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Press Freedom Panel Discussion at Frontline Club in London
Next Wednesday, May 8, the Frontline Club in London is convening a panel of media professionals who are working to preserve press freedom and combatting the forces that endanger reporters and photographers. More details below and on the Frontline Club Web site.
Across the world everyday journalists face injuries, kidnappings and death in the line of their work. In the majority of cases the perpetrators are not brought to justice and this evading of punishment often leads to self censorship by other journalists.
Reporting on corruption, crime, conflict, politics and human rights is crucial in society, but how can we better protect the journalists doing this work?
Following World Press Freedom Day we will be bringing together some of the key players that are working on tackling impunity, to discuss the level of the problem and the work they are doing to combat it.
Chaired by Peter Horrocks, the director of BBC Global News, responsible for leading the BBC’s international news services across radio, television and new media. He has worked at the BBC since 1981.
The panel:
Heather Blake is the UK Director for Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontières) and an affiliate to Pembroke College, Oxford University, Changing Character of War programme.
Elisabeth Witchel is a Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) consultant, she served for many years as the organisation’s journalist assistance coordinator. She launched CPJ’s Global Campaign Against Impunity.
Aidan Sullivan is a photographer, picture editor and vice president of Getty Images. He is the director of the Ian Parry Scholarship and founder of the campaign A Day Without News?.
(Graphic: Reporters Without Borders)
Swirling around Saturn’s north pole is a hurricane 1,250 miles wide, or 20 times larger than your average hurricane on earth. NASA’s Cassini spacecraft recently captured the stunning photos above of the rather photogenic storm.
NASA Grabs Incredible Footage of Saturn Storm
via Ohimamonster
Prince Harry photographed by Robert Wilson appears on the cover of this new biography by Marcia Moody.
Trailer: “God’s Ivory”
“The ivory trade of today is all about power and elitism,” says Reportage photographer Brent Stirton. Together with filmmaker Andrew Hida, Mr. Stirton and National Geographic contributing writer Bryan Christy examine the institutions that continue to sustain the world ivory trade. A trailer is above and the full 14-minute video can be seen in the latest issue of Reportage’s online magazine.
Mr. Stirton continues:
With the main product, religious icons, being traded for huge sums there’s a lot at stake,” Brent continues. “And it goes all the way to the top. There’s massive corruption and yet, because it’s a matter of religion, it’s not being challenged.
It seems that some people of religion have placed devotion ahead of decimation. They’re putting vanity ahead of the consequences. And surely that’s against the central tenets of all scripture?
Video by Reportage by Getty Images
Yesterday’s news of a deadly building collapse near Dhaka, Bangladesh, comes five months after a horrific fire at similar facility, which also housed factories making clothing for European and American consumers. The earlier incident, in which over 100 people died in a blaze at Tazreen Fashions Limited, inspired photographer Abir Abdullah to document the dangerous working conditions in Bangladesh’s garment industry. In March, his project, “The Deadly Cost of Cheap Clothing,”was awarded the Alexia Foundation professional grant to help him continue this work.
Read more about Abir’s project on the Alexia Foundation’s Web site.
CAPTION: More than 100 people were killed after a devastating fire took place at Tazreen Fashions Limited garment factory at Nischintapur, in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh, late on Nov. 24, 2012. (Photo by Abir Abdullah/Courtesy of the Alexia Foundation)
(Source: reportagebygettyimages)
Honoring Chris Hondros
by Jonathan Klein
Today – as we have every day since April 20, 2011 – we remember our friend and colleague, photojournalist Chris Hondros.
Chris was killed two years ago while covering the uprising against Libya’s dictatorial regime, falling in the same attack that claimed his friend and fellow photojournalist, Tim Hetherington. Since that day, Chris’ indelible spirit and influence have sparked needed conversations about the importance of protecting journalists in conflict zones, inspired emerging and veteran photojournalists alike and affirmed the importance of a free press in society. Articles, exhibits and a book have reflected on his life and his work. And recent honors not only keep memories of Chris alive, but also increase his reputation for extraordinary talent, professionalism and humanity. On Sunday, April 21, 2013, Chris will be inducted into the University of North Carolina Journalism Hall of Fame. How fitting.
I was fortunate to get to know Chris well over the more than a decade that we worked together. He was a truly special person with great values and a deep well of empathy and humanity that has had a lasting impact on me. I have a photo of Chris next to my desk, both to remind me of him everyday and also to ensure that we do not forget the critical importance of what he was doing when he died and our obligation to continue that critical work.
At Getty Images, we honor Chris with our ongoing support of The Chris Hondros Fund, the nonprofit established to celebrate his life and work and to encourage other photojournalists who approach their profession with the art, passion, ethics and humanity that are evident in Chris’ photographs. In June, the photojournalism community will gather in New York City for a benefit to raise funds to continue this work and to honor the recipients of this year’s Getty Images and Chris Hondros Fund Award for Photojournalism.
If you value the unique role of independent photojournalists – those who will put their own safety at risk to be society’s witness to the key events of our time, please join us in supporting the Chris Hondros Fund by participating in this year’s benefit or with a contribution. Your backing will help us carry on, full of the hope and humanity that emanates from Chris’ work, and which inspires all photojournalists to help us better understand our world.
Editor’s note: Jonathan Klein is CEO and Co-founder of Getty Images and a member of the Board of Directors of The Committee to Protect Journalists. See his previous posts about Chris Hondros, the importance of protecting journalists in conflict zones and the value of press freedom to society. Photo by Chris Hondros
Since 2004, the Getty Images Grants for Editorial Photography have provided funding to photojournalists working on stories all over the world. This year, five more grants will be awarded, and entries are now being accepted.
Images from previous winners shown (clockwise from top): The Other War, by Miquel Dewever-Plana; Requiem in Samba, by Alex Majoli; The E-Waste Trail, by Stanley Greene; Upstate Girls, by Brenda Ann Kenneally
Boston Deals With Aftermath Of Marathon Explosions
Photos by: Darren McCollester/Stringer/Spencer Platt/Getty Images
Using glow sticks and road flares, Sean Lenz and Kristoffer Abildgaard turned California streams into neon waterfalls. Is this not the coolest use of long exposure ever?
Glow Sticks and Long Exposures Create Neon Waterfalls
via Fubiz
