Media News - Thursday, June 21, 2012

On World Refugee Day, press organizations highlight cases of journalists forced into exile

To mark World Refugee Day on Wednesday, June 20, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) released its latest report showing 57 journalists were forced into exile between June 1, 2011, and May 31, 2012. Most of the exiled journalists (seven) came from Somalia, and most (15) fled to the United States. More than half (58 percent) went into exile because of the threat of violence, and 46 percent were exiled because of the threat of imprisonment. The news comes just as 15 reporters have fled the violence of Veracruz, Mexico, reported E-Consulta. During the past 12 months, six of the exiled journalists came from countries in the Americas, with three fleeing from Ecuador. Of the exiled journalists, 23 percent continue to work as journalists while in exile, and about 11 percent were able to return home, CPJ said. CPJ has been tracking exiled journalists since 2007. Cuba ranks as No. 7 overall for top countries from which journalists flee, as 19 journalists have been exiled from Cuba since 2007. The number of journalists who went into exile during the past year decreased to 57 from 67 the previous 12-month period, CPJ said. Meanwhile, also in conjunction with World Refugee Day, Reporters Without Borders reported that 80 journalists fled their home countries in 2011. Reporters Without Borders also released an updated guide to help journalists who are forced into exile. (Knight Center)

Facebook to allow users to pay in local currencies soon

Facebook will soon allow users worldwide to pay in their local currencies for various paid applications and games on the popular social networking site, a move that would help it in diversifying revenue streams. "...We are updating our payments product to support pricing in local currency (ex: US dollar, British pound and Japanese yen) instead of Credits," Facebook said on its website. "By supporting pricing in local currency, we hope to simplify the purchase experience, give you more flexibility, and make it easier to reach a global audience of Facebook users who want a way to pay for your apps and games in their local currency," it added. In 2009, Facebook, introduced a payment system 'Facebook Credits' or a virtual currency was mainly used to buy virtual goods in games like FarmVille. Last year, 15 million users bought virtual goods on the site using its payments service. "We will release local currency support for in-app payments in the next few months. Any apps or games that sell virtual items will be required to use local currency by the end of the year," the company said. Facebook, which generates most of its revenues from advertising operations, has been focusing to strengthen its non-advertising business. (NDTV.com)

UN experts call for greater protection for journalists

An alarming number of journalists are killed each year and those responsible are rarely brought to justice, UN experts said on Wednesday. "Journalists who play a crucial role in ensuring a society that takes informed decisions, are killed at an alarming rate by state and non-state actors," said special rapporteur Christof Heyns in a report to the UN Human Rights Council. Sixty-five journalists were killed in the first five months of 2012 around the world, a 50 percent rise on 2011, according to Swiss news agency ATS. Of those, Syria saw at least 15 victims, Mexico seven and Somalia six. In his report Heyns, rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, called for a new specific declaration on the protection of journalists "that would emphasize the recognised obligations of states with regard to the protection of the right of life and safety of journalists". In their reports the experts also highlighted the associated problems of self-censorship owing to intimidation. One of the most immediate challenges is implementing international laws regarding the protection of journalists and making sure that these "are reflected in domestic laws and practices", said Frank La Rue, special rapporteur on freedom of expression. (Expatica)

Facebook to allow subscriptions

Until now people have been only able to purchase virtual items through Facebook apps. However, as of next month, Facebook has made it possible for people to pay to subscribe to an app – whether it be a game or a magazine. Facebook will still pocket 30 per cent of all subscription revenues, as it does with any in-app purchases which happen on the site at the moment. The company made the announcement on its developers blog last night: “Many developers successfully monetize their apps with one-time purchases of virtual items. Beginning in July, we are launching subscriptions as another way for you to build your businesses on Facebook. With subscriptions, you can establish a recurring revenue stream and offer updated content or premium experiences for a monthly fee. “This new feature will be available to all Facebook.com and mobile web apps in July.” Facebook has also announced that items for sale on the site via apps will now be priced in the local currency. It is the company’s first major step away from Facebook Credits, the site’s currency. (The Telegraph)

Yahoo, Facebook said to be in talks to settle patents dispute

Yahoo and Facebook are in negotiations to resolve a patents dispute, an attorney for Yahoo told a federal court on Tuesday. Yahoo sued Facebook in March claiming that it had infringed 10 of its patents. Facebook denied Yahoo's claim of patent infringement, and in turn accused Yahoo of infringing 10 of its patents in several of Yahoo's most popular services including the Yahoo homepage, Yahoo Finance, Yahoo Sports and the Flickr photo sharing service. Yahoo said in a filing in April that Facebook purchased in the last five months eight of 10 patents it had cited in its counterclaim to the patent infringement lawsuit filed by Yahoo, and several were purchased after Yahoo filed the suit. Yahoo denied infringing the ten patents, and claimed Facebook purchased and asserted patents tainted by inequitable conduct, including allegedly the intentional failure to name a known inventor, and adding new information to a patent. It added two more patents to the ten it had earlier alleged Facebook had infringed. District Court Judge Jeffrey S. White on Wednesday ruled that it is stipulated and agreed upon by both parties to extend the dates for submissions by both Yahoo and Facebook. A hearing on a motion has also been rescheduled from Aug. 10 to Aug. 24. (Computer World)

Egyptian journalist fined for libel

An Egyptian journalist has been fined for defamation after calling for changes to the editorial staff of Egypt's state-run newspapers. Hanan Youssef, deputy editor of the local newspaper Al-Messa, was fined GBP 1,000 for libelling the paper's former editor Khaled Imam. She claimed that many Egyptian news outlets included staff members who maintained links to the ruling military regime, but she did not mention Imam by name. Youssef has been supportive of the revolution and written critical articles about the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF). She plans to appeal against the sentence. Al-Messa is run by Dar Al-Tahrir, a state-owned publishing company. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned the legal action, saying that journalists who speak out against the military regime should not be prosecuted and harassed. Two bloggers critical of the regime - Mikael Nabil Sanad and Alaa Abd el-Fattah - have been jailed. Others have been charged with "insulting the armed forces." Last weekend, Marwa Nasser, a freelance journalist and translator for several English-language online news publications, was briefly detained while conducting interviews in front of a Cairo polling station. She was arrested for "suspicious behaviour." (CPJ via The Guardian)

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