Jailing Reporters

The 'buzz' in the bars this week has not been about the incredible, nay incredulous, reportings on the 'Footy Show' et al regarding the World Cup, but on the events in an Egyptian Court. An Australian reporter has been jailed for seven years for 'false reporting'.

Comments bounded around the rooms about jailing three quarters of the ABC's reporters and most of the Fairfax newspersons. But seriously, we are all still quite in the dark about what the Aussie reporter was supposed to have done.

There were not just reporting restrictions in place in the Court, but evidence restrictions too, it seems. From what we can glean there was no evidence against Mr Greste.

But last year there were ructions within the organisation he worked for, and it may be of some use to look at what we were told back then.

http://www.thecommentator.com/article/3932/mass_resignations_at_al_jazeera_over_biased_egypt_coverage

 Mass resignations at Al Jazeera over "biased" Egypt coverage.

Reports suggest that 22 member of staff have resigned from the Egyptian arm of Al Jazeera after complaining of pro-Muslim Brotherhood bias within the organisation

by The Commentator on 8 July 2013

Aljazeera Mubasher Misr, the Egyptian arm of the Qatari-funded broadcaster has suffered major embarrassment today after 22 staff members walked out over accusations of bias.

The 22 staff resigned on Monday over what they alleged was coverage that was out of sync with real events in Egypt, according to a report by the Gulf News website.

Anchor Karem Mahmoud announced that the staff resigned in protest against "biased coverage" of the recent events in Egypt. He explained that there was a lack of commitment and Al Jazeera professionalism in media coverage, stating, "the management in Doha provokes sedition among the Egyptian people and has an agenda against Egypt and other Arab countries.”

Mahmoud added that the management used to 

instruct each staff member to favour the Muslim Brotherhood.

He said that “there are instructions to us to telecast certain news”.

In February of this year, Ghaffar Hussain, contributing editor to The Commentator wrote,

"Since the Muslim Brotherhood has come to power in Egypt, Al Jazeera has done all in its power to portray the group in a favourable light. Protests against the Brotherhood-dominated regime are presented as being led by violent thugs with no political grievances, while Morsi's poorly constructed and shallow speeches are given positive coverage."

Haggag Salama, a correspondent of the network in Luxor, had resigned on Sunday accusing it of “airing lies and misleading viewers”. He announced his resignation in a phone-in interview with Dream 2 channel.

Meanwhile, four Egyptian members of editorial staff at Al Jazeera’s headquarters in Doha resigned in protest against what they termed a “biased editorial policy” pertaining to the events in Egypt, Ala’a Al Aioti, a news producer, told Gulf News by phone.

Original reporting by Ayman Sharif for Gulf News

Perhaps this was the start of the problems.

Of course, that was the report.

Who knows just how true or accurate it is.

The Courts in Australia are thought to be better 'quality' than in other countries.

One wonders.

Our news  organs are just as woeful.

Meanwhile back to just today, the former Editor of the News of the World, Rebekah Brooks - she who was photographed hitting her husband in the street while he was holding their baby, 

and was not even charged - 

was aquitted of phone hacking charges, despite truck-loads of evidence. 

Of course.

Her replacement Editor, Andy Coulson, a chap, her subordinate when she was elevated to CEO, has been found guilty though. Now ain't that a thing ! 

He should have worn 'big hair'.

Maybe in seven years time, Mr Greste can use his new-found experience of kangaroo Courts where he is guilty until he proves himself innocent and no evidence apart from accusation is presented, and the Court prevents reporting,  to report on Australia's Family Courts.

Pax.