Senate House Library Friends: Archives of the Commonwealth Journalists' Association
06 February 2013, 18:00 - 20:00
Venue: Dr Seng T Lee Centre for Manuscript and Book Studies
Senate House Library
4th Floor, Senate House
Malet Street
London WC1
David Clover (Institute of Commonwealth Studies Librarian and Head of Research Librarians - Senate House Library): 'Preserving and Protecting Press Freedom – Insights from the archive of the Commonwealth Journalists' Association'
The 1980s and early 1990s were a time of civil and political upheaval in the post-colonial developing world. The recently catalogued archives of the Commonwealth Journalists' Association provide insights into some of the challenges of reporting within those countries, as well as progress made in supporting and encouraging the expression of an independent and free press. This talk will discuss the collection within the context of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies collections and highlight how institutional records of a pan-Commonwealth non-governmental organisation can add to our understanding of this period of a movement towards increased democracy in the post-independence period.
If you would like to attend, please contact Senate House Library office: shl.officeadmin@london.ac.uk
tel. 020 7862 8411.
Showing posts with label Commonwealth Journalists' Association. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Commonwealth Journalists' Association. Show all posts
Monday, 21 January 2013
Friday, 30 November 2012
On Freedom of the Press
With discussion in the UK media today about freedom of the press and state regulation or interference in the press I thought it opportune to highlight two archive collections which contain much on the freedom of the press in the Commonwealth and in particular in the developing nations in the post-independence world.
The Commonwealth Journalists' Association was founded by a group of journalists in 1978 following a conference of Commonwealth non-governmental organisations held at Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada, with the objective of catering for the needs of individual journalists in Commonwealth countries. The CJA's objectives include the raising of journalistic standards by the provision of training courses, the encouragement of an interest in and knowledge of Commonwealth affairs and the defence of the independence of journalists where a threat is perceived. The CJA takes a particular interest in safeguarding the rights of journalists in countries where press freedom is restricted and has intervened on several occasions, sometimes in collaboration with other interested bodies, to secure the re-opening of a newspaper or the release of journalists from prison.
The Commonwealth Journalists' Association archives date from 1998 to 2003 and detail training courses, conference and activity related to defending and encouraging a feee independent press. The collection was catalogued earlier this year, with thanks to and support from the Scott Trust Charitable Foundation and the Friends of Senate House Library (SHeLF).
The Commonwealth Press Union started in the early 20th century as the Empire Press Union, with the staging of the first Imperial Press Conference, and continued operation until 2008. At its peak, the Commonwealth Press Union (CPU) was an association composed of 750 members in 49 countries, including newspaper groups (with several hundred newspapers), individual newspapers, and news agencies throughout the Commonwealth, represented within the CPU by their proprietors, publishers or senior executives. The aims and objectives of the organisation were to uphold the ideas and values of the Commonwealth; to promote, through the press, understanding and goodwill among members of the Commonwealth; and to advance the freedom, interests and welfare of the Commonwealth press and those working within it by i) monitoring and opposing all measures and proposals likely to affect the freedom of the press in any part of the Commonwealth, ii) working for improved facilities for reporting and transmitting news, and iii) promoting the training of all involved in the Commonwealth’s press.
The Commonwealth Press Union archives contain the records and publications of the Empire Press Union, and the Commonwealth Press Union, including official records relating to the administration of the organisation, circulars and bulletins, and conference papers and reports. The records include details of seminars and conferences and case work relating to freedom of the press issues across the Commonwealth. In addition to the listed records availabile on the catalogue an additional donation of material was made in 2009, and with the assistance of a volunteer, a detailed handlist is being prepared for this collection while funding is being sought for a cataloguing project. Any enquiries about this latter material are very welcome.
Both collections provide valuable source material for understanding freedom of the press issues across the Commonwealth as well as an understanding of international cooperation and support for freedom of the press from newspaper publishers and journalists.
The Commonwealth Journalists' Association was founded by a group of journalists in 1978 following a conference of Commonwealth non-governmental organisations held at Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada, with the objective of catering for the needs of individual journalists in Commonwealth countries. The CJA's objectives include the raising of journalistic standards by the provision of training courses, the encouragement of an interest in and knowledge of Commonwealth affairs and the defence of the independence of journalists where a threat is perceived. The CJA takes a particular interest in safeguarding the rights of journalists in countries where press freedom is restricted and has intervened on several occasions, sometimes in collaboration with other interested bodies, to secure the re-opening of a newspaper or the release of journalists from prison.
The Commonwealth Journalists' Association archives date from 1998 to 2003 and detail training courses, conference and activity related to defending and encouraging a feee independent press. The collection was catalogued earlier this year, with thanks to and support from the Scott Trust Charitable Foundation and the Friends of Senate House Library (SHeLF).
The Commonwealth Press Union started in the early 20th century as the Empire Press Union, with the staging of the first Imperial Press Conference, and continued operation until 2008. At its peak, the Commonwealth Press Union (CPU) was an association composed of 750 members in 49 countries, including newspaper groups (with several hundred newspapers), individual newspapers, and news agencies throughout the Commonwealth, represented within the CPU by their proprietors, publishers or senior executives. The aims and objectives of the organisation were to uphold the ideas and values of the Commonwealth; to promote, through the press, understanding and goodwill among members of the Commonwealth; and to advance the freedom, interests and welfare of the Commonwealth press and those working within it by i) monitoring and opposing all measures and proposals likely to affect the freedom of the press in any part of the Commonwealth, ii) working for improved facilities for reporting and transmitting news, and iii) promoting the training of all involved in the Commonwealth’s press.
The Commonwealth Press Union archives contain the records and publications of the Empire Press Union, and the Commonwealth Press Union, including official records relating to the administration of the organisation, circulars and bulletins, and conference papers and reports. The records include details of seminars and conferences and case work relating to freedom of the press issues across the Commonwealth. In addition to the listed records availabile on the catalogue an additional donation of material was made in 2009, and with the assistance of a volunteer, a detailed handlist is being prepared for this collection while funding is being sought for a cataloguing project. Any enquiries about this latter material are very welcome.
Both collections provide valuable source material for understanding freedom of the press issues across the Commonwealth as well as an understanding of international cooperation and support for freedom of the press from newspaper publishers and journalists.
Monday, 12 March 2012
Happy Commonwealth Day: Commonwealth NGO archives
Being Commonwealth Day, today we wish to highlight some archive collections reflecting what is now generally known as the 'informal' Commonwealth, that is the role of Commonwealth non-government organisations.
The Institute of Commonwealth Studies Archives holds a number of collections from Commonwealth NGOs.
Theses include:
The records of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) reflect the history of Commonwealth co-operation in the field of international telecommunications and comprise the surviving records of the bodies that administered Commonwealth telecommunications relations from 1928 onwards. The CTO promotes, through collaborative projects, the growth of international telecommunications throughout the Commonwealth. The organisation endeavours to link its commitment to development and training to the benefits attached to the creation and extension of commercial opportunities. It was established following the 1966 Commonwealth Telecommunications Conference and has since witnessed radical technological and commercial changes, most notably the introduction and widespread use of digital technology. The records also include material from the Imperial Communications Advisory Committee, 1928-1945; 2. Commonwealth Communications Council, 1944-1949; 3. Commonwealth Telecommunications Board, 1949-1969; Commonwealth Telecommunications Council (CTC), and Commonwealth Telecommunications Bureau, 1966-1987; Commonwealth Telecommunications Bureau and the Commonwealth Telecommunications Council (CTC) after 1987.
The Commonwealth Press Union (CPU) was an association composed of 750 members in 49 countries, including newspaper groups, individual newspapers, and news agencies throughout the Commonwealth, represented within the CPU by their proprietors, publishers or senior executives. The aims and objectives of the organisation were to uphold the ideas and values of the Commonwealth; to promote, through the press, understanding and goodwill among members of the Commonwealth; and to advance the freedom, interests and welfare of the Commonwealth press and those working within it by i) monitoring and opposing all measures and proposals likely to affect the freedom of the press in any part of the Commonwealth, ii) working for improved facilities for reporting and transmitting news, and iii) promoting the training of all involved in the Commonwealth’s press. The CPU also offered some of the Commonwealth's most prestigious awards, including the Commonwealth Press Union Fellowship in International Journalism and the Harry Brittain Fellowships. The origin of the organisation went back to 1909 with the staging of the first Imperial Press Conference. This led to the creation of the Empire Press Union, which later became the Commonwealth Press Union. The CPU was wound up on 31 December 2008. The records held include a number of official records relating to the administration of the organisation (reports, financial statements, rules, correspondence etc., several items being mounted in a volume entitled 'The Empire Press Union Guard Book') 1909-1998; circulars and bulletins covering the periods 1911-1924, 1929-1939 and 1964-1986; a good series of Conference papers and reports, together with associated albums of news cuttings, and photographs, c1950-1985; publications; and papers relating to Sir Harry Brittain (the founder of the Empire Press Union). A further donation of material is not yet catalogued, but box lists can be consulted. The Library is curently seeking funding to catalogue this collection.
The Commonwealth Trade Union Council (CTUC) was established in Mar 1980. Thhe CTUC aimed to strengthen links between trade unions in the Commonwealth and to provide practical assistance to trade unions in developing countries. It also undertook a programme of Development Education with Trade Unionists in developed countries, aiming to raise awareness of international issues. After a number of years of operation, funding from members was withdrawn and a decision was taken in June 2004 to wind up the CTUC at end of 2004. The collection icnludes the papers of the Commonwealth Trade Union Council from 1979-2004, including papers relating to the setting up of the CTUC from the Commonwealth Trade Union Conference Jun 1979 agendas, minutes and associated documents relating to meetings; subject files arranged alphabetically on related organisations and Commonwealth nations, 1980-2004; project files containing photographs and papers relating to projects undertaken by the CTUC including in the Caribbean, Southern Africa, India, Bangladesh, Sierra Leone; East Africa and West Africa, [1981]-2003; circulars and attachments,and papers relating to CTUC conferences. The Library is currently seeking funding to catalogue this collection, though boxlists are available for interested researchers.
The Commonwealth Journalists Association is a professional association for working journalists throughout the Commonwealth. It was founded by a group of journalists in 1978 following a conference of Commonwealth non-government organisations, in Nova Scotia. The CJA aims to raise journalistic standards by providing training courses, to promote awareness of Commonwealth affairs and to defend the independence of journalists where this is perceived to be threatened.
The records comprise the papers of the Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA), from 1979-2003, including papers relating to training in: Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Brunei, the Caribbean, Cyprus, the Gambia, Ghana, HongKong, India, Kenya, Lesotho, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pacific, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe; correspondence files; and papers relating to the Annual Conference of Commonwealth Journalists, and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings; minutes and meeting papers; applications and correspondence on the Commonwealth Relations Trust travel bursary award, 1991-1996, papers on CJA branches including in Nigeria, Delhi and Canada; press cuttings, notably concerning freedom of the press violations in Commonwealth countries and papers on the creation and funding of the CJA. The collection is currently being catalogued thanks to the support of the Scott Trust Charitable Foundation and SHeLF, the Friends of Senate House Library.
At our sister institute, the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies is held another collection of interest:
The Institute of Commonwealth Studies Archives holds a number of collections from Commonwealth NGOs.
Theses include:
The records of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) reflect the history of Commonwealth co-operation in the field of international telecommunications and comprise the surviving records of the bodies that administered Commonwealth telecommunications relations from 1928 onwards. The CTO promotes, through collaborative projects, the growth of international telecommunications throughout the Commonwealth. The organisation endeavours to link its commitment to development and training to the benefits attached to the creation and extension of commercial opportunities. It was established following the 1966 Commonwealth Telecommunications Conference and has since witnessed radical technological and commercial changes, most notably the introduction and widespread use of digital technology. The records also include material from the Imperial Communications Advisory Committee, 1928-1945; 2. Commonwealth Communications Council, 1944-1949; 3. Commonwealth Telecommunications Board, 1949-1969; Commonwealth Telecommunications Council (CTC), and Commonwealth Telecommunications Bureau, 1966-1987; Commonwealth Telecommunications Bureau and the Commonwealth Telecommunications Council (CTC) after 1987.
The Commonwealth Press Union (CPU) was an association composed of 750 members in 49 countries, including newspaper groups, individual newspapers, and news agencies throughout the Commonwealth, represented within the CPU by their proprietors, publishers or senior executives. The aims and objectives of the organisation were to uphold the ideas and values of the Commonwealth; to promote, through the press, understanding and goodwill among members of the Commonwealth; and to advance the freedom, interests and welfare of the Commonwealth press and those working within it by i) monitoring and opposing all measures and proposals likely to affect the freedom of the press in any part of the Commonwealth, ii) working for improved facilities for reporting and transmitting news, and iii) promoting the training of all involved in the Commonwealth’s press. The CPU also offered some of the Commonwealth's most prestigious awards, including the Commonwealth Press Union Fellowship in International Journalism and the Harry Brittain Fellowships. The origin of the organisation went back to 1909 with the staging of the first Imperial Press Conference. This led to the creation of the Empire Press Union, which later became the Commonwealth Press Union. The CPU was wound up on 31 December 2008. The records held include a number of official records relating to the administration of the organisation (reports, financial statements, rules, correspondence etc., several items being mounted in a volume entitled 'The Empire Press Union Guard Book') 1909-1998; circulars and bulletins covering the periods 1911-1924, 1929-1939 and 1964-1986; a good series of Conference papers and reports, together with associated albums of news cuttings, and photographs, c1950-1985; publications; and papers relating to Sir Harry Brittain (the founder of the Empire Press Union). A further donation of material is not yet catalogued, but box lists can be consulted. The Library is curently seeking funding to catalogue this collection.
The Commonwealth Trade Union Council (CTUC) was established in Mar 1980. Thhe CTUC aimed to strengthen links between trade unions in the Commonwealth and to provide practical assistance to trade unions in developing countries. It also undertook a programme of Development Education with Trade Unionists in developed countries, aiming to raise awareness of international issues. After a number of years of operation, funding from members was withdrawn and a decision was taken in June 2004 to wind up the CTUC at end of 2004. The collection icnludes the papers of the Commonwealth Trade Union Council from 1979-2004, including papers relating to the setting up of the CTUC from the Commonwealth Trade Union Conference Jun 1979 agendas, minutes and associated documents relating to meetings; subject files arranged alphabetically on related organisations and Commonwealth nations, 1980-2004; project files containing photographs and papers relating to projects undertaken by the CTUC including in the Caribbean, Southern Africa, India, Bangladesh, Sierra Leone; East Africa and West Africa, [1981]-2003; circulars and attachments,and papers relating to CTUC conferences. The Library is currently seeking funding to catalogue this collection, though boxlists are available for interested researchers.
The Commonwealth Journalists Association is a professional association for working journalists throughout the Commonwealth. It was founded by a group of journalists in 1978 following a conference of Commonwealth non-government organisations, in Nova Scotia. The CJA aims to raise journalistic standards by providing training courses, to promote awareness of Commonwealth affairs and to defend the independence of journalists where this is perceived to be threatened.
The records comprise the papers of the Commonwealth Journalists Association (CJA), from 1979-2003, including papers relating to training in: Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Brunei, the Caribbean, Cyprus, the Gambia, Ghana, HongKong, India, Kenya, Lesotho, Malaysia, Malta, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Pacific, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Southern Africa, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe; correspondence files; and papers relating to the Annual Conference of Commonwealth Journalists, and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings; minutes and meeting papers; applications and correspondence on the Commonwealth Relations Trust travel bursary award, 1991-1996, papers on CJA branches including in Nigeria, Delhi and Canada; press cuttings, notably concerning freedom of the press violations in Commonwealth countries and papers on the creation and funding of the CJA. The collection is currently being catalogued thanks to the support of the Scott Trust Charitable Foundation and SHeLF, the Friends of Senate House Library.
At our sister institute, the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies is held another collection of interest:
The Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA) was founded during the Fourth Commonwealth Law Conference in New Delhi in 1971. The Association's objects were to foster high standards of legal education and research in Commonwealth countries, to build up contacts between interested individuals and organizations, and to disseminate information and literature concerning legal education and research.
The Archive of the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (CLEA) consists of correspondence and official papers of officers of the Association and miscellaneous publications produced by the Assocation. Minutes, agenda and papers relating to Executive Committee and Advisory Council meetings and meetings of special committees etc will be found among the secretary's files
Monday, 30 January 2012
Freedoms of the Press: the Archives of the Commonwealth Journalist Association
As the Commonwealth Journalists' Association start their conference in Malta today we are pleased to anounce the commencement of a project to catalogue the records of the Association held at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies.
The Commonwealth Journalists’ Association archive comprises 27 archive boxes of material dating from 1979 and the foundation of the Association, until 2003, when the head office of the Association moved to Trinidad and Tobago.The Commonwealth Journalists’ Association (CJA), was formed in 1981 by Derek Ingram, then Editor of the Gemini News Service, and Patrick Keatley, Diplomatic and Commonwealth Correspondent of the Guardian, following a Commonwealth Headfs of Government meeting in Nova Scotia.
As well as bringing journalists together from across the Commonwealth, the CJA had two main focuses: training of journalists in developing nations; and the promotion of freedom of the press and an independent press across the Commonwealth. The two objects were, of course, linked, and early work on the files relating to training in Uganda for example provide much evidence on the lack of freedom or independence of the press at the time.
We are very grateful for the financial support of the Scott Trust Charitable Foundation and SHeLF, the Friends of Senate House Library, who have enabled this work. A one day conference will take place later in the year to launch the completed catalogue and to explore the themes of human rights and the role of the press, and of freedom and independence of the press.
The Commonwealth Journalists’ Association archive comprises 27 archive boxes of material dating from 1979 and the foundation of the Association, until 2003, when the head office of the Association moved to Trinidad and Tobago.The Commonwealth Journalists’ Association (CJA), was formed in 1981 by Derek Ingram, then Editor of the Gemini News Service, and Patrick Keatley, Diplomatic and Commonwealth Correspondent of the Guardian, following a Commonwealth Headfs of Government meeting in Nova Scotia.
As well as bringing journalists together from across the Commonwealth, the CJA had two main focuses: training of journalists in developing nations; and the promotion of freedom of the press and an independent press across the Commonwealth. The two objects were, of course, linked, and early work on the files relating to training in Uganda for example provide much evidence on the lack of freedom or independence of the press at the time.
We are very grateful for the financial support of the Scott Trust Charitable Foundation and SHeLF, the Friends of Senate House Library, who have enabled this work. A one day conference will take place later in the year to launch the completed catalogue and to explore the themes of human rights and the role of the press, and of freedom and independence of the press.
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