"The guidelines contained here specify steps and measures that newsrooms and journalists in West Africa can take to mitigate the problem of online abuse. The purpose is not to shield journalists from criticism or promote the criminalization of online speech, but to deal with a real threat facing jou
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rnalism today, which has the potential to erode press freedom in West Africa if it goes unchecked." (Introduction, page 4)
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"A total of 324 journalists have been killed in the world in the last decade. In Latin America and the Caribbean, the situation is alarming. Based on these statistics, this work presents an investigation with journalists from 10 countries. Based on in-depth interviews and the Delphi method, the stud
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y explores professionals’ perspectives about violence against journalists, pointing out the challenges for women, the role of independent media together with journalists’ networks and an increasing concern about governmental control over information." (Abstract)
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"The consumer Internet of Things (IoT) is a fast-growing area of technology, increasingly embedded in the public and private spheres, including both in and on bodies. There are various security concerns and academic investigations into potential risks of this expansion, but none yet specifically add
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ressing the implications to journalists and the democratic pillar of press freedom. Not only are risks to this community not yet assessed, but IoT threats generally are not communicated without technical jargon, making them inaccessible to non-experts. Given the importance of a free press, mapping IoT devices and, crucially, communicating associated risk in ways understandable and actionable to journalists themselves, is key.
Journalists and the press are particularly at-risk from IoT devices that may feature in the environments with which they must regularly interact because of the fundamental imperative of source confidentiality. Previous research demonstrated that members of the press are largely unaware of the ways in which the IoT can threaten their work and wellbeing. The networked capabilities of IoT devices increases the ease with which well-resourced threat actors can target journalists who routinely handle confidential information and are already at risk around the world from a variety of non-IoT threats. This paper therefore presents a novel categorisation of both ambient and wearable consumer IoT devices according to the environments in which journalists are most likely to interact with them. It draws on related academic work classifying devices for technical audiences to create a system that is accessible to journalists and their sources. Its goal is to make members of the media aware of the prevalence of these technologies and which of the devices’ capabilities may increase their individual risk. Useful risk assessments cannot be undertaken without an accurate understanding of where threats may be encountered. By systematically outlining risks in numerous environments, this taxonomy can be easily incorporated into existing security training materials and risk assessments for journalists. This paper presents a novel taxonomy to codify and organise IoT present in different environments, with examples of how journalists and their work could be impacted, both passively (i.e. via surveillance) or actively (i.e. via information theft). It also discusses how different environments that may contain IoT devices are often under the control of actors whom journalists cannot easily influence, nor protect themselves against. Especially as these devices continue to proliferate, journalistic risk from IoT devices in surrounding environments are growing. It is therefore important to address the contemporary and emerging risks to journalism that are associated with connected devices. This paper enables journalists and readers to not only visualise and conceptualise how IoT devices in different environments may create risks, its user-focused language and organisation also empower journalists to begin to use this taxonomy for awareness, mitigation, and protective purposes." (Abstract)
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"Este estudio, apoyado por la UNESCO, es el resultado de una investigación de nueve meses de RSF sobre la eficiencia, el impacto y los desafíos de estas políticas públicas a nivel regional, con un enfoque específico en asegurar la protección de periodistas y comunicadores. Los resultados refue
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rzan la idea de que los mecanismos de protección son una respuesta necesaria al entorno de violencia estructural contra periodistas y comunicadores en los países analizados. En mayor o menor grado, estas políticas públicas han mejorado la capacidad de los Estados para cumplir con su obligación de proteger a este sector de la población." (Presentación)
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"Anti-press sentiment based on negative emotions of disgust and hatred has prevailed in Korea since the mid-2010s. Through in-depth interviews with ten journalists working for Korean news organizations, supplemented with an analysis of self-reflective articles, this study investigates how journalist
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s experience this audience hostility and harassment, how they cope with it, and how their practices are influenced by it. The analysis reveals that, combined with the dualistic views of populist politics and the influence of misogynic narratives, journalists who cover topics, such as politics and gender, are more likely to become targets of anti-press violence. Moreover, it shows that anti-press violence induces negative emotions, such as discomfort, anger, lethargy, and fear, among journalists. To cope with these emotions, with little support from their news organizations, journalists tend to pursue emotion-focused coping strategies, such as striving for perfection in the newswork process, building emotional boundaries between the audience and themselves, counter-hating readers, and blaming other journalists. Finally, the paper suggests that anti-press violence in Korea promotes a chilling effect in news organizations that, consequently, may infringe on individual journalists' autonomy and editorial independence." (Abstract)
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"As press freedom continues a downward trend across the globe against a backdrop of rapidly changing landscape for the safety of journalists, the 10th anniversary of the UN Plan provided an opportunity to take stock of its key achievements during this first decade of implementation, as well as to id
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entify solutions to challenges that have arisen along the way. In this respect, UNESCO coordinated a multi-stakeholder consultative process involving regional and thematic consultations to collect partners’ experiences in promoting safety of journalists over the last decade as a basis for informing the course of action in the next 10 years and beyond. The consultative process included five regional and sub-regional consultations (for Africa, South Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Arab States and Europe), two thematic consultations (on the safety of women journalists, on risk management and transparency of digital platforms), and crosscutting academic consultations. This process brought together governments representatives, civil society organizations, academia, journalists, news organizations, IGOs and tech companies who shared experiences of the implementation of the Plan and provided and provided possible solutions to improve its coordination amidst a complex safety environment. From the eight consultations, UNESCO published a concise outcome document summarizing key processes and outcomes of each of the consultations. This document provided background reading and highlights of key issues and trends that informed discussions during the High-level conference on the Safety of Journalists which took place in Vienna on 3 -4 November. The conference was organized by the Austrian Federal Ministry of European and International Affairs in cooperation with UNESCO and the UN Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the UN Plan of Action and to reaffirm, recommit and reposition it for the next 10 years. Three other regional events were held to mark this anniversary. These are the Arab regional event that took place on 2-4 November in Tunis, Tunisia; the New York Group of Friends on Safety of Journalists event that took place in New York on 7 November 2022, and the Africa event that took place in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, on 11-12 November 2022. This report provides a detailed account of the three consultations held with academics on supporting and strengthening the future successful implementation of the UN Plan of Action." (Background, page 4-5)
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"The 2022 Global Impunity Index found that no one has been held to account for nearly 80% of 263 journalist murders over the past 10 years worldwide. CPJ seeks justice for these slain journalists, including full and timely investigations and the convictions of those who carry out and order the murde
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rs." (About this report)
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"Over the past five years, approximately 85 percent of the world’s population experienced a decline in press freedom in their country. Even in countries with long traditions of safeguarding free and independent journalism, financial and technological transformations have forced news outlets, espec
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ially those serving local communities, to close. With readership and advertising markets moving online, advertising revenue for newspapers plummeted by nearly half in the ten-year period ending in 2019. The subsequent COVID-19 pandemic and its global economic impact have exacerbated this trend, now threatening to create an “extinction level” event for independent journalism outlets. The 2021/2022 global edition of the flagship series of reports on World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development examines these questions with a special focus on “journalism as a public good”." (Abstract)
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"The Zimbabwean state has in recent years stepped up its surveillance efforts on citizens, civil society and journalists who are viewed as the “enemies of the state”. This state surveillance has been argued to infringe on citizens’ right to privacy and access to information. We are mindful tha
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t the “Second Republic” or the “New Dispensation” government has invested heavily in surveillance to silence its critics, among them activists, opposition leaders and journalists. Based on this, the study critically examines the use of surveillance strategies by Zimbabwean journalists and assesses the challenges and opportunities. The study uses in-depth interviews with selected journalists from Zimpapers, Alpha Media Holdings and freelance journalists around the country. The data show that journalists in Zimbabwe use different surveillance strategies, while some are benefiting from state sources for surveillance. Journalists further indicated that they live in fear of the state, which tracks them down. As a result, however, journalists have resorted to various means of security, which include “hunting in packs” and deploying digital security strategies. Findings further demonstrate that newsrooms are poorly equipped with technology for surveillance." (Abstract)
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"This document is the second of a set of three practical guidelines that provide recommendations for considering an intersectional gender approach when: monitoring and documenting attacks against journalists and social communicators (Guideline 1); advocating on emblematic cases for advocacy (Guideli
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ne 2); and organising protection training (this guideline)." (About these guidelines)
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"An intersectional gender approach starts with the fact that differences between the roles of women and men – in terms of their relative position in society and the distribution of resources, opportunities, constraints, and power in a given context – cannot be analysed in a separate silo. Instea
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d, such differences must be placed within a systemic framework of intersectional inequalities (see Figure 1), overlapping gender discrimination with other forms of discrimination [...] These guidelines are about the safety and protection of journalists and social communicators, which can be addressed by monitoring and documenting the attacks they face, building their capacity to protect themselves, and raising awareness nationally and internationally on the issue. While many of the recommendations in these guidelines could also apply to human rights defenders (HRDs), they were built from the experience and expertise of ARTICLE 19 staff concerning journalists and social communicators." (Page 7)
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"In 2021, ARTICLE 19 set out to make sometimes invisible practices more visible, building on our existing programmes on the safety of women journalists worldwide. We undertook original research globally and specifically in six countries, three in Asia (Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) and three in
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Latin America (Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay), all of which ARTICLE 19 is publishing separately, guided by the questions: What might feminist approaches to the protection of journalists look like, and what benefits might they bring? Our research findings form the basis of this report, which aims to: explore how feminist practices have been, are being, and can be applied to improve all women journalists' safety worldwide; bridge international legal and policy frameworks on the safety of journalists with the practical approaches being adopted on the ground; and catalyse a conversation about how - together - we can move towards feminist approaches to the safety of journalists. From national organisations to grassroots networks, this report documents women's monumental efforts to make structural changes, tackle entrenched patterns of gender-based discrimination and violence, and enhance the safety of women journalists. The initiatives showcased here are a testament to the creativity and resilience of those working on the feminist frontlines." (Introduction)
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"Since it first began substantial implementation in 2018, the MDP has enabled UNESCO’s Communication and Information Sector to immediately respond to emerging priorities and needs affecting freedom of expression, the safety of journalists, access to information, and community media. Before its cre
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ation, UNESCO Officers in the field were limited to regular programme funds, and few extrabudgetary projects limited in time and scope, therefore, at times, were unable to provide the urgent support requested by local stakeholders or respond to any emerging need. Through its inherent flexibility, the MDP has over the past four years been able to provide core funding for initiatives, or co-fund projects, as well as maintain momentum when field offices experienced delays in receiving funds between two extrabudgetary projects. It has also enabled UNESCO to immediately respond to urgent needs and not miss windows of opportunity. During the reporting period, this flexibility has allowed the MDP to respond to crises as they appeared, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the Beirut port explosions, the 2021 crisis in Gaza, or political events in Afghanistan and Myanmar. The MDP’s response to emergencies has been critical and, maintaining this approach, it will continue to respond to urgent needs in countries such as Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Ukraine in the coming biennium." (Summary, page 6)
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"This guide is designed for newsroom management who want to create and implement online abuse policies to better protect their staff. The guide will: help you think through which policies are best suited to your newsroom; provide you with stand-alone policy templates you can adapt to the needs of yo
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ur outlet; provide you with guidance and a template to create your own online abuse guide for the newsroom; suggest best practices and content to include when drafting your policies." (Page 5)
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"This note provides suggestions for Member States on how to word the recommendations for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in the field of freedom of expression, safety of journalists and access to information. The background and recommendations below can also assist UN Country Teams, National Hum
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an Rights institutions (NHRIs) and civil society in relation to UPR submissions and follow up." (About this guidance note, page 1)
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"The Multi Donor Programme on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists focuses on two thematic areas with the objective of enabling a free and safe environment for a free, independent and pluralistic media, freedom of expression, access to information and the safety of journalists – what UN
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ESCO considers key components for the achievement of SDG 16. Through this, Member States can expand their typical interventions on Freedom of Expression, Safety of Journalists, Access to Information, Gender Equality in Media, MIL media viability and pluralism, and countering hate speech and disinformation to also address strategic elements at the sector-wide level. While this is not mandatory, it is expected that this more flexible approach to planning and delivery will strengthen UNESCO’s position at the country level and allow the Programme to be more reactive to country needs." (Page 4)
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"The relationship between journalists and the security forces shows, almost universally, permanent tension. This document explains […] the reasons why both the press and the exercise of journalism, on the one hand, and the existence of the security forces and their action respecting human rights,
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on the other hand, are necessary for the consolidation of democracy in Latin America and the Caribbean. For this reason, it is advanced that the conflicts that arise between them, have a significant impact not only on both institutions, but on democracy itself. […] This publication first answers that question: whether or not both the press and the security forces are essential elements of a democracy. […] This publication only considers situations related to the journalistic coverage of street demonstrations and police action […] and also describes good practices that tend to reduce confrontations between journalists and security forces, since, to put it simply, this can directly benefit the consolidation of democracy." (Introduction, page 7)
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"• Pressure has intensified on journalists to cover people’s trauma and distress and deliver emotionally-driven content to multiple platforms.
• Impact on survivors: An ongoing lack of trauma-aware training for journalists can lead to inept or ill-informed handling of survivors, some say this
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added to their trauma and felt ‘furious,’ ‘hurt’ and ‘demoralised.’
• Impact on journalists: Direct or secondary trauma may be induced by exposure to potentially traumatic events and reporting on the people affected.
• Recent stressors: A rise in toxic online attacks on female journalists; Covering Covid 19 prompts ‘mental health crisis’ and ‘financial peril.’
• Driven to deliver big and breaking stories in an increasingly competitive market, journalists may pressure survivors, unaware of or ignoring editorial guidance and codes of conduct." (Key trends)
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"Declines in the number of foreign correspondents and bureaus have caused media to rely on freelance journalists, particularly on coverage of complex and topical issues such as climate change. This study examines the challenges freelance climate journalists in South Asia face and how they negotiate
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pay, benefits, and safety. Drawing from in-depth interviews of 15 journalists based in three South Asian countries - India, Pakistan and Bangladesh - the study finds that low wages, inconsistent work and perceived risk/anxiety over security - are the key challenges. The study argues that lack of financial and organizational support from the news media organizations impacts climate change coverage from a vulnerable region like South Asia. Freelance journalists often do not report on issues that can put them at physical and financial risks. Findings show that COVID-19 further impacts their financial security as many media outlets cut their budgets." (Abstract)
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"This study is aimed at investigating the impact of security threats on the freedom of expression of Pakistani Television (TV) journalists. It has been observed that a growing trend of curtailment of freedom of expression is becoming new normal in the country. One of the significant problems related
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to freedom of expression in Pakistani media has been attacks against journalists. Pakistan Press Foundation recorded that 73 journalists have been killed since 2002 (IPEX, PPF and RIDH, 2017). This study has identified the sources and nature of security threats to Pakistani TV journalists. These security threats include threats from owners to threats from secret agencies. The study has been done under the conceptual umbrella of Social Responsibility Theory since Normative Theory deals with agents of control that also govern the laws and regulation and put check on the press freedom. The qualitative research method was adopted to conduct this research. The data was collected from a group of 25 journalists, belonging to major TV news channels of Pakistan through purposive sampling. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted to gather responses. The data was analyzed through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis technique. All responses were transcribed as verbatim, from which exploratory notes were prepared to derive emerging themes which were further categorized into sub-themes. The data revealed that the respondents not only had concerns regarding their job security rather they were also stopped from covering different packages. The research also presents recommendations to ensure maximum free expression for these journalists." (Abstract)
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