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Journalists rally to support stricken colleagues in Asia
Journalists’ trade unions from around the world have responded “magnificently” to the international appeal launched by the IFJ to assist journalists and media staff caught up in the earthquake disaster in Asia.
“After only a few days, unions and associations of journalists have displayed extraordinary solidarity and generosity in their response to the plight of colleagues around the Indian Ocean,” said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary.
The IFJ says that offers of help and donations have been received from a dozen countries and that 18,000 Euro has already been sent on from the IFJ Emergency Assistance Fund to colleagues in Indonesia where up to 200 journalists and media staff have been reported lost or missing. The Serambi Indonesia, one of Aceh’s leading daily newspapers, lost around 100 staff and its shoreline printing works and offices were washed away. It has restarted publication.
The IFJ has also welcomed the information on trauma reporting produced by the Dart Centre, an affiliate of the International News Safety Institute, which gives advice to journalists and media staff that are covering the tragedy.
“Thousands of journalists and media staff covering this story are witnesses to a tragedy and to disturbing scenes of unimaginable horror,” said White. “It is important that they are aware of the personal consequences of this encounter with the consequences of death and destruction.”
The IFJ has also written to United Nations General Secretary Kofi Anna calling on him to ensure that the reconstruction effort in the region also leads to media reform.
IFJ officials are travelling to the region in the coming days to support local affiliates in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia who have been hardest hit by the disaster.
“Journalists’ unions are, like other groups in civil society, joining the general relief effort, but they are also thinking of the special needs of the media staff,” said White.
The IFJ says that donations can be sent to:
Asia Disaster Relief for Journalists and Media Staff
C/o IFJ Safety Fund
Fortis Banque
Agence Rond Point Schumann 10
1040 BRUSSELS
IBAN: BE64 2100 7857 0052
Swift Code: GEBABEBB
For further information please contact Robert Shaw, IFJ Human Rights and Information Officer: +32 2 235 22 07 or +32 496 205 447 (mobile)
The IFJ represents over 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries
Additional Safety Information:
The DART Centre: Trauma Awareness for Journalists Covering Tsunamis -http://www.newssafety.com/stories/dart/trauma30.htm
The Fleet Street Clinic: Health Information for News Professionals Covering the Asian Tsunami Disaster - http://www.newssafety.com/stories/insi/fleet02.htmLINKSLetter to Koffe Annan
Last modified: Tuesday, January 4, 2005
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Events & Announcements
World Press Freedom Day
More reporters are currently imprisoned in Turkey than in any other country in the world. Only a matter of weeks ago lawyers failed to persuade a Turkish court to release a 76-year-old journalist from a Turkish internet news station.
World Press Freedom Day on Friday May 3, 2013 is being marked in Britain by a rally to highlight the dangers facing journalists in Turkey and in this podcast, Nicholas Jones speaks to Barry White, Organiser at the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom, and Sam Bamford, the TUC's policy officer for Eastern Europe and Africa about the importance of a campaign to highlight international press freedom.
The World Press Freedom Day rally is being staged by the National Union of Journalists at the NUJ head office, Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1 on Thursday May 2, 6pm-8pm.
DATELINE: 27/4/13
UK launch of EU media campaign
DATELINE: 13/3/13
The UK launch of a 'European Citizens' Initiative' calling for EU rules against concentration of media power will take place on Thursday March 21 from 11:00am – 12:30pm in Committee Room 4A at the House of Lords, London. Guest speakers will include actor and activist Hugh Grant (pictured), media consultant Claire Enders, Professor Steven Barnett, Barry McCall (President of the NUJ) and Marc Gruber (Director of the European Federation of Journalists).
A European Citizens' Initiative is an official petition, like a Downing Street petition. If it succeeds in gathering a million signatures across the EU, the Commission is obliged to respond.
This petition calls for the EU to act to protect media pluralism and press freedom.
CPBF Annual General Meeting
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Make a note in your diary
Saturday 13 July 2013 from 10.00am
NUJ HQ, 308/312 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1.
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DATELINE: 26/3/10
Download Freepress in PDF, ePub or mobi format. Issue 194 now available.
MEDIA FOR ALL CONFERENCE
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