19 Mar 2018 | About Index
We write to you as former winners of the Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Award for journalism – and as exiles from our homes. All three of us have been forced into exile because of our work as journalists: in Saudi Arabia, Syria and the Maldives respectively. All three of us in the past three years.
No one wants to be forced to leave their place of birth. We reported on war, corruption and cover-ups in the countries in which we were raised and which we love – and our punishment has been expulsion and persecution. We write to you, separated from our families, and from homes that are not homes.
We have all received death threats. Repeatedly.
Zaina – who survived the Syrian regime’s crackdown on the uprising then the war, finally had to leave after she became a target for militias and troops. Safa, who spent three years covertly filming a mass uprising in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, now moves from country to country. Zaheena, editor of an online newspaper, fled the Maldives after a police raid on her office following a long period of harassment in which she received death threats and a colleague was disappeared.
None of us consider ourselves brave or courageous. We are not reckless. We are women who simply want to write and broadcast freely about what is happening in the world. We continue to do this, even as exiles*.
But no one should have to live like this simply for being a journalist.
We need to speak out on media freedom. We need to support those speaking out. To continue to do this effectively in the challenging times ahead, Index needs your help.
A donation of £20 ensures a verified attack against media freedom is mapped publicly online; a gift of £100 enables an official report to pressure governments; a gift of £1000 supports our work helping journalism fellows.
Our goal is to raise at least £15,000 by the end of March for our work on media freedom over the next six months.
We hope you will join us in supporting Index and your right to a free press. Please donate today.
Yours,
Safa Al Ahmad, Zaina Erhaim, Zaheena Rasheed
*Zaina works for the Institute for War and Peace Reporting, Zaheena for Al Jazeera, and Safa continues to work as a freelance journalist.
19 Mar 2018 | Campaigns -- Featured, Statements, United Kingdom
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The UK government has barred a number of far-right speakers from entering the country in recent weeks.
Index on Censorship does not believe that preventing individuals from visiting the UK or speaking here is the right approach to tackling hateful views. We believe that the best way to tackle ideas with which you disagree, including bigoted ones, is to allow discussion about them to take place so they can be openly countered.
If you feel people’s arguments are hateful then the best way to expose that is in debate. Banning people simply adds to their status, often increases their profile and makes the arguments more popular. It does nothing to eradicate those views. The only grounds on which a speaker or speech should be banned is when it directly incites violence.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_basic_grid post_type=”post” max_items=”2″ element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1521459623353-4984cb7f-fee6-7″ taxonomies=”737″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Don’t lose your voice. Stay informed.” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_separator color=”black”][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Index on Censorship is a nonprofit that campaigns for and defends free expression worldwide. We publish work by censored writers and artists, promote debate, and monitor threats to free speech. We believe that everyone should be free to express themselves without fear of harm or persecution – no matter what their views.
Join our mailing list (or follow us on Twitter or Facebook) and we’ll send you our weekly newsletter about our activities defending free speech. We won’t share your personal information with anyone outside Index.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][gravityform id=”20″ title=”false” description=”false” ajax=”false”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_separator color=”black”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
19 Mar 2018 | Campaigns -- Featured, Press Releases
A fund of up to €450,000 to support cross-border investigative journalism in the European Union is being launched today by the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) and the International Press Institute (IPI).
The Investigative Journalism for Europe (#IJ4EU) fund is intended to foster and strengthen collaboration among European Union-based journalists and newsrooms on revelations in the public interest and of cross-border significance. The fund aims to support investigations that reflect the media’s watchdog role and that assist the public in holding those in power accountable for their actions and to their obligations. In so doing, it seeks to contribute to the sustainability of democracy and the rule of law in the EU.
The fund will be managed by IPI, a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists defending press freedom.
In 2018 cross-border teams of investigative reporters and/or media outlets based in at least two EU countries can apply for grants up to a maximum of €50,000 to produce investigations on a topic of cross-border relevance and of public interest.
Proposed projects must aim to reveal new information. Investigative teams already in existence or formed for an #IJ4EU project are equally welcome to apply. Ongoing but incomplete investigations are eligible to apply for funds to complete a publishable story. Teams of journalists or media outlets based outside of the capitals or largest cities or in countries where investigative journalism is at particular risk are especially encouraged to apply.
The programme will consider funding all platforms, including print, broadcast, online media, documentary filmmaking and multi-platform story-telling.
To be eligible for funding, proposed projects must aim to be published (and available in publishable form) by respected news outlets or platforms in at least two EU countries no later than December 31, 2018.
The deadline for applications is May 3, 2018, which also marks World Press Freedom Day. Applications must be submitted in English. Applicants will need to provide a detailed project description, information on the investigative team, a research and publication plan, a budget, and a risk assessment.
An independent jury will select the projects to be funded, with the aim of concluding agreements with all successful applicants by June 15, 2018.
To apply and to read full information about eligibility, applications and the selection process, please visit the fund’s website: http://www.ij4eu.net/
“Investigative journalism, which performs an essential service in any functioning democracy, is under pressure across the EU”, IPI Executive Director Barbara Trionfi said. “Providing financial support to investigative projects is a way of helping ensure that information on issues such as corruption, financial crime, human rights abuses and environmental damage reaches the public.”
She added: “As such investigations are nowadays rarely confined to a single state, it is critical for teams of journalists to work across borders on issues. We are proud that #IJ4EU will provide an opportunity do so.”
For any questions, please contact:
Javier Luque
Head of Digital Media
IPI
Email: [email protected]
Tel.: +43 1 5129011
