News

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned the arrests of journalists in recent days in both the northern breakaway state of Somaliland and in the southwestern city of Baidoa, where the transitional federal government has its seat. Three executives of the Hargeisa-based independent daily "Haatuf" have been arrested in Somaliland. Hussein Mohammed Abikar of the privately-owned Voice of...

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF and the Burma Media Association welcomed the release on 3 January 2007 of journalists Thaung Tun and Than Win Hlaing before they completed their sentences. They were among a total of 2,831 detainees pardoned by the military junta. No more than about 30 political prisoners were included in the amnesty. Five journalists, including U Win Tin, are still being held in Burma. "The...

New York, January 4, 2007-Burma has released CPJ Press Freedom Award winner Thaung Tun as part of a New Year amnesty for nearly 3,000 prisoners but six other journalists remain in jail. “We applaud the release our colleague Thaung Tun, but we call on the Burmese government to free the six journalists still being held,” said Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists....

With the New Year comes advice and resolutions, here are 10-in-eight tips by Steve Outing, columnist for Editor & Publisher, to help your small newspaper grow at little cost. A sure way to grow is by following the example of industry leaders. There’s always a reason to the success of their innovations and ideas: an easy way to check small newspaper’s better online work is by consulting the winners...

(CPJ/IFEX) - New York, January 3, 2007 - The Committee to Protect Journalists released the following statement in response to yesterday's decision by a Mexican judge to dismiss criminal defamation charges against prominent journalist and human rights activist Lydia Cacho Ribeiro: "The court's decision to dismiss defamation charges against Lydia Cacho is welcome news and a positive step towards...

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders has condemned Huang Liangtian's dismissal as editor of "Bai Xing" ("Popular Masses"), a monthly owned by the agriculture ministry that has acquired a reputation for investigative reporting. Under political pressure, Huang's superiors told him on 30 December 2006 he was being transferred to a minor publication. "After starting 2006 with purges in 'Xin Jing Bao...

(IFJ/IFEX) - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) said today that 2006 was a year of tragedy for the world's media as killings of reporters and media staff reached historic levels with at least 155 murders, assassinations and unexplained deaths. "Media have become more powerful and journalism has become more dangerous," said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. "2006 was the worst year...

(FNJ/IFEX) - Newspapers at Nepalgunj, Banke, west of Nepal, have stopped publishing since 26 December 2006, following attacks on journalists who were reporting on the Terai Bandh (strike). The strike was called on 25 December by the Nepal Sadbhawana Party-Anandadevi (NSP-A) to express dissatisfaction over the recently signed interim Constitution for allegedly failing to meet the demands of the...

(CPJ/IFEX) - New York, January 3, 2007-A court in Burundi today rebuffed the government, ordering the release of three journalists and rejecting the prosecution's claim that their reporting in connection with an alleged coup plot compromised public security. A panel of judges in the capital Bujumbura acquitted editor Serge Nibizi and journalist Domitile Kiramvu of Radio Publique Africaine (RPA)...

In some ways, as 2006 began it held out the promise of huge change, led by the changing of the guard at CBS with Katie Couric's long-anticipated rise to anchor of CBS's evening news show. Many thought Couric would pull the newscast out of the basement and raise it to No. 1. It didn't happen. CBS finished the year still at No. 3, though better off than before Couric took over. Yet among media...