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Columbia Journalism Review Books
The New Censorship: Inside the Global Battle for Media Freedom
Journalists are being imprisoned and killed in record numbers. Online surveillance is annihilating privacy, and the Internet can be brought under government control at any time. Joel Simon, the executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, warns that we can no longer assume that our global information ecosystem is stable, protected, and robust. Journalists are increasingly vulnerable to attack by authoritarian governments, militants, criminals, and terrorists, who all seek to use technology, political pressure, and violence to set the global information agenda.
Reporting from Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, Egypt, and Mexico, among other hotspots, Simon finds journalists under threat from all sides. The result is a growing crisis in information―a shortage of the news we need to make sense of our globalized world and fight human rights abuses, manage conflict, and promote accountability. Drawing on his experience defending journalists on the front lines, he calls on "global citizens," U.S. policy makers, international law advocates, and human rights groups to create a global freedom-of-expression agenda tied to trade, climate, and other major negotiations. He proposes ten key priorities, including combating the murder of journalists, ending censorship, and developing a global free-expression charter to challenge the criminal and corrupt forces that seek to manipulate the world's news.
Reporting from Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, Egypt, and Mexico, among other hotspots, Simon finds journalists under threat from all sides. The result is a growing crisis in information―a shortage of the news we need to make sense of our globalized world and fight human rights abuses, manage conflict, and promote accountability. Drawing on his experience defending journalists on the front lines, he calls on "global citizens," U.S. policy makers, international law advocates, and human rights groups to create a global freedom-of-expression agenda tied to trade, climate, and other major negotiations. He proposes ten key priorities, including combating the murder of journalists, ending censorship, and developing a global free-expression charter to challenge the criminal and corrupt forces that seek to manipulate the world's news.
248 pages, Hardcover
First published November 11, 2014
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323 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 19, 2015
Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley. The greatest invention in the world is freedom of speech.
Joel Simon’s New Censorship looks at censorship in the modern age and how it is used by various governments in various ways as well as the changing state of journalism and online information. Simon is, of course, bias because he belongs to an organization that cares deeply about the safety of journalists. It is this one sidedness, intentional or otherwise, that weakens what is a thought provoking and discussion worthy book.
Simon looks closely at countries such as Russia, Turkey, Venezuela, and China as well as hotspots such as Afghanistan and Iraq, and the focus is on journalism and the control or attempted control of journalists. Simon considers not just imprisonment by the government, but also the threat of kidnapping and death that many journalists face as they report from the more dangerous areas. Assange, Wikileaks, and Snowden are also considered to various degrees.
Simon is a passionate, if mostly even handed, writer about the dangers and importance of journalists. His detailing of various cases considers both the pros and cons of reporting on kidnapping. His detailed description about his group’s decision to support Assange as a journalist (note, that Simon does not support Assange’s decisions and actions in regards to the rape accusations; if anything, Simon seems to be of the mind that Assange should face those charges).
The most interesting chapters are the detailed studies of Russia, Venezuela, and Turkey. By placing each of the countries into a context that takes into account not only the current situation but also how Putin and Chavez, for example, would have learned from and adapted those governments that surrounded or preceded them. In detailing such issues, Simon is aware of how some news sources may be seen, and he presents the reader with the charges that various governments may make against such news outlets, such as the view that Kurdish freedom group in Turkey might be tied to a newspaper that the Turkish government tries to censor. He draws a distinction between Dictators and Demotators, an insightful contrast.
At times the stories are shocking even if the reader is aware of them prior to reading the book. The massacre and mass murder of a political family in the Philippines is related in great detail and renews the feeling of horror as does the murder of Anna Politkovskaya. However, not only the big attention stories are dealt with. There are several examples of stories that did not make big American news outlets (if any), such as the imprisonment of a journalist in Iran, the vast numbers of Iraqi journalists who were killed in Iraq for a variety of reasons.
But that also raises other questions, ones that in fairness this book doesn’t seem to have the scope to answer but that should be considered long side protections and the rights of journalists. It is important that journalists be able to report with freedom and with a lack of free. It is important that government does not stick its fingers into journalist work. But there are questions. While a free press is vitally important, no government can (or even should) make all its secrets known. At some level, the government is not going to tell the journalist everything and might even actively try to stop the journalist from discovering information. The question is what does actively mean. Furthermore, while the detainment of Iraqi journalists in particular, and journalist in general (as well as the shooting of a freed journalist’s rescuer) at the hands of the US Armed Forces is frightening, Simon could have presented the Armed Forces side in more detail. Simon acknowledges that part of the reason for the detainment is the fear that the reporters might in fact be terrorist or insurgent groups filming an attack. The problem is that this is given in a vacuum. The fear is logical, Simon makes sure to present that as such, but how often does this occur, rates and statistics or perhaps even a story where the forces are under attack.
Additionally there is the question of what exactly news is or who exactly is a journalist. This is largely dealt with in the section about Assange (Snowden is mentioned but not in the same level detail, not surprising considering the difference in the stories as well as the more recent time frame). In discussing the Wikileaks story, Simon mentions that Wikileaks post Sarah Palin’s personal emails. He also points out that Wikileaks did not redact names of sources, and condoms Wikileaks for this. The other question that rises, in part, is what is the difference between Wikileaks and paparazzi? Are paparazzi also journalists? It’s true that Palin is a political figure, but the release of personal emails even with such a political figure seems rather intrusive. Is it is something that would be protected if it was a public, but not political, figure, say like Brad Pitt? I’m not quite sure what the answer is, but if Simon goes to great lengths to tell us what a journalist is, couldn’t he also tell us what a journalist is not? Do journalists have carte blanche, as the section almost suggests? The answering of such a question would have given the book a little more depth and flesh.
It is interesting, as well, that the British phone tapping scandal doesn’t come under scrutiny in this book. Are British tabloids journalistic?
But those quibbles aside, this is an important book about the important not only of freedom of speech and press but also of the importance of information and reporting. The suggestions and plan spelled out towards the end of the book are worthy of consideration.
Joel Simon’s New Censorship looks at censorship in the modern age and how it is used by various governments in various ways as well as the changing state of journalism and online information. Simon is, of course, bias because he belongs to an organization that cares deeply about the safety of journalists. It is this one sidedness, intentional or otherwise, that weakens what is a thought provoking and discussion worthy book.
Simon looks closely at countries such as Russia, Turkey, Venezuela, and China as well as hotspots such as Afghanistan and Iraq, and the focus is on journalism and the control or attempted control of journalists. Simon considers not just imprisonment by the government, but also the threat of kidnapping and death that many journalists face as they report from the more dangerous areas. Assange, Wikileaks, and Snowden are also considered to various degrees.
Simon is a passionate, if mostly even handed, writer about the dangers and importance of journalists. His detailing of various cases considers both the pros and cons of reporting on kidnapping. His detailed description about his group’s decision to support Assange as a journalist (note, that Simon does not support Assange’s decisions and actions in regards to the rape accusations; if anything, Simon seems to be of the mind that Assange should face those charges).
The most interesting chapters are the detailed studies of Russia, Venezuela, and Turkey. By placing each of the countries into a context that takes into account not only the current situation but also how Putin and Chavez, for example, would have learned from and adapted those governments that surrounded or preceded them. In detailing such issues, Simon is aware of how some news sources may be seen, and he presents the reader with the charges that various governments may make against such news outlets, such as the view that Kurdish freedom group in Turkey might be tied to a newspaper that the Turkish government tries to censor. He draws a distinction between Dictators and Demotators, an insightful contrast.
At times the stories are shocking even if the reader is aware of them prior to reading the book. The massacre and mass murder of a political family in the Philippines is related in great detail and renews the feeling of horror as does the murder of Anna Politkovskaya. However, not only the big attention stories are dealt with. There are several examples of stories that did not make big American news outlets (if any), such as the imprisonment of a journalist in Iran, the vast numbers of Iraqi journalists who were killed in Iraq for a variety of reasons.
But that also raises other questions, ones that in fairness this book doesn’t seem to have the scope to answer but that should be considered long side protections and the rights of journalists. It is important that journalists be able to report with freedom and with a lack of free. It is important that government does not stick its fingers into journalist work. But there are questions. While a free press is vitally important, no government can (or even should) make all its secrets known. At some level, the government is not going to tell the journalist everything and might even actively try to stop the journalist from discovering information. The question is what does actively mean. Furthermore, while the detainment of Iraqi journalists in particular, and journalist in general (as well as the shooting of a freed journalist’s rescuer) at the hands of the US Armed Forces is frightening, Simon could have presented the Armed Forces side in more detail. Simon acknowledges that part of the reason for the detainment is the fear that the reporters might in fact be terrorist or insurgent groups filming an attack. The problem is that this is given in a vacuum. The fear is logical, Simon makes sure to present that as such, but how often does this occur, rates and statistics or perhaps even a story where the forces are under attack.
Additionally there is the question of what exactly news is or who exactly is a journalist. This is largely dealt with in the section about Assange (Snowden is mentioned but not in the same level detail, not surprising considering the difference in the stories as well as the more recent time frame). In discussing the Wikileaks story, Simon mentions that Wikileaks post Sarah Palin’s personal emails. He also points out that Wikileaks did not redact names of sources, and condoms Wikileaks for this. The other question that rises, in part, is what is the difference between Wikileaks and paparazzi? Are paparazzi also journalists? It’s true that Palin is a political figure, but the release of personal emails even with such a political figure seems rather intrusive. Is it is something that would be protected if it was a public, but not political, figure, say like Brad Pitt? I’m not quite sure what the answer is, but if Simon goes to great lengths to tell us what a journalist is, couldn’t he also tell us what a journalist is not? Do journalists have carte blanche, as the section almost suggests? The answering of such a question would have given the book a little more depth and flesh.
It is interesting, as well, that the British phone tapping scandal doesn’t come under scrutiny in this book. Are British tabloids journalistic?
But those quibbles aside, this is an important book about the important not only of freedom of speech and press but also of the importance of information and reporting. The suggestions and plan spelled out towards the end of the book are worthy of consideration.
April 24, 2015
This is an important topic and I appreciate the author's work to bring attention to the importance of free speech and how threats to journalists and journalism affect free speech around the world.
Unfortunately the book tries to do too much in a relatively short volume: it's not quite a paper from the committee to protect journalists, it's not quite a memoir, and it's not the type of investigative reporting the author has done in the past. It's a disjointed combination of those three.
I heard an interview of the author on the radio; that was a good summary of the book. I'll follow CPJ and the author on Twitter to keep up with this important topic.
Unfortunately the book tries to do too much in a relatively short volume: it's not quite a paper from the committee to protect journalists, it's not quite a memoir, and it's not the type of investigative reporting the author has done in the past. It's a disjointed combination of those three.
I heard an interview of the author on the radio; that was a good summary of the book. I'll follow CPJ and the author on Twitter to keep up with this important topic.
October 24, 2017
A very informative look at the media in the internet age. Who controls information, how it is controlled and why it should not be.
July 16, 2016
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
Journalists are being imprisoned and killed in record numbers. Online surveillance is annihilating privacy, and the Internet can be brought under government control at any time. Joel Simon, the executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, warns that we can no longer assume our global information ecosystem is stable, protected, and robust. Journalists -- and the crucial news they report -- are increasingly vulnerable to attack by authoritarian governments, militants, criminals, and terrorists, who all seek to use technology, political pressure, and violence to set the global information agenda.
Reporting from Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, Egypt, and Mexico, among other hotspots, Simon finds journalists under threat from all sides. The result is a growing crisis in information -- a shortage of the news we need to make sense of our globalized world and to fight against human rights abuses, manage conflict, and promote accountability. Drawing on his experience defending journalists on the front lines, he calls on "global citizens," U.S. policy makers, international law advocates, and human rights groups to create a global freedom-of-expression agenda tied to trade, climate, and other major negotiations. He proposes ten key priorities, including combating the murder of journalists, ending censorship, and developing a global free-expression charter challenging criminal and corrupt forces that seek to manipulate the world's news.
This was a fascinating insight into the world of international journalism, media, censorship and corruption.
There has been a disturbing trend lately of journalists around the world being assaulted, arrested, imprisoned, and even killed doing their work. This book presents a number of cases either experienced by the author or related from other journalists. It is a grim - and sometimes scary - world these men and women live and work in.
Another interesting aspect of this book is the author's take on "citizen journalism" - that is, people not attached to media outlets "reporting" on the news as it happens - whether via video, tweets or other social media outlets. While the author is favourable to official media outlets, I get the impression that he understands the importance of this kind of reporting. He also touches on the places for people like WikiLeaks and Edward Snowdon, and asks what their role is - are they media, or are they just gossip-hunters (my phrase, not the author's!)
Most importantly, the rights of journalists to report the news freely, with no threat to life and limb in doing their jobs. That journalists are given the same basic rights as citizens of these countries going about their daily jobs, and more. I wish the author further successes in trying to attain those securities for journalists.
Paul
ARH
Journalists are being imprisoned and killed in record numbers. Online surveillance is annihilating privacy, and the Internet can be brought under government control at any time. Joel Simon, the executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, warns that we can no longer assume our global information ecosystem is stable, protected, and robust. Journalists -- and the crucial news they report -- are increasingly vulnerable to attack by authoritarian governments, militants, criminals, and terrorists, who all seek to use technology, political pressure, and violence to set the global information agenda.
Reporting from Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, Egypt, and Mexico, among other hotspots, Simon finds journalists under threat from all sides. The result is a growing crisis in information -- a shortage of the news we need to make sense of our globalized world and to fight against human rights abuses, manage conflict, and promote accountability. Drawing on his experience defending journalists on the front lines, he calls on "global citizens," U.S. policy makers, international law advocates, and human rights groups to create a global freedom-of-expression agenda tied to trade, climate, and other major negotiations. He proposes ten key priorities, including combating the murder of journalists, ending censorship, and developing a global free-expression charter challenging criminal and corrupt forces that seek to manipulate the world's news.
This was a fascinating insight into the world of international journalism, media, censorship and corruption.
There has been a disturbing trend lately of journalists around the world being assaulted, arrested, imprisoned, and even killed doing their work. This book presents a number of cases either experienced by the author or related from other journalists. It is a grim - and sometimes scary - world these men and women live and work in.
Another interesting aspect of this book is the author's take on "citizen journalism" - that is, people not attached to media outlets "reporting" on the news as it happens - whether via video, tweets or other social media outlets. While the author is favourable to official media outlets, I get the impression that he understands the importance of this kind of reporting. He also touches on the places for people like WikiLeaks and Edward Snowdon, and asks what their role is - are they media, or are they just gossip-hunters (my phrase, not the author's!)
Most importantly, the rights of journalists to report the news freely, with no threat to life and limb in doing their jobs. That journalists are given the same basic rights as citizens of these countries going about their daily jobs, and more. I wish the author further successes in trying to attain those securities for journalists.
Paul
ARH
January 24, 2016
As we are well aware since the murders of magazine staff in Paris, journalists are under increasing threat worldwide. This book recounts experiences of the author and other media persons as to the situation in a broad context. From Pakistan to Mexico and even Turkey come stories which sound extreme but are a part of life for journalists working and living in these countries - murders, abductions and mass arrests. The Arab states have seen an upswing in violence where previously a journalist was seen as a neutral, sympathetic observer.
A survey in 2011 for the Freedom of The Press index states that only fifteen percent of the world's citizens live in countries with a free press.
Citizen journalism is also discussed; this is reporting on the spot by means of phone tweets, vid clips and posting on social sites about events as they unfold. Repressive regimes such as in China crack down on the internet; they censor posts by their own citizens and block those from other countries.
As the author is established with media outlets, he does at times display a partisanship towards mass media and against unregulated, possibly activist led citizen journalism. He may well be right. He also gives a little space to the necessity for regulation and self regulation among the established media if people are not to be libelled.
Overall this will be of interest to students of journalism or world geopolitics, and will provide the information that the average person needs in order better to understand and appreciate the work of journalists.
A survey in 2011 for the Freedom of The Press index states that only fifteen percent of the world's citizens live in countries with a free press.
Citizen journalism is also discussed; this is reporting on the spot by means of phone tweets, vid clips and posting on social sites about events as they unfold. Repressive regimes such as in China crack down on the internet; they censor posts by their own citizens and block those from other countries.
As the author is established with media outlets, he does at times display a partisanship towards mass media and against unregulated, possibly activist led citizen journalism. He may well be right. He also gives a little space to the necessity for regulation and self regulation among the established media if people are not to be libelled.
Overall this will be of interest to students of journalism or world geopolitics, and will provide the information that the average person needs in order better to understand and appreciate the work of journalists.
January 12, 2015
A report by Joel Simon—executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists—on the current travails of journalists around the world faced with increasingly fascist governments who don’t want their secrets to get out, it also touches on the way the internet has changed things for reporting the news, not always for the better.
I don’t want to take anything away from what is obviously an important issue, but his overuse of statistics at the beginning made it hard for me to want to continue. His earnestness was also tough to get through; made me feel like the anvil was about to drop on my head any second. There are also new buzzwords and phrases, like “global information ecosystem,” that didn’t make reading easier.
So while the information was definitely valid, I think it could have been delivered in a more reader-friendly way.
I don’t want to take anything away from what is obviously an important issue, but his overuse of statistics at the beginning made it hard for me to want to continue. His earnestness was also tough to get through; made me feel like the anvil was about to drop on my head any second. There are also new buzzwords and phrases, like “global information ecosystem,” that didn’t make reading easier.
So while the information was definitely valid, I think it could have been delivered in a more reader-friendly way.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews