18th March 2014
By Stefanie Chernow

Ethical Journalism Newsletter: March 18, 2014

 

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Ethical Journalism News

Yavuz Baydar wins top European Press Prize

P24 Founding Member Yavuz Baydar received the European Press Prize for his efforts “to build trust in journalism.”

This is the second year of awards, increasingly regarded as the European equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize. It is the first time, however, judges saw fit to present a special prizes for “particular excellence” alongside existing categories. One of these went to Turkish journalist Yavuz Baydar, columnist and former ombudsman of Sabah newspaper, for his efforts “to build trust in journalism”. Baydar was a joint recipient, alongside The Guardian and Der Spiegel for their publication of the Snowden files.

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Upholding and updating journalism ethics: Keynote by Steve Buttry

Journalists who wish life were simple like to say that ethical standards should not change over time. They seem to want ethics to be a rock we can cling to in difficult times. Our business is changing and the job market is changing and expectations of journalists and the public are changing. Can’t we at least anchor ourselves to these timeless ethical principles? Well, yes, but no. (via The Buttry Diary)

How The Truth Is Made At Russia Today: An inside look at what it’s like to work at the Kremlin-funded media outlet.

“They hire young and mold you into the ‘journalist’ they want you to be,” the former employee wrote. “Blinded by ambition, eager to please and quite frankly inexperienced. That or they looked for people who shared RT’s agenda (like Abby Martin).” Martin, who has been involved in the 9/11 Truth movement and whose show frequently delves into other conspiracy theories, was hired after RT noticed her independent coverage of Occupy Oakland in 2011 and was given her own opinion show. (via Buzzfeed)

Mark Zuckerberg called Obama about the NSA. Let’s not hang up the phone.

Everyone should read the Facebook message by its boss to the NSA’s boss. Including those at Facebook grabbing your data. (via The Guardian)

Why the press can’t help but speculate about the missing Malaysia Airlines flight

The insatiable desire for information is partly because the situation is so mysterious. Couple that with the fact that the flow of new, credible details comes in the form of a drip rather than a firehose. Now mix it all together with fears of terrorism and airplane crashes and you have a perfect recipe for rumor and conspiracy theories. This story is about something that has disappeared — and what a terrible mismatch that is for the way the news cycle, social media and the human brain work. (via Poynter)

Public Editor: Uproar over an extreme close up

The editors understood this would be a controversial choice to show such a close up. News photos are real photos of real people, not staged or photo-shopped to show people in the best light. (via The Globe And Mail)

Reports & Resources

New Freedoms, New Challenges

Internews Impact Report: Fostering a Professional, Inclusive Media in Burma

With USAID support, Internews has been laying the foundations of a more inclusive media in Burma, a sector whose health is vital for the democratization and peace processes. New Freedoms, New Challenges introduces and showcases the incredible work of some of the journalists Internews has worked with over the years and plans on supporting in the significant challenges that still lie ahead.

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Emergency Contacts Available for Journalists Covering Crimea

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) have joined up with the International Committee of the Red Cross and its affiliates in Ukraine and Russia to issue a series of emergency contacts for journalists covering events in Crimea. (via International Federation of Journalists)

Events

IPI World Congress: Celebrating Freedom: Two Decades of Evolving Media

Cape Town, South Africa

This year, the International Press Institute (IPI) celebrates the 20th anniversary of its last Congress in Cape Town, on the eve of the historic all-race elections. EJN Director Aidan White will be speaking on a panel entitled “Media and the Unending Question of Ethics: A Look Towards Solutions” on Saturday, April 13th at 14:30.

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Asia Media Summit

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

The 11th Asia Media Summit 2014 is organised by the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) and hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Information and the General Commission for Audiovisual Media. EJN Director Aidan White will be speaking at the event on May 6th.

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