William Horsley
is international director, Centre for Freedom of the Media
Blog posts in total 23
Posts
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What can the Commonwealth do for journalists?
As a new Secretary-General begins work at the Commonwealth, expectations are raised about the ability of the organisation to tackle human rights issues, especially those of the freedom of journalists in some of its countries.
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Al-Jazeera jail sentences crush hopes for media freedom in Egypt
The court verdict and jail sentences in the re-trial the al-Jazeera journalists have dashed hopes for a relaxation of President al-Sisi’s vice-like grip on the information sphere.
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The new normal of journalism: Assume you’re being watched
Increasingly sophisticated and widespread internet surveillance together with attacks on journalists by governments and non-government organisations made a grim background to this year’s World Press Freedom Day.
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Charlie Hebdo murders mean journalism just got more dangerous
Charlie Hebdo’s security defences proved useless against a military-style assault. And we now know that it could happen to someone else in another European city, not just in Syria, Iraq, Somalia or Mali.
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UN marks ‘deadliest decade’ for journalist deaths
Shocking numbers of journalists have been killed while working. Where once a press badge offered protection, today it can all too often make the holder a target.
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We need an international media strategy against the likes of Islamic State
An international approach to supporting journalists' safety and freedom is needed to allow audiences to get news of what's happening in world trouble spots, argues William Horsley of the Centre for Freedom of the Media.
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Pakistani journalist murder attempt flags a wider struggle for press freedom
The assassination attempt last weekend on Pakistani TV anchorman Hamid Mir looks like becoming a symbol of a wider challenge to the survival of free journalism.
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Jailing of al-Jazeera journalists in Egypt highlights need for new defences
The jailing of three al-Jazeera journalists in Egypt heralds an age of high risk for journalism and an urgent need for new defences: is help on its way?
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Turkey protests are also a showdown for the media
June 2013 may go down as the month when the prime minister of Turkey lost the image of political invincibility that helped him to win three landslide elections.
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Journalists in danger: signs of a breakthrough?
In this oppressive landscape for free expression across large parts of the world, I found signs of hope while taking part in the UN meeting to mark World Press Freedom Day and in a debate at the Frontline Club in London, on Stamping out Impunity.
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Europe guilty too as World Press Freedom Day targets growing threats to journalists
World Press Freedom Day celebrates its 20th anniversary on Friday 3 May. And the United Nations has decided to make protecting journalists from increasing threats of violence the key theme of this anniversary.
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Global media to monitor a UN plan to protect journalists from assassination
On Friday the United Nations fired the starting gun for a global campaign to reverse the toll of murders and attacks on media workers which has risen alarmingly in recent years.
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UN says journalists’ work is ‘in the public interest’
Here is some relief for much-battered journalists: after months of uncertainty and sometimes tense diplomatic negotiation, the main human rights body of the United Nations has adopted a resolutions which raises the banner of the particular role of journalists on matters of public interest.
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BBC to host global editors' meeting on life-and-death issues
The United Nations has recognised the growing patterns of violence and legal harassment of journalists as a pressing problem which deprives whole populations of the right to reliable information.
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UN plan to protect journalists opens rifts between nations
Two years ago, after some NGOs and media organisations complained about evasion and delay, the United Nations started to focus on the task of improving the safety of journalists. And last week, the first UN plan for effective safeguards against targeted killings and attacks on journalists was pu...
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UN calls on journalists to help stop the killing of journalists
It is high time journalists, media owners and editors stopped being passive in the face of the continued slaughter and silencing of journalists. They should demand protection for their colleagues who face violence and suppression. That was the surprising message from a recent United Nations me...
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BBC to remember the cost of news in human lives
Journalists are by reputation busy people. Hard-bitten, cynical even. But in times like these it's obvious how much everybody owes to their courage and skill, working in war zones like Libya, and in dangerous places - especially for journalists - from Mexico to Russia. Next Tuesday, 3 May, is...
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UK media blind with indignation at Strasbourg court
The Prime Minister says he feels physically sick about letting some prisoners vote in elections, as the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) insists the UK should. And Parliament has forcefully expressed its opposition to prisoners' votes. David Cameron is also "appalled" at a UK Supreme Cou...
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Who cares about human rights when it's hard to get the story?
The 30-year Sri Lankan civil war ended last year with government forces crushing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels. Some reports say there may have been as many as 30,000 civilian casualties in the final months of the war. Calls for an international war crimes inquiry were rejec...
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A day to remember journalists killed for their work
This is something new: on Monday 3 May, the spring bank holiday in the UK, journalists in newsrooms in many parts of the world will stand for a minute's silence at 11am to honour other journalists who have died in the course of their work. It's an initiative of UNESCO, the lead United Nati...