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Readers' comments: A threat to journalists' credibility or a boon to press freedom?
What do you think? Does allowing readers to post comments run the risk of lessening a news organization's or journalist's appeal? Or does allowing readers the space to comment -- however they wish -- ultimately enhance the news and foster a free press? IJNet would like to hear your opinion. Join the discussion by clicking on "Add a Comment." Please identify your country if possible. Thanks for your participation. |
Many
in the news industry have embraced the trend of allowing readers to
comment on -- and even add facts to -- the news online. Yet others
think comments can push readers away and end up hurting the story,
especially if they are speculative, crude, or biased. | Upcoming deadlines | ||
| Online course: education reporting |
Central/Eastern Europe, Asia,
Caucasus |
May 10 |
| U.S. election reporting fellowships |
Asia Pacific |
June 4 |
| Environmental journalism awards |
Worldwide |
June 15 |
| Worldwide |
| Forum
to focus on importance of media in peacebuilding, conflict
prevention Members of the media can join representatives from politics, business, science, culture and development in Bonn, Germany, at a global conference designed to discuss media as an integral part of peace and conflict prevention throughout the world, especially in post-conflict countries. |
| Report:
Press freedom levels declined in 2007 Press freedom has become more restricted in the past year, both in democracies and authoritarian countries, according to a new report by the press freedom watchdog Freedom House. |
| New
television programs aim to improve quality of media for children
Objective news programs for children are being launched in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America with the goal of giving more children a voice and improving the quality of media for children around the world. |
| Index:
Iraq, Sierra Leone, Somalia have worst impunity rates
A new index that ranks levels of impunity around the world shows that Iraq, Sierra Leone and Somalia have the worst records for allowing killers of journalists to go free. |
| Sub Saharan Africa |
| Magazine
journalism course to be held in South Africa
A three-day course on magazine journalism will be held in Parktown, South Africa, beginning July 14. |
| Course
to aid South African political reporters A course being held by the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism in South Africa will be aimed at improving South African journalists’ political reporting. |
| New
newspaper and Web site launched in Gambia
The 38th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of The Gambia marks the launch of a new newspaper and accompanying news Web site, entitled Foroyaa. |
| Eastern Europe and Central Eurasia |
| Radio
stations ‘cyberattacked’ on Chernobyl anniversary
On the 22nd anniversary of the Chernobyl, Ukraine, nuclear catastrophe, which occurred April 26, 1986, Web sites run by US Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), based in Eastern Europe, were “cyberattacked,” according to the Associated Press. |
| Online
course to focus on covering education issues
Journalists from Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus have until May 10 to apply to take part in a six-week online course on covering education issues. |
| Grants
to foster integration of minorities in Georgia
Journalists or media organizations interested in taking part in communication projects to promote the cultural, social and economic integration of ethnic minorities in Georgia can apply for funding through a program aimed at facilitating greater tolerance and understanding of the needs of ethnic minority groups in the nation. |
| Traveling
film festival on peace and human rights to tour Caucasus
A Documentary Film Festival of Peace and Human Rights will open May 3 in Georgia and continue to travel around 27 places in the southern Caucasus until October. |
| Russian
media law amendment moves forward An amendment that would allow Russian courts to shut down media outlets for publishing “defamatory statements” has made its way through the parliament’s lower house, according to a Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) press release. |
| Asia and the Pacific |
| Course
on business reporting available to Chinese journalists
A course being held by the Reuters Foundation in Beijing is designed to help Chinese business journalists develop their skills in news gathering and presentation. |
| Online
course to focus on covering education issues
Journalists from Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and the Caucasus have until May 10 to apply to take part in a six-week online course on covering education issues. |
| Top
ten journalism schools in India listed An article on the Indian blog Chilli Breeze lists the top ten colleges of journalism in India. |
| Annual
report highlights difficulties facing journalists in Asia
Pacific The sixth annual South Asia Press Freedom Report, released by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), highlights the challenges confronting the media in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. |
| Middle East and North Africa |
| Al
Jazeera cameraman released from
Guantanamo Sudanese cameraman Sami al-Haj, the only journalist from a major international news organization to be held at Guantanamo prison, was released May 1 after more than six years in U.S. custody, according to the Associated Press. |
| The
Financial Times launches in the Middle East
A Middle Eastern branch of the business newspaper the Financial Times was launched on April 29. |
| Company
seeks to improve financial reporting in Dubai
The financial services company Dubai Group has established a strategic relationship with the Dubai Press Club to foster the growth of financial reporting in the region. |
| Two
new communication books published in Iran
Two new books on journalism ethics and electronic public relations have been published in Iran. |
| Photography
exhibition to stop in Manama The world's largest press photography exhibition will be shown in Bahrain’s capital, Manama, from May 1 to 22 at Seef Mall, as part of the World Press Photo’s traveling exhibition. |
| New
media institute opens in Saudi Arabia A media institute that will provide training programs in print, audio and visual media has been inaugurated in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – the first institute of its kind in the Arab world. |
| Latin America |
| Catholic
organization invites journalists to Bogotá meeting
Bogotá, Colombia, will host the first meeting of the Catholic press, scheduled for May 28 to 30. Registration deadline: May 10. |
| Journalists
invited to congress on Latin American integration, global
cooperation Journalists and communicators can attend a congress in Cuenca, Ecuador, from June 3 to 6 to infuse the dialogue on “the global reality” with Latin American perspectives. |
| International
commission says Mexico is increasingly dangerous for journalists
Mexico’s journalists are currently facing challenges including organized crime, corruption, lack of political will, and lack of protection, according to a statement released by the international human rights organization Article 19. |
| New
technologies, digital broadcasting to be focus of
congress New technologies and their convergence with traditional media will be the main theme of a congress that will take place June 16 to 19 in San Jose, Costa Rica. |
| Seminar
in Guatemala to examine how to improve dailies
Media directors and newsroom editors-in-chief are invited to analyze the content, promotion and management of tabloid-style newspapers in a seminar scheduled for June 11 to 13 in Guatemala City. |
| PAID ANNOUNCEMENTS Reach a global audience of media professionals by posting your announcement on the IJNet Web site and in our weekly bulletin. Announcements should be 250 words or less. To place your announcement, contact editor@icfj.org or telephone (1-202) 737-3700. View announcements |
| Webb on the Web |
|
COLUMN: Webb on the
Web Got a question for Amy? Post a comment! Webb on the Web in past
weeks: |
| Points to Ponder |
|
Press Freedom Day: What is its significance to
you? "As a Cameroonian journalist working for one of the first ever
independent newspaper[s], Le Messager, i have realised the
difficulties of the press freedom and even the search for
informations. I have been endanger[ed] and even oppressed while in
duties in Cameroon. I was investigating a corruption in the
education department and finance administration and then i have been
told by of the police officer that they have received orders to send
me out and even to try to cool me down. In Cameroon to cool down a
journalist means that they can send you [to] detention without any
charges against you or they can just kill you without having to
report to anyone. The authorities ... are still afraid of what the
journalist can reveal to the world." Charles Atangana,
Cameroon See all comments here. |
In this week's Webb on the Web column,
digital media consultant Amy Webb discusses Ning, an online service
to create, customize, and share a social network. Webb explores how
journalists can implement this new social framework as a useful
editorial, training and even reporting
tool. | Paid Announcements |
|
Editors encouraged to apply for five-weeks in a U.S. newsroom
Editors of newspapers,
wire, or online news outlets have until June 1 to apply for the
opportunity to spend five weeks in the U.S. working in a
professional newsroom. Administered by the
International Center for Journalists in partnership with the
American Society of Newspaper Editors, the “International Journalism
Exchange” program (IJE) is open to editors who have worked in
journalism for at least five years, are proficient in English, but
have little substantial previous travel to or training in the U.S.
The five-week program
will begin October 10 with an
orientation in Washington, D.C., followed by a newspaper assignment
that offers exposure to all the departments of a U.S. newsroom. The
program concludes with a two-day session in New York City that
consists of professional group activities, including visit to
The New York Times and final evaluation of the program.
For more information,
visit http://www.icfj.org/OurWork/Fellowships/InternationalJournalismExchange/tabid/336/Default.aspx
or email ije@icfj.org. Submit
applications online at https://app.formassembly.com/forms/view/667,
or via email -- the application documents can be downloaded at http://www.icfj.org/OurWork/Fellowships/InternationalJournalismExchange/tabid/336/Default.aspx.
Or fax or mail to International Journalism Exchange, International
Center for Journalists, 1616 H Street, NW, Third Floor, Washington,
D.C., 20006, U.S.A.; Tel: +1-202-737-3700; Fax:
+1-202-737-0530. |
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