I feel empowered creating a safe space for young people, just to be treated with dignity and without much labeling about your sexual orientation, your health condition, the choice of work you are choosing, or belief you are practicing. -Rachel Arinii Judhistari, 22, the youngest ever program officer for the Asian-Pacific Research and Resource Center for Women (ARROW) Thursday August 12 th marks Inter national Youth Day , and we here at IWHC couldnt be more excited to mark this special occasion.

I feel empowered creating a safe space for young people, just to be treated with dignity and without much labeling about your sexual orientation, your health condition, the choice of work you are choosing, or belief you are practicing.

-Rachel Arinii Judhistari, 22, the youngest ever program officer for the Asian-Pacific Research and Resource Center for Women (ARROW)

Thursday August 12^th marks International Youth Day, and we here at IWHC couldnt be more excited to mark this special occasion. Our staff and partners have been working tirelessly to ensure meaningful youth participation and to amplify the voices of young people at the local, regional, and international levels. Its rewarding and encouraging when we hear this collective work is worth something to the powers that be.

Were additionally happy because the day presents an important opportunity for members of the UN and the international community to demonstrate, refine, and restore their commitment to young people.

Earlier this year we held IWHCs first annual Young Visionaries contest as a means to celebrate, acknowledge, and support the exceptional and ongoing work of young people. Our Young Visionaries contest encouraged youth from all over the world to share their visions for young people and the future.

As part of this initiative, youth nominees were asked the question: If you could tell world leaders one thing, what would it be?

Weve included some of their answers below, in the hopes that this International Youth Day, world leaders will heed the advice of these important and inspiring youth activists:

We need to build environments, concrete policies and opportunities wherein young peoples voices are heard and where rights are respected.

-Ador Leanda Hurtado, Phillipines

Investing early in health and education for young women empowers them to provide a healthy future for their families and for themselves.

- Anina Hewey and Amelia Graves, United States

Youth are the leaders of today. They (leaders) should make the environment conducive and safe for realization of our dreams and capability.

-Felistah Mbithe Ngui, Kenya

Involve your young people in the processes of change; listen to them & enfranchise young people to take an active role in shaping their own futures. Dont dismiss the experiences and opinions of young people solely on the basis of their youth.

-Felix Scholz, Australia

Only young people can be the change makers!

-Fsahat Ul Hassan, Pakistan

Value the work of those who are working to build a different world.

-Kalindy Bolivar, Ecuador

You can check out the full profiles of our 2010 Young Visionaries finalists here, and view the profile of Sunita Basnet, our 2010 Young Visionary winner, here.

To read more about IWHCs work on youth health and rights around the world, click here.

adsense

Original post:
Standing with Youth for Rights and Health

All of us at the IWHC offices in New York City are abuzz today as we celebrate the news that a federal judge in San Francisco struck down Proposition 8 , California’s voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage. “For a lot of my friends and people that I love, it’s a big step forward after so many years of waiting in limbo,” said Kelly Castagnaro, Director of Communications here at IWHC and a former San Francisco resident. IWHC Senior Writer, Melanie Abrahams, from Californias San Fernando Valley echoed that sentiment saying, Marriage is a human rightnot something the public should be able to vote against for any particular group

All of us at the IWHC offices in New York City are abuzz today as we celebrate the news that a federal judge in San Francisco struck down Proposition 8, California’s voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage.

“For a lot of my friends and people that I love, it’s a big step forward after so many years of waiting in limbo,” said Kelly Castagnaro, Director of Communications here at IWHC and a former San Francisco resident.

IWHC Senior Writer, Melanie Abrahams, from Californias San Fernando Valley echoed that sentiment saying, Marriage is a human rightnot something the public should be able to vote against for any particular group. Hearing this news changed my entire day and is going to change entire lives.

The decision by Judge Walker included a strong condemnation of the discriminatory aspects of the ban:

Proposition 8 fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license. Indeed the evidence shows Proposition 8 does nothing more than enshrine in the California constitution the notion that opposite sex couples are superior to same sex couples emphasis added.

We are elated over this historic decision, not only for the sake of the people of California, but people worldwide, who might find hope and encouragement in the possibility that this decision will have far-reaching influence for the advancement of human rights both in the United States and abroad.

Click here for a PDF with the full the decision (via).

Click here to learn more about IWHC’s work promoting and protecting human rights and sexuality around the world.

adsense

Read the original here:
Breaking News: Judge Rules Denial of Marriage Rights to Same-Sex Couples in California Unconstitutional

In June, IWHC and Sierra Club co-hosted an advocacy training in San Francisco . As part of the training, participants were encouraged to host related events in their own communities. The following post was written by Rosemari Ochoa, one of the training participants who went on to host an event in San Diego, California. For the past month, the world has crowded around televisions to watch the World Cup.

In June, IWHC and Sierra Club co-hosted an advocacy training in San Francisco. As part of the training, participants were encouraged to host related events in their own communities. The following post was written by Rosemari Ochoa, one of the training participants who went on to host an event in San Diego, California.

For the past month, the world has crowded around televisions to watch the World Cup. Bars and cafes were full of people dancing to Shakiras Waka Waka song and trying to pronounce players last names from countries they cant place on a map.
Soccer at this level begets competition, camaraderie, athleticism, national unity and international curiosity. But, I think on a smaller, more grassroots scale, soccer can also help us have a much-needed conversation about the intersections of important global issues such as environmental justice, sexual and reproductive rights and health, and gender equity. And the World Cup is the perfect moment to do just that.

In countries around the world, women, girls, and other marginalized populations have used soccer to mobilize and instill a sense of teamwork, self-worth and empowerment. Soccer can serve as a catalyst for community and behavioral changes on and off the field – particularly when it comes to gender roles. Coaches and more seasoned players can become mentors. And competition can create strong bonds and unified determination.

When these elements of the game are applied to other sectors of life, it can translate into big gains for global health. For example, this video by Global Girl Media discusses how a local soccer league in South Africa incorporates HIV prevention education into their sports program. The best part? The video was produced by young girls who receive media training so they can tell the stories that impact them and their communities.

And this effect isn’t limited to South Africa. In my hometown, San Diego, California, World Cup fever has inspired new and dynamic conversations about the links between family planning and the environment. So, on July 6th, I hosted a workshop with the San Diego Regional Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition titled “Sex, Soccer and Everything in Between” to discuss examples like Global Girl Medias work.

The event featured meaningful conversations about the opportunities and challenges globalization raises, especially for womens health and the environment. It was okay not to be an expert on these often complicated issues – the mere exchange of opinions and experiences enabled the group to become more invested, involved, and innovative. We discussed that when women and young girls feel self determined, recognized and engaged (feelings which result from playing sports such as soccer, according to the personal experiences of many attendees, including myself), it facilitates goal setting and planning for more successful futures. For girls, that may mean training to play in a tournament or pursue an education. For women of childbearing age, that can mean the ability to exercise their right to choose when and how to have a family. And for everyone, that can mean exercising our ability to plan how to use environmental resources for our future. Regardless, sharing common goals is powerful (pun shamelessly intended).

Now, Im not going to claim that the World Cup is without its faults- it can be male-centric at times, and is far from perfect. But despite the fact that, for the most part, sports across the world are often considered male territory. We should not deny ourselves the opportunity to reflect on how this sport can make a difference in the lives and health of women, families, and communities all over the world. Instead, we should pluck it from the air with the strength and grace of your favorite goalie.

adsense

Read more:
The World Cup May Be Over, But The Conversations Just Getting Started

In June, IWHC and Sierra Club co-hosted an advocacy training in San Francisco . As part of the training, participants were encouraged to host related events in their own communities. The following post was written by Rosemari Ochoa, one of the training participants who went on to host an event in San Diego, California. For the past month, the world has crowded around televisions to watch the World Cup

In June, IWHC and Sierra Club co-hosted an advocacy training in San Francisco. As part of the training, participants were encouraged to host related events in their own communities. The following post was written by Rosemari Ochoa, one of the training participants who went on to host an event in San Diego, California.

For the past month, the world has crowded around televisions to watch the World Cup. Bars and cafes were full of people dancing to Shakiras Waka Waka song and trying to pronounce players last names from countries they cant place on a map.
Soccer at this level begets competition, camaraderie, athleticism, national unity and international curiosity. But, I think on a smaller, more grassroots scale, soccer can also help us have a much-needed conversation about the intersections of important global issues such as environmental justice, sexual and reproductive rights and health, and gender equity. And the World Cup is the perfect moment to do just that.

In countries around the world, women, girls, and other marginalized populations have used soccer to mobilize and instill a sense of teamwork, self-worth and empowerment. Soccer can serve as a catalyst for community and behavioral changes on and off the field – particularly when it comes to gender roles. Coaches and more seasoned players can become mentors. And competition can create strong bonds and unified determination.

When these elements of the game are applied to other sectors of life, it can translate into big gains for global health. For example, this video by Global Girl Media discusses how a local soccer league in South Africa incorporates HIV prevention education into their sports program. The best part? The video was produced by young girls who receive media training so they can tell the stories that impact them and their communities.

And this effect isn’t limited to South Africa. In my hometown, San Diego, California, World Cup fever has inspired new and dynamic conversations about the links between family planning and the environment. So, on July 6th, I hosted a workshop with the San Diego Regional Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition titled “Sex, Soccer and Everything in Between” to discuss examples like Global Girl Medias work.

The event featured meaningful conversations about the opportunities and challenges globalization raises, especially for womens health and the environment. It was okay not to be an expert on these often complicated issues – the mere exchange of opinions and experiences enabled the group to become more invested, involved, and innovative. We discussed that when women and young girls feel self determined, recognized and engaged (feelings which result from playing sports such as soccer, according to the personal experiences of many attendees, including myself), it facilitates goal setting and planning for more successful futures. For girls, that may mean training to play in a tournament or pursue an education. For women of childbearing age, that can mean the ability to exercise their right to choose when and how to have a family. And for everyone, that can mean exercising our ability to plan how to use environmental resources for our future. Regardless, sharing common goals is powerful (pun shamelessly intended).

Now, Im not going to claim that the World Cup is without its faults- it can be male-centric at times, and is far from perfect. But despite the fact that, for the most part, sports across the world are often considered male territory. We should not deny ourselves the opportunity to reflect on how this sport can make a difference in the lives and health of women, families, and communities all over the world. Instead, we should pluck it from the air with the strength and grace of your favorite goalie.

adsense

View original post here:
The World Cup May Be Over, But The Conversations Just Getting Started

Its the BIG game! The final countdown! The end of the road! Can the Netherlands, with an amazing sexuality education program on its side, beat out Spain, the country determined to encourage all of Europe to protect women from domestic violence?! It will take 90 minutes (plus those mysterious penalty minutes) of running, kicking, sweating, and cheering for us to find out whos taking home the 2010 World Cup. . . but in the meantime, heres one last womens health fact for each of the final two countries!

Spain vs. Netherlands

Under a new law, teenage girls aged 16 and 17 can access abortion services in Spain without parental consent.

Its been reported that the Netherlands has thelowest HIV transmission rate from sex and drug use in the world.

adsense

See the original post:
Goals for Womens Health: July 11th Matches

Bad news: U.S.A, England, Korea Republic and Mexico are all out of the race. Good news: There’s still SO much more World Cup nail-biting to come, and as long as that keeps up, we’ll continue giving you the facts on women’s health around the world! Today’s matches are:

Netherlands vs. Slovakia

Not only is emergency contraception available in the Netherlands, its considered a part of the national family planning program, and its cost is covered by the national health insurance system!

Groups like the European Roma Rights Centre are working to get the Slovakian government to recognize and compensate Roma women who underwent forced sterilization in that country.

Brazil vs. Chile

IWHC partner Curumim has worked with over 2,500 midwives and 3,000 health professionals to help ensure that Brazilian women, especially those with few resources, have knowledgeable, reliable care when giving birth.

Since becoming President of Chile in 2006, Michelle Bachelet established government-run domestic violence shelters in her country and ensured that women would be allowed to breast feed at work.

adsense

See original here:
Goals for Womens Health: June 28th Matches

Krishna Bharat, founder of Google News, told an industry conference last week that it was the search giant’s “editorial responsibility” to protect hard news’ place in a more personalised news agenda. I think people care about what other people are interested in, most importantly in their social circle (…) but beyond that the world at large. I think there is an influential, intellectual component to our audience that cares very much about getting the hard news of the day.

Krishna Bharat, founder of Google News, told an industry conference last week that it was the search giant’s “editorial responsibility” to protect hard news’ place in a more personalised news agenda.

I think people care about what other people are interested in, most importantly in their social circle (…) but beyond that the world at large. I think there is an influential, intellectual component to our audience that cares very much about getting the hard news of the day. I don’t think there is a risk of us personalising so much that we keep the hard news out the picture. We have an editorial responsibility not to do that.

Chris Horrie from the University of Winchester’s journalism school was at the the IJ-7 ‘Innovation Journalism’ conference at Stanford University last week and grabbed Bharat for a quick interview afterwards, in which the head of Google News gave his advice to journalists on writing for the web and search engines:

Similar Posts:

• Paul Gambaccini: BBC Radio 1 fails to recognise its ‘incredible responsibility’ by keeping Moyles in a job
• Journalism students collaborate on election night coverage using Skype and Livestream
• Kevin Kelleher: ‘Does Google even understand what news is?’
• OUT-LAW.com: Google not liable for defamation in snippets, rules Eady
• Daily Finance: Some journalism graduates are finding journalism jobs

adsense

Excerpt from:
Google News founder says aggregator has responsibility to protect hard news

It is the 100 metres of the TV Factual Olympics. General election night. The three main news broadcasters BBC, ITN and Sky News vie to get results to the nation first

It is the 100 metres of the TV Factual Olympics. General election night. The three main news broadcasters BBC, ITN and Sky News vie to get results to the nation first. A month on, the election editors of Sky News and the BBC appeared at last night’s Media Society event in London entitled ‘Who won the TV election?‘

The BBC won the greater share of the audience on 6 May. They always do. But John McAndrew, editor of the Sky News offering was there to claim journalistic credit for being not just first but clearest on screen. His was deliberately not a heavily studio anchored show: “We knew what the BBC would do and we aimed off for that,” McAndrew said. He had surprising support from one member of the audience the BBCs former political correspondent Nicholas Jones. Jones had switched over early. Sky News, McAndrew said, went with plenty of straight news and little comment.

The David Dimbleby programme on the BBC was at the other end of the spectrum. There were virtual reality graphics aplenty from Jeremy Vine and scores of outside broadcasts. Craig Oliver, their editor, was at last night’s event to defend their coverage, or at least try to. He had a near impossible job when it came to the now notorious ‘ship of fools‘, a BBC barge moored in the Thames full of celebrities giving their take on the election. Not many of those at the event felt that Joan Collins or Bruce Forsyth ‘added to the sum total of human knowledge’, as one audience member succinctly put it. Another pointed out that the 70,000 allegedly spent on the boat (the only cost figure mentioned on a night when all were coy about what they spent) was money wasted.

Oliver was on surer ground defending the BBC position of not calling any result until the Returning Officer had. ITN seems to jump the gun almost as a matter of principle. Oliver, who edited the ITN election programme in 2005 before defecting, was dismissive of presenter Alastair Stewarts recent tirade in the Press Gazette claiming that the BBC ‘had missed the story’. His absence from the discussion said it all according to Oliver.

Channel 4s ‘Alternative Election Night’ featuring comedians like Jimmy Carr and David Mitchell was a deliberately offpiste offering but it worked, beating ITN in the ratings. Deputy head of news and current affairs Kevin Sutcliffe was there to explain the thinking behind the format and reveal that it would be used again. Their satirical approach attracted a young demographic and twice the audience he expected, Sutcliffe said, adding that he was impressed with the (unintentionally) satirical quality of the BBC coverage.

Attracting the most audience comment last night was the stunningly accurate exit poll shared by the broadcasters and put out on the stroke of ten. It got the result right to within one seat. Some felt it destroyed the drama and made the remainder of the coverage predictable, suggesting a return to separate polls. Sue Inglish, the BBCs head of political programmes and a moving force behind the poll, was on hand to explain and defend. The sheer size and cost of the 125,000 sample poll made it impossible to do more than once. But Oliver, in a mild mea culpa, said the BBC studio gurus had been wrong to downplay the surprising exit poll results for the first hour after they were broadcast.

The event had the air of an inquest, but not a particularly rancourous one and the majority of criticism was reserved for the absent ITN. There was mostly praise for the British broadcasters for whom a 100-metre dash became a five day marathon. If the reaction in the BBC Council Chamber last night is anything to go, they had an audience satisfied with the results.

John Mair is events director of the Media Society.This event was jointly organised by the Media Society and the BBC College of Journalism

Similar Posts:

• #ge2010: Who was first-past-the-post in this year’s election coverage?
• Event news: Will 2010 be the first new media election?
• #ge2010: Inside the biggest night in broadcasting
• Election 2.0: ‘The internet is not national, it’s not local, it’s everywhere’ says Google’s DJ Collins
• AP to stream live video on US election night for first time

adsense

See original here:
Broadcast election editors go head-to-head at Media Society event

“Newspapers deserve to die,” Professor Robert Picard told delegates at the University of Wesminster / British Journalism Review Journalism’s Next Top Model conference this morning.

“Newspapers deserve to die,” Professor Robert Picard told delegates at the University of Wesminster / British Journalism Review Journalism’s Next Top Model conference this morning.

But that doesn’t mean he wants to see journalism die: it’s time to change the products and the platforms, he said. The future of journalism is dependent on journalists and other distribution platforms; not newspapers.

Picard, Hamrin Professor of Media Economics and director of the Media Management and Transformation Centre, at Jonkoping University in Sweden and fellow at the Reuters Institute in Oxford, claimed that print distribution is an expensive and inefficient way to spread news. “I think we’ll have paper for a while,” he said. For 20 years even, he guessed, but we’ll see more migration to screen.

He’s not at all nostalgic about news organisations’ bureaux spread out over the world, and says it’s time for newspapers to pool resources and become more efficient. As newspapers grew in the second half of the 20th century, they developed complex systems and bureaucracy, which has led to inefficiency, he said.

“You get very high overhead costs to support the corporations along the way, one of the big problems with success,” he said.

He encouraged news organisations to consider:

• Smaller and more agile operations
• A more entrepreneurial approach
• More innovation in products and process
• Alliances, networking and cooperation
• Multiple sources of financial funding
• Rethinking of entire business model of media and how it creates value for customers and itself

Something is wrong with the product, he said, when 40 per cent of public claim they don’t want to read the newspaper they used to read (source of stat not cited).

“I’ve been saying for 10 years – why in the world are newspaper printing stock tables?” It’s time to kill these, along with the television guides, he said, as consumers find with other ways of sourcing up-to-date information.

Stop simply reporting news and provide value to the consumer, he said. Consumer can get top ten headlines from internet services, so newspaper organisations have to provide something different than the “flow of information”.

Answering a question about the realities for newspapers, he speculated that while the Guardian is North America’s biggest news site (that it attracts the highest number of unique users in the region is a little known fact, he said), the newspaper itself (not the org, necessarily) is likely to die – along with the Independent. Newspapers don’t interest Picard at all – but saving journalism does.

Professor Picard recently sat on a panel between Arianna Huffington and Rupert Murdoch, who don’t like each other very much. Murdoch is saying we’ve got to save the business; Huffington is saying we have to destroy the business. Some place between Huffington and Murdoch’s realities is where we are, he said.

Similar Posts:

• The Media Business: What’s misunderstood in the ‘end of journalism debate’
• Business Insider: Chart of the Day – 24% of US newspapers don’t use digital delivery platforms
• Huff TV: AP meets Arianna on Charlie Rose show
• Time: Is business journalism ‘a vanishing necessity’?
• Communicate Magazine: The digital grapevine and protecting brands online

adsense

Here is the original:
#JNTM: Professor Robert Picard on why newspapers deserve to die

Nieman Journalism Lab is posting a selection of videos (those most relevant to the future of news) from a series of weekly discussions at the Berkman Center for Internet at Society .

Nieman Journalism Lab is posting a selection of videos (those most relevant to the future of news) from a series of weekly discussions at the Berkman Center for Internet at Society.

The latest features Ellen Goodman and Jake Shapiro on ‘Empowering citizens through public media’.

See the previous two at the following links and look out further posts.

David Weinberger: How information became the “dominant metaphor” of contemporary intellectual life

Jure Leskovec: How memes move, heartbeat-like, through the news

Similar Posts:

• Must-read: PEJ’s annual State of the News Media report goes live
• Mad to start freelancing in the recession? I’ve been carrying the foetus of freelancing
• Guardian relaunches blogs and commenting features
• Guardian: Thomson Reuters axes 140 journalist jobs
• Media140: Are tweets journalism?

adsense

More:
Nieman Journalism Lab: Empowering citizens through public media

JEEcamp, the online journalism enterprise and experimentation unconference, was held for the last time yesterday (Friday 21 May 2010) in Birmingham but went out with a bang with excellent and revealing speeches from Stewart Kirkpatrick, founder of the Caledonian Mercury, and Simon Waldman, former director of digital strategy for the Guardian Media Group and now group product director at LOVEFiLM . I have uploaded a few shots of the key speakers to flickr and created the slideshow below, which shows in order, JEEcamp organiser Paul Bradshaw ( @paulbradshaw ), Simon Waldman ( @waldo ), Karl Schneider ( @karlschneider ), Stewart Kirkpatrick ( @calmerc ), Mark Pack ( @markpack ), Sin Simon ( @sionsimon ) and Matt Wardman ( @mattwardman )

JEEcamp, the online journalism enterprise and experimentation unconference, was held for the last time yesterday (Friday 21 May 2010) in Birmingham but went out with a bang with excellent and revealing speeches from Stewart Kirkpatrick, founder of the Caledonian Mercury, and Simon Waldman, former director of digital strategy for the Guardian Media Group and now group product director at LOVEFiLM.

I have uploaded a few shots of the key speakers to flickr and created the slideshow below, which shows in order, JEEcamp organiser Paul Bradshaw (@paulbradshaw), Simon Waldman (@waldo), Karl Schneider (@karlschneider), Stewart Kirkpatrick (@calmerc), Mark Pack (@markpack), Sin Simon (@sionsimon) and Matt Wardman (@mattwardman).

Expect other future great events from either Paul Bradshaw and/or his students in the future.

Similar Posts:

• #JEECamp: Follow live
• #JEEcamp: Simon Waldman – developing online businesses (beyond what Google would do)
• JEEcamp: Follow the journalism enterprise ‘unconference’
• #JEEcamp: What does the election result mean for publishers and start-ups?
• #Tip of the day from Journalism.co.uk – online journalism and the law

adsense

See original here:
The last #jeecamp in pictures

Im pleased to remind you of two upcoming opportunities for those interested in the field of sexual and reproductive rights and health:

• Last week, we informed you of an upcoming advocacy training hosted by The International Women’s Health Coalition, in collaboration with the Sierra Club. Environmentalists and reproductive health advocates will gather to learn about climate change and reproductive health and human rights issues of local and global significance. The deadline to apply to this exciting session has been extended to this Friday May 21 at noon. Those that reside in the San Francisco area are especially encouraged to apply. Those who would like to attend can please submit their application to Lori Adelman at ladelman@iwhc.org, or to Kim Lovell at kimberly.lovell@sierraclub.org by Friday, May 21 at noon. The training is free, and expenses will be covered for accepted applicants. For more click here.

• The Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies (CSBR) will hold its 3^rd Annual CSBR Sexuality Institute 2010 from September 18^th and 25^th 2010 in Jakarta, Indonesia. Designed as a comprehensive curriculum on sexuality, sexual and reproductive health and rights with an in depth discussion on the linkages between research and practice, the CSBR Sexuality Institute offers a holistic interdisciplinary program combining history, theory, research and politics of sexuality with applications of advocacy, and fieldwork. The training typically attracts people from Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Applications are due no later than May 28, 2010. Click here for more information and to download the application form.

We hope youll take advantage of these exciting opportunities to hone your skills and become more involved in improving the lives of women and girls, in your community and worldwide.

adsense

Read the original here:
Announcing Two Upcoming Opportunities for Advocates in the U.S. and Beyond

The Press Complaints Commission yesterday denied it had mishandled its report into phone hacking , even though the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport select committee found the body’s findings “simplistic and surprising”. Speaking to journalists at the launch of its annual review for 2009 , its director Stephen Abell, and chair, Baroness Peta Buscombe defended the report that was condemned by the Guardian and the Media Standards Trust . Where the self-regulation body had failed, Stephen Abell said, was in explaining its function and what its powers could achieve

The Press Complaints Commission yesterday denied it had mishandled its report into phone hacking, even though the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport select committee found the body’s findings “simplistic and surprising”.

Speaking to journalists at the launch of its annual review for 2009, its director Stephen Abell, and chair, Baroness Peta Buscombe defended the report that was condemned by the Guardian and the Media Standards Trust.

Where the self-regulation body had failed, Stephen Abell said, was in explaining its function and what its powers could achieve.

But he said it had done what it set out to do: to investigate whether it had been misled in 2007 and whether incidents of phone hacking were ongoing.

“We have to be extraordinarily careful,” said Buscombe, “not to do anything that would interfere with other investigative powers, i.e. the police we’re very careful not to tread on other toes.”

The Guardian’s allegations in July 2009, however, concerned activity in 2006/7, a point Journalism.co.uk put to the PCC’s chair, Peta Buscombe and director, Stephen Abell.

“It was reported, there were claims that it was ongoing,” said Abell, with which Buscombe agreed.

“It was also a suggestion that it was ongoing at the time, it was certainly reported that way and we made clear in 2009 that’s what we were interested in,” he said.

The inquiry launched in 2009 was responding to “notions” made to the PCC that it was ongoing, said Abell.

“I have been very clear that on my watch if it was happening, if there was a whiff of it we would be onto it straight away but we would have to be exceedingly careful,” argued Buscombe.

“We can’t do things that the police can do, if we were to do that we would have to be regulated by the state, which I think is a very bad path for the press to go in,” she said.

But did the PCC consider it had been misled, considering the subsequent court settlements – with Gordon Taylor – for example?

“Were we materially misled in the context of what we were trying to do in 2007? It wasn’t the function of the PCC to duplicate the police investigation in 2007,” said Abell.

“What we did in 2007, was look prospectively not retrospectively,” he said.

Would the PCC act upon any new allegations, such as more recent ones made by the Guardian? If there was “material evidence,” said Stephen Abell. It was important not to go off “speculation,” added Buscombe.

Similar Posts:

• MediaGuardian: Alan Rusbridger resigns from PCC code committee
• Solicitor Mark Lewis considering legal action against PCC
• Independent: PCC would act on ‘a whiff’ of new phone hacking
• Comment: Two outstanding questions over phone hacking
• PCC calls for submissions to governance review

adsense

Original post:
PCC defends phone hacking report: We cant do things that the police can do

It’s Local Newspaper Week this week – an event organised by the Newspaper Society to recognise the role of newspapers in local communities.

It’s Local Newspaper Week this week – an event organised by the Newspaper Society to recognise the role of newspapers in local communities. This year’s focus is local independent journalism and holding public bodies to account.

To mark the week, we want to create a snapshot of a week’s headlines from local newspapers across the UK. We’ve kickstarted the map with a picture of Journalism.co.uk’s local newspaper the Argus in Brighton, but want your pictures of newspaper A-boards or headlines from where you are – whether you’re a journalist at that title or a local reader.

You can email the images to laura at journalism.co.uk; upload them to our Local Newspaper Week Flickr group at this link; or send them via Twitter using the hashtag #lnw to @journalismnews.

Please include where the photo was taken (village/town/city at least) so we can map it and your name if you want a mention.

View #lnw: Local Newspaper Week headlines map in a larger map

Similar Posts:

• BBC News/Flickr: The week in newspaper billboards
• Flickr and geotagging: Part of the newsgathering model?
• Wired: Flickr groups reject new video feature
• Getty teams up with Yahoo to tap into Flickr users
• Local Newspaper Week to be covered by journalist bloggers

adsense

More here:
Local Newspaper Week: Mapping a weeks local news headlines

The two day Global Voices Citizen Media Summit 2010 is about to kick off in Santiago.

The two day Global Voices Citizen Media Summit 2010 is about to kick off in Santiago.

Organisers plan to webcast from the main auditorium 6-7 May.

Global Voices, the citizen media project translated into more than 15 languages, will be hosting discussion and activity around “next generation citizen media, public access and citizen participation” at the two day event.

Global Voices Online will gather with a diverse group of bloggers, activists, technologists, journalists from around the world for two days of public discussions and workshops. A two-day internal meeting for Global Voices editors, translators and contributors will follow the public gathering.

GV is also live blogging in English and in Spanish on its site, and via Twitter (@gvsummit2010 / #gv2010).

More information at this link…

Disclaimer: I am a contributor to Global Voices Online.

Similar Posts:

• Global Voices Online: Finding alternative revenue streams as a non-profit org
• BBC Editors Blog: BBC links up with Global Voices blog network
• Press Gazette: Mapping web censorship
• Blogging for a cause leads to first prize for Global Voices in Zemanta competition
• Global Voices Online: The unmasking of NightJack as told by the UK blogs

adsense

See the rest here:
#gv2010: Follow the Global Voices Citizen Media Summit 2010

Yesterday, I had the privilege and honor of speaking at the Rethinking Virginity Conference at Harvard University. The conference was organized by Lena Chen and the Harvard Queer Students’ Association, and brought together an incredibly diverse and impressive group of feminists, who dropped some serious knowledge on all things virgin-themed

Yesterday, I had the privilege and honor of speaking at the Rethinking Virginity Conference at Harvard University. The conference was organized by Lena Chen and the Harvard Queer Students’ Association, and brought together an incredibly diverse and impressive group of feminists, who dropped some serious knowledge on all things virgin-themed. One of the most interesting parts of the panel was learning how much misinformation exists around issues of virginity, sex, and our bodies. I’ve compiled ten myths uncovered- and debunked- at yesterday’s conference:

Myth #1: The hymen is THE definitive marker of virginity. There is no one physical trait that indicates virginity or sexual activity- not even the presence of a “hymen.” I put hymen in quotes because I’ve come to learn that it is really a nebulous entity. At yesterday’s conference, Professor Kathleen Kelly of Northeastern University discussed the history of the hymen and highlighted the way our understanding of the hymen has become misinformed. As she puts it:

“What we recognize as the hymen today was not always considered as such….If we trace the etymology of the word hymen from Greek through Latin to English, we can observe how the word progressively narrows in meaning, first denoting any sort of bodily membrane, then referring to the womb, and finally coming to mean almost exclusively “virginal membrane” in the early modern period. ..The hymen is an overdetermined, widely misunderstood sign precisely because it has never been a fixed part of anatomy…the hymen is both an anatomical part and a metonym.”

So the idea that there is some magical vaginal barrier that only virgins have is oversimplified at best. In part for this reason, back in December, a Swedish sexual rights group renamed the hymen the vaginal corona.

Myth #2: Valuing virginity protects girls and women. In fact, valuing virginity puts girls and women at risk of violence, abuse, and assault by members of a society that believes a woman’s worth lies in her sexual behavior. As I discussed on my panel, “Virginity: A Historical and Cultural Primter,” violations of girls’ and women’s sexual and reproductive rights and health occur every day in the name of preserving and protecting girls’ virginity, delaying sexual activity, or controlling the circumstances under which girls and women lose their virginity. From forced child marriage, female genital cutting, and breast ironing to slut-shaming to the deliberate withholding of information on reproductive and sexual health, the emphasis on preserving virginity has pernicious consequences for girls in the West and beyond. I can do without that kind of “protection” thanks very much.

Myth #3: Queer sex doesn’t “count”. As the panelists yesterday pointed out, heterosexual vaginal intercourse is often privileged above other sexual acts because of its association with reproduction (and because of good old-fashioned heteronormativity and homophobia), and so people often rely on a problematic concept of “virginity” that can exclude, marginalize, and ignore the experiences of queer folk. But yesterday’s panelists noted that it’s important for us to create and reinforce alternatives to this heteronormative penetration-focused view of virginity and how it’s “lost”. What about a female-bodied person whose sexuality does not involve being penetrated? Are her sexual experiences somehow less valid? Part of rethinking virginity has to include incorporating a more nuanced and more queer-friendly concept of sex and virginity that doesn’t serve to devalue the experience of any person or group of people.

Myth #4: You can only “lose it” once. This myth is false on a number of levels. First of all, the term “losing your virginity is problematic, as it suggests that something is inherently lost as a result of sex and therefore engages in slut shaming. Secondly, many people find the idea that you can only experience something new once to be limiting and/or oppressive. The concept of having multiple virginities was thrown around a lot yesterday- some found this concept useful and meaningful, some less so. The idea is that there’s a first time for lots of things, not just penetrative vaginal intercourse, thus, we all have multiple virginities to lose over the course of our sexual lifetimes as we take part in new sexual experiences that are meaningful to us. I find this concept useful because it’s not specific to one particular kind of behavior, and emphasizes sexuality as an ongoing journey rather than an all-or-nothing situation in which you’re either completely abstinent or fully sexually active. It also seems to make more room for queer folks whose sexuality includes being attracted to more than one sex or gender, as well as trans people who may have had sex before transitioning as one gender, but have yet to experience sex as another gender, and anyone else who has had what they define as sex in the past but feels for some reason they now approach the same activity from a new mindset or attitude.

Myth #5: Sex within marriage is the “healthiest” kind. Unfortunately, a marriage license isn’t a magical key to a “healthy” and pleasurable sex life. In fact, sex within marriage is not even always consensual, and sadly, rape occurs within the institution of marriage every day. Remaining a virgin until marriage doesn’t guarantee a “healthy” sex life any more than having sex before marriage does.

Myth #6: There’s one universal definition of sex. This one’s also false. In fact, when about 50 conference participants sat down to define sex for themselves, about 50 different definitions were created. Some people thought oral sex should be considered sex, and some people didn’t. Some people thought the context of the situation determined whether or not it was sex- for example, if proper consent was obtained for a certain act (Some survivors of forced first intercourse consider themselves to still be virgins because rape is violence, not a sex act). Others took into consideration whether or not the partners had intended to “go further” but were interrupted for some reason. Some common factors that folks seemed to take into account when deciding whether something “counts” as sex or not:
-when and how consent was obtained
-number of partners
-existence of orgasm and/or ejaculation
-length of time engaged in activity
-intentions of the people involved
Perhaps most importantly, we established that even though there are many different ideas of what “sex” is, my definition of sex and your definition of sex can coexist simultaneously. One doesn’t invalidate the other.

Myth #7: Slut-shaming plays an important social role by discouraging “risky” behavior. Slut-shaming (as opposed to educating and empowering by providing comprehensive sexuality education) doesn’t discourage risky behavior or encourage healthy sex, it simply perpetuates a culture of shame, fear, and silence around sex and sexuality that has very real and dangerous ramifications for everyone, not just girls and women. Also, it’s important to note that while feminists have talked a lot about the harmful nature of slut-shaming, virgin shaming can be just as harmful, and is something we need to actively discourage as well.

Myth #8: Teens should learn that sex is dangerous so they won’t put themselves at risk for unwanted pregnancy and/or STIs. This myth is so pervasive that the United States government has bought into it: all federally funded sex ed is currently obligated by law to teach that sex before marriage will do psychological, physical, and emotional harm. This argument is often grounded in pseudo scientific studies about oxytocin that claim the release of oxytocin makes casual sex emotionally difficult for women. Sex educator Meagara Bell put it quite well yesterday when she said, “The oxytocin myth is an absurd pseudoscientific rationale for a moral stance.” Why are we traumatizing the next generation with misinformation and scare tactics? Let’s stop policing people’s sexualities and start educating them to make informed decisions about their bodies and their lives.

Myth #9: Teens don’t want to talk about sex with their parents. As the ever-sharp Shelby Knox pointed out, surveys consistently show that teens would prefer to receive sexuality education from their parents. And when you don’t have a community that supports you, no amount of sex ed in the world will suffice.

Myth #10: There is no such thing as sex-positive abstinence. This myth is sometimes even found in feminist circles when people assume that abstinence can’t be taught as part of a comprehensive sexuality curriculum. This is false. When included as part of a comprehensive and factually accurate program, abstinence can and should be taught as an excellent method of birth control and STI prevention, as well as a valid and legitimate choice for sexual beings of any age. In fact, this is a crucial part of any sex positive curriculum.The unfortunate prevalence of this myth is indicative of a much greater need for inclusivity and sex positivity in sexuality education: now that we know that our ideas and experiences about sex and virginity aren’t as simple as they seem, sexuality education programs really need to catch up and become more inclusive of a fluid range of experiences, sexualities, and attitudes about sex.

adsense

Here is the original post:
10 Myths About Sex and Virginity- Debunked

Non-violent activism is not reported enough in the media, which focuses on violence in too much of its language and reportage, Richard Keeble, Professor of Journalism at the University of Lincoln, argued yesterday in a Coventry Conversation event at Coventry University entitled “Give Peace Journalism a Chance!” “ Peace journalism is solution-orientated. It gives a voice to the voiceless

Non-violent activism is not reported enough in the media, which focuses on violence in too much of its language and reportage, Richard Keeble, Professor of Journalism at the University of Lincoln, argued yesterday in a Coventry Conversation event at Coventry University entitled “Give Peace Journalism a Chance!”

“Peace journalism is solution-orientated. It gives a voice to the voiceless. It’s attempting to humanise the enemy and exposing lies on all sides, highlighting peace initiatives and focusing on the invisible effects of violence, such as psychological trauma,” he said.

Keeble attacked the traditional media, for acting as propaganda for war, rather than a resolution promoter, but stressed the importance of alternative media in promoting peace journalism.

“Part of the critique is the critique of the language of the media and one of the things that always amazes me, is the way in which the metaphor of war is everywhere … there’s all different kinds of ways in which alternative citizen journalists are challenging the professional monopoly of this word journalism, and I celebrate them enormously.”

Talking about the exposure of war, Keeble said: “It is the responsibility of journalists to expose the truth.”

“You are not being told to be objective,” he added. “There’s no way in which X can be balanced with Y, because what about A, B, C and D and everything else in between? The whole notion of balance is problematic, isn’t it?”

Similar Posts:

• Is World Journalism in Crisis? The podcasts
• National Press Club to permit ‘citizen journalist’ members
• Crisis or no crisis? Speakers divided on whether the journalism glass has anything left in it
• Pro-am journalism site Demotix gets facelift
• Innovations in Journalism – Fromdistance

adsense

Read more from the original source:
Could peace journalism offer a future for news media?

On Wednesday, Radio 6 Music presenters Liz Kershaw and Gideon “the Guv’nor” Coe presented their arguments against the proposed sacking of Radio 6 in a Coventry University event, “Save us from Mark Thompson!” Plans to axe the digital radio station as part of a strategic review by the BBC’s executive were leaked to the Times in February – costing a BBC manager their job, it was reported this week . All of the changes proposed by the review are being assessed by the BBC Trust, which is running a public consultation on the plans

On Wednesday, Radio 6 Music presenters Liz Kershaw and Gideon “the Guv’nor” Coe presented their arguments against the proposed sacking of Radio 6 in a Coventry University event, “Save us from Mark Thompson!”

Plans to axe the digital radio station as part of a strategic review by the BBC’s executive were leaked to the Times in February – costing a BBC manager their job, it was reported this week. All of the changes proposed by the review are being assessed by the BBC Trust, which is running a public consultation on the plans.

The state of economy and the necessity to cut costs and spend more efficiently was underlined, with the two presenters arguing that they are in favour of music that is part of the British national identity and such playlists are only available within the BBC. Without the platform for this kind of music, it will disappear, the said.

Kershaw said: “I observe waste every day I go into the BBC. I observe waste on building costs, on transport costs, on inflated fees for some particular people. I feel this as a licence fee payer as well, and I’m quite horrified at the amount of money that doesn’t go into programmes.”

Coe said: “I think with all these processes (…) there’s a certain amount of shifting the ground that goes on and in terms of what the Trust come up with as well, there are three potential solutions: one is nuclear; one is don’t do that; but there may be something in between where 6 Music continues.”

Views on the future of 6 Music are being sought by the BBC Trust and can be sent by email to consultation at bbc.co.uk before 25 May.

Similar Posts:

• BBC Trust launches ‘its largest’ TV service review – into BBC One, BBC Two and BBC Four
• BBC review of online activities: a better deal for local media?
• Times Online: BBC to cut web pages by half?
• Telegraph: Cap lawyers’ success fees in libel cases at 10 per cent, says Jack Straw
• Editors Weblog: French government considering ‘Google tax’

adsense

Here is the original post:
Cutting BBCs waste could save 6 Music, say presenters

New legislation important step in securing a just and healthy life for women and girls worldwide

April 22, 2010The International Womens Health Coalition (IWHC) today lauded the introduction of the Global Sexual and Reproductive Health Act of 2010 in the House of Representatives by Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-11).

The United States has achieved remarkable successes in its international family planning and reproductive health program, and this bill would extend its leadership role on global sexual and reproductive health issues, said Rep. Clarke in a written statement. By revising existing legislation to meet current international standards, we can establish an integrated, progressive model for delivering more efficient and effective sexual and reproductive health services across the globe.

The United States is the top donor in sexual and reproductive health. The Global Sexual and Reproductive Health Act of 2010 would further strengthen U.S. foreign assistance and our global leadership in health. For example, the Act would support combining family planning services with testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, and with maternal health care. It also would promote linkages between sexual and reproductive health services, child health, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases. The Act would also seek to reduce unsafe abortion, which accounts for 13% of maternal deaths worldwide, by ensuring access to contraception and safe abortion services where permitted by local law.

“Access to contraception and safe abortion services is fundamental to a woman’s ability to exercise her rights to control her body, to self-determination, and to maintain her health,” said Adrienne Germain, President, International Womens Health Coalition. In the 21st century no woman should die or suffer the traumas of an unsafe or illegal abortion.

Providing the full menu of services that women and young people need is not only the right thing to do, its the smart thing to do, said Germain.

adsense

See the rest here:
Global Sexual And Reproductive Health Act Of 2010 Introduced In Congress

The past two weeks have seen staff and students from Coventry University discovering the sights and sounds of the Peoples Republic of China. Among the group here on an exchange programme organised by the university and its Chinese partner, Zhejiang University of Media and Communications (ZUMC), are 11 journalism students who have been reporting online at cutoday.wordpress.com a blog started in March 2008 that has so far generated 60,000-plus hits

The past two weeks have seen staff and students from Coventry University discovering the sights and sounds of the Peoples Republic of China. Among the group here on an exchange programme organised by the university and its Chinese partner, Zhejiang University of Media and Communications (ZUMC), are 11 journalism students who have been reporting online at cutoday.wordpress.com a blog started in March 2008 that has so far generated 60,000-plus hits.

Last week I attended the Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai International Circuit in order to produce a live report for the blog. I was there as a guest of the BMW Sauber Team and despite a disappointing turn of events for the Swiss competitors the day was a great opportunity for me.

I was unsure how best to approach the live feed at first. I am familiar with the workings of hard news reporting and feature writing, but I’ve never had to produce a blow-by-blow account of a live event. I decided to adopt a relaxed, conversational approach, but also make every effort to post relevant information for the readers benefit.

Vikki Howe, a final year journalism student at Coventry University, continually monitored the TV screens and live timing feeds in the BMW Sauber hospitality suite. This allowed me to focus entirely on my short, concise post entries. BBC Radio 5 Live and the BBC Sport website turned out to be very useful sources for fact checking.

It was an interesting experience, and the reaction from readers was favourable, with a number of people sending me emails of congratulations and, more importantly, recommending the blog to others.

Live reporting, I found out, is fast. At times I felt like the speed of my reporting needed to match the speeds being set on the track. Well, perhaps not quite that fast, but you get the idea.

Similar Posts:

• Coventry students reporting live from annual ‘Play the Game’ conference
• NOTW’s reporting on Max Mosley was out of context and unethical, says undercover reporter
• Whatever the platform, whatever the technology, it’s the stories, stupid!
• Is World Journalism in Crisis? The podcasts
• Reportr.net: Innovative funding led to ‘Ghana:Digital Dumping’ film

adsense

Go here to see the original:
Journalism student tries high-speed live reporting at Chinese Grand Prix

This past weekend, I attended the Civil Liberties and Public Policy (CLPP) 2010 Reproductive Justice Conference at Hampshire College in western Massachusetts. The conference theme was “From Abortion Rights to Social Justice: Building the Movement for Reproductive Freedom.” The conference, now in its 24th year, brings together over 1,000 advocates for an abortion speak out and a series of panels, presentations, and performances.

This past weekend, I attended the Civil Liberties and Public Policy (CLPP) 2010 Reproductive Justice Conference at Hampshire College in western Massachusetts. The conference theme was “From Abortion Rights to Social Justice: Building the Movement for Reproductive Freedom.” The conference, now in its 24th year, brings together over 1,000 advocates for an abortion speak out and a series of panels, presentations, and performances. Events spanned a busy three days, and I’m finding it hard to process everything I experienced during that time. But I’d like to share my impressions of one key experience and one of my favorite aspects of the conference: the abortion speak out.

On Friday evening, the conference kicked off with an abortion speak out, a space for people who have had abortions to share their stories in a safe and supportive environment. In this session, dozens of women shared their stories with a packed gymnasium of hundreds of audience members. No cameras were allowed, as it was meant to be a safe space where women could share their stories without unwanted public attention or stigma.

For me, this experience really reinforced the value of storytelling for movement-building. Even though I have been a pro-choice advocate for years, I was deeply moved by the power of the stories women chose to share about their own abortion experiences, and left the speak out feeling even more pro-choice than ever, if that’s possible. It was very motivating to hear the stories of so many women who have been made to feel so much shame about their decision to undergo a fairly common and safe healthcare procedure.

I was particularly struck by the wide range of women and experiences that were presented at the speak out. Speakers ranged in age from 15 to 50+ years old and represented a range of races, locations, professions, styles, socio-economic classes, and pretty much every other factor you can think of.

Despite this diversity, there was also a common thread among the speakers. Although not everyone touched on this aspect, many speakers spoke of the shame they felt, before, during, and after the procedure, and of the importance of supportive doctors, nurses, caretakers, and governments to their safety and health. They also consistently mentioned a part of their life that was changed in some way by their decision to have an abortion. Many mentioned school that they were able to finish as a result of the procedure, or children that they were better able to support and raise after deciding not to carry this particular pregnancy to term. This was one of the most powerful aspects of the event; I left the gymnasium with the knowledge that my work at IWHC and the work of the reproductive justice movement at large is work that is empowering women to live more safely, more healthily, and more freely.

For more on the importance of access to safe abortion worldwide, I encourage you to read IWHC’s factsheet “Access to Safe Abortion is a Human Right.”

adsense

More here:
Abortion Speak Out at Reproductive Justice Conference Reinforces the Value of Storytelling for Social Change

Freelance journalist John Keenan reports from last night’s Brighton Future of News meetup. This post originally appeared on his blog.

Freelance journalist John Keenan reports from last night’s Brighton Future of News meetup. This post originally appeared on his blog.

As the general election lumbers ineluctablyinto view, householders across the United Kingdom must brace themselves for an avalanche of political leaflets. But hold on a minute before you binthe bumf.

According Richard Pope, web designer and political provocateur, there is a mine of unintended information in the annoying pamphlets littering your doormat. Pope told the meeting of the Brighton Future of News Group (BFONG) at the Skiff last night that careful monitoring of such material can prevent politicians getting away with murder.

Pope’s election leaflet project, The Straight Choice, is an attempt to turn the propaganda back on the spin doctors. He outlined a number of ways that journalists (and by implication any engaged citizen) can use leaflets to dig out inconvenient truths. Among these were:

1. Track down ‘fake supporters’. Pope highlighted how a supposed group of British National Party members featured in one leaflet were, in fact, a group of Italian models whose photo the BNP had lifted from another source.
2. Follow the money. A close reading of the small print detailing where the leaflet was printed can lead you to often surprising information about political donors.
3. Spot the spoof: in a desperate attempt to snare your attention, the parties will dress up their dreary slogans as gossip magazine fodder. And you thought photos of celebs in front of their mantelpieces were dodgy – you ain’t seen nothing yet.
4. Capture the contradictions. We all know that politicians of every stripe will promise the moon in order to get elected. But they trust us to forget about their lunar pledges as soon as we have tossed aside the handbill. Pope’s website aims to keep them on message and under the microscope.
5. Splat the stats. It is amusing and instructive to compare the surreal use of statistics as politicians play the numbers game to support any policy they choose.

Pope was candid over his desire to see a party official lose a job over a gaffe highlighted by his website. A more measured ambition is to improve the quality of political debate – moving it away from gratuitous character attacks to sensible arguments over policy.

Don’t fret, however, if you are not deluged with leaflets in the coming weeks; this simply means that you live in an area where a donkey with the right rosette would find itself in Westminster.

As Dan Wilson, who is campaigning for Nancy Platts in the Brighton Pavilion constituency, told the meeting, the prime purpose of leafleting is to gather names and addresses of each party’s supporters so they can get the vote out on the day. “I’m not convinced that the Argus wields political influence,” he said, sucking the air out of the room.

Brighton Future of News group was founded by Journalism.co.uk’s Judith Townend and journalist/blogger Sarah Booker. Find out more at this link. You can see tweets from last night at this link.

Similar Posts:

• Future of News meet-up spreads to West Midlands, Brighton and (maybe) Scotland
• UK Future of News gets local
• New meet-up group organised to discuss the future of news
• Brighton Argus launches parliamentary candidate tracker
• Future of News meet-ups in Brighton and Birmingham

adsense

Read the original:
Brighton Future of News: telling the election straight

Join Rachel Colensos hike up Lions Head to raise funds for Rape Crisis Cape Town Date: Sunday, 20 December 2009 Time: 3:30pm We have a late afternoon start to enjoy an evening view from the summit. Place: Meet at the car par at the guards hut on Lions Head Ascent Cost: R25 per person (Funds raised will be used to buy airtime for the 24-hour crisis line and to prepare care packs for rape survivors) Route type: Historic, scenic, rocky, steep, exposed, viewing point for Cape Town Harbour, scrambling Grade: Challenging There are two possible options to the summit. Both start at the same point and encircle to peak

See more here:
Make every step count

Weve gotten wind of some important happenings this Thursday: rallies at the Ugandan Consulate in New York and the Ugandan Embassy in DC to protest the anti-homosexuality law currently under consideration in the Ugandan parliament. LGBQ rights in Uganda face enough threats as it is.Carnal knowledge against the order of nature is already criminalized in Uganda under the penal code, which has been used to prosecute and discriminate against LGBQ Ugandans. Yet, the new bill would specifically target homosexuality and LGBQ citizens and significantly up the stakes. Under the new law charges of aggravated homosexuality (which includes serial offenders and people living with HIV/AIDS) could be punished with the death penalty. The bill also greatly expands the class of actions that could be considered criminal, from simply touching someone with homosexual intent to the concerning criminalization of promotion of homosexuality, which would effectively outlaw queer organizing, to a significant fine up to 3 years imprisonment for failing to report known illegal activity. This bill represents an unconscionable attack on the sexual rights of LGBQ Ugandans and their allies. Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) has issued a global call for action between November 9th and December 10th. Protests are so far scheduled in Copenhagen, Ottowa, Pretoria, and the US. Were throwing our support in with African Services Committee, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, Human Rights Watch, Health GAP, Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project, and others and heading to Consulate Thursday to show our support for basic human rights

Weve gotten wind of some important happenings this Thursday: rallies at the Ugandan Consulate in New York and the Ugandan Embassy in DC to protest the anti-homosexuality law currently under consideration in the Ugandan parliament.

LGBQ rights in Uganda face enough threats as it is.Carnal knowledge against the order of nature is already criminalized in Uganda under the penal code, which has been used to prosecute and discriminate against LGBQ Ugandans. Yet, the new bill would specifically target homosexuality and LGBQ citizens and significantly up the stakes. Under the new law charges of aggravated homosexuality (which includes serial offenders and people living with HIV/AIDS) could be punished with the death penalty. The bill also greatly expands the class of actions that could be considered criminal, from simply touching someone with homosexual intent to the concerning criminalization of promotion of homosexuality, which would effectively outlaw queer organizing, to a significant fine up to 3 years imprisonment for failing to report known illegal activity.

This bill represents an unconscionable attack on the sexual rights of LGBQ Ugandans and their allies. Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) has issued a global call for action between November 9th and December 10th. Protests are so far scheduled in Copenhagen, Ottowa, Pretoria, and the US. Were throwing our support in with African Services Committee, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, Human Rights Watch, Health GAP, Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project, and others and heading to Consulate Thursday to show our support for basic human rights.

If youre in New York: Thursday, November 19, 12:30 PM, Uganda House, 336 East 45th St.

If youre in Washington, DC: Thursday, November 19, 2 pm, Ugandan Embassy, 5911 16th Street, NW.

Click here to read more about IWHCs work to advance, protect, and promote womens and young peoples sexual rights.

Click here to view the IGLHRC call to action (and to contact the Ugandan parliament).

Click here for the Human Rights Watch (HRW) statement “Uganda: Anti-Homosexuality Bill Threatens Liberties and Human Rights Defenders”

Click here to listen to a radio Interview with SMUG.

Read the original post:
Take a Stand: Rally Against Ugandas Anti-Homosexuality Bill Thursday

Make every step count Family hike at Smitswinkel Bay Join Rachel Colenso for a family hike to raise funds for Rape Crisis Cape Town Date: 14 November 2009 Time: 8:30 for 9 am Place: Meet at the Smitswinkel parking area Cost: R25 per person (Funds raised will be used to buy airtime for the 24-hour crisis line and to prepare care packs for rape survivors) Route type: A gentle walk, on a clear path, down a partially tree lined slope to an idyllic small bay with safe beach and paddling areas. Suitable for a family walk with children.

Make every step count

Family hike at Smitswinkel Bay

Join Rachel Colenso for a family hike to raise funds for Rape Crisis Cape Town

Date: 14 November 2009
Time: 8:30 for 9 am
Place: Meet at the Smitswinkel parking area
Cost: R25 per person
(Funds raised will be used to buy airtime for the 24-hour crisis line and to prepare care packs for rape survivors)

Route type:
A gentle walk, on a clear path, down a partially tree lined slope to an idyllic small bay with safe beach and paddling areas.
Suitable for a family walk with children.

Approximate distance: 3 km
Approximate walking time: 1hr Return
Remember: Bring swimwear, towel and picnic.
All taking part will need to have personal outdoor clothing suitable for the conditions on the day.
Walking boots for the path are recommended. A daypack will be suitable to carry your kit and food.
You will be expected to carry all your own equipment, including a personal first aid kit.

For more information contact:
Naomi Uys
Tel: 021 462 0416/082 707 6394
E-mail: naomi@hwb.co.za

Directions to Smitswinkel Bay:
Travel approximately 10km South from Simons Town harbour along the False Bay coastal road towards Cape Point.
Just before the road takes a sharp bend to the right (North East) and veers away from the coast is a parking area on the right hand side. This is the parking area for Smitswinkel Bay where we will meet.
If you miss the parking area you come to the entrance to The Cape Point Nature Reserve on the left 1.5km further along the road.

Donation details:

Please see Ways to support Rape Crisis for bank details.

Go here to see the original:
Join Rachel Colenso for hike at Smitswinkel Bay in aid of Rape Crisis

This week, IWHC co-hosted an event with the United Nations Foundation to celebrate the release of Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide , the new book by Pulitzer-Prize-winning team Nicholas D. Kristof & Sheryl WuDunn

This week, IWHC co-hosted an event with the United Nations Foundation to celebrate the release of Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, the new book by Pulitzer-Prize-winning team Nicholas D. Kristof & Sheryl WuDunn. The luncheon discussion was moderated by IWHC President Adrienne Germain and centered around global women’s health and rights and learning how to help women to empower themselves.

Stay tuned this week for more impressions of the event from IWHC staff. For now, check out this photo of the event that features Nicholas Kristoff, Sheryl WuDunn, Adrienne Germain, and Tamara Kreinin, executive director of women and population at the United Nations Foundation.

View original post here:
IWHC and UNF Host Event with Authors Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn

Friends of HWB Commmunications and Rape Crisis launched 1,000 Hearts Campiagn. The Cape Times published a few photos from the launch in the Society pages. Put your money where your hearts is and buy a heart.

Friends of HWB Commmunications and Rape Crisis launched 1,000 Hearts Campiagn. The Cape Times published a few photos from the launch in the Society pages.

View original here:
California Congressional District 29: Congressman Adam Schiff’s Health Care Town Hall

Originally posted here:
Netroots Nation: Day Two Highlights

Last weekend, MOMocrats Cynematic, LawyerMama, PunditMom, Julie and I traveled to Pittsburgh to take part in the annual Netroots Nation Conference. We spent four days attending panels, plenary sessions, and parties, and participated as speakers on two panels. It was an exhausting and exhilarating time, and we could go on for days about the great people we met and the stories we heard.

I wanted to share some of the highlights of my first day at Netroots.

The Myth of Post-Racial America Panel

This discussion, led by Keith Kamisugi, focused on the myth that since America has elected an African-American President, we are now in a “post-racial” period. The first part of the panel was a screening of a part of the film “9500 Liberty,” made by panelist filmmaker Annabel Park, whose documentary delves into a community initiative in Prince William County, Virginia to allow racial profiling, specifically of anyone suspected of being in the United States illegally. She said that when they started making the film, she and her co-producer, Eric Byler, thought that they were making a film about illegal immigrants, but it turned into a film about race and the incitement of fear into a community. The film illustrates how misinformation and agitation can take control of an issue and lead to disastrous ends.

Joining Annabel on the panel was Rinku Sen of The Applied Research Center , and Rich Benjamin, author of “Searching for Whitopia.” Rich made the point that there is a divide between the “Obamanation,” the segment of society that is happy in America’s diversity, and “Whitopia,” the segment that is fearful of others who are not white.

Rinku said that interpersonal racism is down, but institutional racism still exists. Most people, she stated, do not believe themselves to be racists and don’t self-identify as racists. Americans have the moral aspiration not to be racist, but our institutions often reinforce racism in subtle and overt ways. She mentioned the Gates incident as an example of the thinking that people just need to “talk things out” as individuals, but then we never get to the core issue of institutionalized racial profiling and the damage that it does to society.

I thought the speakers on this panel were all excellent, thought-provoking, and expressed different angles on this issue. Some of the audience tended to veer off into pontificating on various points about race without ever asking a specific question, but their input was valuable to the discussion as well. One of them made the following point, “If you want to end racism in this country, look at changing yourself first.”

Women’s Caucus

The women’s caucus offered a lively discussion of healthcare reform and how it is a women’s issue, women in politics, equal pay, and how feminism is perceived in the mainstream. There were a number of young women in attendance representing the She Should Run initiative, sponsored by the Women’s Campaign Forum. Sam Bennett, CEO of the the WCF, stated that women often wait to be asked to run and feel unqualified, whereas many man volunteer, regardless of qualifications. She encouraged everyone to fill out a card nominating a woman they know to run for office.

Parents’ Caucus

We met up with Elisa Batista of MotherTalkers and a group of other parents at the Pittsburgh Hard Rock Cafe for an informal lunch to talk about issues faced by parents. Health Reform was the big topic of the day, and many people shared their own stories of health care coverage (and non-coverage). Elisa did a great write-up of the event over at MotherTalkers, which I encourage you to read.

Jennifer Brunner

We were fortunate to be invited to have coffee with Jennifer Brunner, former Ohio Secretary of State and candidate for the US Senate. When I told my husband I had the chance to meet her, he said, “Oh, I know her. She’s the woman who actually counted all the votes in Ohio for a change.”

Even though in my household, we hold her up as a heroine for doing so, she took a great deal of flack for some of her actions in the 2008 presidential election from the GOP and right-wing pundits. She talked about that experience, and her decision to run for Senate. I asked her what I should tell my family who live in Ohio about her, and why they should vote for her. She answered, “Tell them, I have a track record of getting things done for the people of Ohio.”

We were joined in the meeting by Jill Miller Zimon, herself a candidate for public office in Ohio, and Tracy Viselli of Reno and Its Discontents, one of our favorite blogs and bloggers.

Keynote by Bill Clinton

After a dinner in the hotel restaurant, we headed down to the Keynote Address, delivered by former President Bill Clinton. Clinton talked primarily about health care reform, and stated that “the worst thing we can do is maintain the status quo.”

When challenged by a member of the audience about the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy regarding gays in the military, Clinton went off-message, and delivered a heated response about why things happened the way they happened in the 1990′s, on both Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell and the Defense of Marriage Act. He believes both should, and will, be overturned.

Clinton was his usual self, charming, disarming, and occasionally maddening. He seemed to grasp the importance of the Netroots and what the conference was all about. The Netroots seem to have a love/hate relationship with Clinton (or maybe that’s just me), but this particular night, it was mostly love.

More coverage of the 2009 Netroots Nation to come.

All photos Copyright Glennia Campbell. All Rights Reserved.

See the original post:
Netroots Nation: Day One Highlights