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Access
to Information Discussed But Not Practiced at UN, Which
Journalists Are Protected?
Byline: Matthew
Russell Lee of Inner City Press at the UN: Media Analysis
UNITED NATIONS,
May
1 -- In the run-up to World Press Freedom Day, the U.S.-based Committee
to
Protect Journalists released at the UN a report
ranking "countries where
killers of journalists go free." The methodology, as explained by CPJ's
executive director Joel Simon, excludes so-called crossfire events,
such as the
U.S. bombing of Al-Jazeera's office in Iraq. Nor does the ranking
reflect
countries with the least press freedom. North Korea, for example, does
not
appear on the list. Rather, the list focuses on countries in which
there is an
expectation of press freedom, which is then betrayed.
Inner City Press asked for CPJ's
view on the UN's own promotion of press freedom, using the example of
UN
personnel in Nepal stopping local journalists from filming the site of
a UN
helicopter crash and seizing their film. The UN could do more, Simon
said."We would like to see more engagement
throughout the UN bureacracy."
Video here,
from Minute
22:04.
While killings were counted in the
study also came up. Inner City Press asked about so-called targeted
crossfire;
Joel Simon said that is not included, but that CPJ still asks for
accountability, for example in Iraq. Video here,
from Minute
20:43.
Rally in the Philippines, which made CPJ's
list, particularly due to Mindanao
After the press conference, Inner
City Press asked Joel Simon how CPJ defines who is a journalist. There
is no
hard and fast rule, he said. But he said CPJ does not want to include
"advocates and their screeds." He said he would e-mail Inner City
Press DPJ's definition of who is a journalist.
The following day, at a UNESCO
luncheon graced by a speech by South African Justice Albie Sachs, Joel
Simon was
again present. "Oh right," he said. "The definition of
journalist." Yes, that. One would think CPJ would have such a
definition,
to know who to protect. But eight hours after the luncheon, we're still
waiting. There will be a debate on just this topic on May 14 at Columbia's
School of Journalism - but how is that defined? Click here
for a video on the topic. We'll have more on this.
Footnote:
Albie Sachs spoke of the importance
of access to information, using examples from South Africa's Truth and
Reconciliation Commission and the country's Promotion of Information
Act, under
which he sought and obtained records about his own torture. He took
three
questions then ran to catch a plane. Inner City Press asked him in the
hall,
Should the UN have a Freedom of Information law? He answered - and then
said,
"Don't quote me." So his answer is not here. But one wonders: what is
it about the UN that its supporters, even those of the stature, moral
and
otherwise, of Albie Sachs, are no reticent to say, "Yes, this could be
improved"?
* * *
These reports are
usually also available through Google
News and on Lexis-Nexis.
Click
here for a Reuters
AlertNet piece by this correspondent
about Uganda's Lord's Resistance Army. Click
here
for an earlier Reuters AlertNet piece about the Somali National
Reconciliation Congress, and the UN's $200,000 contribution from an
undefined trust fund. Video
Analysis here
Feedback: Editorial
[at] innercitypress.com
UN Office: S-453A, UN, NY 10017 USA
Tel: 212-963-1439
Reporter's mobile (and weekends):
718-716-3540
Other,
earlier Inner City Press are listed here, and some are available
in the ProQuest service, and now on Lexis-Nexis.
Copyright
2006-08 Inner City Press, Inc. To request
reprint or other permission, e-contact Editorial [at]
innercitypress.com -
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