Sachini Kavindya

TikTok ousts Google to become favourite online destination

Move over Google, TikTok is the world’s new most popular online destination. The viral video app gets more hits than the American search engine, according to Cloudflare, an IT security company. The rankings show that TikTok knocked Google off the top spot in February, March and June this year, and has held the number one […]

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L’Alternative newspaper targeted by Togo’s government

After repeatedly targeting the biweekly newspaper L’Alternative in recent years with administrative sanctions, judicial proceedings and surveillance, Togo’s authorities have finally jailed its editor, Ferdinand Ayité. Attempts have often been made to intimidate Ayité during his 20 or so years as a journalist but this is the first time he has found himself in a

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AI in the newsroom: why metadata should be the focus point

2021-12-21. Artificial Intelligence is becoming an important part of many industries, but how should journalists and publishers understand it? Christopher Brennan, co-founder of Overtone.ai, spoke with researcher Carl-Gustav Lindén about why metadata, rather than automation, makes more sense as a focus. By Christopher Brennan, christopher@overtone.ai There is growing unease about people getting their news from social media, but

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World’s Press Urges Polish President to Veto Media Bill

2021-12-21. WAN-IFRA and the World Editors Forum are alarmed at the passing of a controversial media bill in Poland, which if signed into law, will have the effect of silencing critical media. If adopted, the legislation will tighten rules of foreign ownership of media and ​would make it illegal for any non-European company to hold

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How external products helped JP/Politikens Hus run a successful distribution service

2021-12-21. In Denmark, publisher-owned distributors disseminate more than 99 percent of newspapers. With the impending merger of distribution companies Bladkompagniet and DAO, Danish publisher JP/Politikens Hus is set to become the majority shareholder in the merged entity. Distribution is no easy business. Rising costs and troubles in staffing the operations had created challenges for several

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Cameroonian newspaper editor finally acquitted, released after 16 months

Emmanuel Mbombog Mbog Matip, a Cameroonian newspaper editor who was detained in a completely arbitrary manner for 16 months and had to spend a further week in prison after his acquittal, has finally been freed. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) welcomes his release but fears further proceedings against this journalist. The editor of the newspaper Climat Social,

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Since the Taliban takeover, 40% of Afghan media have closed, 80% of women journalists have lost their jobs

A survey by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Afghan Independent Journalists Association (AIJA) shows a radical change in the Afghan media landscape since the Taliban took power. A total of 231 media outlets have had to close and more than 6,400 journalists have lost their jobs since 15 August. Women journalists have been hit

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RSF urges Morocco not to extradite Uyghur journalist to China, where he risks torture

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urges for the release of Uyghur journalist Yidiresi Aishan, who is facing extradition to China despite the cancellation of the Interpol “red notice” calling for his arrest. On 16th December, the United Nations called on the government of Morocco to halt the extradition to China of Uyghur journalist Yidiresi Aishan, 33, citing the risk

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Zimbabwe Media Freedom Committee Takes Root

2021-12-17. The Zimbabwe MFC proposes to emphasize the importance of building extensive networks and alliances while continuing capacity building, information sharing with peers, advocacy benchmarks, connecting with community newspapers and global engagement alike. By Alex Fitoussi On Thursday December 9th, over two dozen media professionals gathered for a virtual conference on the current state of

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