Press Freedom Day at UCO

Tomorrow, April 14th, we will celebrate Press Freedom Day. Join us in the Night University Center on the UCO campus from 12:30-2:00 to learn about the current state of press freedom around the world. There will also be games and prizes!

2015 theme: Let Journalism Thrive! Towards Better Reporting, Gender Equality, & Media Safety in the Digital Age.

Morocco Jails Press Freedom Advocate

On March 17, Hicham Mansouri was arrested in his home. According to Front Line Defenders, a Dublin-based international human rights group, he was beaten and stripped of his clothes without being given an immediate reason. He was then sentenced to 10 months in prison and a $4,057 fine, an action condemned by the Committee to Protect Journalists.

The charges? Adultery and starting a brothel.

According to Mansouri's lawyer, he was stripped naked to give the appearance that he was engaged in adultery with the woman he was with (later identified as his partner by the local news). In local reports she was described as a woman who was separated from her husband, but not officially divorced. The police, however, maintain that they caught him in the caught. In Morocco, adultery is a criminal offense.

Mansouri is a project manager for the Moroccan Association for Investigative journalism, a group formed to support journalists in the country. Before his arrest, he had been working on a report about alleged Internet surveillance of activists and journalists by the Moroccan authorities. His lawyer and colleagues insist that the charges were fabricated to punish his work.

Last September, Mansouri was severely beaten by two men, an act believed to be politically motivated. It took him six weeks to recover. Currently, he is being held in Zaki prison in Sale where he is suffering because of poor conditions. Morocco ranks 130 on Reporters Without Borders 2015 Press Freedom Index.

For the full story, visit CPJ.org.

Mexican Journalist Fired

Carmen Aristegui, one of Mexico's best-known journalists, was recently fired from her radio show by a broadcaster. This has set off a controversy about press freedom and expression.

One of the country's most famous investigative journalists, Aristegui was known for targeting top public figures. When listeners tuned into her morning radio program, they heard this message: "MSV Radio does not accept Carmen Aristegui's ultimatum".

Aristegui had demanded that two reporters in her investigative team be reinstated (this same team uncovered a multi-billion dollar controversy last year between Mexico's first lady and a contractor). The president denies any wrongdoing, but Aristegui insists that the firings were the result of political pressure. MSV argued that the reporters were fired for misuse of the corporate logo and resources when joining with other journalists to launch Mexico Leaks, an investigative Internet site.

The president's reputation and popularity has been declining, and Aristegui is known for her tough reporting. She stated that her investigative team won't be intimidated by the authoritarianism taking over the country.

Mexico currently ranks 148 in Reporters Without Border's 2015 Press Freedom Index. It was the deadliest country for journalists in the western hemisphere in 2014. Last year, 3 journalists were killed.

For the full story, visit NPR.org

World Press Freedom Day 2015: Gender Equality

This year, Press Freedom Day focuses on some important topics for journalists around the world. This year's theme is: Let Journalism Thrive! Towards Better Reporting, Gender Equality, and Safety in the Digital Age.

We have found out through many organizations such Reports without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists that female reporters are being marginalized across the globe. Gender equality is a real issue even here in the U.S.

In the following article, Alexandra Campbell discusses the issues faced by women in the workplace. A pilot study by Women in Journalism found that "old age" for females begins at 45. In fact, 71% of of women surveyed described themselves as very anxious about being able to continue working at their current level once reaching this point. Follow the link to read the piece in its entirety.

The Lady Vanishes--At 45 by Alexander Campbell


Women also have to face blatant misogyny in the workplace as well. This interview goes south in a hurry when the interviewee refuses to respect the TV host. This woman is courageous for refusing to tolerate it. Follow the link below to see the full video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOlpK6Yj5a4

Racist Chants by OU Fraternity Spark Nationwide Outrage

Oklahoma made headlines worldwide after a video surfaced of members of OU's Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity singing a racist song. The students were on their way to a formal dinner to celebrate the founding of the fraternity 159 years ago. The video, which contained a racial slur and referred to lynching, was released to the public on Sunday, causing immediate outrage.

OU President David Boren cut all ties with the fraternity, revoking the charter and giving members until Tuesday evening to remove their belongings. The fraternity's national office also announced that it was closing the Oklahoma chapter, suspending all the members and potentially revoking the membership of those involved in the incident.

Boren stated that the fraternity took actions that misused the freedom of speech. As part of his official statement he said:

"Real Sooners are not bigots. Real Sooners are not racists. Real Sooners believe in equal opportunity. Real Sooners treat each other with respect. Real Sooners love each other and care for each other like members of a common family."

Students Protest SAE Video (Courtesy of Huffington Post)

Boren appeared early Monday morning to protest the video alongside football coach Bob Stoops, basketball couch Lon Kruger, and many of the university's athletic team members. Today, he announced that two students who were leaders in the racist chant were expelled from the university. An investigation is still ongoing to determine the identity of other students in the video. 

For more details on this story visit NewsOk.



What do you think? Should these students be punished so harshly? Should even speech such as this receive protection?

First Amendment - Religion and Expression

The First Amendment states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."

The government has been trampling on the First Amendment for a long time now. Maybe we cannot see it because it doesn't directly affect us and we choose to turn a blind eye. Take the case of Edward Snowden, whistle blower to the overreaching NSA. Right or wrong, Snowden uncovered the truth about the Federal Government.

Did Snowden do everything right?  No he didn't, but how does one get the truth out when the government has safeguards in place to protect itself? (I wonder why the government has no problem with whistle blowers who tell on corporations for wrongdoing?)

Why does the NSA need to spy on all the American people? Why do they need all of our private information? Is every one of the citizens of the United States a potential treat to national security?

Why are our conversations so important they feel the need to use up the planet's number one resource? Water is more precious then gold. When storing this much information about the average Jane or Joe the NSA abuses the use of water.

Below is information anyone can access thanks to the FOI (Freedom of Information act). Everyone has the right to access information about our government's activities, as long as public monies are used or it doesn't interfere with The Privacy Act or national security.

The below information does not violate national security like the NSA claims.

"The Utah state records committee ordered the city of Bluffdale Wednesday to release records of the National Security Agency’s water use for its controversial data center, despite protests from the NSA that the information should be classified because of national security. 

The city redacted specific figures on the NSA’s water usage last year in response to a Salt Lake Tribune public records request. Estimates have ballparked the water usage of the agency’s new Bluffdale facility around 1.2 to 1.7 million gallons every day to cool an approximate 100,000 square feet of computer equipment. This information was found at thinkprogress.org"

Ask yourself: 

• Did Snowden have an obligation to make this information available to the people? 
• Should this information be available? 
• Should our tax dollars be spent to use 1.2 to 1.7 millions gallons of water everyday to store this type of information?
• Should Snowden be charged with espionage? 
• Did he give information that compromises our national security? 

Here is a video of an Edward Snowden Interview. Be sure to watch and decide what should be Snowden's fate if he comes back to the United States. What do you think of Edward Snowden's actions?

Edward Snowden Wants to Return to the U.S.

At a news conference on Tuesday, Edward Snowden's lawyer stated that he was ready to return to the U.S., but only under the guarantee of a legal and impartial trial. Snowden has been in Russia since 2013, when he fled to the country from Hong Kong. After his temporary asylum expired in August, the Russian government granted him a three-year residence permit.

A 2013 letter from Attorney General Eric Holder promised that Snowden would not face the death penalty upon returning to the U.S. His lawyer, however, wants assurance of a fair trial as well. If Snowden does indeed return to the U.S., he will face charges under the Espionage Act.

This is not the first time that Snowden has stated he wants to return home. In fact, he insists his actions were done in the interest of serving his country. For the full story, visit POLITICO. 


What do you think? Was Snowden truly trying to speak out against violations of the Constitution? Should he be granted clemency?