UN / WORLD PRESS FREEDOM

Speaking today at a panel discussion on freedom of the press, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that new media has unintended consequences in that they can be used to disseminate hatred and incite violence. States have also found them "very handy" as tools of cyber-surveillance. UNTV

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:21
• Production Date: 4 May 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS; COMMUNICATIONS; MASS MEDIA
• MAMS Id: U110504e

Description

STORY: UN / WORLD PRESS FREEDOM
TRT: 2.21
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 4 MAY 2011, NEW YORK CITY

Shotlist

RECENT 2011, UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations North Lawn Building

4 MAY 2011, NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, Podium with Ban Ki-moon greeting Irina Bokova
2. Wide shot, audience
3. Med shot, Ban Ki-moon, Irina Bokova and Zahir Tanin photo-op
4. Cutaway, photographer
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations:
"More than 70 countries have enacted laws to protect the right of citizens to various kinds of information -- on parliamentary and judicial proceedings, to constitutional decisions, and the like. We are working for the day when governments can no longer shield themselves from full and proper scrutiny."
6. Cutaway, audience listening
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations:
"We still see the media used to disseminate hatred and incite violence, including, at times, broadcasters and newspapers of states themselves. New media have also had unintended consequences. States have found them very handy as tools of cyber-surveillance. The very public nature of the new media means that authorities can easily monitor what is being said, and who is saying it. Some governments have simply extended to the Internet the censorship they already practice in traditional media."
8. Various shots, minute of silence being observed
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Irina Bokova, Director General, UNESCO:
“New frontiers have opened for innovative forms of expression. The revolutions in the Middle East show the power of aspirations for human rights when combined with new media. At the same time barriers remain strong, they rely on intellect of legislative frameworks to protect the freedom of expression; they reside in controls against media pluralisms. They take shape in new measures to block information on the internet and new media. These barriers take their most tragic face in violence committed against journalists.”
10. Wide shot, Ban leaves meeting behind

Storyline

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called for justice for journalists who have been killed because of their work and freedom for those detained, deploring impunity for those responsible for the murders and repression, as well as lack of official concern for the protection of media professionals.

Speaking today at a panel discussion in New York on freedom of the press, he said that more than 70 countries have enacted laws to protect the right of citizens to various kinds of information -- on parliamentary and judicial proceedings, to constitutional decisions.

He also cautioned that new media has unintended consequences in that they can be used to disseminate hatred and incite violence. States have also found them “very handy” as tools of cyber-surveillance.
Ban called for greater efforts to bridge the “digital divide” to enable even people who live in poorer regions to benefit from access to the new media and communications technologies.

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) Director General Irina Bokova said that new frontiers had opened the way for innovative forms of expression, but cautioned that at the same time barriers remained.

The discussion was part of a formal observance at UN Headquarters to mark World Press Freedom Day, which falls on 3 May each year.