chairman and CEO of Eleven Media Group in Myanmar, known for its audacious defiance of official censorship and dedication to democratic freedoms, has been awarded the 2013 Golden Pen of Freedom, the annual press freedom prize of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).

President of Burundi approves new media law

President of Burundi Pierre Nkurunziza has approved the passing of a controversial new press law which, according to Reporters Without Borders “restricts journalists’ ability to do investigative reporting, weakens protection for sources, increases fines and requires all journalists to have a university degree regardless of their work experience.”

Indonesia journalist wins Kate Webb award

The international news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) has awarded the 2013 Kate Webb Prize for frontline journalism to Indonesian investigative reporter Stefanus Teguh Edi Pramono for his searing reportages on the bloody civil war in Syria and his eye-opening investigation into the murky underworld of the Jakarta drug trade.

Journalism can be a deadly profession

At least 15 reporters and other media professionals have been killed in Syria in the past 12 months, as the safety of journalists continues to be of major concern in conflict zones and elsewhere, the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers reported in its Global Press Freedom Report.