Journalists Association of (Western) Samoa

Last updated April 13, 2019

The Journalists Association of (Western) Samoa (JAWS) is a national media association for the Independent State of Samoa. JAWS is an independent body made up of local journalists working in the print, online, television and radio media. JAWS promotes the role of a free media in Samoan society, and protects the rights of journalists in Samoa. JAWS is a legally registered incorporated society with the Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labour. JAWS issues statements regularly in regard to freedom of the press in Samoa.

A journalist is a person who collects, writes, or distributes news or other current information to the public. A journalist's work is called journalism. A journalist can work with general issues or specialize in certain issues. However, most journalists tend to specialize, and by cooperating with other journalists, produce journals that span many topics. For example, a sports journalist covers news within the world of sports, but this journalist may be a part of a newspaper that covers many different topics.

Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the principle that communication and expression through various media, including printed and electronic media, especially published materials, should be considered a right to be exercised freely. Such freedom implies the absence of interference from an overreaching state; its preservation may be sought through constitutional or other legal protections.

In 2008 the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) issued one statement in support of a complaint made by JAWS. The complaint was in regard to the censorship of the media by the office of the Ombudsman. IFJ issued a support statement calling for the lifting of the ban on the Samoan media. In 2009 in response to a statement by JAWS, the IFJ issued another statement supporting the organisation in discouraging the harassment of journalists at the Samoan courts.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is a global union federation of journalists' trade unions—the largest in the world. The organization aims to protect and strengthen the rights and freedoms of journalists. It is also dedicated to working for solidarity, social justice, labor rights, globalization, democracy, human rights, and fighting poverty and corruption.

Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information, on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or "inconvenient". Censorship can be conducted by a government private institutions, and corporations.

Harassment covers a wide range of behaviors of an offensive nature. It is commonly understood as behavior that demeans, humiliates or embarrasses a person, and it is characteristically identified by its unlikelihood in terms of social and moral reasonableness. In the legal sense, these are behaviors that appear to be disturbing, upsetting or threatening. They evolve from discriminatory grounds, and have an effect of nullifying or impairing a person from benefiting their rights. When these behaviors become repetitive they are defined as bullying. Sexual harassment refers to persistent and unwanted sexual advances even after gently refusing, typically in the workplace, where the consequences are potentially very disadvantageous to the victim if there is a power imbalance between the perpetrator.

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Journalism refers to the production and distribution of reports on recent events. The word journalism applies to the occupation, as well as citizen journalists using methods of gathering information and using literary techniques. Journalistic media include print, television, radio, Internet, and, in the past, newsreels.

The Hong Kong Journalists Association was established in 1968 for practising journalists in Hong Kong "to enhance press freedom and the integrity of news coverage". The association acts as a trade union for journalists by seeking to improve working conditions for them and further works to aid journalists by striving to remove barriers journalists face when gathering news. HKJA also serves as a channel for individuals to file complaints when unethical reporting in local media is observed.

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Aidan White is a journalist. He is President of the Ethical Journalism Network, a global campaign promoting good governance and ethical conduct in media. He is the former chairman of the Appointments Panel of the IMPRESS Project, the UK independent press regulator. He was the General Secretary of the International Federation of Journalists from 1987 until April 2011. He previously worked for several newspapers in the United Kingdom. He was with The Guardian in London prior to joining the IFJ. He is a long-time campaigner for journalists' rights and is a former activist with the National Union of Journalists in Great Britain and Ireland.

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Media in Pakistan provides information on television, radio, cinema, newspapers, and magazines in Pakistan. Pakistan has a vibrant media landscape; among the most dynamic in South Asia. To a large extent the media enjoys freedom of expression in spite of political pressure and direct bans sometimes administered by political stake holders. Political pressure on media is mostly done indirectly. One tool widely used by the government is to cut off ‘unfriendly’ media from governmental advertising. Using draconian laws the government has also banned or officially silenced popular television channels. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) has been used to silence the broadcast media by either suspending licenses or by simply threatening to do so. In addition, media is also exposed to propaganda from state agencies, pressured by powerful political elements and non-state actors involved in the current conflict.

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Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, 2005 (CSPSA), is a law in the state of Chhattisgarh passed by the Chhattisgarh assembly in December 2005. The Bill received the assent of the President of India and was brought into effect by notification issued on 12 April 2006.

Media in Niger is a diverse collection of public and private entities, both print and broadcast, centered in the capital of Niamey, but with vibrant regional centers. The media has historically been state funded, and focused on radio broadcast media, as the nation's population is spread over great distances. Niamey boasts scores of newspapers and magazines, many of which are fiercely critical of the government. These papers though have very small circulations, and almost none outside the cities.

The High Council for Communication of the West African state of Niger is a government body which regulates press and media.

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Layal Najib, also Romanized Nagib, Nejib or Najeeb, was a Lebanese photojournalist for Agence France Press and Al Jaras and is the first journalist killed during the 2006 Lebanon War. She was also among several female journalists who were establishing their reputations as reporters during the war, such as Rima Maktabi and Najwa Qassem. Najib is one of seven journalists to have been killed since the end of civil war in 1990. Najib's death follows behind that of female journalist Atwar Bahjat who was killed while covering the Iraq War.

Association of Iranian Journalists organization in Iran

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The Mancunion is the University of Manchester Students' Union's student newspaper. It is the largest student newspaper in the United Kingdom and is distributed throughout Greater Manchester. The name is a portmanteau of Mancunian, the demonym for residents of Manchester, and union, given its role as the newspaper of the Students' Union. Past writers include film critics Mark Kermode and Martin Solibakke.

Al Masirah is a Yemeni TV channel which was founded and is owned by the Ansarullah movement (Houthis). The TV channel is headquartered in Beirut, Lebanon.

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References

^[1]

↑ "Journalists Association of Samoa". Jawsamoa.blogspot.com. 2009-09-29. Retrieved 2016-03-09.

External links

IFJ Honours Courage and Integrity of Samoa Journalists, IFJ Asia-Pacific

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[1] "Journalists Association of Samoa". Jawsamoa.blogspot.com. 2009-09-29. Retrieved 2016-03-09.