Andrew Stroehlein
Covering crisis
Journalist Andrew Stroehlein is Director of Media and Information for the International Crisis Group, the conflict resolution organisation, where he promotes responsible coverage of current and potential conflicts and helps draw attention to forgotten wars around the world.
Afghanistan: The Prince and the Press
Author: Andrew Stroehlein
So, Prince Harry has been fighting in Afghanistan for ten weeks, and all the British media knew about it but agreed with the government to keep silent. Now a debate is raging among journalists. Is it unacceptable collusion with the authorities or a responsible approach to journalism in a war zone? The extent of the cooperation between media and government is pretty astounding. As Mark Sweney documents in the Media Guardian, the Ministry of Defence and all the major UK news broadcasters, newspaper publishers and news agencies agreed a deal: a news blackout on Harry's presence on the frontline for six months in exchange for privileged access to a series of interviews and images of him in Afghanistan once his tour was finished. ...
Author: Andrew Stroehlein
So, Prince Harry has been fighting in Afghanistan for ten weeks, and all the British media knew about it but agreed with the government to keep silent. Now a debate is raging among journalists. Is it unacceptable collusion with the authorities or a responsible approach to journalism in a war zone? The extent of the cooperation between media and government is pretty astounding. As Mark Sweney documents in the Media Guardian, the Ministry of Defence and all the major UK news broadcasters, newspaper publishers and news agencies agreed a deal: a news blackout on Harry's presence on the frontline for six months in exchange for privileged access to a series of interviews and images of him in Afghanistan once his tour was finished. ...
Israel threatens holocaust against Gaza?!
Author: Andrew Stroehlein
I am a journalist whos just marked his 40th birthday, so I am officially a cynical old grump who thinks hes seen and heard everything as far as human stupidity is concerned, particularly regarding public statements made by officials and politicians in conflict zones. But even I was shocked and surprised by this story. In a radio interview today, Israels deputy defence minister threatened a holocaust (using the Hebrew word shoah) against Gaza if Palestinian militants stepped-up their rocket fire against Israel. According to Reuters, Deputy Minister Matan Vilnai said: The more Qassam (rocket) fire intensifies and the rockets reach a longer range, they (the Palestinians) will bring upon themselves a bigger holocaust because we will use all our might to defend ourselves. For those few readers who might not understand how mind-blowingly shocking this is, the article helpfully adds: Holocaust' is a term rarely used in Israel outside discussions of the Nazi genocide during World War Two. Many Israelis are loathe to countenance using the word to describe other contemporary events. If, as a spokesperson for the Israeli government, you had to make a list of words you should never use to define your countrys policy toward the Palestinians, certainly holocaust would be at the top. The ministry has since tried to defend Vilnai, saying he meant shoah in the sense of disaster rather than referring to genocide, but that doesn't explain why someone would use such a hugely loaded and incomparably symbolic word for the current situation. ...
Author: Andrew Stroehlein
I am a journalist whos just marked his 40th birthday, so I am officially a cynical old grump who thinks hes seen and heard everything as far as human stupidity is concerned, particularly regarding public statements made by officials and politicians in conflict zones. But even I was shocked and surprised by this story. In a radio interview today, Israels deputy defence minister threatened a holocaust (using the Hebrew word shoah) against Gaza if Palestinian militants stepped-up their rocket fire against Israel. According to Reuters, Deputy Minister Matan Vilnai said: The more Qassam (rocket) fire intensifies and the rockets reach a longer range, they (the Palestinians) will bring upon themselves a bigger holocaust because we will use all our might to defend ourselves. For those few readers who might not understand how mind-blowingly shocking this is, the article helpfully adds: Holocaust' is a term rarely used in Israel outside discussions of the Nazi genocide during World War Two. Many Israelis are loathe to countenance using the word to describe other contemporary events. If, as a spokesperson for the Israeli government, you had to make a list of words you should never use to define your countrys policy toward the Palestinians, certainly holocaust would be at the top. The ministry has since tried to defend Vilnai, saying he meant shoah in the sense of disaster rather than referring to genocide, but that doesn't explain why someone would use such a hugely loaded and incomparably symbolic word for the current situation. ...
Darfur: Sudanese media report BBC thwarted by authorities
Author: Andrew Stroehlein
A crew from BBC Arabic TV left Sudan on 24 February after running up against too many government restraints on their filming. Reporter Muhammad al-Khatim al-Mahdis investigation had been focused on the Janjaweed in Darfur. The BBC press office confirmed this with me today. Nothing new in that, of course -- many other international correspondents have had the same frustrations with the Sudanese government when attempting to cover Darfur. ...
Author: Andrew Stroehlein
A crew from BBC Arabic TV left Sudan on 24 February after running up against too many government restraints on their filming. Reporter Muhammad al-Khatim al-Mahdis investigation had been focused on the Janjaweed in Darfur. The BBC press office confirmed this with me today. Nothing new in that, of course -- many other international correspondents have had the same frustrations with the Sudanese government when attempting to cover Darfur. ...
Kosovo recognition update
Author: Andrew Stroehlein
Just a quick note to anyone trying to keep up with the Kosovo independence story, there is a handy site at kosovothanksyou.com/ listing the countries that have formally recognised, and those promising to recognise, the world's newest country. It's got a handy map, too.
Author: Andrew Stroehlein
Just a quick note to anyone trying to keep up with the Kosovo independence story, there is a handy site at kosovothanksyou.com/ listing the countries that have formally recognised, and those promising to recognise, the world's newest country. It's got a handy map, too.
Arab League trying to squeeze sat TV
Author: Andrew Stroehlein
This week, Arab League Information Ministers agreed tough new restrictions on satellite TV news broadcasters. As the international Arabic news networks are very often the only source of independent information in these closed societies, this is an alarming move against freedom of information. According to Reporters Without Borders, the Charter authorises signatory countries to withdraw, freeze or not renew the work permits of media which break the regulations, and stipulates that satellite TV stations should not damage social harmony, national unity, public order or traditional values. Such language is vague enough for a government to justify just about any crackdown. ...
Next entries
Author: Andrew Stroehlein
This week, Arab League Information Ministers agreed tough new restrictions on satellite TV news broadcasters. As the international Arabic news networks are very often the only source of independent information in these closed societies, this is an alarming move against freedom of information. According to Reporters Without Borders, the Charter authorises signatory countries to withdraw, freeze or not renew the work permits of media which break the regulations, and stipulates that satellite TV stations should not damage social harmony, national unity, public order or traditional values. Such language is vague enough for a government to justify just about any crackdown. ...
