Ukraine
Eastern Ukraine continues to be a dangerous place for journalists, Reporters Without Borders reported on Tuesday. Several journalists are still missing.
The abduction of journalists is becoming more and more frequent in and around Sloviansk, the city controlled by the pro-Russian “People’s Republic of Donetsk,” while constant attacks on media and journalists throughout the region is exacerbating an intense information war.
In its report, RWB notes that on Monday, gunman took control of the airwaves in Donetsk, and on Sunday, Russian separatists did the same at another station, “and replaced its signal with that of the Russian TV station Rossya 24.”
Ethiopia
Six bloggers and three journalists have been arrested in Ethiopia, Reuters’ Aaron Maasho reported on Monday, charged with “attempting to incite violence.”
“The nine arrests signal, once again, that anyone who criticizes the Ethiopian government will be silenced,” said Leslie Lefkow, HRW’s deputy Africa director.
“The timing of the arrests – just days before the U.S. secretary of state’s visit – speaks volumes about Ethiopia’s disregard for free speech,” she said in a statement.
Committee to Protect Journalists also wrote about the arrests.
The bloggers are members of an independent collective called Zone 9, which publishes news and commentary, according to news reports. Formed in May 2012 in response to the evisceration of the independent press and the narrowing of the space for free expression, the group’s name is derived from Kality Prison, the main jail where Ethiopia’s political prisoners, including several journalists, are held, reports said. With the motto “We Blog Because We Care,” the group has voiced concerns over domestic issues, including political repression and social injustice. The Zone 9 blogs were frequently blocked inside Ethiopia, but gained a following with Ethiopians in the diaspora, according to local reports.
Italy
The International Journalism Festival begins Wednesday, but the festival has already officially kicked off with this Monday discussion on “War on Journalism” between The Guardian’s Alan Rusbridger and Ezio Mauro, editor of La Repubblica.
Brazil
On Tuesday, the image of a banana is on the front page of a lot of newspapers in Brazil, courtesy Newseum. The images are a reaction to a recent incident where a fan threw a banana at Brazilian Dani Alves, who plays soccer for FC Barcelona. In recent days, Brazilians have shown their support for Alves, who picked the banana up and ate it, by posting banana selfies.
This one is from Diario do Comercio, in São Paulo, Brazil:
And this is from Lance!, also in São Paulo:
Lance! wasn’t the only newspaper to use what looks very much like Andy Warhol’s famous banana illustration: Metro did too, at several newspapers.
