Don't Kill The Messenger

I was thankful to find CP J.com when I was daydreaming over why no body publicly
advocates for investigative journalists other than Amnesty International once they go missing or find themselves next YouTube sensation, sans head.

It turns out that the murdering of field journalists is dramatically down in 2014. Who would've thought that with all the sensationalism of recent events?

https://www.cpj.org/killed/2014/murder.php

Check out this asset list:

Press Freedom Groups

Adil Soz
http://www.adilsoz.kz/en/
+7 7272 911670
This Almaty-based organization provides legal support for journalists under threat and documents press freedom violations in Kazakhstan.

Andean Foundation for Media Observation & Study
http://www.fundamedios.org
+593 2 2461622
This Quito-based group, also known as Fundamedios, documents press freedom abuses in Ecuador and speaks out against official repression.

Article 19
http://www.article19.org
+ 44 (0) 20 7324-2500
Established in 1987, Article 19 fights against censorship, defends dissenting voices, and campaigns against laws and practices that silence.

Committee to Protect Journalists
http://cpj.org
+1 212-465-1004
The publisher of this guide, CPJ is an independent nonprofit press freedom organization that defends the rights of journalists to report the news without fear of reprisal. The organization monitors and advocates on behalf of journalists under threat and in prison around the world, documenting hundreds of press freedom violations each year and reporting on press freedom conditions in every country. 

Foundation for a Free Press (Fundación para la Libertad de Prensa)
http://www.flip.org.co
+57 1-400-9677
The foundation, also known as FLIP, is a Bogotá-based organization that monitors press freedom and journalist safety in Colombia through its alert and protection network. FLIP also provides free counseling to journalists who have been the victims of attack or assault or who are suffering from stress.

Freedom Fund for Filipino Journalists
http://www.cmfr-phil.org/flagship-programs/freedom-watch/freedom-fund-for-filipino-journalists
+63 2 894 - 1314 
The FFFJ is a consortium led by the nation’s Center for Media Freedom & Responsibility. Launched in 2003 in response to the murder of journalist Edgar Damalerio, the FFFJ has worked to bring the murderers of Philippine journalists to justice.

Independent Media Centre Kurdistan
http://www.imckiraq.blogspot.com
+964 0770 86 42 653
The Independent Media Centre in Kurdistan offers training for journalists and consultancy for media organizations. Courses are offered in person or online for participants throughout Iraq.

Institute for Reporters’ Freedom and Safety
http://www.irfs.az/index.php?lang=eng
+994 12 418 0334
The institute, based in Baku, Azerbaijan, documents press freedom abuses and defends the rights of journalists to report the news.

International Federation of Journalists 
www.ifj.org/en
Europe: +322-235-2200
Asia-Pacific: +6 129-333-0999
Africa: +22 133-867-9586
The Brussels-based IFJ is a federation of journalist trade unions in various nations, and it is the world’s largest organization of journalists. IFJ promotes human rights, freedom of expression, and democracy through freedom of the press. 

International Freedom of Expression Exchange
http://www.ifex.org
+1 416-515-9622
IFEX is a global consortium of press freedom groups that disseminates news about press freedom violations and organizes campaigns in support of free expression.

International Press Institute
http://www.freemedia.at
+43 1 512-9011
IPI is a Vienna-based global network of media professionals concerned with raising awareness of threats to press freedom and promoting independent journalism. The group tracks the cases of journalists targeted for their reporting and conducts assessments of press freedom in countries around the globe. 

Instituto Prensa y Sociedad
http://www.ipys.org
+51 1 2474465
This Peruvian press freedom group documents press freedom violations and advocates for journalists under threat.

Journalistic Freedoms Observatory
http://www.jfoiraq.org
+964 0047 97 101 186
JFO is a Baghdad-based coalition of Iraqi media professionals providing legal support for victims of press freedom violations in Iraq and raising awareness around journalism security.

Journaliste en Danger 
http://www.jed-afrique.org/en
+243 81 71 50 157 
This Kinshasa-based organization defends press freedom in the Democratic Republic of Congo and other Central African nations.

Media Institute of Southern Africa 
http://www.misa.org
+264 61 232975
Founded in September 1992, the Namibia-based institute promotes free, independent, and pluralistic media.

Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists
http://pfuj.pk
+92 051-287-0220-1
Established in 1950, PFUJ is among South Asia’s oldest press freedom organizations. Formed for mutual protection and economic betterment, the PFUJ, according to its code, “desires and encourages its members to maintain good quality of workmanship and high standard of conduct.”

Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
http://www.rcfp.org
+1 800-336-4243
+1 703-807-2100
RCFP is a U.S.-based organization dedicated to serving working journalists and protecting free speech and a free press within the United States. The group provides resources for journalists, academics, and government officials, along with support for freedom of information requests. 

Reporters Without Borders
http://en.rsf.org
rsf@rsf.org
+33 1 44 83 84 84 
Reporters Without Borders is a Paris-based press freedom organization that defends journalists threatened or imprisoned around the world. The group works on journalist safety issues and offers its own insurance, lends safety equipment, and publishes a safety handbook. 

Southeast Asian Press Alliance
http://www.seapabkk.org
+66 2-2435579 
The Southeast Asian Press Alliance works for press freedom in Southeast Asia. Established in Bangkok in 1998, it brings together independent journalists for advocacy and protection.

World Press Freedom Committee
http://www.wpfc.org
The WPFC is a consortium of international news organizations that defends press freedom internationally. The group conducts research on press freedom violations and censorship and insult laws, and monitors the cases of journalists jailed around the world.

Read More

Russia and China: Strange Bedfellows

What's Wrong With This Picture?

Why is it that I have to dig and dig to find any updated news on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict?

It's as if the American media has back-burnered the entire issue now. If I didn't happen across a BBC podcast the other day I never would've known that the EU's and United States' sanctions on Russia are pushing Russia to ally with China.

I read an article a couple of years ago about how the Russians we're selling China some low-grade weapons and that we as a nation should be very uncomfortable with China's armament, but I never heard anything else about it. Until now. It seems that since our sanctions Russia has ramped up their weapons export to China considerably. Although now, they are selling the highest tech weaponry they possess.

In researching this post I did happen to come across a Huffington Post article on this topic. It was buried on Google below the fold, and two pages deep, and I really do not understand why our news agencies aren't on top of this.

This ongoing story has the makings of World War III. ISIS doesn't have that. Immigration reform doesn't have that. Violence on blacks by white cops doesn't have that.

What's really going on here?????

The HuffPost article:

The Winner of the U.S.-Russia Conflict in Ukraine: China

And here's an article from The Nation wondering the same thing as I am.

http://www.thenation.com/article/180903/how-us-and-russian-media-are-covering-ukrainian-crisis#

Read More

Why Spy on Reporters?!

From WikiLeaks:

The Spyfiles 4

2014-09-15

Today, 15 September 2014, WikiLeaks releases previously unseen copies of weaponised German surveillance malware used by intelligence agencies around the world to spy on journalists, political dissidents and others.

FinFisher (formerly part of the UK based Gamma Group International until late 2013) is a German company that produces and sells computer intrusion systems, software exploits and remote monitoring systems that are capable of intercepting communications and data from OS X, Windows and Linux computers as well as Android, iOS, BlackBerry, Symbian and Windows Mobile devices. FinFisher first came to public attention in December 2011 when WikiLeaks published documents detailing their products and business in the first SpyFiles release.

Read More

I've Got My Own Back...

On The Electronic Frontier Foundation site I came across their very interesting page on counterespionage called: “Surveillance Self-Defence”, https://ssd.eff.org/en. On there I found https://ssd.eff.org/en/playlist/journalism-student. This Page discusses in-depth how to circumvent eavesdropping I'm your personal communications as a journalism student. I found this very interesting considering our context.

This sets up an interesting question:

Are we to simply accept that governmental eavesdropping is a just a fact in our new tech-heavy environment, and learn how to protect our own rights...from the very people entrusted to protect those rights????

Read More

The U.S. and Europe: The Real Truth: Two Stories, Equal Attention

Check out one of my classmate's blog!

The U.S. and Europe: The Real Truth: Two Stories, Equal Attention

Read More

Spin Doctors Unite!

We're learning about political media slants and how they affect the audience. Although this concept is not new to me, I had no idea of how pervasive it is. Even CNN, who I believe to be relatively impartial falls prey to this sociological anomaly. I've always believed myself a middle-of-the-road moderate, at times seeing validity from both political camps, but as stated in my last post, for better or worse, after all I'm learning in this course I'm leaning a little left of center lately.

I came across an alarming statistic this week.  Fox news swept viewer ratings on Thursday. This struck me as inconceivable until realizing that the majority of people in this country share a different viewpoint than I do. How can this be? I thought I got along with everybody.




After some more investigation I learned that Fox Network viewership has been steadily declining since 2007. I'm not sure if this means middle America is slowly coming to their senses, or if this statistic simply depicts America's inquiring minds pilgrimage to the mighty inter-webs for their news acquisition. Hopefully both.

Read More

The Shaming of the True

This blog is a course assignment. I didn't really expect to get much out of it other than a grade. I'm thinking now I may've been shortsighted in my attitude towards this class. As it turns out, unwittingly, before this class I really wasn't sure where I stood politically. I never felt it worth my time to get tied up in all the partisan rhetoric, it all reminded me of a dog chasing his tail.


Since being required to examine the intersection of media and politics, I believe my political stance is finally taking form. No offense intended, but I have to thank all the right-wing-whack-jobs out there for firming up my belief system. Because of venom you spew, I'm, without doubt, on the left.

Websites like NewsBusters - http://www.newsbusters.org/ light in me a militant fire of distain and revulsion for these ridiculous idiots that actually believe climate change is simply a liberal concoction. These are the same folks that believe the Bible is to be taken literally, that the LBGT community will all burn in hell for their "sins", and that science is the devils work.

In politics especially, Christian fundamentalists and their media lapdogs are hindering our countries evolution. Fox news, and the likes, who champion their moral hypocrisy under the guise of family values only perpetuate their delusional, archaic insanity.

Read More

Are we listening?

I'm loving this course, and I've been thinking a lot about all of this new information we're learning about. I'm also very excited about all this new technology now at our disposal. But playing devil's advocate, this brings up an introspective question: Are we listening? Are we actually processing all of this information? Being so inundated by all these up-to-the-second news updates leaves me wondering if I've the stamina to take in all the terrible things that people do to one another in this world, including the cut-throat politicians that unconscientiously determine our safety and social wellbeing.

Read More

About this Blog

Welcome to my blog!

This blog is a class assignment for POLS 3380 Mass Media and Politics. I will attempt to explore the inner-workings of the intersection of mass media in American politics, and shed light on political censorship in media. 

 

Read More