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Reporting under occupation
155/Sue Tibbles
DATELINE: 26/12/06
The National Union of Journalists (Oxford) and Palestine Solidarity Campaign called this public meeting to highlight the importance of speaking out for the rights of media workers to do their jobs free of restrictions and intimidation.
The event, held in Oxford on 1 November, was prompted by the Coroner’s Court verdict that ITN reporter Terry Lloyd had been unlawfully killed by US troops while covering the Iraq invasion in March 2003.
Caroline Hawley, a former Baghdad correspondent for the BBC, said that more than 150 journalists have been killed during the Iraq war and its aftermath. She felt that journalists were scared and frustrated by the problems they face in Iraq and, in particular, Baghdad.
Many Iraqis are fleeing to Syria and Jordan and due to the current situation; the future of the country seems grim. Mohammed Daraghmeh who reports from the Palestinian Territories for the respected London-based Arabic daily Al-Hayat, said: "Not only are journalists being killed but journalism itself is being killed."
He discussed the difficulties of travel within Palestine, the delays caused by checkpoints causing longer journeys which affect everyone, including journalists. The internet and blogging are being used extensively in Palestine to overcome many obstacles to communication.
Although they cannot replace journalism completely, these blogs make valuable information and points of view available to a worldwide audience. Some of the foreign media reporting from Palestine appear to have their own political agenda, so it is important to build trust - especially in a climate where politicians are not trusted.
It was suggested that the quality of reporting from Iraq and Palestine and the credibility of journalists would be enhanced if greater efforts were made to check facts.
There was also a concern that some journalists are inventing or embroidering their stories. The meeting called for further campaigning work around these issues, for example, encouraging journalists to agree to abide by professional codes of conduct, writing to authorities and raising public awareness.
Last modified: Tuesday, December 26, 2006
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Events & Announcements
Fringe meeting at the TUC
DATELINE: 26/8/10Tuesday 14 September 6.00pm – 8.00pm Mayor’s Parlour, Manchester Town Hall, M2 5DB
‘Media for All – the Democratic Challenge’.
An open event hosted by Making Good Society and the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom (CPBF), supported by the Carnegie UK Trust.
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DATELINE: 26/3/10
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MEDIA FOR ALL CONFERENCE 09
DATELINE: 26/3/10
Media for All Conference 09
Conference Papers
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Previous stories
Safety Of Journalists
Update on the Gongadze case - December 2006
Terry Lloyd 'killed by US Forces'
Anna Politkovskaya: death of a fearless reporter
Gongadze murder still unsolved
News Death Toll for 2006 Reaches 126
Kash kidnapped by Afghans
Terry Lloyd Killed by US Bullet
The murder of Anna Politkovskaya
Wave of Iraqi media killings sparks new fears
Cover-ups, Lies and Censorship
Worst-ever media disaster: 68 dead in Iran
Gongadze killers still roam free in Ukraine, says IFJ
Killers of Ukrainian journalist are ‘getting away’
Iraq outstrips Vietnam in journalists killed
Call for immediate release of Reuters cameraman held by US army
Media safety 'top priority' in Iraq
Journalists call for free and fair coverage of Zimbabwe poll
Journalism: a deadly business
South of the border
They kill reporters, don't they?