World Press Freedom Day 2017: UNESCO calls for better protection of press

Al Jazeera English

4 May 201702:44

Summary

TLDRA protest in Jakarta during World Press Freedom Day demanded the release of Al Jazeera journalist Mahmud Hussein, who has been detained in Egypt without trial for over four months. The protest also highlighted censorship and restrictions on press freedom, particularly in Indonesia's Papua region, where journalists face intimidation and violence. Despite hosting World Press Freedom Day, Indonesia restricts media coverage in Papua, raising concerns about a media blackout. The Indonesian journalist association reports a rise in violent incidents, while global efforts push for stronger protections and international law to safeguard journalists.

Takeaways

📰 A protest occurred at a Jakarta conference on World Press Freedom Day, demanding the release of Al Jazeera journalist Mahmud Hussein, who has been detained in Egypt for over four months without trial.
📹 An undercover journalist from Ghana hides his identity due to the threats faced by investigative journalists.
✍️ Al Jazeera, along with other media organizations, has written an international declaration for the protection of journalists and hopes to present it to the United Nations for formal recognition.
🌍 The goal is for the declaration to be ratified by governments and codified into international law.
🚫 Just days before World Press Freedom Day, a journalist in Papua was beaten and detained while covering a story, highlighting the region's restrictions on press freedom.
⚠️ Despite Indonesia hosting World Press Freedom Day, the issue of press freedom in Papua remains off-limits, with protesters demanding full access for journalists in the region.
🤐 The lack of media access in Papua has led to suspicions that the Indonesian government is hiding controversial actions in the area.
👮 Journalists in Papua often face intimidation, with undercover police forcing journalists to delete evidence of police brutality during protests.
📈 Incidents of violence against journalists in Indonesia have doubled over the past two years, according to the Indonesian Journalist Association.
💡 The Jakarta event emphasized that good journalism is essential for combating censorship and fake news in the industry.

Q & A

What was the main focus of the protest in Jakarta?
-The protest in Jakarta, held on World Press Freedom Day, focused on demanding the release of Al Jazeera journalist Mahmud Hussein, who had been detained in Egypt for more than four months without trial.
Why does the investigative journalist from Ghana hide his identity?
-The investigative journalist from Ghana hides his identity because of his undercover work and the increasing threats against journalists, making it dangerous for him to reveal his identity.
What is the international Declaration mentioned in the script?
-The international Declaration mentioned in the script is a document written by Al Jazeera and other media organizations that aims to protect journalists. They hope to bring it to the United Nations General Assembly to formalize it into international law.
What happened to a journalist in Papua just before World Press Freedom Day?
-Two days before World Press Freedom Day, a journalist in the Indonesian region of Papua was beaten and detained while covering a story, highlighting the risks journalists face in that region.
Why is press freedom in Papua a sensitive topic?
-Press freedom in Papua is a sensitive topic because the Indonesian government restricts media access to the region, leading to what protesters describe as a 'media blackout.' Many believe this is done to hide negative activities in Papua.
What did undercover police do to a journalist covering protests in December 2015?
-In December 2015, undercover police forced a journalist to delete a video showing a colleague being beaten by police during protests in Papua.
How has press freedom in Indonesia changed in recent years?
-While journalists in Indonesia enjoy more freedom than some colleagues elsewhere in Asia, the Indonesian Journalist Association reports that violent incidents against journalists have doubled in the past two years, and media access to Papua remains limited.
What is the stance of the Indonesian government regarding media access to Papua?
-The Indonesian government has limited media access to Papua, but they claim that if journalists are looking for facts, they can coordinate with the Home Affairs Ministry, which can provide escorts for journalists.
What threats do journalists in Indonesia face apart from violence?
-In addition to violence, journalists in Indonesia face threats of censorship and the growing challenge of combating fake news on social media.
What was one of the key messages highlighted at the World Press Freedom Day event in Jakarta?
-One of the key messages highlighted at the event was that good journalism can help save the industry, even in the face of censorship, violence, and the rise of fake news.

Outlines

00:00

📢 Protest for Journalist's Release at World Press Freedom Day

The paragraph discusses a protest at a conference in Jakarta during World Press Freedom Day. The protesters are demanding the release of Al Jazeera journalist Mahmud Hussein, who has been detained in Egypt for over four months without trial. The paragraph also touches on the difficulties faced by investigative journalists, such as a Ghanaian journalist who hides his identity due to threats. Al Jazeera, along with other media organizations, has written an international declaration to protect journalists, which they aim to bring to the United Nations General Assembly for formalization into international law. Governments are expected to ratify this declaration to protect journalists globally.

⚠️ Journalists Face Intimidation and Blackout in Papua

Two days before World Press Freedom Day, a journalist in Papua was beaten and detained while covering a story. Although Indonesia is hosting the event, the issue of press freedom in Papua is off-limits. Protesters are calling for full access for journalists and an end to what they describe as a 'media blackout' in the region. This lack of access leads people to believe that Indonesia is hiding something troubling in Papua. Journalists often face intimidation, such as in December 2015 when undercover police forced one to delete footage of a colleague being beaten. The paragraph highlights the ongoing struggle for journalistic freedom in Papua.

💬 Media Restrictions and Increasing Violence Against Journalists

Despite enjoying more freedom than some of their Asian counterparts, Indonesian journalists face increasing violence and restrictions. The Indonesian Journalists Association reports that violent incidents have doubled in the past two years. Media access to Papua remains limited, and journalists are often censored or intimidated. For example, government-affiliated individuals might guide journalists toward favorable reports, hinting at potential censorship. This paragraph highlights the persistent challenges and threats faced by the press, particularly in Papua.

🔒 Censorship, Attacks, and the Fight Against Fake News

Censorship continues to be a significant threat to journalists in Indonesia, with many still facing jail time and attacks. Additionally, the media industry is grappling with the rise of fake news on social media. As highlighted during the World Press Freedom Day in Jakarta, one way to combat these challenges is through good, ethical journalism. The paragraph emphasizes the role of quality journalism in countering misinformation and protecting press freedom.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡World Press Freedom Day

World Press Freedom Day is an annual event aimed at promoting the importance of press freedom and protecting journalists worldwide. In the video, this event is held in Jakarta and serves as a platform for protests, demanding the release of detained journalists and raising awareness about media restrictions in various regions, like Papua.

💡Mahmud Hussein

Mahmud Hussein is an Al Jazeera journalist who has been detained in Egypt for over four months without trial. His detention is used as an example of how press freedom is under threat globally. The protest in the video calls for his release, highlighting the dangers faced by journalists, especially in repressive regimes.

💡Papua

Papua is an Indonesian region with significant press restrictions. The video highlights that despite Indonesia hosting World Press Freedom Day, journalists covering Papua face intimidation and censorship, with media access severely limited. The protests demand full access for journalists to report on issues in the region, revealing Indonesia’s attempts to hide potential human rights violations.

💡Media blackout

A media blackout refers to the deliberate suppression or restriction of news coverage in a specific area. In the video, protesters accuse the Indonesian government of enforcing a media blackout in Papua to prevent the public from learning about the region's issues. This term is crucial to understanding how governments can manipulate public knowledge by controlling media access.

💡Censorship

Censorship is the suppression or restriction of content deemed objectionable or harmful by authorities. In the video, censorship is discussed in the context of restrictions placed on journalists in Papua, where their ability to report freely is hindered. This highlights the broader theme of press freedom being under threat, even in countries with generally more media freedom.

💡Journalists' safety

Journalists' safety refers to the protection of reporters from physical harm, intimidation, and detention. The video notes that journalists, particularly in regions like Papua, face threats such as violence, arrests, and censorship. This is underscored by the example of a journalist in Papua being beaten and detained while covering a story, highlighting the dangers associated with reporting in sensitive areas.

💡Intimidation

Intimidation is the act of frightening or pressuring individuals, often to prevent them from taking certain actions. The video discusses how journalists in Papua are often intimidated by authorities, with police forcing them to delete footage or stop reporting on protests. This shows the hostile environment journalists face when trying to cover sensitive issues.

💡United Nations Declaration

The United Nations Declaration mentioned in the video refers to a proposed formal declaration aimed at protecting journalists globally. Al Jazeera and other media organizations hope to take this declaration to the UN General Assembly, where it could be codified into international law. This initiative aims to provide stronger legal protections for journalists facing threats.

💡Fake news

Fake news refers to misinformation or false reports deliberately spread, often on social media. The video mentions how the journalism industry not only faces threats from governments but also has to combat the rise of fake news. This highlights the importance of good journalism, which was a focal point of discussions at World Press Freedom Day in Jakarta.

💡Good journalism

Good journalism is characterized by accurate, ethical, and balanced reporting. In the video, it is emphasized that the solution to many challenges facing the press today, such as fake news and censorship, is the practice of good journalism. World Press Freedom Day underscores the role of quality journalism in protecting the truth and informing the public, despite obstacles like violence and government restrictions.

Highlights

A protest at a conference in Jakarta marks World Press Freedom Day, demanding the release of Al Jazeera journalist Mahmud Hussein, detained in Egypt for more than 4 months without trial.

An investigative journalist from Ghana hides his identity due to undercover work and increasing threats against journalists.

Al Jazeera, along with other media organizations, has written an international declaration on the protection of journalists, aiming to formalize it as a United Nations declaration.

The declaration seeks to be codified in international law, with governments expected to ratify it.

Two days before World Press Freedom Day, a journalist in the Indonesian region of Papua was beaten and detained while covering a story.

Despite Indonesia hosting World Press Freedom Day, press freedom in Papua remains a taboo topic.

Protesters demand the government give full access to journalists and lift the media blackout in Indonesia's most eastern region.

The lack of media access in Papua fuels suspicions that Indonesia is hiding negative activities there.

Journalists covering protests in Papua often face intimidation, with undercover police forcing them to delete footage of police brutality.

Violent incidents against journalists in Indonesia have doubled in the past two years, and media access to Papua remains limited.

Indonesian journalist association highlights that censorship remains a significant threat to journalists.

Journalists in Indonesia continue to face jailing and attacks despite enjoying more freedom compared to some other Asian countries.

The industry now has to combat the rise of fake news on social media.

World Press Freedom Day in Jakarta underscores the importance of good journalism as a means to save the industry.

Protesters in Jakarta highlight the urgent need for international support and protection for journalists facing threats and censorship.