Comments for Fair Comment

Comment on The end of local news as we know it? by A Free Spirit

A Free Spirit — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:51:04 +0000

I just posted on local news being overly interested in people watching them (than providing news), esp. in their use of teasers, so think we could do better in getting local news out.

Comment on My MA Project and Free Speech by paulknowles

paulknowles — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:59:48 +0000

Let’s hope so Heather!

Comment on Where next for Fair Comment? by saulcambo08

saulcambo08 — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:57:09 +0000

Hey Jules…
Yikes….there’s a bundle of big issues and ideas in there. If ONLY I had time to reply in detail…yep, it’s almost “deadline time”…or maybe I’ve missed it already?
There are so many strands attached to the area of freedom of expression / speech…broadcasters and others alike. It was interesting to see how, as the Group pressies / blogs evolved, we found lots of intersections / overlap.
Regulation, oppression, user-generated content, citizen journalism, social media, multi-media platforms…it’s all in there…and will be for a long time yet.
I’m always attracted by the “bottom-line” – it’s all only worthwhile if “we” are telling strong and engaging stories, professioanls and others alike. You can’t beat a good story, well told. There’s only one thing worse than a bad story badly told, and that’s a good story badly told!
HeyHo…Easter Bunnies…

Comment on My MA Project and Free Speech by heatherislacy

heatherislacy — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:51:59 +0000

Paul- I agree with you. The topics are so broad that it’s difficult to feel like you have reached some sort of conclusion- which I guess, as human beings, is what we are in search of. But I definitely have plenty of appreciation for the assignment and all of the hard work everyone did to educate themselves and the rest of us. I certainly think it will benefit us all in the job market!

Comment on Bloggers get a voice at G20 by ninasaada

ninasaada — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:10:31 +0000

Hi guys, thanks for your comments. Yes Josh, you are being rather cynical but I can understand what you’re saying here and I do agree to an extent. What possible difference can a handful of bloggers make in influencing big political decisions when the world leaders can’t even decide on workable solutions themselves?
However saying that and echoing Amy, we really should be embracing this notion that gives everyday people the chance to have a collective voice at such an event. It might not have a massive impact but it’s a start and we may as well get used to it because, as the blogosphere grows in popularity I can see this kind of thing happening more and more.

Thanks Amy for signposting me on to Sophie’s blog post, I’ve just had a look and made a comment. It is so interesting and to be honest I’m really not sure what to make of AP actions, I think they’re being a little greedy. But whether they are right or wrong in charging bloggers for using their content, it is definitely going to have an impact of press freedom. Imagine if all news agencies started charging people to use their quotes! Not good.

Comment on watching you, watching me by michelariva

michelariva — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 11:53:52 +0000

Hey Jules,

Yesterday it was reported that North Korean guards had arrested two American journalists near the country’s border with China, because they had ignored orders to stop shooting video. Which got me thinking, while I agree with you that journalists should be free to act as ‘the eys and ears of the public’. Do you no think that perhaps journalists can sometimes act above the law in the guise of acting as ‘the eyes and ears’ in order to get their story? Also do you not think that in certain sensitve times (like war/financial crisis) if the authorities impose an embargo or a ban on reporting we should respct that in the the interst of national security?

Comment on watching you, watching me by wimbles

wimbles — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 11:45:55 +0000

I can see where you are coming from Jules, but call my an idealist but I don’t see why laws and rules would be put in place to do anything other then protect society.

In today’s society we need to accept the fact that some people will claim to be journalists to get them into places and allow them to get material from places and about events that they shouldn’t.

Whilst following a group of Sky journalists to McDonalds is a bit extreme if someone claiming to be from savetheearthpress.com took pictures of a string of highly sensitive sites that could then be used for terrorist activities it would be awful.

I realise that being followed simply for being a journalist can be restricting, but it’s a sign of the power and responsibility you have. If you do see things that are illegal and have evidence of that, why should you not give your evidence, anymore then if you saw someone being mugged in the street?

Furthermore, if you are being monitored and you haven’t done anything wrong then the police won’t spend much time looking at you, and more to the point, you haven’t done anything wrong.

I don’t like the situation anymore then anybody else, but if it keeps us safe then I’ll support it.

Comment on Bloggers get a voice at G20 by hblockbloggerz

hblockbloggerz — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 11:32:21 +0000

Hi Nina,

Such an interesting post, thanks for that. Josh is being a bit cynical I think – anything that gives people a voice is good. There is the danger that individual voices get lost in the chatter in the blogosphere, but the more the merrier is, I think, the sentiment we should be embracing.

I think you guys might be interested in what Sophie’s been looking into over on the Citizen Journo blog – the limiting of bloggers’ use of AP content by AP themselves. The content is usually paid for by subscription, but AP is now telling bloggers that they are not allowed to link to AP content or even quote from it. I think this is quite a severe limit on press freedom.

Amy Pollock

Comment on Lese-majeste laws in Thailand – defamation laws? gagging laws? by hblockbloggerz

hblockbloggerz — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 11:22:46 +0000

Echoing Rob’s comment, I was under the impression that high treason is still on the statute books here – if you insult the Queen, you may face a prison sentence. However, if it IS still the case I don’t think it is used very often at all. Freedom of expression seems to have greater weight these days. But a really interesting post nonetheless.

Amy Pollock

Comment on watching you, watching me by paulknowles

paulknowles — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 10:24:57 +0000

It’s an age old story. I remember going on demostrations when I was a kid and asking my Dad why some of the policement had cameras. I also remember my Dad holding his umbrella in front of a Police camera on one demostration and then going down to the Police station the next day to make sure they destoryed the tape. We do have rights to do that and we should exersize them.