Index on Censorship reports back from the second Open Journalism expert panel, held in Vienna by the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
Open journalism: “The media landscape has changed irreversibly”
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CATEGORY: Politics and Society
Some of our favourite banned books
Monday was the beginning of Banned Books Week, the annual celebration of the freedom to read and have access to information. Since the launch of Banned Books Week in 1982, over 11,300 books have been challenged, according to the American Library Association.
Eleven free speech controversies at American universities
A Yale student group’s choice to host writer Ayaan Hirsi Ali was met with widespread protest. This is not the only recent example of a free expression dispute at a US campus. Dave Coscia writes
Germany: Vandals lash out against local newspaper for reporting on right-wing extremists
On the night of September 4-5, the daily newspaper Lausitzer Rundschau became victim to a crime by now familiar to its employees. Catherine Stupp reports.
Macedonian journalists alarmed over government’s attempts to control private media
In Macedonia, concerns have been raised over the new round of amendments to the Law on Audio and Audiovisual Media Services (LAAMS). Christina Vasilaki reports
Egypt: Restrictions on campus protest could spark unrest
With just a few weeks to go before Egyptian universities open their gates to students for the start of the new academic year, the Egyptian authorities are feeling jittery — and rightly so. Shahira Amin reports
Namibia: Journalist attacked as rushed constitutional changes raise red flags
Controversy surrounded the Namibian parliament’s recent decision to make 40 amendments to the country’s constitution without consulting civil society or the wider public. Gwen Lister reports
#FreeMaryam: Protesters deliver message to Foreign Office
Today a protest was held outside the Foreign and Commonwealth Office calling for the UK government to condemn the regime in Bahrain and support the release of human rights campaigner Maryam Alkhawaja and her father, Abdulhadi Alkhawaja, who has been in prison in the country since 2011.
Bulgaria: Disputed sections of “bank censorship” proposal axed
Bulgarian journalists covering the financial beat can breathe freely as the most controversial parts of the so-called “bank censorship” amendment to the Criminal Code have been removed by the legal committee of the National Assembly. Zoltan Sipos reports
Gaza: Press vests fail to protect Palestinian journalists
News coverage of the ongoing Gaza conflict would be infinitely poorer without local journalists, but it’s clear that international media needs to show their commitment by providing Palestinian reporters and fixers with extra support. Ruth Michaelson reports
Padraig Reidy: What is the alternative to boycott?
The concept of boycotts, and particularly cultural and academic boycotts, have for a long time been problematic for people engaged in the promotion of free expression.
Combatting the Snowden Effect: National interest and media freedom in Australia
A piece of proposed legislation in the senate in Australia is attempting to wrestle with the legacy of the Snowden leaks with potential implications for media freedom. Nicholas Williams reports
