huridocs-tech Request for nominations: Best & worst Net journalism of 1999 award

Edited/Distributed by HURINet - The Human Rights Information Network
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## author     : declan@well.com
## date       : 12.12.99
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MEDIA RELEASE - IMMEDIATE 13 December 1999

INTERNET FREEDOM LAUNCH JOURNALISM AWARDS

Internet Freedom today launched the first Internet Freedom
Journalism Awards.

The awards will name and shame the worst journalistic
examples of caricature, misrepresentation or stereotyping of
Net users. The IFJA will also recognise high quality
journalism and highlight good practice by journalists
striving to report news about the Internet.

Chris Ellison, chair of the awards, said:

"The Internet Freedom Journalism awards are about giving
journalists there just desserts. Quality journalism will be
recognised, so too will sloppy journalism. Many myths,
distortions and lies have been written about Internet users.
These myths have served as ammunition for the censors in the
war against free speech. In the campaign for the rights of
Net users, Internet Freedom has been at the forefront of
demystifying some of the myths of the Internet."

Jonathan Wallace, judge, said:

"Still unknown to most people today is the common sense
proposition that the Internet is in reality a constellation
of printing presses and bookstores - computers which produce
content and servers which make it available. The press has a
special responsibility in this regard: they have the power
to help us all understand that the Net is to be treated no
differently than print media; or to hype it as a
self-created monster bearing no relationship to what has
gone before. The first and most significant test of a
journalist writing about the Net is whether he or she
understands this fundamental principle."

Mark Newman, judge, said:

"We've all seen those regular scare stories about online
hackers and fraudsters - yet in reality the Net is far safer
than many journalists would have you think. Eye-catching
stories about the Net may sell magazines and newspapers, but
they don't educate readers about what's really happening on
the Net."

Declan McCullagh, judge, said:

"The Internet may be reshaping the world's economy, but we
shouldn't let it entirely reshape journalism. Writers and
editors need to keep in mind the tried-and-true principles
that good journalists have always followed: Fairness,
accuracy, and timeliness. Technology may provide us with new
ways to deliver our work and interact with our readers, but
we must not let it sacrifice the high standards we set for
ourselves."

For further comment call Chris Ellison on 00 44 (0) 956 129
518

NOTES

1. Internet Freedom is one of the UK's leading cyber
liberties campaigns. Their web site is at
http://www.netfreedom.org. They can be contacted on 00 44
(0) 207 681 1559 or emailed on campaign@netfreedom.org.

2. The categories for the awards are:

*Internet Article of shame. For a news report, feature or
opinion piece distinguished by misrepresentation, bias or
invention of inflated dangers about the Internet.

*Internet Investigation of the Year. For a news story or
feature revealing attempts to regulate the Net.

*The Fair Reporting News Agency of the Year. To a news
organisation for consistently high standards in writing
about the Net.

*Internet Journalist of the Year. To a journalist for
consistently high standards in writing about the Net.

3. Only work published between 1 January and 31 December
1999 is eligible. Work can be from any media.

4. The closing date for nominations is 1 January 2000.
Nominations can be made via http://www.netfreedom.org.
Winners will be announced on 10 January 2000.

5. The judging committee comprises of Mark Newman, Declan
McCullagh and Jonathan Wallace. Chris Ellison will chair the
committee.

6. The judges and chair not eligible for awards.

7. About the chair and judges:

Chris Ellison is founder of Internet Freedom and has written
for The Guardian, Index on Censorship and the Institute of
Economic Affairs. He was listed by Internet magazine as one
of the top 40 most influential figures in the Internet
industry.

Declan McCullagh is the chief Washington correspondent for
Wired News and lives and works in Washington DC. Until
October 1998, McCullagh was a reporter for Time Digital
Daily and Time Magazine, and continues to contribute to Time
Magazine on a freelance basis. An award-winning journalist,
his articles have appeared in publications from Playboy
magazine to the Los Angeles Times.

Jonathan Wallace is author of 'Sex, Laws and Cyberspace' and
publishes 'The Ethical Spectacle'. He lives in New York.

Mark Newman is editor of UK magazine Practical Internet.





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