The United States accused China on Tuesday of "threatening" and "harassing" foreign journalists after the Asian country refused to renew press credentials for several employees of American media organisations.

The United States accused China on Tuesday of "threatening" and "harassing" foreign journalists after the Asian country refused to renew press credentials for several employees of American media organisations. Also read: Last two Australian journalists in China leave country Both heavyweights have restricted reporter visas, with China expelling journalists, as brinkmanship over trade and tech, Hong Kong and the coronavirus, spills over into the media. China's record of "threatening, harassing, and expelling US and other foreign journalists goes back decades", US State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement provided by the US Embassy in Beijing. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently informed the US embassy in Beijing of new curbs on foreign reporters "by denying them press card renewals and refusing to process pending visa applications for journalists who were expelled earlier this year," she said. The Foreign Correspondents' Club of China (FCCC) confirmed the news on Monday after at least five journalists at four media groups -- including the Wall Street Journal, CNN and Bloomberg -- had been denied new press cards. Also read: China handled COVID-19 openly and transparently: Xi Jingping Foreign press corps are expected to witness further pressure as more journalists will receive similar treatment in coming weeks. According to the State Department spokeswoman, the US has been "working relentlessly" to convince China to allow US journalists back into the country. As per the FCCC, 17 foreign journalists were expelled from China which is a record. These journalists are not allowed to work in China without valid press cards, which are also a requirement for gaining a residence permit. However, these foreign reporters receive letters that temporarily allows them to work using their expired press cards, but these "could be revoked at any time", the FCCC said. (Inputs from AFP)

US accuses China of 'threatening' and 'harassing' foreign journalists

The Chinese foreign ministry has not yet divulged any details surrounding the disappearance of a foreign journalist, Cheng Lei.

A Chinese-born Australian journalist, Lei used to work for the Chinese state media, but has been missing for&nbsp;two weeks. Her videos and stories have mysteriously been deleted from the website of her employer.

Not too long ago, Cheng Lei&nbsp;was a high-profile anchor at CGTN, China's largest state media broadcaster. “I felt my skills could be better used in China”, she had once said.

Australian media says Cheng has been detained by Chinese authorities.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-why-has-china-detained-this-australian-journalist-324602/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"No specifics"

“I don't have any specifics to offer you. You all know China is a country governed by law and it will handle matters according to the law. If you are really concerned and want to know more details, I recommend you ask this to the responsible department. I don't have the information you want”, said Hua Chunying, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson.

The Chinese regime is feigning ignorance about this Australian journalist's disappearance. The focus has shifted to her withering Facebook posts about the Chinese Communist Party.

On March 8, when coronavirus was still spreading rapidly in China, Cheng Lei had written, “In China, the belief 'do as I say, not as I do' runs deep in public office. ‘Serve the people' goes the slogan, reality is the opposite." Cheng's family and colleagues have been unable to contact her for weeks.

The Australian government has now stepped in and is fighting for her release.

“We're working through details in terms of the consular assistance that we can provide, and we will give all assistance that we can. Obviously this is a concerning time for her family, and that's why we will continue to provide every bit of assistance that we can, within the usual consular terms”,&nbsp; said Simon Birmingham, Australian trade minister.

China is furious with Australia for demanding a probe into the origins of the coronavirus. In the last few months, Beijing has become increasingly hostile towards Canberra.

It has imposed new restrictions on Australian businesses, and has threatened consumer boycott of Australian products.

The Chinese foreign ministry has not yet divulged any details surrounding the disappearance of a foreign journalist, Cheng Lei. A Chinese-born Australian journalist, Lei used to work for the Chinese state media, but has been missing for two weeks.

The Chinese foreign ministry has not yet divulged any details surrounding the disappearance of a foreign journalist, Cheng Lei. A Chinese-born Australian journalist, Lei used to work for the Chinese state media, but has been missing for two weeks. Her videos and stories have mysteriously been deleted from the website of her employer. Not too long ago, Cheng Lei was a high-profile anchor at CGTN, China's largest state media broadcaster. “I felt my skills could be better used in China”, she had once said. Australian media says Cheng has been detained by Chinese authorities. "No specifics" “I don't have any specifics to offer you. You all know China is a country governed by law and it will handle matters according to the law. If you are really concerned and want to know more details, I recommend you ask this to the responsible department. I don't have the information you want”, said Hua Chunying, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson. The Chinese regime is feigning ignorance about this Australian journalist's disappearance. The focus has shifted to her withering Facebook posts about the Chinese Communist Party. On March 8, when coronavirus was still spreading rapidly in China, Cheng Lei had written, “In China, the belief 'do as I say, not as I do' runs deep in public office. ‘Serve the people' goes the slogan, reality is the opposite." Cheng's family and colleagues have been unable to contact her for weeks. The Australian government has now stepped in and is fighting for her release. “We're working through details in terms of the consular assistance that we can provide, and we will give all assistance that we can. Obviously this is a concerning time for her family, and that's why we will continue to provide every bit of assistance that we can, within the usual consular terms”, said Simon Birmingham, Australian trade minister. China is furious with Australia for demanding a probe into the origins of the coronavirus. In the last few months, Beijing has become increasingly hostile towards Canberra. It has imposed new restrictions on Australian businesses, and has threatened consumer boycott of Australian products.

China's silence on the disappearance of Australian journalist Cheng Lei speaks volumes

Journalists who have faced China's wrath for defending liberties

Maria Ressa, a journalist who runs a Philippine news website known for its tough scrutiny of President Rodrigo Duterte, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to tax evasion charges in a case she has described as a form of harassment.&nbsp;

Ressa, a Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2018 for fighting media intimidation, is facing several government lawsuits that have caused international concern about harassment of journalists in the Philippines, a country long seen as a standard bearer for press freedom in Asia.&nbsp;

Ressa, 56, who is chief executive of the news site Rappler, was convicted of libel last month and sentenced to up to six year in prison, a ruling widely seen as a blow to democratic freedoms under Duterte's increasingly popular authoritarianism. She was freed on bail.

Rappler has repeatedly challenged the accuracy of Duterte's public statements and his justification for his controversial foreign policy.

It has also reported on alleged atrocities in his war on drugs and probed what it says are massive, state-orchestrated social media hate campaigns against Duterte's critics.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/duterte-critic-journalist-maria-ressa-found-guilty-in-philippines-cyber-libel-case-305887" hreflang="en">Duterte-critic journalist Maria Ressa found guilty in Philippines cyber libel case</a>

Duterte has publicly lashed out at Rappler, calling it a "fake news outlet" sponsored by American spies.&nbsp;

Ressa's latest court appearance is over accusations Rappler falsified tax returns by omitting the proceeds of a sale of depositary receipts to foreign investors, which later became the securities regulator's basis to revoke its license.&nbsp;

Ressa, a dual U.S.-Filipino citizen, said in a tweet on Wednesday: "pleaded NOT GUILTY".&nbsp;

The securities regulator alleged it was a scheme by Rappler to allow foreigners to illegally own shares in a domestic media firm.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/philippines-arrests-president-duterte-critic-journalist-maria-ressa-on-libel-charge-197186" hreflang="en">Philippines arrests Duterte critic, journalist Maria Ressa, on libel charge</a>

Rappler, a startup, has maintained foreigners never owned shares, but were allowed to invest without voting rights or involvement in operations. Rappler is still operating pending its appeal against its license being revoked.

Media watchdogs and human rights activists say the charges against Ressa are part of a broader strategy to silence or humiliate opponents of Duterte.

Earlier this month, his allies in Congress voted overwhelmingly in favour of denying top broadcaster ABS-CBN's bid to renew its 25-year license, an outcome that Duterte had repeatedly promised would happen because of its refusal to air some of his election campaign commercials.&nbsp;

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque says Duterte supports freedom of speech and any media facing legal cases are for breaking the law, not for their reporting.

Maria Ressa, a journalist who runs a Philippine news website known for its tough scrutiny of President Rodrigo Duterte, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to tax evasion charges in a case she has described as a form of harassment.

Maria Ressa, a journalist who runs a Philippine news website known for its tough scrutiny of President Rodrigo Duterte, pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to tax evasion charges in a case she has described as a form of harassment. Ressa, a Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2018 for fighting media intimidation, is facing several government lawsuits that have caused international concern about harassment of journalists in the Philippines, a country long seen as a standard bearer for press freedom in Asia. Ressa, 56, who is chief executive of the news site Rappler, was convicted of libel last month and sentenced to up to six year in prison, a ruling widely seen as a blow to democratic freedoms under Duterte's increasingly popular authoritarianism. She was freed on bail. Rappler has repeatedly challenged the accuracy of Duterte's public statements and his justification for his controversial foreign policy. It has also reported on alleged atrocities in his war on drugs and probed what it says are massive, state-orchestrated social media hate campaigns against Duterte's critics. Also read: Duterte-critic journalist Maria Ressa found guilty in Philippines cyber libel case Duterte has publicly lashed out at Rappler, calling it a "fake news outlet" sponsored by American spies. Ressa's latest court appearance is over accusations Rappler falsified tax returns by omitting the proceeds of a sale of depositary receipts to foreign investors, which later became the securities regulator's basis to revoke its license. Ressa, a dual U.S.-Filipino citizen, said in a tweet on Wednesday: "pleaded NOT GUILTY". The securities regulator alleged it was a scheme by Rappler to allow foreigners to illegally own shares in a domestic media firm. Also read: Philippines arrests Duterte critic, journalist Maria Ressa, on libel charge Rappler, a startup, has maintained foreigners never owned shares, but were allowed to invest without voting rights or involvement in operations. Rappler is still operating pending its appeal against its license being revoked. Media watchdogs and human rights activists say the charges against Ressa are part of a broader strategy to silence or humiliate opponents of Duterte. Earlier this month, his allies in Congress voted overwhelmingly in favour of denying top broadcaster ABS-CBN's bid to renew its 25-year license, an outcome that Duterte had repeatedly promised would happen because of its refusal to air some of his election campaign commercials. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque says Duterte supports freedom of speech and any media facing legal cases are for breaking the law, not for their reporting.

Philippine journalist Maria Ressa denies tax evasion charges

A Sri Lankan journalist working for The New York Times has said police raided her home and seized her laptop over the alleged kidnapping of a Swiss embassy staffer last year. 
 
A diplomatic row erupted in late November after the Swiss embassy said the woman was abducted and&nbsp;sexually assaulted by unidentified attackers. 
 
Her alleged kidnap came a day after a Sri Lankan police inspector investigating cases involving the powerful Rajapaksa family -- who returned to power in November -- sought asylum in Switzerland.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sri-lanka/sri-lanka-conducts-second-mock-poll-election-commission-satisfied-with-preparations-305799" hreflang="en">Sri Lanka conducts second mock poll; election commission satisfied with preparations</a> 
 
Dharisha Bastians -- a New York Times correspondent and former chief editor of the Sunday Observer, a local newspaper -- said that police raided her home in the capital Colombo last Tuesday. 
 
"Five CID (Criminal Investigation Department) officials arrived at my residence in Colombo with a warrant to search the house... my computer was found, seized and sealed," she tweeted on Monday. 
 
Bastians said police earlier also obtained her mobile phone call records and "exposed the information".

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sri-lanka/sri-lanka-further-relaxes-covid-19-curfew-305660" hreflang="en">Sri Lanka further relaxes COVID-19 curfew</a>&nbsp; 
 
"As a journalist, I was horrified at the public exposure of my telephone records, which could seriously endanger and compromise my sources and contacts, then, now and in the future." 
 
Police had alleged Bastians was in contact with the embassy staffer, who is on bail over government allegations that she fabricated her claims. 
 
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said in December her claims were concocted to discredit his election victory the previous month. 
 
Bastians left the country after Rajapaksa came to power.

A Sri Lankan journalist working for The New York Times has said police raided her home and seized her laptop over the alleged kidnapping of a Swiss embassy staffer last year.

A Sri Lankan journalist working for The New York Times has said police raided her home and seized her laptop over the alleged kidnapping of a Swiss embassy staffer last year. A diplomatic row erupted in late November after the Swiss embassy said the woman was abducted and sexually assaulted by unidentified attackers. Her alleged kidnap came a day after a Sri Lankan police inspector investigating cases involving the powerful Rajapaksa family -- who returned to power in November -- sought asylum in Switzerland. Also read: Sri Lanka conducts second mock poll; election commission satisfied with preparations Dharisha Bastians -- a New York Times correspondent and former chief editor of the Sunday Observer, a local newspaper -- said that police raided her home in the capital Colombo last Tuesday. "Five CID (Criminal Investigation Department) officials arrived at my residence in Colombo with a warrant to search the house... my computer was found, seized and sealed," she tweeted on Monday. Bastians said police earlier also obtained her mobile phone call records and "exposed the information". Also read: Sri Lanka further relaxes COVID-19 curfew "As a journalist, I was horrified at the public exposure of my telephone records, which could seriously endanger and compromise my sources and contacts, then, now and in the future." Police had alleged Bastians was in contact with the embassy staffer, who is on bail over government allegations that she fabricated her claims. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said in December her claims were concocted to discredit his election victory the previous month. Bastians left the country after Rajapaksa came to power.

Sri Lanka police seize journalist's laptop over Swiss kidnap claim

Oriana Fallaci, the late and legendary Italian journalist who died in 2006, was a role model to others who followed her. She likened journalism to history- saying that it was history being written, simultaneously, to events as they unfolded. She didn’t seem to need the perspective of time and reflection. She turned out a huge body of work over decades, travelling the world doing it, generating controversies with some of her views, writing books too, all with signature passion and flair.&nbsp;

Of course, she had the privilege to interview a galaxy of heads of state, policymakers, big wheels of government, between and betwixt lesser folk. &nbsp;Fallaci did not take herself very seriously. She didn’t think that journalists were great influencers much as they might like to be. She likened their efforts to barking dogs that nobody took any real notice of. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Fallaci said this in a TV interview to Michael Wallace, a pioneer in opinionated TV journalism. Wallace was most famous for anchoring CBS’ 60 Minutes, being its first and most celebrated anchor. The programme was so successful as “magazine news”, under him; that as many as six other networks put in me-too shows, to compete, till there were a surfeit and glut. &nbsp;

Wallace himself was an irreverent departure from the magisterial news-style of a Walter Cronkite, also on CBS, who along with other senior TV News presenters of the time, thought of 60 Minutes as “Show Business”. That Wallace did commercials for many products in between his newsman stints, made the orthodox regard him as a mere “pitch-man”. &nbsp;

But handsome, Bogartian Mike Wallace, with his cigarette, smoke rising in the air, in those early black and white broadcasts, his sharp questioning, was, by today’s standards, almost donnish. &nbsp;

Now it is routine to shout and pillory, most famously on Fox News, a Rupert Murdoch owned US Channel, that came later. But Fox News, much more extreme, had Wallace call it op-ed on air. He said this to the Fox anchor he was interviewing, registering eyebrow raised surprise. But then, Fox News only appeared after a straight run of a couple of decades of 60 Minutes - with Mike Wallace.&nbsp;

Both Fallaci and Wallace, the early birds, were no great fans of objective reporting. Instead, they thought the best way to uncover the truth, such as it is, was by asking pointed questions to their interviewees and slanting the narrative. &nbsp;

Fallaci, appearing mostly in print, usually proceeded to play both judge and jury in her articles. &nbsp;Henry Kissinger, whose interview with Fallaci appeared in Playboy Magazine, thought the exchange was a disaster for him. He was quoted as seeing himself as the lone advance-riding cowboy leading the wagon train of governance. It is anybody’s guess what President Richard Nixon thought of this analogy from the mouth of his Secretary of State.&nbsp;

Today, not only the TV anchors but many of their regular panellists on TV news shows around the world, fancy themselves as cheer-leaders and crusaders after the truth as they see it. &nbsp;

There is a strenuous and blatant effort to influence the audience with opinion and rhetoric rather than the more prosaic facts. But then, from the very early days of the 1950s, TV News, with its ability to come into the living and bedrooms of the viewers, evolved quickly into a dose of drama and stimulation. There were the day-time soap operas to compete with. &nbsp;

Print struggles to remain current even in the dailies today let alone weeklies and magazines with longer timelines. It has been joined, like a swarm of bees, by digital websites with the ability to quickly upload their articles. &nbsp;

And the digital websites and broadcast TV, in turn, find themselves competing with both the written and visual social media working alongside, with little or no censorship. &nbsp;

Even if a video is proscribed by the government, it has often gone viral and has been absorbed by thousands, by the time the action to take it down has been completed. &nbsp;

News is indeed instant history as Fallaci had it, beyond the reach of the lobbies for or against it to block it out. Today it floats around forever in cyberspace for anyone to look at for as long as the sphere lasts. This even if the originator attempts to delete any pictures or views no longer thought of as kosher.&nbsp;

But there is an awful lot of it. And so, the only differentiator left to the media practitioner today is skill. TV news commentary is only as snappy and compelling as the news editors behind the scenes can make it. &nbsp;

Except for those anchors who write their own script, most junior presenters read what is prepared for them off a teleprompter. Of course, in certain formats such as rapid news, presenters can and do bring a good deal of style and cadence to the delivery. &nbsp;

Their guests, as panellists on TV debates too, are furnished by the guest relations teams of the network. Anchors, except for the top ones, have little influence here. But on their part, if the guests are articulate, and can think fast “on their feet”, they start to distinguish themselves in this Live medium. And over time, they find themselves in demand as reliable sounding boards for various channels. &nbsp;

Expertise alone, however, does not hack it. There are seasoned diplomats that cannot explain the foreign policy on TV in a ten to thirty-second sound byte. They are probably perfectly good at writing reports and books, and giving learned lectures. &nbsp;

It is an old truism that most print journalists are uncomfortable, rambling and not very personable on TV. Of course, this works the other way around too. TV journalists with considerable presence, &nbsp;are often not very good op-ed writers. Nor are they exactly scintillating on social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook. &nbsp;That seems to take a different kind of connect.&nbsp;

The “truth” however, is out there for the taking for the ambidextrous one. He or she can traverse galaxies explored and unexplored and plant personal flags across media landscapes. &nbsp;

But the neanderthals stand out too. It is most glaring when a person is an official spokesperson for a political party, but cannot make a good case for it. And there do seem to be a lot of such untrained and ineffective spokies out on the rounds. One wonders what process of proximity to whom got them their mischance to represent their Party? &nbsp;&nbsp;

Very few programmes can be pre-recorded for broadcast later, given the pace of the unfolding news and the competition. This is true of all except the special interviews. But when even these are broadcast Live in the 60Minutes fashion, they attract much higher TRPs. &nbsp;

This is understandably difficult to do with current heads of state, who like to vet the questions in advance. But it works well enough with ministers, other politicians, CEOs, spokespersons, celebrities, who are glad enough to be featured.&nbsp;

Why does anyone work in journalism? Is it about uncovering the truth? Wallace said he wouldn’t know what to do with himself if he wasn’t working. And because he needed pills for his clinical depression.&nbsp;

But most journalists don’t quit, even the disgraced ones, because they don’t know how to write their own obituaries. &nbsp; 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Oriana Fallaci, the late and legendary Italian journalist who died in 2006, was a role model to others who followed her. She likened journalism to history- saying that it was history being written, simultaneously, to events as they unfolded.

Oriana Fallaci, the late and legendary Italian journalist who died in 2006, was a role model to others who followed her. She likened journalism to history- saying that it was history being written, simultaneously, to events as they unfolded. She didn’t seem to need the perspective of time and reflection. She turned out a huge body of work over decades, travelling the world doing it, generating controversies with some of her views, writing books too, all with signature passion and flair. Of course, she had the privilege to interview a galaxy of heads of state, policymakers, big wheels of government, between and betwixt lesser folk. Fallaci did not take herself very seriously. She didn’t think that journalists were great influencers much as they might like to be. She likened their efforts to barking dogs that nobody took any real notice of. Fallaci said this in a TV interview to Michael Wallace, a pioneer in opinionated TV journalism. Wallace was most famous for anchoring CBS’ 60 Minutes, being its first and most celebrated anchor. The programme was so successful as “magazine news”, under him; that as many as six other networks put in me-too shows, to compete, till there were a surfeit and glut. Wallace himself was an irreverent departure from the magisterial news-style of a Walter Cronkite, also on CBS, who along with other senior TV News presenters of the time, thought of 60 Minutes as “Show Business”. That Wallace did commercials for many products in between his newsman stints, made the orthodox regard him as a mere “pitch-man”. But handsome, Bogartian Mike Wallace, with his cigarette, smoke rising in the air, in those early black and white broadcasts, his sharp questioning, was, by today’s standards, almost donnish. Now it is routine to shout and pillory, most famously on Fox News, a Rupert Murdoch owned US Channel, that came later. But Fox News, much more extreme, had Wallace call it op-ed on air. He said this to the Fox anchor he was interviewing, registering eyebrow raised surprise. But then, Fox News only appeared after a straight run of a couple of decades of 60 Minutes - with Mike Wallace. Both Fallaci and Wallace, the early birds, were no great fans of objective reporting. Instead, they thought the best way to uncover the truth, such as it is, was by asking pointed questions to their interviewees and slanting the narrative. Fallaci, appearing mostly in print, usually proceeded to play both judge and jury in her articles. Henry Kissinger, whose interview with Fallaci appeared in Playboy Magazine, thought the exchange was a disaster for him. He was quoted as seeing himself as the lone advance-riding cowboy leading the wagon train of governance. It is anybody’s guess what President Richard Nixon thought of this analogy from the mouth of his Secretary of State. Today, not only the TV anchors but many of their regular panellists on TV news shows around the world, fancy themselves as cheer-leaders and crusaders after the truth as they see it. There is a strenuous and blatant effort to influence the audience with opinion and rhetoric rather than the more prosaic facts. But then, from the very early days of the 1950s, TV News, with its ability to come into the living and bedrooms of the viewers, evolved quickly into a dose of drama and stimulation. There were the day-time soap operas to compete with. Print struggles to remain current even in the dailies today let alone weeklies and magazines with longer timelines. It has been joined, like a swarm of bees, by digital websites with the ability to quickly upload their articles. And the digital websites and broadcast TV, in turn, find themselves competing with both the written and visual social media working alongside, with little or no censorship. Even if a video is proscribed by the government, it has often gone viral and has been absorbed by thousands, by the time the action to take it down has been completed. News is indeed instant history as Fallaci had it, beyond the reach of the lobbies for or against it to block it out. Today it floats around forever in cyberspace for anyone to look at for as long as the sphere lasts. This even if the originator attempts to delete any pictures or views no longer thought of as kosher. But there is an awful lot of it. And so, the only differentiator left to the media practitioner today is skill. TV news commentary is only as snappy and compelling as the news editors behind the scenes can make it. Except for those anchors who write their own script, most junior presenters read what is prepared for them off a teleprompter. Of course, in certain formats such as rapid news, presenters can and do bring a good deal of style and cadence to the delivery. Their guests, as panellists on TV debates too, are furnished by the guest relations teams of the network. Anchors, except for the top ones, have little influence here. But on their part, if the guests are articulate, and can think fast “on their feet”, they start to distinguish themselves in this Live medium. And over time, they find themselves in demand as reliable sounding boards for various channels. Expertise alone, however, does not hack it. There are seasoned diplomats that cannot explain the foreign policy on TV in a ten to thirty-second sound byte. They are probably perfectly good at writing reports and books, and giving learned lectures. It is an old truism that most print journalists are uncomfortable, rambling and not very personable on TV. Of course, this works the other way around too. TV journalists with considerable presence, are often not very good op-ed writers. Nor are they exactly scintillating on social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook. That seems to take a different kind of connect. The “truth” however, is out there for the taking for the ambidextrous one. He or she can traverse galaxies explored and unexplored and plant personal flags across media landscapes. But the neanderthals stand out too. It is most glaring when a person is an official spokesperson for a political party, but cannot make a good case for it. And there do seem to be a lot of such untrained and ineffective spokies out on the rounds. One wonders what process of proximity to whom got them their mischance to represent their Party? Very few programmes can be pre-recorded for broadcast later, given the pace of the unfolding news and the competition. This is true of all except the special interviews. But when even these are broadcast Live in the 60Minutes fashion, they attract much higher TRPs. This is understandably difficult to do with current heads of state, who like to vet the questions in advance. But it works well enough with ministers, other politicians, CEOs, spokespersons, celebrities, who are glad enough to be featured. Why does anyone work in journalism? Is it about uncovering the truth? Wallace said he wouldn’t know what to do with himself if he wasn’t working. And because he needed pills for his clinical depression. But most journalists don’t quit, even the disgraced ones, because they don’t know how to write their own obituaries. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The joys of journalism

A judge in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/child-killed-as-earthquake-strikes-southern-philippines-268381">Philippines</a> prepared to deliver a verdict on Thursday on the&nbsp;massacre&nbsp;a decade ago of 58 people, among them 32 journalists, in one of the country's most high-profile cases and its worst single instance of election violence.

Three generations of a&nbsp;political&nbsp;clan accused of masterminding the&nbsp;2009&nbsp;killings are among 101 defendants awaiting judgement, in a case seen as a crucial test of impunity in country where provincial power is often decided by corruption, intimidation and violence.

Seven members of the influential Ampatuan family are accused of conspiring to ambush the convoy of a rival clan as it travelled to register its candidate for a gubernatorial election in the southern province of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/two-explosions-rock-southern-philippines-ahead-of-election-218374">Maguindanao</a>, an attack that spiralled into a bloodbath.

Among the casualties were the wife and relatives of the rival candidate, lawyers and 32 media workers, who were executed beside a rural road in a volley of gunfire, before being buried with their vehicles in a huge pit dug by an excavator.

It was one of the world's single, biggest attacks on journalists. The defendants deny charges of multiple counts of murder and face up to 30 years in jail for each one.

There were 357 witnesses and 197 suspects, 80 of those still at large, including 12 Ampatuans. The family patriarch, Andal Ampatuan, died in prison of a heart attack in 2015.

Five other Ampatuan family members and 54 police are also on trial and lawyers for the families said a guilty verdict would be crucial for&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;democracy.

"We are rooting for a conviction no more, no less," Nena Santos, a private prosecutor in the case, told reporters.

"This is very important because if no conviction here it would mean the impunity continues, press freedom is dead and the democratic process is at stake."

The judge and lawyers were in discussions about how much of the verdict to read out from its more than 700 pages.

The attack, known as the "Maguindanao&nbsp;Massacre", was chilling even by&nbsp;Philippine&nbsp;standards, where&nbsp;political&nbsp;assassinations are commonplace in elections for mayors, governors and even congress. Several witnesses in the case have been killed.

Muslim-dominated parts of the southern&nbsp;Philippines are notoriously violent, prone to lawlessness, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philippine-troops-pound-islamists-as-death-toll-passes-300-16944">separatist unrest</a> and the&nbsp;rule&nbsp;of warlords aided by an abundance of arms.

Human Rights Watch said that regardless of the verdict, suspects on the run must be caught.

"The families of Maguindanao victims and witnesses will be at risk so long as suspects remain free," said Phil Robertson, the group's deputy Asia director.

A judge in the Philippines prepared to deliver a verdict on Thursday on the massacre a decade ago of 58 people, among them 32 journalists, in one of the country's most high-profile cases and its worst single instance of election violence.

A judge in the Philippines prepared to deliver a verdict on Thursday on the massacre a decade ago of 58 people, among them 32 journalists, in one of the country's most high-profile cases and its worst single instance of election violence. Three generations of a political clan accused of masterminding the 2009 killings are among 101 defendants awaiting judgement, in a case seen as a crucial test of impunity in country where provincial power is often decided by corruption, intimidation and violence. Seven members of the influential Ampatuan family are accused of conspiring to ambush the convoy of a rival clan as it travelled to register its candidate for a gubernatorial election in the southern province of Maguindanao, an attack that spiralled into a bloodbath. Among the casualties were the wife and relatives of the rival candidate, lawyers and 32 media workers, who were executed beside a rural road in a volley of gunfire, before being buried with their vehicles in a huge pit dug by an excavator. It was one of the world's single, biggest attacks on journalists. The defendants deny charges of multiple counts of murder and face up to 30 years in jail for each one. There were 357 witnesses and 197 suspects, 80 of those still at large, including 12 Ampatuans. The family patriarch, Andal Ampatuan, died in prison of a heart attack in 2015. Five other Ampatuan family members and 54 police are also on trial and lawyers for the families said a guilty verdict would be crucial for Philippine democracy. "We are rooting for a conviction no more, no less," Nena Santos, a private prosecutor in the case, told reporters. "This is very important because if no conviction here it would mean the impunity continues, press freedom is dead and the democratic process is at stake." The judge and lawyers were in discussions about how much of the verdict to read out from its more than 700 pages. The attack, known as the "Maguindanao Massacre", was chilling even by Philippine standards, where political assassinations are commonplace in elections for mayors, governors and even congress. Several witnesses in the case have been killed. Muslim-dominated parts of the southern Philippines are notoriously violent, prone to lawlessness, separatist unrest and the rule of warlords aided by an abundance of arms. Human Rights Watch said that regardless of the verdict, suspects on the run must be caught. "The families of Maguindanao victims and witnesses will be at risk so long as suspects remain free," said Phil Robertson, the group's deputy Asia director.

Philippine court to rule on 2009 political massacre

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebooks-zuckerberg-grilled-in-us-congress-on-digital-currency-privacy-elections-257824">Facebook</a>&nbsp;on Friday began rolling out its dedicated "news tab" with professionally produced content, the latest move by the social network to promote journalism and shed its reputation as a platform for misinformation.

The tab, being tested with some US users, will be separate from a user's normal feed and include articles from partner news organisations,&nbsp;making a clear distinction between journalism and stories shared by users from a wide range of sources.

"This is going to be&nbsp;the first time ever there will be a dedicated space on the (Facebook) app that is focused on high-quality journalism," Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg told an audience in New York in a joint appearance with CEO Robert Thomson of News Corp, one of the partners in the project.

The mix of stories in&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;News will be determined by algorithmic "personalisation" based on a user's preferences and data, with journalists choosing some of the stories.

The company said users would have "more control over the stories they see, and the ability to explore a wider range of their news interests, directly within the&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;app."

Facebook&nbsp;is expected to pay some of the news organizations, reportedly millions of dollars in some cases,&nbsp;but has yet to disclose full details.

Zuckerberg said&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;would not seek to limit coverage of the company or himself.

Going global?

Zuckerberg said he sees the effort as important even if it is used by only a small percentage of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/libras-association-is-independent-facebook-wont-be-part-of-it-even-outside-the-us-till-regulators-approve-zuckerberg-to-us-house-panel-257767">Facebook</a>&nbsp;users. And he said the company is in discussions to bring the feature to other countries.

"We want to do something like this across the world as well," he said.

The social network has partnered with some 200 news organisations including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Washington Post, CBS News, BuzzFeed, Fox News, the Boston Globe, Bloomberg and Vanity Fair.

Zuckerberg defended the inclusion of partners some criticise as politically partisan such as the right-wing outlet Breitbart, saying the news tab "needs to have a diversity of views."

Facebook&nbsp;said it would begin an initial test rollout which would "showcase local original reporting" from publications in major cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, Houston, Washington, Miami, Atlanta and Boston.

Topic sections will include business, entertainment, health, science and technology, and sports.

Rebooting the relationship

The move represents&nbsp;Facebook's effort to reboot its relationship with news organisations, many of which have been critical of the platform for failing to curb the spread of misinformation and for taking much of the online ad revenue.

The plan notably brings together&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;and Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.

Thomson, the News Corp CEO who last year denounced what he called a "dysfunctional" online landscape that made it hard for publishers to thrive, welcomed the&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;initiative in the joint appearance with Zuckerberg.

"It is a powerful precedent that will echo around editorial departments," said Thomson, whose company includes the Wall Street Journal.

"It begins to change the terms of trade for quality journalism."

Paying for 'good stuff'

Northeastern University professor Dan Kennedy said the tab could help&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/facebook-announces-steps-to-clamp-down-on-misinformation-ahead-of-2020-election-257494">Facebook</a> users distinguish between misinformation and professional news.

"Less savvy news consumers might not be able to tell the difference between exaggerated or fake viral news and real journalism from respected news organisations," Kennedy said.

"So this should help a lot."

But Kennedy said it could be problematic that&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;may only be paying the richest media organisations, increasing woes for small, local outlets.

Ken Paulson, a former USA Today editor who now heads the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University, agreed that the initiative will promote better content.

"My long-term hope for the news business is that more consumers will recognise the difference between quality and chaos and be willing to pay for the good stuff," Paulson said.

University of Oregon journalism professor Damian Radcliffe noted that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/zuckerberg-defends-facebooks-approach-to-free-speech-draws-line-on-china-257158">Facebook</a>&nbsp;users currently "bump into" news in their feed, as opposed to actively seeking it out.

He said the project raises "important questions here about how transparent the story selection process will be, and what&nbsp;Facebook&nbsp;is effectively saying about news which sits outside of the tab. Does that means it's deemed less trustworthy?"

Facebook on Friday began rolling out its dedicated "news tab" with professionally produced content, the latest move by the social network to promote journalism and shed its reputation as a platform for misinformation.

Facebook on Friday began rolling out its dedicated "news tab" with professionally produced content, the latest move by the social network to promote journalism and shed its reputation as a platform for misinformation. The tab, being tested with some US users, will be separate from a user's normal feed and include articles from partner news organisations, making a clear distinction between journalism and stories shared by users from a wide range of sources. "This is going to be the first time ever there will be a dedicated space on the (Facebook) app that is focused on high-quality journalism," Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg told an audience in New York in a joint appearance with CEO Robert Thomson of News Corp, one of the partners in the project. The mix of stories in Facebook News will be determined by algorithmic "personalisation" based on a user's preferences and data, with journalists choosing some of the stories. The company said users would have "more control over the stories they see, and the ability to explore a wider range of their news interests, directly within the Facebook app." Facebook is expected to pay some of the news organizations, reportedly millions of dollars in some cases, but has yet to disclose full details. Zuckerberg said Facebook would not seek to limit coverage of the company or himself. Going global? Zuckerberg said he sees the effort as important even if it is used by only a small percentage of Facebook users. And he said the company is in discussions to bring the feature to other countries. "We want to do something like this across the world as well," he said. The social network has partnered with some 200 news organisations including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Washington Post, CBS News, BuzzFeed, Fox News, the Boston Globe, Bloomberg and Vanity Fair. Zuckerberg defended the inclusion of partners some criticise as politically partisan such as the right-wing outlet Breitbart, saying the news tab "needs to have a diversity of views." Facebook said it would begin an initial test rollout which would "showcase local original reporting" from publications in major cities including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Philadelphia, Houston, Washington, Miami, Atlanta and Boston. Topic sections will include business, entertainment, health, science and technology, and sports. Rebooting the relationship The move represents Facebook's effort to reboot its relationship with news organisations, many of which have been critical of the platform for failing to curb the spread of misinformation and for taking much of the online ad revenue. The plan notably brings together Facebook and Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. Thomson, the News Corp CEO who last year denounced what he called a "dysfunctional" online landscape that made it hard for publishers to thrive, welcomed the Facebook initiative in the joint appearance with Zuckerberg. "It is a powerful precedent that will echo around editorial departments," said Thomson, whose company includes the Wall Street Journal. "It begins to change the terms of trade for quality journalism." Paying for 'good stuff' Northeastern University professor Dan Kennedy said the tab could help Facebook users distinguish between misinformation and professional news. "Less savvy news consumers might not be able to tell the difference between exaggerated or fake viral news and real journalism from respected news organisations," Kennedy said. "So this should help a lot." But Kennedy said it could be problematic that Facebook may only be paying the richest media organisations, increasing woes for small, local outlets. Ken Paulson, a former USA Today editor who now heads the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University, agreed that the initiative will promote better content. "My long-term hope for the news business is that more consumers will recognise the difference between quality and chaos and be willing to pay for the good stuff," Paulson said. University of Oregon journalism professor Damian Radcliffe noted that Facebook users currently "bump into" news in their feed, as opposed to actively seeking it out. He said the project raises "important questions here about how transparent the story selection process will be, and what Facebook is effectively saying about news which sits outside of the tab. Does that means it's deemed less trustworthy?"

Facebook's 'news tab' seeks to reboot its role within media

Pakistani journalists on Wednesday held a country-wide protest against police brutality on a local reporter in Lahore. 
 
The protest took place after police officials hit Pakistani journalist Usman Ahmed Bhatti for covering the appearance of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz PML(N)&nbsp;leader Hamza Shahba in court, Geo News reported. 
 
The report said the policemen not only beat-up the reporter but also hit two camerapersons for covering the appearance of Hamza Shahbaz in court. 
 
It also said that other journalists were also roughed-up to make way for the convoy of the PML(N) leader. 
 
Punjab police did not make any comment over allegations of brutality levelled by protesting journalists. 
 
Journalists had earlier come together and protested in front of the court demanding justice against the police action.

Pakistani journalists on Wednesday held a country-wide protest against police brutality on a local reporter in Lahore. The protest took place after police officials hit Pakistani journalist Usman Ahmed Bhatti for covering the appearance of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz PML(N) leader Hamza Shahba in court, Geo News reported.

Pakistani journalists on Wednesday held a country-wide protest against police brutality on a local reporter in Lahore. The protest took place after police officials hit Pakistani journalist Usman Ahmed Bhatti for covering the appearance of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz PML(N) leader Hamza Shahba in court, Geo News reported. The report said the policemen not only beat-up the reporter but also hit two camerapersons for covering the appearance of Hamza Shahbaz in court. It also said that other journalists were also roughed-up to make way for the convoy of the PML(N) leader. Punjab police did not make any comment over allegations of brutality levelled by protesting journalists. Journalists had earlier come together and protested in front of the court demanding justice against the police action.

Journalists hold protests against police brutality in Pakistan

Nepalis have stashed Rs 35.8 billion in <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/55-businessmen-of-nepal-have-stashed-billions-in-swiss-banks-cij-190961&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwigmNzV7PTfAhWBzLwKHXhoCM8QFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw2qGPcqBfNelFBhhHYj642q">Swiss bank</a>s, violating the country's law which bars them from transferring funds abroad, according to an investigation carried out by the Centre for Investigative Journalism.

The report 'Nepal-leaks 2019: Illegal Wealth watch', released Wednesday night, also claimed that 55 Nepalis have invested in offshore companies, taking advantage of the country's secretive tax regimes and breaching the law which bars investment in foreign countries.

The report is based on an analysis of over 3,000 financial and court documents and interviews with 70 individuals.

Questions have been raised about the source of their<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/india-can-lead-in-5g-deployment-but-investments-in-fibre-infrastructure-key-trai-chief-191007&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjopcn87PTfAhXRSH0KHTL3AvgQFggFMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw3n-oFjfZNSxp-UDvM31wE_"> investment</a> since they have invested in offshore companies including lesser known the British Virgin Islands, says the report.

Those who invested money in foreign countries include politicians to high-flying businessman-some of whom are non-resident Nepalis-to doctors and hoteliers.

The investors include renowned businessmen and industrialists Upendra Mahato, Chandra Dhakal, Rajendra Bajgai, and Minu Shah Chhibar.

Majority of the investments were made in businesses registered in the British Virgin Islands, one of the most notorious tax havens in the Caribbean.

The report also revealed how a lot of these investors used their offshore companies to funnel money back into the country under the guise of Foreign Direct Investment.

According to the report, Nepalis have parked Rs 35.8 billion in Swiss banks, violating the country's law, which bars Nepalis from transferring funds abroad.

Nepali account-holders have earned interest of around Rs 774.1 million from the funds they deposited in Swiss banks. Interestingly, the Nepalese started depositing money in the Swiss Bank in 1996, when the decade-long Maoist insurgency began.

The total amount of money deposited by Nepalis in Swiss Bank amounts to 460.8 million Swiss Franc equivalent to Rs 52 billion. Even now, Nepalese have Rs 35.8 billion in the Swiss Bank, adds the report.

Between 1996? when the Maoist insurgency started? and 2006? when the peace agreement was signed? the amount of money deposited by Nepalis in Swiss banks more than doubled from Rs 1.2 billion to Rs 2.7 billion.

The report has named Minu Shah as the individual with the highest savings among Nepali account holders. Shah, who was married to an Indian national, made a deposit of $23 million equivalent to Rs 2.62 billion in the Swiss Bank account.&nbsp;

Nepalis have stashed Rs 35.8 billion in Swiss banks, violating the country's law which bars them from transferring funds abroad, according to an investigation carried out by the Centre for Investigative Journalism.

Nepalis have stashed Rs 35.8 billion in Swiss banks, violating the country's law which bars them from transferring funds abroad, according to an investigation carried out by the Centre for Investigative Journalism. The report 'Nepal-leaks 2019: Illegal Wealth watch', released Wednesday night, also claimed that 55 Nepalis have invested in offshore companies, taking advantage of the country's secretive tax regimes and breaching the law which bars investment in foreign countries. The report is based on an analysis of over 3,000 financial and court documents and interviews with 70 individuals. Questions have been raised about the source of their investment since they have invested in offshore companies including lesser known the British Virgin Islands, says the report. Those who invested money in foreign countries include politicians to high-flying businessman-some of whom are non-resident Nepalis-to doctors and hoteliers. The investors include renowned businessmen and industrialists Upendra Mahato, Chandra Dhakal, Rajendra Bajgai, and Minu Shah Chhibar. Majority of the investments were made in businesses registered in the British Virgin Islands, one of the most notorious tax havens in the Caribbean. The report also revealed how a lot of these investors used their offshore companies to funnel money back into the country under the guise of Foreign Direct Investment. According to the report, Nepalis have parked Rs 35.8 billion in Swiss banks, violating the country's law, which bars Nepalis from transferring funds abroad. Nepali account-holders have earned interest of around Rs 774.1 million from the funds they deposited in Swiss banks. Interestingly, the Nepalese started depositing money in the Swiss Bank in 1996, when the decade-long Maoist insurgency began. The total amount of money deposited by Nepalis in Swiss Bank amounts to 460.8 million Swiss Franc equivalent to Rs 52 billion. Even now, Nepalese have Rs 35.8 billion in the Swiss Bank, adds the report. Between 1996? when the Maoist insurgency started? and 2006? when the peace agreement was signed? the amount of money deposited by Nepalis in Swiss banks more than doubled from Rs 1.2 billion to Rs 2.7 billion. The report has named Minu Shah as the individual with the highest savings among Nepali account holders. Shah, who was married to an Indian national, made a deposit of $23 million equivalent to Rs 2.62 billion in the Swiss Bank account.

Nepalis stash Rs 35.8 billion in Swiss banks: Report

A day after Rahul Gandhi referred to a journalist as "pliable" and accused her of having a soft stance towards PM Modi while interviewing him, his comments made rounds on the internet drawing criticism from the centre and several media organistaions.

Addressing a press conference after PM Modi's interview to news agency ANI, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday termed the ANI Editor Smita Prakash who was interviewing PM Modi as " pliable journalist".

He even claimed that the interviewer was asking questions and at the same time was also answering it.

Gandhi's comments ignited the netizens and the media fraternity who responded in huge numbers.

Expressing concern over his comments, Editors Guild of India stated, "labelling of journalists has emerged as a favourite tactic on the part of the establishment to discredit, delegitimise and intimidate them".

The Guild further cited events from the past and added, "We have seen our political class use this for some time now. In the recent past, top BJP leaders, as well as those of AAP, have used unambiguously abusive expressions such as 'presstitute', news traders, 'bazaaru' (saleable commodities) or 'dalals' (pimps) for journalists."

The Press Club of India, Indian Women's Press Corps and Press Association also issued a joint statement separately, saying the media expects "restraint from political class".

They further called the terms used against media as "inappropriate" and something that "lower the dignity of discourse". 
 
Though the attack on a journalist is not new in our country, the criticism and the outrage against the inappropriate comment against media personnel is quite unprecedented. 
 
Journalists have time and again been a subject of criticism and attack by the people in power, be it centre or the opposition. 
 
Anything that does not goes down well with the people in power from any fraternity, politics, entertainment or sports, is often termed as false and fabricated.&nbsp; 
 
The fraternity which is supposed to act as the fourth pillar in the democracy is often mocked for questioning and doing its job. In an extreme case, the country also witnessed an era of censorship where the power had hampered press freedom.

The situation is not restricted to a single country as journalists are often disliked for questioning the powerful almost everywhere.

US President Donald Trump has time and again termed the media as "fake". Recently he even bashed and ridiculed a CNN journalist during a press conference.&nbsp;

Trump is frequently known for criticising the reporters who question him. According to reports,&nbsp;CNN and Jim Acosta, in particular, have been regular targets of the president.

A more severe consequence for questioning the power was borne by Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was brutally killed for criticising the Saudi royal family. Khashoggi, who was on a self-imposed exile in the United States, was murdered inside the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul allegedly at the behest of crown prince Mohammed bin Salman.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

&nbsp;

A day after Rahul Gandhi referred to a journalist as "pliable" and accused her of having a soft stance towards PM Modi while interviewing him, his comments made rounds on the internet drawing criticism from the centre and several media organistaions.

A day after Rahul Gandhi referred to a journalist as "pliable" and accused her of having a soft stance towards PM Modi while interviewing him, his comments made rounds on the internet drawing criticism from the centre and several media organistaions. Addressing a press conference after PM Modi's interview to news agency ANI, Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday termed the ANI Editor Smita Prakash who was interviewing PM Modi as " pliable journalist". He even claimed that the interviewer was asking questions and at the same time was also answering it. Gandhi's comments ignited the netizens and the media fraternity who responded in huge numbers. Expressing concern over his comments, Editors Guild of India stated, "labelling of journalists has emerged as a favourite tactic on the part of the establishment to discredit, delegitimise and intimidate them". The Guild further cited events from the past and added, "We have seen our political class use this for some time now. In the recent past, top BJP leaders, as well as those of AAP, have used unambiguously abusive expressions such as 'presstitute', news traders, 'bazaaru' (saleable commodities) or 'dalals' (pimps) for journalists." The Press Club of India, Indian Women's Press Corps and Press Association also issued a joint statement separately, saying the media expects "restraint from political class". They further called the terms used against media as "inappropriate" and something that "lower the dignity of discourse". Though the attack on a journalist is not new in our country, the criticism and the outrage against the inappropriate comment against media personnel is quite unprecedented. Journalists have time and again been a subject of criticism and attack by the people in power, be it centre or the opposition. Anything that does not goes down well with the people in power from any fraternity, politics, entertainment or sports, is often termed as false and fabricated. The fraternity which is supposed to act as the fourth pillar in the democracy is often mocked for questioning and doing its job. In an extreme case, the country also witnessed an era of censorship where the power had hampered press freedom. The situation is not restricted to a single country as journalists are often disliked for questioning the powerful almost everywhere. US President Donald Trump has time and again termed the media as "fake". Recently he even bashed and ridiculed a CNN journalist during a press conference. Trump is frequently known for criticising the reporters who question him. According to reports, CNN and Jim Acosta, in particular, have been regular targets of the president. A more severe consequence for questioning the power was borne by Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was brutally killed for criticising the Saudi royal family. Khashoggi, who was on a self-imposed exile in the United States, was murdered inside the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul allegedly at the behest of crown prince Mohammed bin Salman. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

How free is the fourth pillar of democracy?

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