Media freedom

Bloggers · Dr David Robie · Media Watch · Most Recent Blogs

The Ben Bohane photo that Facebook censored on an article about Indonesia
ByDr. David Robie 24 April 2018

The original version of this photo, of West Papuan nambas (traditional penis gourds), which was published in the weekend edition of the family newspaper Vanuatu Daily Post and then by Asia Pacific Report, was deemed to have breached Facebook’s “community standards”. The photo was by award-winning photojournalist Ben Bohane, who lives in Vanuatu and whose work was published recently in the PMC book Conflict, Culture and Conscience.

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Bloggers · Dr David Robie · Media Watch · Most Recent Blogs

UN critics join global outrage over Duterte’s Rappler ‘free press’ attack
ByDr. David Robie 27 January 2018

Media freedom advocates claim that the Philippines is facing its worst free expression and security crisis since the Marcos dictatorship, with The New York Times denouncing the “ruthlessness” and “viciousness” of President Rodrigo Duterte’s disdain for democracy in his bid to close the critical Rappler.

Read More UN critics join global outrage over Duterte’s Rappler ‘free press’ attack
Bloggers · Dr David Robie · Most Recent Blogs · Setting the Agenda

Three years after Charlie tragedy, ‘blaspheming’ journalists still face death
ByDr. David Robie 6 January 2018

Three years after 12 people were killed at the Paris headquarters of the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo on 7 January 2015, those who censor in the name of God still pose one of the gravest threats to the freedom to inform almost everywhere in the world. From one continent to the next, calls for the deaths of journalists accused of blasphemy circulate widely on social networks.

Read More Three years after Charlie tragedy, ‘blaspheming’ journalists still face death
Bloggers · Dr David Robie · Media Watch · Most Recent Blogs

PMC photojournalism book offers ‘window’ into Pacific culture, issues
ByDr. David Robie 3 December 2017

The new book, Conflict, Custom & Conscience: Photojournalism and the Pacific Media Centre 2007-2017, has been launched to mark the 10th anniversary of AUT’s centre. It is divided into four themes – culture, environment, women, and politics, protest and conflict – through which the richness of the region comes through.

Read More PMC photojournalism book offers ‘window’ into Pacific culture, issues
Bloggers · Dr David Robie · Media Watch · Most Recent Blogs

Rights groups condemn ‘cowardly censorship’ bid over Al Jazeera
ByDr. David Robie 24 June 2017

“The attack on Al Jazeera is part of an assault on free speech to subvert the impact of old and new media in the Arab world. It should be condemned and resisted.” One of many global media responses.

Read More Rights groups condemn ‘cowardly censorship’ bid over Al Jazeera