News

Joint Declaration for Freedom of Expression

In a joint statement by Special Rapporteurs, the 2014 Joint Declaration on Universality and the Right to Freedom of Expression was launched at UNESCO’s World Press Freedom Conference today.

Journalist in exile: Makaila Nguebla

“Without the press there is no democracy in a country”, Makaila Nguebla told WAN-IFRA at the World Press Freedom conference in Paris. Speaking after his appearance at the discussion on the safety of journalists, the exiled Chadian blogger lamented the dire state of press freedom in his own country, and expressed concerns about the lack of progress being made across the world.

Protecting journalists in the face of impunity

Representatives from organisations like Reporters Sans Frontières and Al Jazeera spoke about the pressing importance of protecting journalists, the worrying increase in attacks going unpunished, and the steps that can be taken to resolve these issues.

Press Freedom and development – you can’t have one without the other

For Agnes Callamard, Director of the Global Freedom of Expression Project at Columbia University, development is “the image of a ten-year-old girl skipping to school, who won’t be forcibly married, and who won’t flee her home due to conflict. She will get access to knowledge, including knowledge on sexual and reproductive health. She will have access to the Internet and will tell her own stories to the world.”

Turkey’s UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize laureate Ahmet Sik on #PressFreedom

Turkish journalist Ahmet Sik has been named the laureate of the 2014 UNESCO Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize. He was honoured for his commitment to the defence of press freedom. Emily Bennett reports from the World Press Freedom Day conference underway at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

Increasing violence against journalists highlighted at World Press Freedom Day Conference in Paris

The World Press Freedom Day conference 5-6 May began this morning at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. Opening remarks came from UNESCO Deputy Director-General Getachew Engida and Rémy Pflimlin from France Télévisions, with 2014 UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize Laureate Ahmet Sik speaking about the predicament in his own country, Turkey.

Quotable quotes from Perugia’s International Journalism Festival

Over 1500 journalists gathered in the regional Italian city of Perugia last week to celebrate – yes, celebrate – journalism in industry times most frequently cast as gloomy.

App to game-ify the news wins MediaHackDays

An app to game-ify the news through quizzes based on news stories from a team called What Happen (pictured) took the top prize at the MediaHackDays event this weekend in Aarhus, Denmark. Try out the app here.

Impressive draft demos on display at MediaHackDays

After only one full day of working on the development of their projects, the various teams of Hacks (journalists) and Hackers (developers) gathered in Aarhus, Denmark, this weekend for MediaHackDays gave impressive draft demos this evening of where they stand with their work so far.

DIY ethics kit from ONA now open for crowdsourcing

A first draft of the “do-it-yourself” ethics kit that is being developed by a group of 20 journalists and educators for the Online News Association (ONA) has now been opened up for crowdsourcing.