20 January 2010
IFEX Communiqué Vol 19, No 3
China
IFEX members have applauded Google's decision to stop censoring the Chinese version of its search engine and its new demand for unfettered Internet access. The company's stand for greater free expression came after it found China-based hackers had gone after the Google Mail accounts of Chinese human rights activists in highly sophisticated and targeted attacks.
Haiti
Not only did the devastating earthquake on 12 January in Haiti leave survivors with no food, no water, no shelter and no place to bury the dead, but it also left them with little or no information, report IFEX members. The media have also suffered great losses at a time when people urgently need aid information.
Mexico
The body of a radio journalist was found on 16 January, 17 days after he was kidnapped, report the Center for Journalism and Public Ethics (CEPET), the International Press Institute (IPI) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
Cyprus
The chief executive officer of a leading Cypriot media company was shot dead on 11 January in the capital, Nicosia, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Press Institute (IPI).
United Kingdom
Libel law in the United Kingdom has been used to protect the wealthy and powerful from criticism as the "high costs involved and the scale of damages have chilled free speech," says a recent report by English PEN and Index on Censorship. The cost of libel action in England and Wales is 140 times higher than the European average.
Tunisia
The Observatoire pour la liberté de presse, d'édition et de création (OLPEC) has released a report which exposes the regulatory and technical machinations of censorship in Tunisia, and by doing so, provides dissidents with tools to protect themselves from cyber attacks and surveillance.
International
The Sidney Hillman Foundation is accepting nominations and submissions for the 2010 Hillman Prizes, honouring journalism that "fosters social and economic justice." Categories include books (non-fiction), newspaper reporting, magazine reporting, film and broadcast journalism (includes television and radio), photojournalism and blogs.
Palestine
The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) produced a short documentary film last year about attacks on Palestinian journalists in the occupied Palestinian territories, called "Freedoms Invasion." The film also shows how the conflict between Hamas and Fatah has damaged the Palestinian media environment. Directed by Waja Jamil, the 10-minute film is now on YouTube in Arabic, with English subtitles.
International
UNFree Media helps jailed, banned and silenced journalists, writers, bloggers and documentary-makers fight censorship by helping them transform themselves into foreign correspondents. It is a "bottom-up service" that showcases the journalism, blogs, songs, poems and videos of silenced dissidents. The site aims to highlight stories told by local journalists facing repression.
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