Journalist makes the news

Online.ie carries a RTE story about Sunday Tribune editor Suzanne Breen’s visit to her home by the Police Service of Northern Ireland(PSNI).

The old chestnut of revealing journalists sources again.When will the freedom of the Press be respected?

Ponder, what if the PSNI win their High Court case and force editor Breen to reveal?

Online journalists jailed

A good blog by colleague Colin Whelan during which he points out that a Moldovan online news journalist is under house arrest. It has been pointed out before that in some countries the profession is a precarious one.

The online side of things is in its infancy yet over half of the 125 journalists world wide jailed were web writers. They seem to be the target for the wrath of the establishment in so many parts of the globe as pointed out in a RTE online article from 4 december 2008.

Today’s news, tomorrow’s history

If you like journalism, news, history and going online you will find archive.com an interesting site.

The site claims one can find over 3.21 billion(yes we are used to billions in figures now) names by entering the first and last names in allotted fields.

From 1759 it has available millions(thats all) of newspapers online from all around the world. Have fun!

What every journalist should know

This is to draw your attention to reading some information that will give some useful tips to journalists who wish to contribute online. “How to write for the web” is in two parts, part1 and part2.

Wall Street Journal online

As well as reporting on business, trade and the stock markets The Wall Street Journal contains news on a range of subjects. It derived its name from the street in which the New York stock exchange is housed.

In the news video section one can view a range of news items. To day Reuters show a drug business story from West Africa’s Sierra Leone. Cocaine, worth  200million dollars was seized and burned in public. the Government means to rid the country of the drugs trade.

Can everyone be an everyday journalist?

Stephen’s blog  “an everyday mobile makes an everyday journalist” poses a question? Is there a parallel between online journalism now and the commencement of  journalism in the 18th. century? Both help produce contributors who felt the need to inform. News recording and comment is common to both era and media.

People will always wish to gather information and pass it on. The Ian Tomlinson assault news piece captured on mobile phone will be common in the future. Utube have made the circulation of mobile phone ‘footage’ all the more accessible by offering contributors a Utube email address to which a member may send their news shoot from a mobile. It may be viewed within seconds of an event taking place.

The news inspiration bites the journalist

Journalist James O’Brien made disparaging remarks about Chelsea footballer Frank Lampard and his marriage break up. O’Brien was speaking on his London radio programme. The station is LBC and O’Brien gives his views on stories of the day that appear in the newspapers. I suppose he is a London Gerry Ryan type bloke.
His “inspiration,” as he termed it, for the news comments, Frank Lampard, took exception to his comments and contacted the radio show and wanted his response heard by James O’Brien’s listeners.

 

 
 
 
In true journalistic tradition James O’Brien bit back as he spoke with Kay Burley on SKY news.

 

The events are worth looking at! Utube captures the events online.

Wall Street Journal online

The Wall Street Journal reports on business, trade, and stock market news. As visitors to their site will find out it also writes on a range of news items that will interest journalists and others. The news video section with footage supplied by the respected news agency Reuters is of  special interest and one is encouraged to take a look.

http://online.wsj.com/video/sierra-leone-cracks-down-on-cocaine/A9DA993E-0FB4-4F2C-9B23-D43E2D16CF32.html       This video shows that the West African State of Sierra Leone is ridding the country of the drug business. It destroyed, in public, cocaine worth 200 million dollars.

The Vice president of Sierra Leone, Sam Sumana, is interviewed on the video and he explains the government’s policy on the drugs trade.

Caroline’s blog on jailed journalists

Caroline’s blog remind’s one that over the weekend another young journalist, Roxana Saberi, was jailed in Iran. It appears reporting in one country is spying in another.

What is it about some governments that constructive criticism is so frowned upon either online or by any other means of journalism. Presently, as Caroline’s blog reports some governments are keeping a close eye on what is being written online.

The push to have Roxana released has gained international support. The site is called free Roxana Saberi. On this site are listed a number of the issues she reported online from Iran,including elections,nuclear programme, a military plane crash, women issues and discrimination. You can play your part in giving her support here by clicking on Roxana

 

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Independent group Sunday online

Has the Independent Newspaper group embraced the idea that the future of journalism will be online reporting? One can’t find the Sunday Independent online, but there is competition from within the group in the form of Independent.ie Is the group getting ready for the inevetible?

It may be argued online that Sunday is the same as any other in journalism circles. Also, reporting one day is the same as any other.There is no double time involved. The Independent site is comprehensive and it is suggested more easily read that its paper sister. Have a look and see what you think, this Sunday.