Reporters Without Borders
Freedom of the press is constantly challenged through censorship, threats to journalists, or through media consolidation and corporations willing to comply with authoritarian governments.
We spoke with Tala Dowlatshahi of Reporters Without Borders, who discussed these challenges to a free and open press. From the Beijing Olympics, to media consolidation in the United States, to Internet companies willing to comply with local rules on censorship, we explored the implications for press freedom when media companies enter the global marketplace in search of profits.
Meet Tala
Tala Dowlatshahi is the New York representative for Reporters Without Borders, a Paris-based non-profit organization that defends imprisoned journalists, fights against censorship, and works to improve the safety of journalists reporting in war zones.
The Interview
Why is a free press so important for democracy?
What are the important issues relating to press freedom in the U.S. today?
What does Freedom of the Press mean to you?
China and Internet censorship
Why is Article 19 of the UDHR, which guarantees a free press, ignored by so many countries?
Does Al-Jazeera promote free speech and free media?
Why is the imprisonment of journalists in china such an important issue?
Is a free press only a "Western" phenomena?
What other countires beside China are of concern to reporters Without Borders?
What are the effects of press intimidation on freedom of the press?
Have U.S. actions hindered press freedom in the world?
How has the blogosphere encouraged freedom of speech
Does the size of the Internet make it impossible to censor?
What specific actions has RWB taken against Yahoo and Google?
