Hate speech is growing in Arabic language media, according to the participants at a seminar organised by the Ethical Journalism Network, The American University in Cairo (AUC) and Egypt Media Development Programme (EMPD) in Cairo from 19-20 December 2016.
Hosted by the AUC’s Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, the seminar – the third in a series that have taken past in the last three years – resolved to find new ways to challenge hate speech across all platforms in Arab media.
The meeting reviewed a draft glossary of hate speech terms that has been developed over the last year by students studying at AUC’s journalism department under the guidance of Dr Naila Hamdy.
Another key outcome from the meeting was that The American University in Cairo Journalism Department of Journalism and Mass Communication and the Jordan Media Institute will begin working together to monitor hate speech in Arab media. More details of the meeting and the hubs plans for 2017 to come in the New Year.
This week also saw a new campaign to fight hate speech in European media...
The European Federation of Journalists launched a Europe-wide campaign Media Against Hate, to counter hate speech and discrimination in the media this week featuring resources from the EJN:
"The media and journalists play a crucial role in influencing both policy-making and societal opinion on migration and refugees. As hate speech and stereotypes targeting migrants and refugees proliferate across Europe, balanced and fair media reporting is needed more than ever. Despite some good journalism practices and courageous journalists speaking out against hate, additional training and resources for media professionals and media organisations are needed in order for them to uphold ethical standards when reporting sensitive subjects.
A website www.mediaagainsthate.org will gather the latest news related to ethical standards, freedom of expression, media diversity and resources for media professionals and civil society organisations (CSO) to fight against hate in the media."
SUPPORT THE EJN
And finally, what you have all been waiting for! Just in time for Christmas we now have a way for supporters to donate to the EJN on our website. If you like me you have been receiving fundraising emails for the last few weeks, don't worry I won't be giving you all the reasons why you should support us now. That will come in the New Year when we publish our annual report...
Tom Law, EJN Director of Campaigns and Communications
"A lot of folks in journalism are nervous about how it can be ethical when you can create the world in any way you want, you can make up anything you want in text or edit video in a weird way, but you don't, because we subscribe to ethics," Robert Hernandez, professor at USC's Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism tells journalism.co.uk.
Speaking about Hell and High Water VR, an experience developed by his students that aims to prepare audiences for a coastal storm in Houston, Texas, he says: "ethics don't go away with a new piece of technology like virtual reality, so I am hoping that this piece helps move the industry forward to how VR can be used."
What’s your idea? Apply now for 2017-2018 RJI Fellowships
The Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute invites proposals from people and institutions to collaborate with us on innovative ideas and projects to improve the practice or understanding of journalism. We’re giving special consideration this year to ideas and projects focused on solving problems created by filter bubbles, fake news and mistrust of the news media; however, we also invite submission of other ideas and projects that could strengthen democracy through better journalism.
Successful collaborations are often in one of three categories but are not limited to the following:
Transformation of an idea into a market-tested prototype.
Development and deployment of a prototyped product or service into a substantial market test to prepare it for angel or venture investment or a full product launch.
Scholarly research that leads to publication of new understandings about the practice of journalism.
There are three types of RJI Fellowships for 2017-2018: residential, nonresidential and institutional. Residential fellows spend eight months on the University of Missouri campus. Nonresidential fellows explore their ideas from their home or office, with an occasional visit to campus. The institutional fellowship allows an individual to remain at their post at a news organization or other institution while developing an idea.
Each fellowship includes a stipend. Residential fellows receive an $80,000 stipend and a $10,000 one-time housing or relocation allowance. Nonresidential fellows receive a $20,000 stipend, plus research and travel support. The institutional fellowship stipend — $20,000 — is paid to the company or institution and can be used for salary relief or for another purpose to best ensure the success of the fellowship project.
RJI Fellowships are open to U.S. citizens and foreign journalists. The deadline to apply is Feb. 1, 2017.
The Council of Europe, European Federation of Journalists, UNESCO, and other partners have helped us translate the EJN 5-point test for hate speech into 7 new languages including Albanian, Dutch, Indonesian, Macedonian, Serbian, Turkish, Ukrainian. The test is already available in Arabic, English and French.
Visit the Accountable Journalism database of codes of media ethics
