[FYI] (Fwd) FC: Request for nominations: Best & worst Net journalism

["Axel H Horns" <horns@t-online.de>]

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent:      	Sun, 12 Dec 1999 18:47:09 -0500
To:             	politech@vorlon.mit.edu
From:           	Declan McCullagh <declan@well.com>
Subject:        	FC: Request for nominations: Best & worst Net journalism of 1999
 	awards
Send reply to:  	declan@well.com

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[Disclaimer: I am a judge. --DBM]

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Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 22:49:34 +0000
From: "Internet Freedom" <campaign@netfreedom.org>

MEDIA RELEASE - IMMEDIATE 13 December 1999


INTERNET FREEDOM LAUNCH JOURNALISM AWARDS

Internet Freedom today launched the first Internet Freedom Journalism
Awards.

The awards will name and shame the worst journalistic examples of
caricature, misrepresentation or stereotyping of Net users. The IFJA
will also recognise high quality journalism and highlight good
practice by journalists striving to report news about the Internet.

Chris Ellison, chair of the awards, said:

"The Internet Freedom Journalism awards are about giving journalists
there just desserts. Quality journalism will be recognised, so too
will sloppy journalism. Many myths, distortions and lies have been
written about Internet users. These myths have served as ammunition
for the censors in the war against free speech. In the campaign for
the rights of Net users, Internet Freedom has been at the forefront of
demystifying some of the myths of the Internet."

Jonathan Wallace, judge, said:

"Still unknown to most people today is the common sense proposition
that the Internet is in reality a constellation of printing presses
and bookstores - computers which produce content and servers which
make it available. The press has a special responsibility in this
regard: they have the power to help us all understand that the Net is
to be treated no differently than print media; or to hype it as a
self-created monster bearing no relationship to what has gone before.
The first and most significant test of a journalist writing about the
Net is whether he or she understands this fundamental principle."

Mark Newman, judge, said:

"We've all seen those regular scare stories about online hackers and
fraudsters - yet in reality the Net is far safer than many journalists
would have you think. Eye-catching stories about the Net may sell
magazines and newspapers, but they don't educate readers about what's
really happening on the Net."

Declan McCullagh, judge, said:

"The Internet may be reshaping the world's economy, but we shouldn't
let it entirely reshape journalism. Writers and editors need to keep
in mind the tried-and-true principles that good journalists have
always followed: Fairness, accuracy, and timeliness. Technology may
provide us with new ways to deliver our work and interact with our
readers, but we must not let it sacrifice the high standards we set
for ourselves."

For further comment call Chris Ellison on 00 44 (0) 956 129 518

NOTES

1. Internet Freedom is one of the UK's leading cyber liberties
campaigns. Their web site is at http://www.netfreedom.org. They can be
contacted on 00 44 (0) 207 681 1559 or emailed on
campaign@netfreedom.org.

2. The categories for the awards are:

*Internet Article of shame. For a news report, feature or opinion
piece distinguished by misrepresentation, bias or invention of
inflated dangers about the Internet.

*Internet Investigation of the Year. For a news story or feature
revealing attempts to regulate the Net.

*The Fair Reporting News Agency of the Year. To a news organisation
for consistently high standards in writing about the Net.

*Internet Journalist of the Year. To a journalist for consistently
high standards in writing about the Net.

3. Only work published between 1 January and 31 December 1999 is
eligible. Work can be from any media.

4. The closing date for nominations is 1 January 2000. Nominations can
be made via http://www.netfreedom.org. Winners will be announced on 10
January 2000.

5. The judging committee comprises of Mark Newman, Declan McCullagh
and Jonathan Wallace. Chris Ellison will chair the committee.

6. The judges and chair not eligible for awards.

7. About the chair and judges:

Chris Ellison is founder of Internet Freedom and has written for The
Guardian, Index on Censorship and the Institute of Economic Affairs.
He was listed by Internet magazine as one of the top 40 most
influential figures in the Internet industry.

Declan McCullagh is the chief Washington correspondent for Wired News
and lives and works in Washington DC. Until October 1998, McCullagh
was a reporter for Time Digital Daily and Time Magazine, and continues
to contribute to Time Magazine on a freelance basis. An award-winning
journalist, his articles have appeared in publications from Playboy
magazine to the Los Angeles Times.

Jonathan Wallace is author of 'Sex, Laws and Cyberspace' and publishes
'The Ethical Spectacle'. He lives in New York.

Mark Newman is editor of UK magazine Practical Internet.



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