9th INSI AGM to be held in Barcelona on eve of News Xchange

By INSI

The 9th Annual General Meeting of the International News Safety Institute (INSI) takes place this year in Barcelona, on 14 November at the location of News Xchange 2012.

Place: Studio 1 at W Hotel, Placa de la Rosa del Vents, Barcelona

Date: 14 November 2012

Time: 1800


Agenda

President’s Welcome

Director’s Report

Financial Report

Deputy Director/Project Manager’s Report

Training

Election of Officers

AOB

All are welcome, but only members of INSI may vote.

Fears of ‘government clampdown’ on Azeri journalists after Eurovision Song Contest

By Helena Williams

The Crystal Palace in Baku, Azerbaijan, where the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 is taking place. (Flickr/glitchfield)

The Crystal Palace in Baku, Azerbaijan, where the Eurovision Song Contest 2012 is taking place. (Flickr/glitchfield)

The safety of Azeri journalists could deteriorate after this weekend’s Eurovision Song Contest in Baku, according to local media organisations and activists.

The Institute for Reporters Freedom and Safety (IRFS), based in the capital, said that critical local journalists could be victims of a government crackdown after the international spotlight has left the oil-rich state.

“The main concern at this point is what will happen once the party is over,” said Celia Davies, of IRFS.

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International News Safety Institute update: May 2012

By Hannah Storm

Left to right: John Dalhuisen Amnesty International, Hugh Williamson Human Rights Watch,  Helena Williams International News Safety Institute, Asuncion Gomez Bueno, Canal 24 Horas TVE (EBU)

The EBU workshop in media freedom is one of the events INSI attended for World Press Freedom Day 2012 (EBU)

At the International News Safety Institute, we have just marked nine years since our launch. As we look ahead to our 10th year, we will be providing regular brief updates to help inform you of the work we’re doing at INSI, and allow you to continue with your much valued support at a time when the need for improved safety for journalists is greater than it’s ever been.

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Safety for journalists worsens ahead of Eurovision

By Helena Williams

Preparations are under way for Eurovision 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan

Preparations are under way for Eurovision 2012 in Baku, Azerbaijan (Flikr/Ecograph Galina)

The situation for journalists working in Azerbaijan is rapidly deteriorating ahead of next month’s Eurovision song contest.

On Wednesday, an award-winning investigative journalist was attacked and hospitalized after being beaten by security officers working for state-run energy firm Socar.

Witnesses said that Idrak Abbasov had been covering a protest by local residents against the oil giant’s demolition of their homes on the outskirts of the capital, Baku.

“They took his camera, bowled him over and started kicking him. He was bleeding, his head was injured and one eye was swollen,” said the journalist’s brother Roman who was recording the protest, according to the Azerbaijani news agency Turan.

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