Sunday, September 25, 2011

USQ Online Journalism: #5 Issues in reporting for a global audience

Image courtesy of Map of world freedom 2008, based on rankings of Freedom House.
Every country has its own limit of freedom of press and speech. Hence, majority of the time the issues in reporting for a global audience really boils down to where the journalist is from.


Every day, reporters and editors in small- and medium-sized newsrooms miss opportunities for great stories because they don't know how to take ownership of major international news.
Most big international stories have ripples that reach even the smallest of communities. "Reporting Global Issues Locally" will show you how to find the local angle in the broadest of international stories.


For instance, you don't have to go to go overseas to report on job losses as you have companies in your area that outsource jobs to other countries neither do you have to go to China to report on the recall of toys made there as they are sold at your local toy store.
The key is coming up with story ideas and then figuring out how to do the research and find the statistics that help you bring these stories home.


When reporting for a global audience, a web journalist must take into account the points below:
  • Understand and explain to their audience the ways in which world events affect even the smallest of communities.
  • Generate quality story ideas on topics that have a global reach.
  • Find and cultivate helpful sources in their communities that can help them bring global issues to a local level.
  • Report international news in ways that create meaningful connections to their audience.
  • Learn where to look for information. They will find many tips and links to Web sites that they can save for future use.
Another option is to enlist the support of correspondents themselves in suppressing news by appealing to their sense of patriotism or self-censorship. Shortly after September 11, Bush's team of top advisers appealed to the US media not to broadcast unedited video of Osama bin Laden. Ostensibly, the concern was that the video might reactivate "sleeper" agents in the United States by sending a coded signal. Most US broadcasters, who have generally supported the war, went along with the request.




Malaysia is a country who is listed at NOT FREE for freedom of press. The 1984 Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) requires all publishers and printing firms to obtain an annual operations permit, and gives the prime minister-as the minister of internal security-the authority to revoke licenses at any time without judicial review. The PPPA has been used by authorities to shut down or otherwise circumscribe the distribution of pro-opposition media outlets and was invoked in early 2006 to indefinitely suspend the Sarawak Tribune and temporarily suspend the Guang Ming Daily for reproducing the Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.


In 2010, several bloggers were prosecuted, including Khairul Nizam Abd Ghani, who was charged with “insulting royalty.” This freelance computer technician had posted on his blog, adukataruna.blogspot.com, comments critical of Sultan Iskandar Ismail of the State of Johor, who died in January 2010. He is facing up to one year in prison and a fine; even though he has apologised and withdrawn the incriminating article from his blog.


Malaysian bloggers are still under strong pressure, and their positions are finding substantial support among Malaysian citizens, who are no longer content with the official version of “the facts.” For now, it is the blogs, news websites and social networks which are reporting events in the Arab world, while the traditional media provide minimal coverage. In view of the approaching elections, the arm wrestling between bloggers and the authorities is likely to get tougher.


Reference

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