(WPFC/IFEX) – The following is a WPFC press release: 1 May 2000 Reston, Va. — Censorship limits citizens’ access to news and information around the world, but is often disguised in coded language that masks its real intent, according to a report released today by the World Press Freedom Committee. In the report, “New Code […]
(WPFC/IFEX) – The following is a WPFC press release:
1 May 2000
Reston, Va. — Censorship limits citizens’ access to news and information around the world, but is often disguised in coded language that masks its real intent, according to a report released today by the World Press Freedom Committee.
In the report, “New Code Words for Censorship: Modern Labels for Curbs on the Press,” 18 prominent journalistic leaders describe linguistic disguises used to limit the free flow of news.
“Unfortunately, it is just a partial listing of the phrases au courant in censoring circles,” writes World Press Freedom Committee Executive Director Marilyn Greene in the introduction. “The words and phrases evolve and change, but their meaning remains the same: restrictions on the news media, and thus on what the people can know.”
The World Press Freedom Committee, based in Reston, Va., is a coordination group including 44 affiliated journalistic organizations on six continents. It is dedicated to news media free of government interference; a full and free flow of news; and practical assistance to media needing help.
The new report, issued for World Press Freedom Day 2000 on May 3, includes a checklist of 20 questions to help global readers determine whether the news media in their regions are free.
Authors from Europe, Asia, North and South America examine the hidden meaning of such notions as: assigning “responsibilities” to the press; imposing codes of ethics for journalists; restricting news coverage in the name of protecting privacy and calling for laws to “protect” journalists.
Copies of the report are avalilable upon request from the World Press Freedom Committee, 11690 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Va. 20191.
