13 December 2006
WAN CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS PRESS FREEDOM CRISIS IN ARAB WORLD
Editors, publishers and journalists from across the Arab world testified about widespread press freedom abuses and suggested ways of strengthening the media at a conference in Beirut, Lebanon held on 10-11 December 2006.
Entitled "Media in Danger - Press Under Siege," the conference was organised by the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and the Lebanese newspaper "An-Nahar".
It focused on supporting the development of independent, professional media in the Middle East. Speakers talked about the widespread obstacles that inhibit the development of the Arab press, such as political repression, draconian legislation, censorship and self-censorship, illiteracy and sectarianism, poor training, and lack of resources.
They suggested solutions to the crisis, including the aggressive prosecution of those who murder or order the killing of journalists, improved training and salaries for journalists, and legal reforms to abolish repressive legislation.
More than 3,000 people attended the opening of the conference, which included a ceremony paying homage to slain Lebanese publisher Gebran Tueni and other murdered Lebanese journalists. The ceremony included the presentation of the inaugural Gebran Tueni Prize to Nadia Al-Saqqaf, Editor-in-chief of the Yemen Times (see story below).
A report on the conference will be available soon and can be obtained from Kajsa Törnroth, WAN's Co-Director of Press Freedom and Development: ktornroth@wan.asso.fr
For more information, visit: http://www.wan-press.org/tueni_award/articles.php?id=590
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