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A statement issued by the TJA yesterday said that in 2014, the media had to work in a situation of political conflicts, which led to violence that killed and injured many people including nine journalists. The wrongdoers have not been arrested or convicted.

During political rallies by the opposing sides, protesters used many measures to threaten journalists, including surrounding them while they were doing their job and harassing their offices in an attempt to pressure the media to take their side. This is considered interference in the media's professional duty to report on an objective, fair and all-around basis, as well as the opening of the public sphere for freedom of expression so people can exercise their rights responsibly.

However, some media were criticised for being part of the conflicts while failing to provide the facts based on evidence fairly.

Some reporters and media outlets were also abused as political tools. They also disseminated content that violated people's human rights or added fuel to the fire.

Meanwhile, regulatory bodies including the National Broadcasting and Telecommunica-tions Commission failed to take proper measures, the TJA said.

After the military seized power, all types of television and radio were closed under martial law. The military's ruling National Council for Peace and Order later gradually allowed outlets to operate but still issued Announcements 97 and 103 to control the work of the media.

From time to time the NCPO and military-appointed government summoned or invited editors and media owners for meetings. This unavoidably affected the

free flow of information and people's freedom of expression, the TJA

said.

Media reform is one of 11 areas earmarked for changes by the National Reform Council in the interim constitution.

Excerpt from:
Journalist group outlines goals for 'Year of Media Reform'

Until a few weeks ago the Qatar-based TV channel Al-Jazeera Mubasher Misr was beaming anti-Egypt programmes, including labelling president Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi the leader of a military coup that toppled former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi who was supported by the gas-rich Gulf emirate.

However, on 22 December the network announced that it was closing down the service, which was launched to provide live coverage of Egypt after the uprising that toppled former president Hosni Mubarak in 2011. The channel would stop broadcasting temporarily until suitable circumstances in Cairo; that is, after obtaining the necessary permits in coordination with the Egyptian authorities, a statement read by a newsreader said before the screen went blank.

Qatar was seemingly bowing to pressure by Saudi Arabia and Egypts other allies in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) who have demanded an end to Qatars support for the Muslim Brotherhood and Al-Jazeeras anti-Al-Sisi broadcasts. Most Arab media have historically been under government supervision and control, but the closure of the Al-Jazeera affiliate has showed that some can hardly be described as independent.

The democratic uprisings in 2011, which further divided the Arab world, also increased polarisation in the media. From civil wars in Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen to transitions in the rest of the Arab countries it has been an extraordinary four years in the Arab media. Across the Arab world journalists are now paying the price for the political and social turmoil. The number of journalists who have lost their jobs or been intimidated or imprisoned has been staggering.

Dozens of anchors, newscasters and journalists have lost their jobs in the Arab media in recent years, caught up in rows over editorial interference. Souhair Al-Qaisi, an Iraqi anchor on the pan-Arab channel Al-Arabia, quit her job in November in protest over the channels coverage, for example. She wrote on her Facebook page that she was leaving her programme The Fourth Bulletin because the networks editorial policy towards Iraq and its war with Islamic State (IS) terrorists was unfair.

As a proud Iraqi and Arab, I have to stand with my beloved Iraq which is suffering the crimes of these merciless gangs, she wrote.

Some journalists who have left their jobs have found work later elsewhere, or have been transferred to other posts, like Al-Qaisi who was moved to MBC, a mainly entertainment channel of the Saudi-owned network. Others have not been so lucky and have been keeping up an aggressive job search.

The Arab media, long suffering from low ratings in world standards, are now in deep crisis because of decades of state control, government interference, censorship, and weak professional standards. Private investment in recent years has not added much value to media performance due to structural problems and the absence of media independence and freedom.

The Arab Spring, which raised hopes and aspirations for democracy, underpinned the vital role of the media in political reform and social change in stagnant regimes. Although expectations were high that the series of revolutions that toppled various autocratic regimes would bring more freedom to Arab journalists, the democratic setbacks that followed have adversely impacted the media.

Pessimists are now saying that the freedom of the media in the Arab world is in retreat. They note that Arab state-owned, or controlled, media, which have for decades been tools designed to guide the public or shield them from bad news, are now back in business, abandoning their role of news gathering, reporting and analysis. Through targeting mainstream audiences many governments are finding effective ways to use the state-run media to help themselves stay in power.

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Arab media crisis

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MS Dhoni retired from Tests after playing 90 matches.

Sydney: According to a report, Sydney Morning Herald speculated that Dhoni may not be in Sydney to see the baton formally passed to Virat Kohli with India contemplating sending the former Test captain home before the fourth Test. ( Also read: Kohli in focus, Dhoni missing at Australian Prime Minister's tea party)

"Dhoni travelled to Sydney with the Indian team a day after shocking the world with his Test retirement, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India are yet to decide if he will remain with the squad," the newspaper wrote.

No longer part of India's Test set-up, Dhoni now has the opportunity to spend close to a fortnight at home to refresh before the tri-series and the World Cup. (Related: Teary-eyed Dhoni was emotional when he quit)

After Tests, the tri-series, which also involves England will begin on January 18.

The Indian cricket team flew in here and largely spent the day indoors even as there was intense speculation over Mahendra Singh Dhoni's decision to quit the Test format with immediate effect, which surprised the cricket fraternity.

A day after the BCCI announced Dhoni's retirement from Test cricket, citing strains of playing in all three formats, the Indian team management chose to remain tight-lipped on the development.

Dhoni, who himself did not speak about his retirement in the post-match press conference and the preceding presentation ceremony, travelled with the team but did not interact with the media.

The 33-year old Dhoni's retirement came as a bolt from the blue as the Indian captain had not given any hint about his impending decision although pressure was mounting on him to give up Test captaincy in view of his poor overseas track record.

The timing of Dhoni's retirement and the manner in which it was announced has triggered widespread speculation over what could have prompted him to take the decision.

See the rest here:
Mahendra Singh Dhoni May Return Home Before India's Final Test Against Australia

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