Latest news with #WorldPressFreedomDay
Scoop
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
May: A Grim Month In The Record Of Targeting Journalists In Gaza
The Palestinian Journalists Protection Center (PJPC) has documented the killing of seven Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip during the month of May alone—at a time when the world marks "World Press Freedom Day." This makes May one of the deadliest periods for media workers since the beginning of the war. According to the center's monitoring, the latest journalist killed was Moataz Rajab, a correspondent for Al-Quds Al-Youm channel, who was martyred on May 28 following an "israeli" airstrike that targeted a civilian vehicle on Al-Nafaq Street in Gaza City. This brought the number of journalists killed in May to seven. The center reported that the total number of journalists killed since October 7, 2023, has risen to 221, marking the deadliest wave of journalist killings in modern history. On May 25, the center documented the killing of journalist Hassan Majdi Abu Warda, director of Barq Gaza news agency, in an "israeli" airstrike that hit his home in northern Gaza. The center affirmed that targeting journalists' homes and displacement areas "reflects a systematic pattern of grave violations of international humanitarian law." On May 18, journalist Abdel Rahman Al-Abadleh was killed. He was preceded by journalist Ahmad Al-Helou, a correspondent for Quds Network, and journalist Hassan Sammour, who was killed along with his family in an airstrike on their home east of Khan Younis on May 15. Journalist Hassan Aslih was martyred on May 13 while receiving treatment at Nasser Medical Complex. On May 7, journalists Nour El-Din Abdo and Yahya Sobeih were killed in separate Israeli airstrikes. The center stated that "turning the month of May into a graveyard for journalists in Gaza is further evidence of israel's violation of press freedom and disregard for international law," calling for independent international investigations and accountability for those responsible. The center reiterated that targeting journalists and civilians in conflict zones constitutes a war crime under the Geneva Conventions and UN Security Council Resolution 2222 on the protection of journalists, warranting legal prosecution and international accountability.
IOL News
25-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Independent Media and the true meaning of press freedom
Independent Media's editor-in-chief Adri Senekal de Wet. Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers CAROLINE James's recent article on amaBhungane's decision to intervene in a legal matter involving Independent Media is a disingenuous attempt to paint herself and her organisation as champions of press freedom. However, it is both ironic and revealing that this apparent act of 'solidarity' arrives wrapped in disdain, accusations, and a backhanded swipe at Dr Iqbal Survé, the chairman of Independent Media and the Sekunjalo Group. Let me set the record straight. Dr Survé is a visionary South African entrepreneur, a trained medical doctor, and a global philanthropist who has received multiple honorary doctorates and has served in key leadership roles across international economic and media platforms. He has served as chairperson of the BRICS Business Council (South Africa), represented the country at the World Economic Forum in Davos, and remains deeply committed to building inclusive economic models that empower the majority of South Africans, not a select few. Crucially, Dr Survé has dedicated a significant portion of his life to defending and advancing the principles of free speech and media plurality, often at great personal and financial cost. Under his leadership, Independent Media became one of the very few large-scale, black-owned media houses in the country, committed to transforming the narrative landscape of South Africa. It is precisely because of this transformation that powerful interest groups have waged a relentless campaign to discredit him and the company he leads. Independent Media has published stories other outlets wouldn't touch — stories about state capture, corporate corruption, banking collusion, land restitution failures, and political hypocrisy. We have given voice to the marginalised, to families of unrest victims, whistleblowers, and ordinary citizens. We have upheld the spirit and substance of media freedom as enshrined in Section 16 of our Constitution: not just the right to speak, but the right to know. Which brings us to the real meaning of World Press Freedom Day, a day meant to honour the fundamental human right to free expression and to recognise the press as a pillar of democracy, not a tool of elite manipulation. Sadly, this spirit is being diluted by actors like amaBhungane, who present themselves as independent while evading full transparency about their funding and motives. James fails to mention, for instance, the growing concern about amaBhungane's financial ties to international donors and wealthy local benefactors, including links to Oppenheimer-aligned initiatives. She does not disclose that figures like William Gumede allegedly received funding from these circles, raising serious questions about ownership influence and editorial bias. For an organisation that preaches transparency, this omission is glaring. It is also worth reminding the public that one of amaBhungane's co-founders, Sam Sole, has previously been accused of Stratcom-style tactics, misusing investigative journalism to serve political interests and destabilise black-owned media entities. These are not idle accusations. They come from years of observation, experience, and first-hand exposure to how narrative warfare is conducted in South Africa. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ In that context, James's faux indignation that Independent Media has called out amaBhungane as 'racist' or 'Stratcom' is not only misplaced, it's revealing. It reflects a belief that their organisation is beyond scrutiny, above criticism, and immune to being held to the same standards they so eagerly apply to others. Let us be crystal clear: press freedom does not belong to a handful of NGOs funded from abroad. It belongs to the people of South Africa. It belongs to the journalists on the ground, the community papers, the investigative reporters who work without donor stipends or overseas backers. And yes, it belongs to media houses like Independent, which face daily legal and financial harassment for simply doing their job. The case involving ARTsolar is not an isolated incident; it is part of a broader trend where powerful interests use the courts to silence journalists. We reject any form of censorship, whether it comes from corporate boardrooms or courtrooms. But we also reject opportunists who swoop in at the last minute to frame themselves as heroes while undermining the very institutions they claim to defend. At Independent Media, we are committed to protecting the rights of our journalists, defending the integrity of our platforms, and ensuring that media freedom is not reduced to a slogan used to justify elitist capture of the narrative. We are here to serve the public interest. That includes challenging the very actors who claim to speak for the public while operating in secret. We call on amaBhungane to disclose all their sources of funding, all potential conflicts of interest, and the real motivations behind their targeted interventions. We also remind them that media solidarity begins with mutual respect, not condescension, not character assassination, and certainly not selective advocacy. As editor-in-chief, I am proud to stand alongside Dr Survé and the editors and journalists across our titles. We are not perfect, but we are principled. And we will continue to tell the stories that matter, no matter how uncomfortable they are for those who believe they should control the narrative. On this Press Freedom Day, let us reaffirm what real media independence looks like: it looks like accountability, it looks like truth-telling, and it looks like ownership that reflects the soul of the country, not the wallets of a privileged few. * Adri Senekal de Wet is the editor-in-chief of Independent Media.
Iraqi News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
UNESCO: We are ready to support Iraq's efforts in facing climate change and global warming
Baghdad-INA UNESCO affirmed, on Friday, its readiness to support Iraq's efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change and global warming. The representative of UNESCO in Iraq, Tab Raj Bint, during his participation in the Fourth Arab Media Conference in Baghdad, attended by a correspondent from the Iraqi News Agency (INA), stated that "the international community is ready to support all efforts made by Iraq aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change and global warming," calling for "enhancing support for environmental media and activating commitments within international climate agreements." The UNESCO representative highlighted the role of media in addressing climate change, stating "the role of international organizations in confronting climate challenges and the severe impacts of climate change and the importance of media in this context, "He pointed out that "UNESCO launched the initiative 'Journalism for the Planet' last year as part of its programs in Iraq, focusing on the role of journalism in raising environmental awareness and highlighting the climate risks threatening Iraq, which is internationally classified among the most affected countries by geographical and climatic changes." He pointed out that "the initiative, launched on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2024, was the first to introduce the concept of (climate justice)."
Libya Observer
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Libya Observer
World Press Freedom Day marked in Libya
by Anas Sun, 18/05/2025 - 19:53 The Libya for All Foundation for Development, Culture, and Training has organized a cultural dialogue salon entitled "Journalism and Culture... Together to Create National Awareness" on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, on the evening of Sunday, May 4, 2025. The event brought together a select group of national cultural and media figures. Discussions focused on the complementary relationship between journalism and culture in building collective awareness. Participants emphasized that the media not only conveys events, but also contributes to shaping public opinion and protecting national memory. The salon also addressed the challenges facing cultural media in Libya, calling for the need to rehabilitate culture on media platforms as a fundamental component of national discourse. Variety Tagged:
Scoop
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Journalists Being Forgotten On The Frontline, Warns Injured War Reporter
16 May 2025 'I believe in nothing right now. Our press vests are turning us into targets and it's becoming a death sentence for us,' Christina Assi told UN News. On 13 October 2023, Ms. Assi - who was working as a photojournalist for Agence France Presse (AFP) - lost her right leg after two Israeli air strikes targeted the exposed hillside where she and other colleagues were observing the ongoing conflict between Israeli forces and Hezbollah militants. This year's commemoration of World Press Freedom Day on 3 May provided a moment to reflect on the fact that more journalists were killed in 2024 than in any other year since the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) began collecting data more than three decades ago. At least 124 journalists and media workers were killed last year, nearly two-thirds of them Palestinians killed by Israel, the CPJ data shows. Ms. Assi stands among the few survivors, and she never imagined that she would be targeted simply for doing her job. The day of the attack She recounted the harrowing events of that day – one of her first major assignments, which quickly became the most traumatic experience of her life. 'It was starting to get dark and that's when we were about to leave and then suddenly, out of nowhere, we were targeted,' she said. 'The first time I was on the ground, I couldn't really understand what was happening, and I was screaming for help. So, my colleague Dylan rushed to help me and put a tourniquet on me. But then, like 40 to 47 seconds later, we were targeted again.' After the second strike, Ms. Assi found herself alone beside a burning car. Bleeding and gravely injured, she had no choice but to crawl away to save her life. 'My press vest was too heavy, and the camera belt was suffocating,' she recalled. In that moment, she began to lose faith in international laws and conventions. 'As journalists, we are left alone," she insisted. The silence of the international community For Ms. Assi, the international community's response to the attack - including condemnations and UN calls for investigation - has been utterly ineffective. 'I do believe that we need more than words. We need concrete action and something to happen where that should lead to justice in one way or another. If it's not now, then later,' she said. She strongly condemns the impunity with which attacks on journalists continue. 'Our cases are being dismissed as collateral damage when, in fact, they are not. These are war crimes, and there should be a real investigation.' The forgotten journalists of Gaza Ms. Assi also emphasized that the same impunity applies to Palestinian journalists in Gaza, who have been documenting the war there since day one. 'They've been silenced, targeted in every possible way. It's all over social media and in the news—and yet nothing has been done. No action has been taken to protect these journalists,' she said. She pointed out that the lack of international presence hasn't stopped the violence. 'It's clear how horrific everything is. But the world hasn't reacted the way it should have. No one has even tried to stop it.' Carrying the flame Nearly a year after losing her leg, Ms. Assi carried the Olympic torch in the French city of Vincennes, ahead of the Paris Games in July 2024. It was more than a symbolic gesture but a powerful opportunity to pay tribute to her colleague, Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah, who was killed in the same attack. 'It was a great opportunity for us to honour all the fallen journalists and let the world and the international community and the Europeans and all those who didn't know about what happened to us, let them know about what happened,' she said.
