Newspapers across Australia ran heavily redacted front pages on Monday in protest against government secrecy and a crackdown on press freedom, a rare show of unity in a fractious media landscape.

National and regional mastheads including The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald and the Australian Financial Review hit newsstands Monday with most of their front-page news stories blacked out.

Advertisements have also been rolled out across the country's television networks, asking viewers to consider the question: "When the government hides the truth from you, what are they covering up?"

The campaign by the Right to Know coalition was sparked by federal police raids on the national broadcaster ABC and a News Corp journalist's home earlier this year over two stories that had proved embarrassing for the government.

It centres on six demands, including exemptions for journalists from strict national security laws that have created a complex web of provisions critics say too easily ensnare reporters doing their jobs.

"The culture of secrecy that has descended through these legal provisions restricts every Australian's right to know and goes well beyond the original intent of national security," Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance union head Paul Murphy said.

"The police raids on the home of News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst and the headquarters of the ABC in Sydney were direct attacks on media freedom in Australia but they are just the tip of the iceberg," he said.

Three journalists are facing possible criminal charges in the wake of the raids — Smethurst for revealing the government was considering plans to spy on Australians — and two ABC reporters for exposing alleged war crimes by Australian special forces in Afghanistan.

The media groups are also calling for enhanced protections for public sector whistleblowers -- who have also faced charges for leaking to the press -- as well as improved freedom of information regime and defamation law reform.

Australia's defamation laws are notoriously complex and among the strictest in the world.

And unlike most liberal democracies, Australia does not have a bill of rights or constitutionally enshrined protections for freedom of speech.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his government would "always believe in the freedom of the press", but he also insisted that journalists were not above the law.

"The rule of law has to be applied evenly and fairly in the protection of our broader freedoms, and so I don't think anyone is, I hope, looking for a leave pass on any of those things," he told reporters during an official visit to Jakarta.

A press freedom inquiry is due to report its findings to parliament next year.

Newspapers across Australia ran heavily redacted front pages on Monday in protest against government secrecy and a crackdown on press freedom, a rare show of unity in a fractious media landscape.

Newspapers across Australia ran heavily redacted front pages on Monday in protest against government secrecy and a crackdown on press freedom, a rare show of unity in a fractious media landscape. National and regional mastheads including The Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald and the Australian Financial Review hit newsstands Monday with most of their front-page news stories blacked out. Advertisements have also been rolled out across the country's television networks, asking viewers to consider the question: "When the government hides the truth from you, what are they covering up?" The campaign by the Right to Know coalition was sparked by federal police raids on the national broadcaster ABC and a News Corp journalist's home earlier this year over two stories that had proved embarrassing for the government. It centres on six demands, including exemptions for journalists from strict national security laws that have created a complex web of provisions critics say too easily ensnare reporters doing their jobs. "The culture of secrecy that has descended through these legal provisions restricts every Australian's right to know and goes well beyond the original intent of national security," Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance union head Paul Murphy said. "The police raids on the home of News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst and the headquarters of the ABC in Sydney were direct attacks on media freedom in Australia but they are just the tip of the iceberg," he said. Three journalists are facing possible criminal charges in the wake of the raids — Smethurst for revealing the government was considering plans to spy on Australians — and two ABC reporters for exposing alleged war crimes by Australian special forces in Afghanistan. The media groups are also calling for enhanced protections for public sector whistleblowers -- who have also faced charges for leaking to the press -- as well as improved freedom of information regime and defamation law reform. Australia's defamation laws are notoriously complex and among the strictest in the world. And unlike most liberal democracies, Australia does not have a bill of rights or constitutionally enshrined protections for freedom of speech. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said his government would "always believe in the freedom of the press", but he also insisted that journalists were not above the law. "The rule of law has to be applied evenly and fairly in the protection of our broader freedoms, and so I don't think anyone is, I hope, looking for a leave pass on any of those things," he told reporters during an official visit to Jakarta. A press freedom inquiry is due to report its findings to parliament next year.

Australian newspapers blackout front pages to fight back against crackdown on press freedom

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto on Tuesday alleged that freedom of the press in Pakistan had become "non-existent" under the "fascist" ruling government in the wake of recent incidents of the media blackout in the South Asian nation.

"I heard last night that three TV channels - Channel 24, AbTak and Capital TV - had been pulled off-air without any notice or due process. This is an absolutely obnoxious and outrageous attack on the freedom of the press," Dawn quoted Bilawal, as saying.

"The media and journalists are being pressurised. Journalists are being forced to compromise on their personal freedom. Journalists cannot express their views freely in newspapers, and they cannot tweet on their Twitter accounts. If they (dare to) do so, their Twitter accounts will be shut," he said.

Bilawal's comments came a day after the three Pakistani news channels were taken off air in many cities across the country, prompting PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz to term the incident as "unbelievable fascism" and a "shame."

"Unbelievable fascism. Shame," Maryam, the daughter of jailed former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, had tweeted.

Reportedly, on the orders of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), three news channels - Channel-24, Abb Takk and Capital TV - have been put off air for showing a live speech of Maryam.

"I have already said, also on the floor of the National Assembly, that censorship does not resolve issues. Once again, the frustration you are suppressing today will find a way out one day in one way or another and it will have negative consequences," Bilawal said.

On Sunday, PEMRA had earlier issued notices to 21 TV channels for "unedited live telecast" of Maryam's press conference in Lahore, in which she had released a purported video of Accountability Court judge Arshad Malik telling a PML-N worker that there was a lack of evidence against Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills case and that he was "pressurised and blackmailed" to convict him.

Previously on July 1, an interview of former President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari conducted by the country`s senior journalist Hamid Mir was taken off air on Geo News channel within a few minutes of broadcasting.

The incident took place against the backdrop of Zardari`s arrest in a multi-million dollar money laundering case.&nbsp;

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto on Tuesday alleged that freedom of the press in Pakistan had become "non-existent" under the "fascist" ruling government in the wake of recent incidents of the media blackout in the South Asian nation.

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto on Tuesday alleged that freedom of the press in Pakistan had become "non-existent" under the "fascist" ruling government in the wake of recent incidents of the media blackout in the South Asian nation. "I heard last night that three TV channels - Channel 24, AbTak and Capital TV - had been pulled off-air without any notice or due process. This is an absolutely obnoxious and outrageous attack on the freedom of the press," Dawn quoted Bilawal, as saying. "The media and journalists are being pressurised. Journalists are being forced to compromise on their personal freedom. Journalists cannot express their views freely in newspapers, and they cannot tweet on their Twitter accounts. If they (dare to) do so, their Twitter accounts will be shut," he said. Bilawal's comments came a day after the three Pakistani news channels were taken off air in many cities across the country, prompting PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz to term the incident as "unbelievable fascism" and a "shame." "Unbelievable fascism. Shame," Maryam, the daughter of jailed former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, had tweeted. Reportedly, on the orders of Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), three news channels - Channel-24, Abb Takk and Capital TV - have been put off air for showing a live speech of Maryam. "I have already said, also on the floor of the National Assembly, that censorship does not resolve issues. Once again, the frustration you are suppressing today will find a way out one day in one way or another and it will have negative consequences," Bilawal said. On Sunday, PEMRA had earlier issued notices to 21 TV channels for "unedited live telecast" of Maryam's press conference in Lahore, in which she had released a purported video of Accountability Court judge Arshad Malik telling a PML-N worker that there was a lack of evidence against Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills case and that he was "pressurised and blackmailed" to convict him. Previously on July 1, an interview of former President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari conducted by the country`s senior journalist Hamid Mir was taken off air on Geo News channel within a few minutes of broadcasting. The incident took place against the backdrop of Zardari`s arrest in a multi-million dollar money laundering case.

Press freedom 'non-existent' under 'fascist' government: Bilawal Bhutto

The Indira Gandhi Government laid out some ground rules for the journalists across the country and they were told about certain “guidelines” to follow. Three years ago, Kalpana Sharma, former Editor of Himmat said by the time they came to know what exactly was happening in the nation, many leaders and activists were in jail.

India Watch: How media functioned during emergency

Beneath the gaze of the TV cameras a woman begins speaking, at first softly but with growing passion as she faces the "Butcher of Kabul" across a crowded auditorium and asks if he wants to apologise for alleged war crimes.

Without missing a beat, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the ruthless former warlord blamed for rocket attacks which reduced much of the Afghan capital to rubble in the 1990s, declined to do so.&nbsp;

The dramatic moment during a recent televised news debate highlights how far media freedom has come in Afghanistan, where -- for now -- traumatised civilians can stand and at least try to hold powerful men to account, live on camera.

"Years ago, this kind of questions could get you killed, but now people can challenge the most dangerous people in mainstream and social media," Mustafa Rahimi, a university student, said after watching the debate.

But today, even as hundreds of media outlets proliferate across Afghanistan, consumers and journalists alike worry a potential peace deal between the Taliban and the US could sound the death knell for a golden age of press freedom.

"We are concerned about a total or a partial ban on media," Sediqullah Khaliq, the director of Hewad TV and radio in Kandahar -- the birthplace of Taliban -- told AFP.

"There is fear that we may go back to a media blackout or having a state-controlled press."

While in power, the Taliban raged against traditional forms of mass communication and entertainment, banning television, movies and allowing only Islamist programming or propaganda to be broadcast on the only radio station, Voice of Sharia.

Anyone caught watching TV faced punishment and risked having their television set smashed and then displayed from a lamppost.&nbsp;

Almost all electronic products were outlawed as un-Islamic. For a while, trees in Kabul fluttered with the magnetic ribbon tape from destroyed cassettes.

Photographs of living things were illegal, and ownership of a video player could lead to a public lashing.

A deadly trade

Afghanistan is the world's deadliest place for journalists, who face many risks covering the conflict and who have sometimes been targeted for doing their job.&nbsp;

Nine journalists, including AFP Kabul's chief photographer Shah Marai, were killed in an Islamic State attack in April 2018.&nbsp;

Media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reported that 2018 was the deadliest year on record for journalists in Afghanistan, with at least 15 media workers killed while working.

Despite the risks, hundreds of media organisations have blossomed since 2001, and today there are more than 100 television channels, 284 radio stations and just over 400 newspapers and magazines, according to a government report.&nbsp;

With one of the world's lowest literacy rates, television and radio play a huge role in Afghan culture, and Afghans have grown accustomed to outlets holding their politicians to account.

Warlords, politicians, Taliban sympathisers and government officials are openly challenged in televised debates, radio programmes and on social media.

"We now play live music, women call in and share their problems on the radio. But even if the Taliban allow radios, I don't think they would like our programmes," said Mera Hamdam, a presenter at Zama private radio in Kandahar.

"There is huge concern that we will lose all our achievements," he said.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said if they return to power, the insurgents would follow an Islamic interpretation of freedom of expression.

"We won't allow propaganda, insults and humiliation to people in society and religious values. We will allow those who work for the betterment of the society," he told AFP.

The sixth round of talks between the US and the Taliban wrapped up last week in Doha, with apparently little progress being made on several key issues.

The two foes have for months been trying to hammer out a deal that could see foreign forces leave Afghanistan in return for a ceasefire, talks between Kabul and the Taliban, and a guarantee the country will not be used as a safe haven for terror groups.

But observers worry that in a rush to quit Afghanistan after nearly 18 gruelling years of war, America might not push for safeguards of protections many Afghans now take for granted, including media freedoms and improved rights for women and other marginalised people.

"Freedom of expression as a protective value should be incorporated into any document resulting from peace talks," NAI, a leading media support agency, said in a statement.

Rahimi, the university student, said he worried about Afghanistan going back to "the dark era".

Beneath the gaze of the TV cameras a woman begins speaking, at first softly but with growing passion as she faces the "Butcher of Kabul" across a crowded auditorium and asks if he wants to apologise for alleged war crimes.

Beneath the gaze of the TV cameras a woman begins speaking, at first softly but with growing passion as she faces the "Butcher of Kabul" across a crowded auditorium and asks if he wants to apologise for alleged war crimes. Without missing a beat, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the ruthless former warlord blamed for rocket attacks which reduced much of the Afghan capital to rubble in the 1990s, declined to do so. The dramatic moment during a recent televised news debate highlights how far media freedom has come in Afghanistan, where -- for now -- traumatised civilians can stand and at least try to hold powerful men to account, live on camera. "Years ago, this kind of questions could get you killed, but now people can challenge the most dangerous people in mainstream and social media," Mustafa Rahimi, a university student, said after watching the debate. But today, even as hundreds of media outlets proliferate across Afghanistan, consumers and journalists alike worry a potential peace deal between the Taliban and the US could sound the death knell for a golden age of press freedom. "We are concerned about a total or a partial ban on media," Sediqullah Khaliq, the director of Hewad TV and radio in Kandahar -- the birthplace of Taliban -- told AFP. "There is fear that we may go back to a media blackout or having a state-controlled press." While in power, the Taliban raged against traditional forms of mass communication and entertainment, banning television, movies and allowing only Islamist programming or propaganda to be broadcast on the only radio station, Voice of Sharia. Anyone caught watching TV faced punishment and risked having their television set smashed and then displayed from a lamppost. Almost all electronic products were outlawed as un-Islamic. For a while, trees in Kabul fluttered with the magnetic ribbon tape from destroyed cassettes. Photographs of living things were illegal, and ownership of a video player could lead to a public lashing. A deadly trade Afghanistan is the world's deadliest place for journalists, who face many risks covering the conflict and who have sometimes been targeted for doing their job. Nine journalists, including AFP Kabul's chief photographer Shah Marai, were killed in an Islamic State attack in April 2018. Media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reported that 2018 was the deadliest year on record for journalists in Afghanistan, with at least 15 media workers killed while working. Despite the risks, hundreds of media organisations have blossomed since 2001, and today there are more than 100 television channels, 284 radio stations and just over 400 newspapers and magazines, according to a government report. With one of the world's lowest literacy rates, television and radio play a huge role in Afghan culture, and Afghans have grown accustomed to outlets holding their politicians to account. Warlords, politicians, Taliban sympathisers and government officials are openly challenged in televised debates, radio programmes and on social media. "We now play live music, women call in and share their problems on the radio. But even if the Taliban allow radios, I don't think they would like our programmes," said Mera Hamdam, a presenter at Zama private radio in Kandahar. "There is huge concern that we will lose all our achievements," he said. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said if they return to power, the insurgents would follow an Islamic interpretation of freedom of expression. "We won't allow propaganda, insults and humiliation to people in society and religious values. We will allow those who work for the betterment of the society," he told AFP. The sixth round of talks between the US and the Taliban wrapped up last week in Doha, with apparently little progress being made on several key issues. The two foes have for months been trying to hammer out a deal that could see foreign forces leave Afghanistan in return for a ceasefire, talks between Kabul and the Taliban, and a guarantee the country will not be used as a safe haven for terror groups. But observers worry that in a rush to quit Afghanistan after nearly 18 gruelling years of war, America might not push for safeguards of protections many Afghans now take for granted, including media freedoms and improved rights for women and other marginalised people. "Freedom of expression as a protective value should be incorporated into any document resulting from peace talks," NAI, a leading media support agency, said in a statement. Rahimi, the university student, said he worried about Afghanistan going back to "the dark era".

Afghans fear end of golden age of press freedom

Reporters will be the guests of honour at the New Year`s Eve party in New York`s Times Square on Monday, in what organizers said was a celebration of press freedom after an unusually deadly year for journalists at US news outlets.

Two attacks, in particular, weighed on organizers as they discussed in autumn whom to give the honour of initiating the ceremonial ball drop just before midnight, according to Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance.

One was<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/jamal-khashoggis-killing-a-murder-that-shook-2018-186106"> the killing of Jamal Khashoggi</a>, a Saudi columnist for the Washington Post and US resident, inside a Saudi Arabian consulate in Turkey. The other was the mass shooting in June in the newsroom of The Capital, a newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland, in which five employees were killed.

"Throughout the year it`s been a big issue," Tompkins said in an interview.&nbsp;

"Times Square itself is the ultimate agora and public space," noting that the area was named after the New York Times and that it was a Times publisher, Adolf Ochs, who began the tradition of the ball drop in 1907.&nbsp;

Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the Times Square Alliance approached his group because of "the perception that the journalism and journalists, in particular, are under threat and their role is being questioned."

Simon, who said he usually spends New Year`s Eve playing Scrabble with his wife in New Hampshire`s White Mountains, will be in the spotlight at the Times Square festivities, joining Mayor Bill de Blasio to launch the ball drop a minute before midnight.

Simon will be joined onstage by an array of journalists from US and international news outlets. The names were still being finalized on Friday, the Times Square Alliance said.

The button-pressing honour has in previous years gone to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, an Iraq War veteran, US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and the singer Lady Gaga.

The Times Square Alliance contacted Simon in November, Simon said, several weeks before Time magazine would devote their annual "Person of the Year" issue to several prominent journalists who have faced attacks and hostility.

Among those journalists were Khashoggi, and Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo,<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-court-hears-arguments-of-jailed-reuters-reporters-186164"> two Reuters reporters imprisoned by Myanmar</a> for investigating how the country`s security forces killed members of the country`s Muslim Rohingya minority.

US President Donald Trump has become a vociferous critic of parts of the press, routinely chiding reporters and outlets he views as publishing "fake news," calling them "the enemy of the people."

Simon said this was in the background of his discussions with the Times Square Alliance.

"Unavoidably, Trump was the subtext, but not front and centre," he said.&nbsp;

"We wanted to have a unifying message."

Reporters will be the guests of honour at the New Year`s Eve party in New York`s Times Square on Monday, in what organizers said was a celebration of press freedom after an unusually deadly year for journalists at US news outlets.

Reporters will be the guests of honour at the New Year`s Eve party in New York`s Times Square on Monday, in what organizers said was a celebration of press freedom after an unusually deadly year for journalists at US news outlets. Two attacks, in particular, weighed on organizers as they discussed in autumn whom to give the honour of initiating the ceremonial ball drop just before midnight, according to Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance. One was the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi columnist for the Washington Post and US resident, inside a Saudi Arabian consulate in Turkey. The other was the mass shooting in June in the newsroom of The Capital, a newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland, in which five employees were killed. "Throughout the year it`s been a big issue," Tompkins said in an interview. "Times Square itself is the ultimate agora and public space," noting that the area was named after the New York Times and that it was a Times publisher, Adolf Ochs, who began the tradition of the ball drop in 1907. Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said the Times Square Alliance approached his group because of "the perception that the journalism and journalists, in particular, are under threat and their role is being questioned." Simon, who said he usually spends New Year`s Eve playing Scrabble with his wife in New Hampshire`s White Mountains, will be in the spotlight at the Times Square festivities, joining Mayor Bill de Blasio to launch the ball drop a minute before midnight. Simon will be joined onstage by an array of journalists from US and international news outlets. The names were still being finalized on Friday, the Times Square Alliance said. The button-pressing honour has in previous years gone to United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, an Iraq War veteran, US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and the singer Lady Gaga. The Times Square Alliance contacted Simon in November, Simon said, several weeks before Time magazine would devote their annual "Person of the Year" issue to several prominent journalists who have faced attacks and hostility. Among those journalists were Khashoggi, and Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, two Reuters reporters imprisoned by Myanmar for investigating how the country`s security forces killed members of the country`s Muslim Rohingya minority. US President Donald Trump has become a vociferous critic of parts of the press, routinely chiding reporters and outlets he views as publishing "fake news," calling them "the enemy of the people." Simon said this was in the background of his discussions with the Times Square Alliance. "Unavoidably, Trump was the subtext, but not front and centre," he said. "We wanted to have a unifying message."

New Year's Eve party in Times Square to cheer for press freedom

A protest was held in Sri Lanka on Tuesday for the release of prominent photojournalist Shahidul Alam who was arrested in Bangladesh for allegedly giving an interview to&nbsp;Al-Jazeera against the government.

The protest, led by a group of journalists of Sri Lanka also included media rights and human rights activists.

The protestors held the demonstration outside Bangladesh high commission and demanded the release of the photojournalist.

A petition addressing Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina was also handed over to High Commission in which protestors condemned the detention and called for immediate release.

"We also call for a stop to all attacks on freedom of expression, enforced disappearances extrajudicial execution and other human rights violations in Bangladesh and to ensure an independent and impartial investigation into those violations," The petition read.

The protest has also received support on social media.

Alam, 63, was arrested in August in Dhaka for sedition, hours after he gave an interview to Al-Jazeera regarding students' protests.

In the interview, he spoke against the Hasina's government and its crackdown on students' protests calling for better road safety regulations.

He was arrested on charges of spreading rumours on social media with the aim of inciting violence, said Dhaka's additional deputy commissioner of police, Obaidur Rahman. Shahidul Alam was later charged for spreading information that would "deprave or corrupt" or prejudice the "image of the state".

His arrest has caused international outrage.

Rights group Amnesty International has also called for Alam's immediate and unconditional release, saying he was held after an interview to Al-Jazeera English on the Dhaka protests.

A protest was held in Sri Lanka on Tuesday for the release of prominent photojournalist Shahidul Alam who was arrested in Bangladesh for allegedly giving an interview to Al-Jazeera against the government.

A protest was held in Sri Lanka on Tuesday for the release of prominent photojournalist Shahidul Alam who was arrested in Bangladesh for allegedly giving an interview to Al-Jazeera against the government. The protest, led by a group of journalists of Sri Lanka also included media rights and human rights activists. The protestors held the demonstration outside Bangladesh high commission and demanded the release of the photojournalist. A petition addressing Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina was also handed over to High Commission in which protestors condemned the detention and called for immediate release. "We also call for a stop to all attacks on freedom of expression, enforced disappearances extrajudicial execution and other human rights violations in Bangladesh and to ensure an independent and impartial investigation into those violations," The petition read. The protest has also received support on social media. Alam, 63, was arrested in August in Dhaka for sedition, hours after he gave an interview to Al-Jazeera regarding students' protests. In the interview, he spoke against the Hasina's government and its crackdown on students' protests calling for better road safety regulations. He was arrested on charges of spreading rumours on social media with the aim of inciting violence, said Dhaka's additional deputy commissioner of police, Obaidur Rahman. Shahidul Alam was later charged for spreading information that would "deprave or corrupt" or prejudice the "image of the state". His arrest has caused international outrage. Rights group Amnesty International has also called for Alam's immediate and unconditional release, saying he was held after an interview to Al-Jazeera English on the Dhaka protests.

Sri Lankan journalists hold protest, demand release of Bangladeshi photojournalist

In a show of solidarity, all the TV journalists at a press conference being addressed by new Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani left the conference after he asked one of them to leave.&nbsp;

The conference was being held in Chennai.

Mevani was interacting with students and academicians in Qaid-e-Millat International Academy of Media Studies in Chennai, after which he held a press meet,&nbsp; from which he asked the reporter -- from an English TV news channel -- to remove his equipment and leave.

He further said that he would not talk in presence of that reporter as it is &quot;his policy.&quot;

The reporter said that as he was setting up his mic, Mevani saw his TV channel&#39;s logo and asked him to leave. PTI reported the reporter as saying that he just wanted a general byte but Mevani refused to talk to him.

The other reporters at the conference then told Mevani that he could not dictate terms to journalists and left the conference.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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Dear Chennai media, thanks for standing united against Jignesh Mevani. High time that activists and politicians stop dictating terms at press conferences, selectively humiliating field reporters for the supposed sins of their masters. <a href="https://twitter.com/Ahmedshabbir20?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Ahmedshabbir20</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/dhanyarajendran?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dhanyarajendran</a> <a href="https://t.co/vzxlC9Vdt0">https://t.co/vzxlC9Vdt0</a>
&mdash; Chandra R. Srikanth (@chandrarsrikant) <a href="https://twitter.com/chandrarsrikant/status/953169272787804160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2018</a></blockquote>
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One has rights to ignore a question during a press conference if he/she doesn&#39;t like it, But they don&#39;t have rights to order a channel to leave the place itself <a href="https://twitter.com/jigneshmevani80?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jigneshmevani80</a> &amp; thanks for all Chennai journos who stood for solidarity! <a href="https://twitter.com/Ahmedshabbir20?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Ahmedshabbir20</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Lokpria?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Lokpria</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nimumurali?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nimumurali</a>
&mdash; Sanjeevee sadagopan (@sanjusadagopan) <a href="https://twitter.com/sanjusadagopan/status/953182288438640641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Mevani was addressing a press conference in Chennai

In a show of solidarity, all the TV journalists at a press conference being addressed by new Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani left the conference after he asked one of them to leave. The conference was being held in Chennai. Mevani was interacting with students and academicians in Qaid-e-Millat International Academy of Media Studies in Chennai, after which he held a press meet, from which he asked the reporter -- from an English TV news channel -- to remove his equipment and leave. He further said that he would not talk in presence of that reporter as it is "his policy." The reporter said that as he was setting up his mic, Mevani saw his TV channel's logo and asked him to leave. PTI reported the reporter as saying that he just wanted a general byte but Mevani refused to talk to him. The other reporters at the conference then told Mevani that he could not dictate terms to journalists and left the conference. Dear Chennai media, thanks for standing united against Jignesh Mevani. High time that activists and politicians stop dictating terms at press conferences, selectively humiliating field reporters for the supposed sins of their masters. @Ahmedshabbir20 @dhanyarajendran https://t.co/vzxlC9Vdt0 — Chandra R. Srikanth (@chandrarsrikant) January 16, 2018 × One has rights to ignore a question during a press conference if he/she doesn't like it, But they don't have rights to order a channel to leave the place itself @jigneshmevani80 & thanks for all Chennai journos who stood for solidarity! @Ahmedshabbir20 @Lokpria @nimumurali — Sanjeevee sadagopan (@sanjusadagopan) January 16, 2018 ×

Jignesh Mevani asks 1 reporter to leave press conference, all of them do

A leading rights group warned Tuesday of shrinking press freedom in Pakistan&#39;s troubled southwest a month after a series of media outlets restricted activities following threats from militants.&nbsp;

Journalists in Balochistan province said they were approached earlier this year by intelligence agencies who asked them to stop publishing statements by Baloch separatist groups.

After they did so the insurgents warned newspapers and private television channels of dire consequences for halting coverage of their activities.

The situation remains tense in the province where newspaper distribution is confined to 18 out of 34 districts, large areas where the militants have little to no presence.

&quot;In an already coercive environment where there are numerous restraints and threats to freedom of expression, the current suspension of newspapers only further exacerbates the situation,&quot; Mehdi Hassan, the chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, said in a statement.&nbsp;

&quot;In the prevailing circumstances, HRCP calls on all sides to immediately desist from any activities that directly threaten journalists, newspaper employees and hawkers and their livelihoods.&quot;&nbsp;

Pakistan is routinely ranked among the world&#39;s most unsafe countries for reporters, and Amnesty International has singled out Balochistan for the deadly pressure journalists face there.

Rights groups say activists and journalists often find themselves caught between the security establishment and militant groups.

Reporting critical of security policies controlled by the powerful military is also considered a major red flag, with reporters at times detained, beaten and even killed.

As a result, while the Pakistani media is nominally free and noisy, many practices an unofficial form of self-censorship.&nbsp;

Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, is Pakistan&#39;s most restive province and afflicted by Islamist militancy and sectarian violence as well as the separatist insurgency.

According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), around 40 journalists have been murdered in the province since the start of the current conflict in 2006.

Journalists in Balochistan province said they were approached earlier this year by intelligence agencies who asked them to stop publishing statements by Baloch separatist groups

A leading rights group warned Tuesday of shrinking press freedom in Pakistan's troubled southwest a month after a series of media outlets restricted activities following threats from militants. Journalists in Balochistan province said they were approached earlier this year by intelligence agencies who asked them to stop publishing statements by Baloch separatist groups. After they did so the insurgents warned newspapers and private television channels of dire consequences for halting coverage of their activities. The situation remains tense in the province where newspaper distribution is confined to 18 out of 34 districts, large areas where the militants have little to no presence. "In an already coercive environment where there are numerous restraints and threats to freedom of expression, the current suspension of newspapers only further exacerbates the situation," Mehdi Hassan, the chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, said in a statement. "In the prevailing circumstances, HRCP calls on all sides to immediately desist from any activities that directly threaten journalists, newspaper employees and hawkers and their livelihoods." Pakistan is routinely ranked among the world's most unsafe countries for reporters, and Amnesty International has singled out Balochistan for the deadly pressure journalists face there. Rights groups say activists and journalists often find themselves caught between the security establishment and militant groups. Reporting critical of security policies controlled by the powerful military is also considered a major red flag, with reporters at times detained, beaten and even killed. As a result, while the Pakistani media is nominally free and noisy, many practices an unofficial form of self-censorship. Balochistan, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, is Pakistan's most restive province and afflicted by Islamist militancy and sectarian violence as well as the separatist insurgency. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), around 40 journalists have been murdered in the province since the start of the current conflict in 2006.

Pakistan rights group warns of media curbs in Balcohistan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi possess arguably the best oratory skills of any contemporary politician. His effective use of social media to promote his government policies and ability to connect directly with masses has redefined the way Indian politicians communicate with masses. And yet, he continues to maintain a deafening silence on all crucial issues, including the string of attacks on the underprivileged section&mdash; the Dalit and minorities &mdash; across the nation by those who covertly or overtly support his party. As he completes three years in office on May 26, Mr. Modi has earned an abominable distinction of not holding a single press conference in the country since assuming office and spending least time in parliament as the prime minister &mdash; two places where he would expect tough questions.

Does Mr. Modi think the media is not worthy of asking him questions or he is too nervous to face them given the current state of affairs?&nbsp; Either way, it is a lose-lose situation for the nation given that media is the fourth pillar of a democracy. The politicians can hate the media but media watchdog is a vital component for checks and balances. &nbsp;

Mr. Modi has a rather strange relation with the mainstream media. While, he enjoys the support of most of the electronic and print media, for reasons beyond scope of this article, he has also described them in as carping a language possible. In one of the most pointed criticism yet by any PM, in February 2015, Mr. Modi called them &quot;Baazaru&quot; while campaigning for Delhi assembly elections. His Cabinet Minister V. K. Singh went a step ahead calling them &quot;prestitutes&quot;. This was perhaps worse than the &ldquo;fake news&rdquo; diatribe that the US President Donald Trump routinely hurls at the US media. But in contrast to the meek and submissive Indian mainstream media that chose not to antagonise the Modi government in last three years, the US Media seems to have no holds barred within Trump&rsquo;s first 100 days of assuming office.&nbsp;

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Modi remains silent as attack on Dalit Muslims rise

As I write, the upper caste Thakur community has led the third string of attacks on Dalits in Uttar Pradesh. Fifty houses have been burned and at least 4 Dalits killed and over 50 injured since the clash broke out in early May. PM Modi, who had famously retorted to shoot him instead of killing his Dalit brothers, has neither tweeted nor spoken a single word against this caste based violence against Dalits.&nbsp; His deafening silence on the trove of attacks by the self-proclaimed cow protection squad has only bolstered the widespread belief that the terrorising squad has a direct or indirect backing of his party.&nbsp;

How else do you explain his silence when a Pehlu Khan gets lynched by the mob while he was buying cattle for milk production? Mr. Modi minces no words when Akhlakh, father of an Indian Navy personnel was lynched in his own house? Roughly ten months after he had criticised the&nbsp; Gaurakshaks squad (cow vigilantes) as &quot;anti-social&quot; that are mushrooming thick and fast, nothing has happened to stop them.&nbsp;

The same fate awaits Dalits facing atrocities in the country. Modi government does nothing to either condemn or take action when Dalits like Rohith Vemula, Delta Meghwal lose their lives. While Dalits face discrimination across the country, it is the BJP-ruled states like Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat where there have been consistent reports of anti-Dalit atrocities.

&nbsp;

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While the PM was quick to condemn the attack in London at an Ariana Grande Concert, he chose to ignore local attacks on hapless Indians. Interestingly, PM Modi and his party club the Dalit under the &ldquo;Grand Hindu coalition&rdquo; during the elections, however, once elections are over they are shoved to the margin until the next election when covert or overt wooing recurs to take advantage of their numerical strength.

Even Manmohan Singh, Modi&#39;s predecessor held more press conferences than Modi. It is indeed appalling when you think that the last press conference any Indian prime minister had in India was way back in 2014.&nbsp; Manmohan Singh, who was called by his detractors as a silent prime minister, had invited all forms of media in one of the biggest press conferences in January 2014. Answering one of the questions, he famously said that Modi as a prime minister will be a disaster for the country.&nbsp;

PM Modi did face a brief joint press conference with then British PM David Cameroon during his Nov 2015 visit to the UK. However, so far, barring few one to one interactions with his favorite journalist on the pro-BJP channels, PM Modi has stayed away from addressing the Press in India. He cherry picked his interviewers and channels that support his party to avoid potential difficult questions. PM Modi seems so much worried about potential questions that even during interactions with students on Teachers Day on 5 September 2015, the questions given to students were scripted by the Human Resource Development Ministry to avoid the PM major embarrassment.&nbsp;

It is crystal clear that Modi apparently prefers monologues like tweets, Mann Ki Baat and speeches over dialogues. &nbsp;

&nbsp;

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World Press Freedom Day is a day to reiterate our unwavering support towards a free &amp; vibrant press, which is vital in a democracy.
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Lost Opportunities to hold press conferences

Mr. Modi had multiple occasions and opportunities to held press conferences. In October 2004, he invited top journalists but no questions were allowed to be asked. Instead, he allowed journalists to take a selfie with him as they jostled for space while attempting to take a selfie with the PM, marking a beginning of selfie-journalism.&nbsp;

The second instance came during Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in Nov 2016, Mr. Modi instead chose to give a sermon to the media on Media Ethics and gave an out of context example. He mocked at a hypothetical example of a headline which speaks of a BMW hitting a Dalit in the street. In jest, the prime minister said how the BMW owner was supposed to know the caste of the pedestrian!

Will Indian press gets its Freedom?

The buoyant media who used to ask extremely tough questions to the UPA government, and rightly so, has gone completely slumber.&nbsp; What is even more worrying is that the most of the Indian mainstream press do not seem to be bothered a bit about a prime minister of the largest democracy not giving any press conference.&nbsp;

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Last month, an Indian American Hasan Minhaj roasted the President of United States of America Donald Trump in an annual custom known as the White House correspondence dinner. Many presidents, including President Obama, have been subjected to a similar experience in the spirit of what is known as the celebration of the freedom of expression. This year, President Trump gave the event a miss. But the event still went on. After half an hour criticism of Trump and his cabinet, Mr. Mihnaz, originally from Aligarh, received standing ovation from the nation&#39;s top media houses when he ended his speech lauding the first amendment &mdash;related to freedom of expression &mdash;that empowers a first generation immigrant Muslim like him to criticise the President.

India too has Article 19 of the constitution on the freedom of expression. Imagine if something like what Mr. Minhaj did to Trump can even remotely be possible in India. In a report released in April 2017, India has slipped further to the 136 rank in the Press Freedom category, even below violence-hit Palestine. What is ironic is that the Prime Minster Modi still could tweet about the importance of press freedom and get over two thousand retweets.

Given the antipathy of people towards the mainstream media for not raising their concerns, social media, news portals, youtube channels are taking up the vacant space. These alternatives are increasingly striving to become responsible independent media.

Mr. Modi seems to have forgotten that a prime minister has a duty to its people beyond election rhetoric, speeches and election victories. He will soon need to do something quickly to stop the violence and bring the culprits to the book. How about starting with a press conference on his third anniversary of assuming office and responding to tough questions?

Since assuming office, PM Narendra Modi has not held a single press conference in the country

Prime Minister Narendra Modi possess arguably the best oratory skills of any contemporary politician. His effective use of social media to promote his government policies and ability to connect directly with masses has redefined the way Indian politicians communicate with masses. And yet, he continues to maintain a deafening silence on all crucial issues, including the string of attacks on the underprivileged section— the Dalit and minorities — across the nation by those who covertly or overtly support his party. As he completes three years in office on May 26, Mr. Modi has earned an abominable distinction of not holding a single press conference in the country since assuming office and spending least time in parliament as the prime minister — two places where he would expect tough questions. Does Mr. Modi think the media is not worthy of asking him questions or he is too nervous to face them given the current state of affairs? Either way, it is a lose-lose situation for the nation given that media is the fourth pillar of a democracy. The politicians can hate the media but media watchdog is a vital component for checks and balances. Mr. Modi has a rather strange relation with the mainstream media. While, he enjoys the support of most of the electronic and print media, for reasons beyond scope of this article, he has also described them in as carping a language possible. In one of the most pointed criticism yet by any PM, in February 2015, Mr. Modi called them "Baazaru" while campaigning for Delhi assembly elections. His Cabinet Minister V. K. Singh went a step ahead calling them "prestitutes". This was perhaps worse than the “fake news” diatribe that the US President Donald Trump routinely hurls at the US media. But in contrast to the meek and submissive Indian mainstream media that chose not to antagonise the Modi government in last three years, the US Media seems to have no holds barred within Trump’s first 100 days of assuming office. The politicians can hate the media but media watchdog is a vital component for checks and balances × Modi remains silent as attack on Dalit Muslims rise As I write, the upper caste Thakur community has led the third string of attacks on Dalits in Uttar Pradesh. Fifty houses have been burned and at least 4 Dalits killed and over 50 injured since the clash broke out in early May. PM Modi, who had famously retorted to shoot him instead of killing his Dalit brothers, has neither tweeted nor spoken a single word against this caste based violence against Dalits. His deafening silence on the trove of attacks by the self-proclaimed cow protection squad has only bolstered the widespread belief that the terrorising squad has a direct or indirect backing of his party. How else do you explain his silence when a Pehlu Khan gets lynched by the mob while he was buying cattle for milk production? Mr. Modi minces no words when Akhlakh, father of an Indian Navy personnel was lynched in his own house? Roughly ten months after he had criticised the Gaurakshaks squad (cow vigilantes) as "anti-social" that are mushrooming thick and fast, nothing has happened to stop them. The same fate awaits Dalits facing atrocities in the country. Modi government does nothing to either condemn or take action when Dalits like Rohith Vemula, Delta Meghwal lose their lives. While Dalits face discrimination across the country, it is the BJP-ruled states like Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat where there have been consistent reports of anti-Dalit atrocities. It is indeed appalling when you think that the last press conference any Indian prime minister had in India was way back in 2014 × While the PM was quick to condemn the attack in London at an Ariana Grande Concert, he chose to ignore local attacks on hapless Indians. Interestingly, PM Modi and his party club the Dalit under the “Grand Hindu coalition” during the elections, however, once elections are over they are shoved to the margin until the next election when covert or overt wooing recurs to take advantage of their numerical strength. Even Manmohan Singh, Modi's predecessor held more press conferences than Modi. It is indeed appalling when you think that the last press conference any Indian prime minister had in India was way back in 2014. Manmohan Singh, who was called by his detractors as a silent prime minister, had invited all forms of media in one of the biggest press conferences in January 2014. Answering one of the questions, he famously said that Modi as a prime minister will be a disaster for the country. PM Modi did face a brief joint press conference with then British PM David Cameroon during his Nov 2015 visit to the UK. However, so far, barring few one to one interactions with his favorite journalist on the pro-BJP channels, PM Modi has stayed away from addressing the Press in India. He cherry picked his interviewers and channels that support his party to avoid potential difficult questions. PM Modi seems so much worried about potential questions that even during interactions with students on Teachers Day on 5 September 2015, the questions given to students were scripted by the Human Resource Development Ministry to avoid the PM major embarrassment. It is crystal clear that Modi apparently prefers monologues like tweets, Mann Ki Baat and speeches over dialogues. World Press Freedom Day is a day to reiterate our unwavering support towards a free & vibrant press, which is vital in a democracy. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 3, 2017 × Lost Opportunities to hold press conferences Mr. Modi had multiple occasions and opportunities to held press conferences. In October 2004, he invited top journalists but no questions were allowed to be asked. Instead, he allowed journalists to take a selfie with him as they jostled for space while attempting to take a selfie with the PM, marking a beginning of selfie-journalism. The second instance came during Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in Nov 2016, Mr. Modi instead chose to give a sermon to the media on Media Ethics and gave an out of context example. He mocked at a hypothetical example of a headline which speaks of a BMW hitting a Dalit in the street. In jest, the prime minister said how the BMW owner was supposed to know the caste of the pedestrian! Will Indian press gets its Freedom? The buoyant media who used to ask extremely tough questions to the UPA government, and rightly so, has gone completely slumber. What is even more worrying is that the most of the Indian mainstream press do not seem to be bothered a bit about a prime minister of the largest democracy not giving any press conference. In a report released in April 2017, India has slipped further to the 136 rank in the Press Freedom category, even below violence-hit Palestine × Last month, an Indian American Hasan Minhaj roasted the President of United States of America Donald Trump in an annual custom known as the White House correspondence dinner. Many presidents, including President Obama, have been subjected to a similar experience in the spirit of what is known as the celebration of the freedom of expression. This year, President Trump gave the event a miss. But the event still went on. After half an hour criticism of Trump and his cabinet, Mr. Mihnaz, originally from Aligarh, received standing ovation from the nation's top media houses when he ended his speech lauding the first amendment —related to freedom of expression —that empowers a first generation immigrant Muslim like him to criticise the President. India too has Article 19 of the constitution on the freedom of expression. Imagine if something like what Mr. Minhaj did to Trump can even remotely be possible in India. In a report released in April 2017, India has slipped further to the 136 rank in the Press Freedom category, even below violence-hit Palestine. What is ironic is that the Prime Minster Modi still could tweet about the importance of press freedom and get over two thousand retweets. Given the antipathy of people towards the mainstream media for not raising their concerns, social media, news portals, youtube channels are taking up the vacant space. These alternatives are increasingly striving to become responsible independent media. Mr. Modi seems to have forgotten that a prime minister has a duty to its people beyond election rhetoric, speeches and election victories. He will soon need to do something quickly to stop the violence and bring the culprits to the book. How about starting with a press conference on his third anniversary of assuming office and responding to tough questions?

Third anniversary of a deafeningly silent prime minister

The editor of Malaysia&#39;s leading independent website was charged with violating a communications law on Friday over airing of a news video that accused Prime Minister Najib Razak of corruption.&nbsp;

Malaysiakini&#39;s editor-in-chief Steven Gan was charged in a special court for internet offences for airing the video on its site KiniTV in July, that featured a news conference in which a former ruling-party member criticised attorney general Mohamed Apandi Ali.&nbsp;

Gan was charged under a law prohibiting transmission of &quot;obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive&quot; content. The conviction was could bring a year in jail. The website&#39;s chief executive, Premesh Chandran too faces similar charges.&nbsp;

The move was swiftly condemned by Human Rights Watch as a &quot;serious violation of freedom of the press&quot;. The opposition also accused Najib of ratcheting up pressure on critics and the media to silence the furore over the financial scandal.

The attorney general had caused an uproar in January by abruptly clearing the PM of wrongdoing in receiving $681 million in mysterious deposits into his personal bank account. The government claims it was a &quot;personal gift&quot; from the Saudi royal family that Najib returned.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from AFP) 
&nbsp;

Activists said the PM, who is accused of receiving mysterious deposits, is trying to silence the media over the financial scandal

The editor of Malaysia's leading independent website was charged with violating a communications law on Friday over airing of a news video that accused Prime Minister Najib Razak of corruption. Malaysiakini's editor-in-chief Steven Gan was charged in a special court for internet offences for airing the video on its site KiniTV in July, that featured a news conference in which a former ruling-party member criticised attorney general Mohamed Apandi Ali. Gan was charged under a law prohibiting transmission of "obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive" content. The conviction was could bring a year in jail. The website's chief executive, Premesh Chandran too faces similar charges. The move was swiftly condemned by Human Rights Watch as a "serious violation of freedom of the press". The opposition also accused Najib of ratcheting up pressure on critics and the media to silence the furore over the financial scandal. The attorney general had caused an uproar in January by abruptly clearing the PM of wrongdoing in receiving $681 million in mysterious deposits into his personal bank account. The government claims it was a "personal gift" from the Saudi royal family that Najib returned. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Press freedom in Malaysia: Website editor charged for airing content accusing PM of corruption

A business network in Maldives has urged President Abdulla Yameen to ban foreign journalists from working in the country, Maldives Independent reported. 
 
The Maldives National Chamber of Commerce and Industries said &ldquo;bias in coverage of the Maldives&rdquo; was adversely affecting the economy and the tourism sector.&nbsp; 
 
&rdquo;A ban would also increase opportunities for hardworking and young local journalists,&rdquo; the group told the Maldivian website.&nbsp; 
 
&ldquo;Therefore this organisation advices government authorities to ban foreign journalists from working long-term in the Maldives.&rdquo; the MNCCI said in a statement on Thursday. 
 
The proposal comes amid growing international attention on the Maldives&rsquo; protracted political crisis and corruption allegations against President Abdulla Yameen. 
 
Recently, a Polish photographer and her husband were handed a 10-year entry ban and deported for filming without certain permits.&nbsp; 
 
According to the Maldives Independent, the department of immigration has since set new rules that demand background checks for foreign journalists who want to work in the Maldives. 
 
The report also said that the economic minister had said last week that the government will not issue work visas to foreign photographers. 
 
(WION) 
?

The business network argued that the recent media coverage on the country's political turbulence would adversely impact the economy

A business network in Maldives has urged President Abdulla Yameen to ban foreign journalists from working in the country, Maldives Independent reported. The Maldives National Chamber of Commerce and Industries said “bias in coverage of the Maldives” was adversely affecting the economy and the tourism sector. ”A ban would also increase opportunities for hardworking and young local journalists,” the group told the Maldivian website. “Therefore this organisation advices government authorities to ban foreign journalists from working long-term in the Maldives.” the MNCCI said in a statement on Thursday. The proposal comes amid growing international attention on the Maldives’ protracted political crisis and corruption allegations against President Abdulla Yameen. Recently, a Polish photographer and her husband were handed a 10-year entry ban and deported for filming without certain permits. According to the Maldives Independent, the department of immigration has since set new rules that demand background checks for foreign journalists who want to work in the Maldives. The report also said that the economic minister had said last week that the government will not issue work visas to foreign photographers. (WION) ?

Maldives: Chamber of Commerce calls for ban on foreign journalists

Last&nbsp;year &ndash; 2015 &ndash; was the worst year ever to be a journalist in South Asia.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Reporters are routinely threatened, attacked, jailed, and murdered every year in the region according to a new Reporters Without Borders report.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Working with the constant fear of being killed or hurt is no easy task. The feeling that something bad could happen at any time&nbsp;affects every aspect of your life. And you suddenly start feeling unsafe everywhere&nbsp;and all the time.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to the World Press Freedom Index 2016,&nbsp;there has been a &ldquo;deep and disturbing&rdquo; decline in media freedom around the world.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The news from South Asia is particularly bad. &ldquo;The media freedom situation worsened significantly or stagnated&rdquo; in the region the report says.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Maldives came in at 112 out of 180 countries on the index. It turns out the country is not just an earthly paradise of palms and coral. Radical Islam has been gaining in strength in the archipelago; freedom of the press has been one of its victims.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Communication Authority of the Maldives&nbsp;which controls all communication in the country,&nbsp;including the media,&nbsp;launched the first attack on the press in 2011 by shutting down journalist Ismail&nbsp;Khilath&nbsp;Rasheed&#39;s blog accusing him of producing anti-Islamic material.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Rasheed fought back&nbsp;by&nbsp;organising&nbsp;a small rally in the capital&nbsp;Mal?&nbsp;in support of the freedom of expression. He was attacked by a group of men armed with stones.&nbsp;They ended up fracturing his skull. A year later, while he was walking near his home, a man tried to slit his throat. Fortunately, the attacker missed a vital artery and Rasheed survived,&nbsp;but his attacker remains unidentified and at large.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The situation has not improved since. This April, the Maldivian police attacked a rally&#39;s participants demanding greater press freedom. Sixteen journalists were arrested.&nbsp;Four other reporters covering demonstrations against the imprisonment of former&nbsp;president&nbsp;Mohamed&nbsp;Nasheed&nbsp;were imprisoned.&nbsp;&nbsp;

There was good news,&nbsp;at least on paper,&nbsp;from Sri Lanka. The country moved 24 positions up the rankings as compared to 2014. Newly-elected President&nbsp;Maithripala&nbsp;Sirisena&#39;s government seems to be better for journalists. It lifted restrictions on foreign journalists visiting the country &ndash; they are now free to move about and no longer have to get their visas cleared by the&nbsp;defence&nbsp;ministry. And all exiled journalists have been invited to return to the country.&nbsp;

During the 10 years that Mahinda Rajapaksa was president, reporters allegedly received constant threats,&nbsp;and as many as 34 lost their lives. The murder of&nbsp;Lasantha&nbsp;Manilal&nbsp;Wickrematunge, founder of the newspaper The&nbsp;Sunday&nbsp;Leader, remains unsolved. In 2009, while he was driving to office, armed motorcyclists flanked his car and shot him. The Sirisena government has now decided to reopen the case and, interestingly, his brother has been appointed Sri Lanka&#39;s consul general in Sidney.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Pakistan remains the most dangerous place to work. Journalists in the country are faced with threats from all fronts &ndash; extremist groups,&nbsp;hardline&nbsp;Islamist&nbsp;organisations&nbsp;and government institutions. The resulting atmosphere of fear often leads to high levels of self-censorship.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Bangladesh,&nbsp;too,&nbsp;has become increasingly deadly for journalists. Several bloggers critical of Islamist extremists have recently been hacked to death; fundamentalist groups claimed responsibility for a number of the killings.&nbsp;&nbsp;

India is also surprisingly bad for reporters. Despite a lively media scene, the world&#39;s largest democracy does not seem to be a good place for a free press. India ranked 133rd on the World Press Freedom Index.&nbsp;&nbsp;

It is also among the top 15 countries in which a reporter is most likely to face abuse&nbsp;and even Afghanistan fares better. The report states: &ldquo;The governments of India&hellip; took little action in response to violence against media personnel and were sometimes directly involved in violations of their freedom.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The report&#39;s findings are not just bad news for journalists, they&nbsp;are bad news for everybody.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Journalists&nbsp;can end up self-censoring if they&nbsp;find&nbsp;themselves threatened. That is perhaps the most dangerous threat to journalism.&nbsp; A journalist must question, verify versions, and find discrepancies. And if he does his job honestly and professionally&nbsp;it should be made public. Sometimes&nbsp;this means exposing influential people. A reporter who fears for his or her life might decide to look away, to pretend something just did&nbsp;not happen. That is exactly what ruins a good investigation. Fortunately, some journalists have been brave enough to continue reporting despite having&nbsp;been&nbsp;badly&nbsp;threatened,&nbsp;but this cannot&nbsp;and should not&nbsp;be the norm.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Media is useful to society so long as it is independent and safe -- rights that any democratic government should protect.&nbsp;Media&nbsp;needs to be free to do its job without fear&nbsp;and&nbsp;to be effective.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Journalists in India more likely to face abuse than those in Afghanistan: Reporters Without Borders

Last year – 2015 – was the worst year ever to be a journalist in South Asia. Reporters are routinely threatened, attacked, jailed, and murdered every year in the region according to a new Reporters Without Borders report. Working with the constant fear of being killed or hurt is no easy task. The feeling that something bad could happen at any time affects every aspect of your life. And you suddenly start feeling unsafe everywhere and all the time. According to the World Press Freedom Index 2016, there has been a “deep and disturbing” decline in media freedom around the world. The news from South Asia is particularly bad. “The media freedom situation worsened significantly or stagnated” in the region the report says. The Maldives came in at 112 out of 180 countries on the index. It turns out the country is not just an earthly paradise of palms and coral. Radical Islam has been gaining in strength in the archipelago; freedom of the press has been one of its victims. The Communication Authority of the Maldives which controls all communication in the country, including the media, launched the first attack on the press in 2011 by shutting down journalist Ismail Khilath Rasheed's blog accusing him of producing anti-Islamic material. Rasheed fought back by organising a small rally in the capital Mal? in support of the freedom of expression. He was attacked by a group of men armed with stones. They ended up fracturing his skull. A year later, while he was walking near his home, a man tried to slit his throat. Fortunately, the attacker missed a vital artery and Rasheed survived, but his attacker remains unidentified and at large. The situation has not improved since. This April, the Maldivian police attacked a rally's participants demanding greater press freedom. Sixteen journalists were arrested. Four other reporters covering demonstrations against the imprisonment of former president Mohamed Nasheed were imprisoned. There was good news, at least on paper, from Sri Lanka. The country moved 24 positions up the rankings as compared to 2014. Newly-elected President Maithripala Sirisena's government seems to be better for journalists. It lifted restrictions on foreign journalists visiting the country – they are now free to move about and no longer have to get their visas cleared by the defence ministry. And all exiled journalists have been invited to return to the country. During the 10 years that Mahinda Rajapaksa was president, reporters allegedly received constant threats, and as many as 34 lost their lives. The murder of Lasantha Manilal Wickrematunge, founder of the newspaper The Sunday Leader, remains unsolved. In 2009, while he was driving to office, armed motorcyclists flanked his car and shot him. The Sirisena government has now decided to reopen the case and, interestingly, his brother has been appointed Sri Lanka's consul general in Sidney. Pakistan remains the most dangerous place to work. Journalists in the country are faced with threats from all fronts – extremist groups, hardline Islamist organisations and government institutions. The resulting atmosphere of fear often leads to high levels of self-censorship. Bangladesh, too, has become increasingly deadly for journalists. Several bloggers critical of Islamist extremists have recently been hacked to death; fundamentalist groups claimed responsibility for a number of the killings. India is also surprisingly bad for reporters. Despite a lively media scene, the world's largest democracy does not seem to be a good place for a free press. India ranked 133rd on the World Press Freedom Index. It is also among the top 15 countries in which a reporter is most likely to face abuse and even Afghanistan fares better. The report states: “The governments of India… took little action in response to violence against media personnel and were sometimes directly involved in violations of their freedom.” The report's findings are not just bad news for journalists, they are bad news for everybody. Journalists can end up self-censoring if they find themselves threatened. That is perhaps the most dangerous threat to journalism. A journalist must question, verify versions, and find discrepancies. And if he does his job honestly and professionally it should be made public. Sometimes this means exposing influential people. A reporter who fears for his or her life might decide to look away, to pretend something just did not happen. That is exactly what ruins a good investigation. Fortunately, some journalists have been brave enough to continue reporting despite having been badly threatened, but this cannot and should not be the norm. Media is useful to society so long as it is independent and safe -- rights that any democratic government should protect. Media needs to be free to do its job without fear and to be effective.

2015 worst year for press freedom in South Asia

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