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 journalism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label journalism. 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, 29 October 2012
The Media Reform Lanka Initiative Website Launch
The Media Reform Lanka Initiative, based at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, has launched its website http://mediareformlanka.com/.
The Initiative aims to broaden and inform the perspectives in which media law, media policy and regulation are debated and determined in Sri Lanka and the wider South Asian region. It is led by Colombo-based senior legal advocate and media columnist Kishali Pinto-Jayawardena, in association with Dr David Page and Dr William Crawley, Senior Fellows at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies and Co-Directors of the Media South Asia Project. Their work to date has generated two core papers on Media Freedom and Social Responsibility in Sri Lanka: A Review of the Legal, Institutional and Educational Framework Relating to the Print Media (co-authored by Kishali Pinto-Jayawardena & Gehan Gunetilleke) and on the Political Economy of the Electronic Media (co-authored by the late Tilak Jayaratne and Sarath Kellapotha).
Thursday, 1 March 2012
Diamond Jubilee Seminar ‘The monarchy, the Commonwealth and the media’, 20 March 2012
The Institute of Commonwealth Studies is pleased to announce the second seminar in its Diamond Jubilee Series: ‘The monarchy, the Commonwealth and the media’ will be held on 20 March 2012.
The shedding of media light on the mystery of the monarchy has sometimes been engineered and sometimes accidental – but always remorseless. Alongside the triumphs, there have been the dark days of the death of Princess Diana, ‘Annus Horribilis’, and the hacking of royal phones. This seminar asks: can the monarchy survive its dealings with the media – or is that relationship the secret of its survival? The panellists discussing the relationship between the monarchy and the media will be Charles Anson CVO (former Press Secretary to the Queen), Tom Corby MVO (former Court Correspondent of the Press Association), and Keshini Navaratnam (former BBC World TV presenter).
The seminar will take place on Tuesday 20 March at 5.30pm in The Senate Room, Senate House, Malet Street WC1E 7HU. All are welcome; the seminar is free to attend. Booking is essential as places are limited, please email chloe.pieters@sas.ac.uk
The Diamond Jubilee Seminar Series was launched by the Chancellor of the University of London, the Princess Royal, on 11 January 2012. The series, which marks the Diamond Jubilee Year by exploring the relationship between the monarchy and the Commonwealth, will run throughout 2012. Information on forthcoming seminars will be posted to the Institute’s events pages.
The shedding of media light on the mystery of the monarchy has sometimes been engineered and sometimes accidental – but always remorseless. Alongside the triumphs, there have been the dark days of the death of Princess Diana, ‘Annus Horribilis’, and the hacking of royal phones. This seminar asks: can the monarchy survive its dealings with the media – or is that relationship the secret of its survival? The panellists discussing the relationship between the monarchy and the media will be Charles Anson CVO (former Press Secretary to the Queen), Tom Corby MVO (former Court Correspondent of the Press Association), and Keshini Navaratnam (former BBC World TV presenter).
The seminar will take place on Tuesday 20 March at 5.30pm in The Senate Room, Senate House, Malet Street WC1E 7HU. All are welcome; the seminar is free to attend. Booking is essential as places are limited, please email chloe.pieters@sas.ac.uk
The Diamond Jubilee Seminar Series was launched by the Chancellor of the University of London, the Princess Royal, on 11 January 2012. The series, which marks the Diamond Jubilee Year by exploring the relationship between the monarchy and the Commonwealth, will run throughout 2012. Information on forthcoming seminars will be posted to the Institute’s events pages.
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.
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
New archives list - Commonwealth Press Union
A detailed list for the Commonwealth Press Union (ICS121) and its predecessor the Empire Press Union has been added to the ULRLS Archives catalogue.
The collection contains records and publications of the Empire Press Union, later called the Commonwealth Press Union. 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. They were 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 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 Commonwealth Media Trust was established to continue some of the work established by the CPU. Its primary concerns are supporting media freedom and media rights, the training of journalists in the skills necessary for them to enable their work and a thorough understanding of media law and the establishment and support of self-regulatory bodies throughout the Commonwealth
Papers include a limited 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, 1909-1973, together with associated albums of news cuttings, 1919-1946, and photographs, c1950-1985; a few publications, 1911-1978; a small series of Fellowship Scheme leaflets, 1965-1970; and papers relating to Sir Harry Brittain (the founder of the Empire Press Union) with other papers on the history of the organisation.
A more recent donation of further material from the Commonwealth Press Union has been received by the Institute of Commonwealth Studies Library and we are seeking funding to have this material listed. The Library also holds the archives of the Commonwealth Journalists Association (ICS150).
The collection contains records and publications of the Empire Press Union, later called the Commonwealth Press Union. 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. They were 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 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 Commonwealth Media Trust was established to continue some of the work established by the CPU. Its primary concerns are supporting media freedom and media rights, the training of journalists in the skills necessary for them to enable their work and a thorough understanding of media law and the establishment and support of self-regulatory bodies throughout the Commonwealth
Papers include a limited 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, 1909-1973, together with associated albums of news cuttings, 1919-1946, and photographs, c1950-1985; a few publications, 1911-1978; a small series of Fellowship Scheme leaflets, 1965-1970; and papers relating to Sir Harry Brittain (the founder of the Empire Press Union) with other papers on the history of the organisation.
A more recent donation of further material from the Commonwealth Press Union has been received by the Institute of Commonwealth Studies Library and we are seeking funding to have this material listed. The Library also holds the archives of the Commonwealth Journalists Association (ICS150).
Monday, 4 October 2010
New archives list - Graham Mytton papers - the media in Africa
Another new archives list recently added to the ULRLS Archives Catalogue is the papers of Graham Mytton (ICS115).
As part of his postgraduate studies in the mass media, Graham Mytton undertook practical research into the media in Tanzania, spending a year as a research associate at University College, Dar es Salaam in 1967-1968. After completing his studies in Manchester in 1970, Mytton became the Zambia Broadcasting Services Research Fellow at the Institute for African Studies, University of Zambia, a post he held until 1973. Much of the material in this collection was accumulated during these research projects.
Mytton later worked for the BBC, eventually becoming Controller of Marketing for the BBC World Service. He is now an independent market and audience research consultant and trainer.
The archive collection is comprised of papers accumulated by Graham Mytton in the course of research into the press and broadcasting in Tanzania and Zambia. The material comprises files on the press in Tanzania, including notes of interviews with staff, readership statistics and other literature about newspapers; files concerning broadcasting in Tanzania, including copies of relevant speeches in Parliament, material on the Ministry of Information, Tanganyika Broadcasting Corporation and Radio Tanzania, and papers on educational and adult education broadcasting; files concerning broadcasting in Zambia, including documents on Zambia Broadcasting Services, educational and rural broadcasting; papers for the Ninth Commonwealth Broadcasting Conference in Kenya; and some miscellaneous items.
The Library also holds Mytton's book published in 1983, entitled Mass communication in Africa , copies of reports on the mass media audience survey he carried out in Zambia, and interviews by Mytton with members of the TANU Publicity Section.
The Library also holds Mytton's book published in 1983, entitled Mass communication in Africa , copies of reports on the mass media audience survey he carried out in Zambia, and interviews by Mytton with members of the TANU Publicity Section.
Thursday, 11 March 2010
New lists added to archives catalogue - South Africa, Ceylon and Malaya
As part of an ongoing project to add copies of lists to our archives catalogue we have recently added lists for a number of smaller collections held. These include colelctions relating to South Africa, Ceylon and Malaya.
John Patrick Cope, was born on Mooi River, Natal, South Africa, on 17 Mar 1906, educated at St Andrews College, Grahamstown and in 1924 joined the 'Rand Daily Mail' as a reporter. In 1930 he joined the 'Natal Mercury' as their parliamentary and political correspondent, and became friendly with Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr, and other prominent political figures. In 1937 he joined his former editor, R J Kingston Russell in his venture to found a political weekly 'Forum', and on Russell's retirement assumed the editorship, which he retained for 14 years under the chairmanship of Hofmeyr. In 1951 'Forum' closed, and Cope rejoined the 'Rand Daily Mail' as editorial assistant. He entered politics and was returned for Parktown in 1953 and 1958 as a United Party MP. In 1958 he was one of a group of UP members who broke away to form the Progressive Party, but he lost his seat after a smear campaign in the 1961 election. The Cope papers comprise press cuttings, from his years as a journalist in South Africa, Abyssinia and China and 96 items of correspondence; the majority of which are letters from Hofmeyr. Topics covered include the Afrikaner Broederbond, 1941, Hofmeyr's relationship with Jan Christian Smuts, 1948, report on Mau Mau outbreak in Kenya [c1952]; South African politics, 1929-1948, his decision to leave the United Party and to found the Progressive Party, 1959; and papers on the political weekly 'Forum', 1948-1951.
The papers of Edward Trevor Dyson cover his time in the Ceylon Civil Service, 1910-1929; and include a report 'The Spirit of Trincomalee', describing Trincomalee at the end of 1910, including comments on the visit by the Crown Prince of Germany, Prince Wilhelm; a report 'The Bo Tree Incident', describing events after the cutting down of a sacred Bo Tree at Anuradhapura, 1929; letters to Bertha [the future Mrs Dyson], 1911, including description of a journey to Kantalai, and the area around Kantalai, and an account of a journey from Trincomalee to Batticaloa, with an account of his first visit to the prison at Batticaloa in his capacity as Assistant Inspector of Prisons.
Also from Ceylon are the papers of W A Davis, comprising photographs, maps and souvenirs of Ceylon (1931-1935); including seascapes, plantations, historic monuments and people, all unidentified; a map of the City of Columbo (1932) and motor map of Ceylon (1931); and the programme of the Installation banquest of the Duke of Connaught Masonic Lodge, Columbo (1935).
The papers of J E U Exwood concern rubber estates in Malaya, 1929-1939; including reports on Bukit Selambau and Tarum estates owned by Tarun (Malaya) Rubber Estates Ltd to Bousted & Co,. Ltd, Kuala Lumpur, 1929-1931, and correspondence on Waterfall (Selangor) Rubber Estates Ltd, 1930-1939.
John Patrick Cope, was born on Mooi River, Natal, South Africa, on 17 Mar 1906, educated at St Andrews College, Grahamstown and in 1924 joined the 'Rand Daily Mail' as a reporter. In 1930 he joined the 'Natal Mercury' as their parliamentary and political correspondent, and became friendly with Jan Hendrik Hofmeyr, and other prominent political figures. In 1937 he joined his former editor, R J Kingston Russell in his venture to found a political weekly 'Forum', and on Russell's retirement assumed the editorship, which he retained for 14 years under the chairmanship of Hofmeyr. In 1951 'Forum' closed, and Cope rejoined the 'Rand Daily Mail' as editorial assistant. He entered politics and was returned for Parktown in 1953 and 1958 as a United Party MP. In 1958 he was one of a group of UP members who broke away to form the Progressive Party, but he lost his seat after a smear campaign in the 1961 election. The Cope papers comprise press cuttings, from his years as a journalist in South Africa, Abyssinia and China and 96 items of correspondence; the majority of which are letters from Hofmeyr. Topics covered include the Afrikaner Broederbond, 1941, Hofmeyr's relationship with Jan Christian Smuts, 1948, report on Mau Mau outbreak in Kenya [c1952]; South African politics, 1929-1948, his decision to leave the United Party and to found the Progressive Party, 1959; and papers on the political weekly 'Forum', 1948-1951.
The papers of Edward Trevor Dyson cover his time in the Ceylon Civil Service, 1910-1929; and include a report 'The Spirit of Trincomalee', describing Trincomalee at the end of 1910, including comments on the visit by the Crown Prince of Germany, Prince Wilhelm; a report 'The Bo Tree Incident', describing events after the cutting down of a sacred Bo Tree at Anuradhapura, 1929; letters to Bertha [the future Mrs Dyson], 1911, including description of a journey to Kantalai, and the area around Kantalai, and an account of a journey from Trincomalee to Batticaloa, with an account of his first visit to the prison at Batticaloa in his capacity as Assistant Inspector of Prisons.
Also from Ceylon are the papers of W A Davis, comprising photographs, maps and souvenirs of Ceylon (1931-1935); including seascapes, plantations, historic monuments and people, all unidentified; a map of the City of Columbo (1932) and motor map of Ceylon (1931); and the programme of the Installation banquest of the Duke of Connaught Masonic Lodge, Columbo (1935).
The papers of J E U Exwood concern rubber estates in Malaya, 1929-1939; including reports on Bukit Selambau and Tarum estates owned by Tarun (Malaya) Rubber Estates Ltd to Bousted & Co,. Ltd, Kuala Lumpur, 1929-1931, and correspondence on Waterfall (Selangor) Rubber Estates Ltd, 1930-1939.
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