Weekly news articles

Index on Censorship: journalists now under 'unprecedented' attack (23)

This article discusses the “unprecedented” wave of attacks that journalists around the world are facing, and the increasing hostility to the media which has led to assaults on individuals as well as press freedom. According to the article a series of crackdowns on media workers and news outlets in Europe and elsewhere has confirmed 2016 as one of the most dangerous times to be a journalist, according to the latest figures compiled by Index on Censorship. “Hostility to the media is increasing globally,” says senior advocacy officer at Index, Patry. “When the credibility and legitimacy of media outlets starts to be questioned it can easily spread and the sentiment easily becomes one of distrust.” 

The article also mentions the anti-press freedom laws introduced, in particular the recent Investigatory Powers Act in the UK, , which legalises a whole range of tools for snooping and hacking by the security services and allows the authorities to in effective identify journalists’ anonymous sources.

• As well as four murders, the Index report verified 54 incidents of physical assault, 107 arrests, 150 detentions and 112 reports of intimidation, which includes psychological abuse, sexual harassment, trolling or cyberbullying and defamation. 
• The work of journalists was censored or altered 29 times and media professionals were blocked from covering a story in 89 cases.
• More than 2,400 incidents threatening media freedom since the MMF launch in May 2014, which was launched mid concern over rising attacks on the media (Mapping media freedom)

I personally believe that the increase in attacks on journalists is a threat to freedom of press, and that we should encourage the population to value the news industry for what it is doing which is providing us with news and coverage on many issues that would otherwise go undetected.

What the latest sales figures tell us about the state of newsprint (24)

This article analyses the new statistics released by Audit Bureau of Circulations on newsprint circulation. For example the Guardian, may be at risk if it continues to lose 5% year-on-year. But, like the Financial Times, it has long been planning for a digital-only future. The gap between the Daily Mail and the Sun has also narrowed over the years and is now standing at 140,003. Similarly, there is also a struggle between the Sun on Sunday and the Mail on Sunday with the margin between them, 89,621.

Headline sales; (bulks); =total without bulks; year-on-year percentage differences

THE DAILIES

• Daily Telegraph 456,999 (20,901) =436,098 -3.79%
• The Times 437,352 (74,060) =363,292 +10.94%
• i 278,843 (68,501) =210,342 +1.53%
• Financial Times 194,152 (21,562) =172,590 -7.16%
• Guardian 157,778 -5.5%
• Daily Mail 1,510,824 (73,882) =1,436,942 -5.2%
• Daily Express 397,236 -3.4%
• The Sun 1,672,217 (95,272) =1,576,945 -7.38%
• Daily Mirror 756,142 (45,000) =711,142 -10.17%
• Daily Star 462,306 +7%

THE SUNDAYS

• Sunday Times 781,237 (75,992) =705,245 +1.96 %
• Sunday Telegraph 364,785 (24,913) = 339,872 +0.77%
• The Observer 188,65 -0.17%
• Mail on Sunday 1,315,977 (66,602) =1,249,375 -6.44%
• Sunday Express 349,220 -3.48%
• Sun on Sunday 1,437,208 (98,212) =1,338,996 -5.09%
• Sunday People 263,011 (7,000) =256,011 -12.72%
• Sunday Mirror 680,497 (45,000) =635,497 -15.03%
• Daily Star, Sunday 274,796 +1.43%

I generally do not find it surprising that there is a continuing downfall in newsprint readership as more users are opting for online news. However, the rises and falls in certain newspapers is quite interesting and something to look out for.