Media News - Friday, July 04, 2008

Disillusioned Berliner Zeitung staff advertise for new proprietor

Staff at the Berliner Zeitung newspaper in Germany are so unhappy with their owner, David Montgomery, that they took out an advert in a rival German newspaper advertising for a new proprietor. The protest followed an announcement by Montgomery's Mecom group last week that almost a quarter of the 130-strong editorial department at Berliner Zeitung would be axed. 'Highly motivated daily newspaper staff, still not made redundant, looking for new challenges' ran the advert in the media section of the Taz on Wednesday. The advert, titled 'Publisher Wanted', said the journalists were seeking a 'serious buyer who doesn't just produce a paper to make money'; someone who understood that papers are primarily for readers and not for shareholders. In return, the journalists promised, among other things, 'committed, rigorous and critical reporting', eminent writers and a sophisticated readership. 'If you can envisage a future together with us under the leadership of a competent, independent editor, then BUY US!' finished the advert, before telling interested parties to contact the editorial department - but not the editor-in-chief. The Berliner Zeitung's editor-in-chef, Josef Depenbrock, has been hugely unpopular at the paper ever since Montgomery appointed him to the additional role of managing editor. On Wednesday, the paper's editorial department failed in an attempt to bring proceedings against Mecom and Josef Depenbrock, saying that his dual role goes against the paper's statutes. A judge threw out the claim in a Berlin court, saying Depenbrock's position was perfectly legal and tenable. (The Guardian)

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Source: Protective order will keep Viacom out of sensitive YouTube user data

Google has been ordered to turn over YouTube user data to Viacom. But Viacom will be guilty of contempt of court if it uses that data for anything other than specifically proving the prevalence of piracy on YouTube, a source close to Viacom told CNET News.com on Thursday. On Wednesday night, a federal judge ruled that Google must turn over YouTube user activity--videos watched, IP addresses, usernames--to legal foe Viacom as part of a long-running copyright infringement case. But the source told CNET News.com that a heavy protective order is in place that will keep individuals' personal information cloaked. The court's protective order stipulates that data turned over to Viacom by Google must be used for the sole purpose of proving Viacom's claim against Google that YouTube is a hotbed of pirated video content, the sources said. Viacom will not have direct access to the YouTube user data, the source said. Access is restricted to outside counsel and experts. (CNET Blog)

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Los Angeles Times to eliminate 150 newsroom jobs

The Los Angeles Times announced that it would eliminate 150 newsroom jobs - more than one-sixth of the staff - and publish 15 percent fewer pages, in the deepest of a series of cuts at Tribune Co. newspapers as the company tries to stay afloat. In all, the Los Angeles Times Media Group, which includes the paper and some smaller businesses, is cutting 250 jobs, which includes nonnewsroom jobs that have already been eliminated, David Hiller, the publisher, said Wednesday. Russ Stanton, the editor, said that the cuts would be carried out over the next two months. The reduction goes far beyond what executives were predicting just a few months ago; in February, Hiller said he expected to decrease the news staff by 40 to 50 positions. When Samuel Zell took control of Tribune in December, he said he did not plan newsroom cuts. But Tribune's newspaper ad revenue was down 15 percent in the first quarter, and the company warned last month that significant cuts were coming. In an era of shrinking newsrooms, The Los Angeles Times has been especially hard hit. It had about 1,300 people 10 years ago; after the new cuts, it will have around 720. Previous rounds of cuts involved voluntary buyouts, but this time executives say they expect layoffs. (International Herald Tribune)

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Reporters’ guide to China Olympics published

A pocket guide has been released for reporters traveling to China to cover the Beijing Olympics. The 'Reporters' Guide to Covering the Beijing Olympics' addresses how to report in a largely closed country with particular attention to the hazards facing Chinese sources and news assistants. The guide spells out both the rights of foreign journalists - in particular under the Chinese government's temporary regulations for foreign journalists - and the risks they or their Chinese contacts may face. It also contains an appendix that lists useful numbers and Web sites as well as a bilingual (English/Chinese) version of the temporary regulations. Produced by Human Rights Watch with the support of the Committee to Protect Journalists, the guide is aimed at the estimated 25,000 foreign journalists who will cover the Beijing Games. The Reporters' Guide is downloadable online at no cost at http://china.hrw.org, and will also soon be available in French, German, Spanish, and Japanese. (International Journalists Network)

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Middle-East: Watchdog launched to defend journalists’ rights

A journalism watchdog has been launched with the goal of supporting Arab journalists seeking assistance and legal protection against the government and other threats. The new initiative, called Samir Kassir's Eyes, will operate initially in Lebanon, Syria and Palestine with the goal of spreading throughout the Arab world. It was created by the Samir Kassir Foundation, named after the slain Lebanese-French activist. 'Our goal is to put in place an independent Arab organization that will defend and ensure the rights of journalists in the region,' said journalist Elias Khoury, who is a member of the Samir Kassir Foundation. The watchdog started with creating a database of the history of journalism in Lebanon, Syria and Palestine. It also includes records of violations or freedom of speech and court cases against the press. The goal of Samir Kassir Eyes is to provide legal assistance to journalists who struggle with oppression of any kind. The watchdog will operate through several platforms, including awareness and non-violent demonstrations. (International Journalists Network)

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EBU project to raise awareness of global warming

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is to launch a multimedia package of co-productions to promote greater awareness of climate change. The proposal was announced at the 60th General Assembly of the EBU in Budapest Thursday by the Director of Eurovision TV, Bjorn Erichsen. The programmes - covering many genres including documentary, entertainment, children and youth, and online services - would be produced over the next 18 months and screened during December 2009 when the UN Global Summit on Environmental Issues is held in Copenhagen. Mr Erichsen said the project would be called 'Green on Air' and would comprise a programming package of 51 formats, compiled from 40 broadcasters and independent production companies in 14 European countries. Other unions represented at the WBU meeting, including the ABU, expressed interest in undertaking similar projects in their regions so that 'Green on Air' might become a global project. A brochure on the EBU project can be downloaded from the Green on Air website at: www.eurovisiontv.com/greenonair (Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union)

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