Asia-Pacific Regional Bulletin – October 1, 2020
IN FOCUS
Campaign to strengthen journalism’s future: The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and UNI Global Union (UNI) are pushing governments across the globe to adopt emergency rescue packages for the print media industry including journalism, publishing, printing and distribution. There is also a move to introduce a digital services tax on tech giants such as Amazon, Google, and Facebook are diverting advertising revenue from media outlets. The Covid-19 crisis has accelerated a long-standing decline in media advertising income. This year alone, revenue is down 20 per cent with much of this money has been siphoned by tech companies.
The IFJ and UNI have adopted a joint appeal, “rescue and future survival package for the print media industry” to urge governments to support journalism. Unions who are members of these federations will use this as a platform to lobby for widespread support for the survival of news media.
ACROSS THE REGION
East Asia
Australian correspondents evacuated from China: China correspondents for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Australian Financial Review returned to Sydney on September 8 after being named as ‘persons of interest’ in a widening investigation by Chinese authorities into foreign journalists. It follows the arrest and secret detention of Australian journalist and CGTN news anchor Cheng Lei last month.
South Asia
Women unite against digital abuse: More than 150 Pakistani women journalists released a statement on September 7 detailing the gender-based attacks that are increasingly impacting their safety and ability to work. Titled ‘Together Against Digital Abuse’, the statement also puts forward a list of demands to Pakistan’s ruling political party (PTI) to set the region on a path of justice for female journalists.
Read the blog by Joint Secretary of Karachi Union of Journalists, Lubna Jerar Naqvi, on what has prompted a collective of women journalists in Pakistan to take matters into their own hands.
South East Asia
Stay-At-Home order obstructs journalists: With a sharp increase in Covid-19 cases, the Myanmar government has announced a strict stay-at-home order that hinders the ability of journalists to gather information and serve the public’s right to know. The government’s order has come into effect in the lead up to the 2020 general election on November 7, restricting journalists’ right to report. The Myanmar Press Council has appeal to the government to provide and exemption to allow reporters to do their jobs.
Oceania
Facebook threatens to ban users sharing news: Global tech giant Facebook is to ban users in Australia from sharing news on its platforms if a proposed regulatory code to make them pay for news content becomes law. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) code, released on July 31 would require tech giants to pay news media for sharing their content. Under the proposal, digital companies like Google and Facebook would have three months to negotiate an agreement with media. After that period, an independent body would impose a deal.
ANALYSIS
Amendments to the definition of ‘media representatives’: Under a new policy, Hong Kong’s police will cease to recognise press accreditation issued by local media or journalist associations unless they are also registered with the Hong Kong’s Information Services Department. Police justify the restrictions, which came into effect on September 23, as a means to control activities and “fake reporters”. Press freedom groups say the policy change represents yet another attack on media independence in Hong Kong and follows of more than a year of police violence amid ongoing pro-democracy protests and the deterioration of freedom of speech and political rights since the imposition by the Beijing authorities of the controversial national security on June 30. The Hong Kong Journalist Association joined eight Hong Kong media unions in demanding the policy be scrapped.
IFJ AT WORK
Ampatuan Massacre remains ‘unresolved: 11 IFJ affiliates in the Asia Pacific have signed the joint statement to welcome the decision of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on September 24 to maintain the classification of the Ampatuan Massacre legal case as ‘unresolved’. The Ampatuan massacre was the worst incident of electoral violence in recent Philippine history and remains the single deadliest attack on journalists globally.
INSIDE THE MEDIA
The Centre for Protection of Afghan Women Journalists (CPAWJ) suggests the deteriorating situation of women journalists’ safety, their participation in newsrooms and their contribution in the peace process. A seminar analysing and assessing the situation for women journalists held in August documented sexual harassment and discrimination as a major reason for the lower number of women in journalism and their low retention rates.
IFJ ASIA PACIFIC MONITORING
Two journalists were murdered and more than 10 journalists were arrested in South Asia. Both the murdered journalists were from Pakistan. Journalist Abid Hussain Abidi, affiliated with local newspaper Jurm-o-Saza, was shot dead on September 25 while journalist Shaheena Shaheen was shot dead in her home on September 5 in Turbat, Kech in a suspected domestic violence offence. In South East Asia, journalist Jobert “Polpog” Bercasio was shot dead as he was riding a scooter in Sorgoson City, Sorgoson, Luzon, Philippines on the evening of September 14.
Journalist Safety Indicators in Asia-Pacific
August 1, 2020 – August 31, 2020