Featured Articles on Sources.com

The Death of a Reporter

My twitter feed has become a memorial for the death of journalists from Iraq to Turkey. The latest tragedy was the death of Serena Shim, a US citizen who is of Lebanese origin and worked for Press TV. Last year I had met Serena in Beirut. It is commonplace for journalists to meet each other, to learn where one has been and whether there are stories out there that help give wider context and confirmation for stories that one follows. It was in that context that I met Serena, who had been covering the conflict in Ukraine, Iraq and of course Lebanon. She was a warm person, very smart and very well informed. Her bravery impressed me. Others of her ilk and of her age bracket include the fabulous Radwan Mortada (al-Akhbar) and Jenan Moussa (al-Ain). These are reporters who go into dangerous situations with no “security advisors” – I worry for them daily. Read more

Saudi Arabia: Imprisoned editor Raef Badawi to be flogged 1,000 times

Raef Badawi was arrested on 17 June 2012 in Jeddah after organising a conference to mark a “day of liberalism”. The conference, which was to have taken place in Jeddah on 7 May, was banned by the authorities. On 29 July 2013, a court in Jeddah sentenced Badawi to seven years and three months in prison and 600 lashes after he was convicted under the information technology law of “founding a liberal website,” “adopting liberal thought” and for “insulting Islam”. The online forum, Liberal Saudi Network – created to foster political and social debate in Saudi Arabia – was ordered closed by the judge.

According to reports, the appeal, submitted by Badawi’s lawyer, Walid Abu al-Khair, cited procedural and evidential reasons why the conviction should be overturned and Badawi should be freed. In December 2013, it was reported that the Court of Appeal had reversed the ruling of the District Court in Jeddah, ordering that Badawi’s case be sent for review by another court. Badawi, who suffers from diabetes, is reported to be in poor health. Read more

The Comic Book Simplicity Of Propaganda

The referendum campaign on Scottish independence heightened many people's awareness of the pro-elite bias of the 'mainstream' news media. The grassroots power of social media in exposing and countering this bias was heartening to see. But the issue of independence for Scotland is just one of many where the traditional media consistently favour establishment power. The essential feature of corporate media performance is that elite interests are routinely favoured and protected, while serious public dissent is minimised and marginalised. The BBC, the biggest and arguably the most globally respected news organisation, is far from being an exception. Indeed, on any issue that matters, its consistently biased news coverage - propped up, by a horrible irony, with the financial support of the public whose interests it so often crushes - means that BBC News is surely the most insidious propaganda outlet today.Read more

PEN Honduras appeals to Supreme Court in final attempt to halt ban on practising journalism

Journalist and founding member of PEN Honduras, Julio Ernesto Alvarado, is today appearing along with other journalists and PEN Honduras members before the Constitutional Section of the Supreme Court of the country in a final attempt to fight the reinstatement of a 16-month ban on practising journalism. This action, known in Spanish as an Amparo, is a remedy for the protection of constitutional rights where all other routes of appeal have been exhausted.

On 9 October 2014, Mr Alvarado’s lawyer submitted an application for the implementation of the ruling to be suspended pending review by the Constitutional Section of the Supreme Court of Justice (la Sala de lo Constitucional de la Corte Suprema de Justicia). Procedure dictates that Mr Alvarado’s lawyer should have received a response to this submission within 24 hours, however, more than a week later she has yet to receive a response. In addition, she has been informed that the plaintiff’s lawyer has already requested the file to be returned to the court where the case began, suggesting that the judgment is imminently due to be enforced. Read more

Recent News Releases

IFJ Calls on Korean Government to Reinstate Dismissed YTN and MBC Journalists

October 20th – The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has joined its Korean affiliate, the Journalists Association of Korea (JAK) to express its continued anger at the case of the reporters who have been dismissed from YTN and MBC - a case which has remained unresolved for many years. The JAK has stated that it is "painful" to watch these highly respected Korean journalists suffer unfair dismissal from the organisations to which they showed so much dedication and commitment. The IFJ strongly demands that Korea's Park Geun-hye government, which has been expressing its determination to “normalise the abnormal” and “bring national unity,” acts immediately to reinstate the sacked journalists. Read more

Ethiopia Should Free Journalists from Jail and Exile

The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), the Africa regional group of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), has called on the Ethiopia Government to free all journalists jailed and to allow the exiled journalists to come back and work for the mother country, Ethiopia.

The FAJ made this call while mourning the untimely death of exiled Ethiopian journalist, Million Shurube, who passed away at the Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi (Kenya), on Monday, 13 October, 2014 after a brief illness.

“We offer our heartfelt sympathies to the family of Shurube and the entire journalists’ fraternity in Ethiopia”, said the President of the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), Mohamed Garba. “Such situations are difficult for every family, most especially when one reflects on the fact that Shurube was forced into exile because of his job and his right to freedom of expression”. Read more

Supreme Court of Pakistan to indict TV chief and anchor for contempt

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) in expressing deep concern over the legal course against ARY News channel’s CEO and its anchor over a broadcasting of a program that challenged Pakistan’s judiciary. The Supreme Court of Pakistan on October 13 decided to prosecute the chief executive of the private television network, Salman Iqbal, and the program anchor, Mubashir Lucman, indicting them for airing ‘scandalous and defamatory programs against the judiciary’. According to reports, a three-judge bench headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal observed that a talk on ARY ‘Khara Such’ aired on May 29, 2014 and the reply submitted by the channel on ‘show cause’ notice had enough ground to initiate contempt of court proceedings. Read more

Self-censorship concerns in Hong Kong after bashing of journalist and protesters

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is deeply concerned that Hong Kong police beat up a journalist and brutally attacked a pro-democracy protester while breaking up a demonstration. With pressure mounting on media in its coverage of the Occupy protests, the IFJ has expressed reservations on press freedoms with reports that Hong Kong’s largest free-to-air television station, TVB, is suspected of self-censoring its report on the treatment of the protestor.

In the early hours of October 15, hundreds of Hong Kong police used pepper spray and batons to evict democracy protesters from Lung Wo Road, Admiralty. The protestors occupied the road after police cleared them out of other areas in the Admiralty district. The use of force triggered scuffles between police and protesters. Read more

What is Public Relations?

Public relations is an often-misunderstood term in modern business.

While most business people are generally quite familiar with advertising (the granddaddy of marketing communications) public relations remains relatively misunderstood.

Therefore, many of those responsible for initiating or procuring public relations services, do not fully understand the power of public relations and what it can accomplish for them.

Public relations is the communication that takes place between an organization and its numerous “publics” or audiences, both internal and external. Hence, it is far more than just publicity as in generating ink or airtime for a celebrity or, in the political arena, the “spin doctoring” that’s done to convert bad press into good. Read more

What Makes a Good Story?

Reporters - and readers - want a good story. The story should be interesting and relevant to the audience, and it must be written clearly enough that it can be quickly and easily understood. What makes a story interesting is often a combination of the interests of the audience, the interests and abilities of the reporter, and a long history of journalistic tradition.

The question "What is news?" is a primary philosophical issue in media relations. Many people are indifferent to sports, for example, yet it constitutes a major part of mainstream news. Every television and radio station devotes extensive time to weather, even though it is usually straightforward and it all comes from the same place. Nevertheless, without getting into that debate, we can identify a number of elements that characterize a good news story. Read more

Public relations at a trade show: A little effort goes a long way

Is public relations just for big companies at large shows that have a dedicated PR consultant? When Steve Jobs or Bill Gates speaks, everyone listens, but don't let the size of their budget discourage you. The media is constantly on the look-out for interesting stories, and not just the ones everyone else is covering. So, being big is not the panacea to PR; being prepared with a well thought-out plan is. Trade shows are a great place to initiate a PR campaign. Whether it is the major news outlets that will attend large international shows or regional publications, cable or local media at a regional or community show, the media will be there. Read more

Topic of the Week: Health Care in Canada

Canadian health care has had a long and interesting development. This trend continues today with changes designed to tackle an aging population and financial constraints. Sources provides experts, media spokespersons, and a wide range of resources on health-related issues at Sources.com, so you can follow and understand the changes to your health care system. Also visit Sources linkes on health and medicare. Read more

Book of the Week: Don't Think of an Elephant! Know Your Values and Frame the Debate

Lakoff explains how conservatives think, and how to counter their arguments. He outlines in detail the traditional values that progressives hold, but are often unable to articulate. Lakoff also breaks down the ways in which conservatives have framed the issues, and provides examples of how progressives can reframe the debate. Read more

Film of the Week: Kill the Messenger

Kill the Messenger is an account of investigative journalist Gary Webb's "Dark Alliance" reports, and the criticism and consequences of Webb's reports. The reports had alleged a link between the 1980s crack cocaine trade in the United States and the CIA-backed Nicaraguan Contras. Read more

Parliamentary Names & Numbers

Parliamentary Names & Numbers gives you instant access to up-to-date contact information for Members of Parliament, Senators, Provincial & Territorial Legislators, Federal & Provincial Ministries, Ministerial, Caucus & Critic Responsibilities and Federal Agencies & Crown Corporations

This handy guide to the complete Canadian political scene is yours for only $75.00/yr + GST/HST. Subscriptions include online access to Parliamentary Names & Numbers for one year (January 1 to December 31, or July 1 to June 30.) Subscribe online or call 416-964-5735.

Media Names & Numbers

How can Sources help you get media coverage?

At Sources, we’ve been helping organizations, companies, institutions, and individuals get media attention for over 35 years.How? By providing journalists with great sources and story ideas – for TV, radio, print and online.

When you are in Sources the media know you are a source they can call. When you are in Sources, you ensure that the media will find you when they do stories about your areas of expertise. Positive media coverage is the most credible form of publicity there is. Unlike paid advertising and other forms of marketing, media coverage is earned and grows directly out of what you do and what you know. It spotlights your successes and establishes your brand. Media coverage is the most cost-effective form of marketing, because a single news story or TV spot about you can reach tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people.

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