Centre for Freedom of the Media

Euro elections: newspaper websites break new ground in challenging radio and television

June 15th, 2009, No Comments

Almost lost amid the United Kingdom’s minimal news coverage of the election campaign for the European Parliament and the English county councils were some significant developments within the British media landscape. Newspaper websites broke new ground in their bid to challenge other news outlets and showed they could compete head on with mainstream television and radio services.

An Essay on Press Freedom v Accountability

March 13th, 2009, No Comments

The elected Mayor of Doncaster, facing serious criticism of the child protection for which he is finally responsible, told a BBC reporter to stop playing silly games – and refused to be interviewed about the situation.

Government departments are increasingly refusing to provide anything other than a statement on issues which reflect badly on them and for which they should take responsibility.

Article for The World Today, Chatham House’s monthly journal

February 6th, 2009, No Comments

Twenty years after the end of the Cold War, Russia seems intent on re-writing the rules on media freedom, democracy and security on which a new, more cooperative relationship with the west wasto be built. Moscow’s crackdownon freedom of expression may make conflict more likely

Media Manipulation and Political Control in Russia

January 6th, 2009, No Comments

Constraints on freedom of the Russian media and impact on Russia’s chances of developing a plural democracy.

Political journalism: the perils of writing to a pre-determined agenda

January 2nd, 2009, No Comments

Political journalism provides an ideal illustration of the contradictions and extremes of the British news media. No other group of correspondents are so open to manipulation yet so determined to prove their independence by influencing and, whenever possible, by driving forward the news agenda.