Maria Ressa’s conviction, and the Philippines’ dire information climate

“Evation.” Yesterday, authorities in the Philippines used that typo to convict Maria Ressa, the crusading journalist who founded the independent news site Rappler, and her former colleague Reynaldo Santos of “cyber-libel” charges. The typo appeared in a May 2012 article in which Santos linked Wilfredo Keng, a Filipino businessman, to the human-trafficking and drug trades. The story was published four months before the Philippines introduced the law under which the cyber-libel charges would eventually be brought, placing the story beyond that law’s scope. Then, in 2014, Rappler spotted and fixed the typo. Prosecutors argued that the fix amounted to “republication” of the article, which meant the cyber-libel law applied to it after all. That interpretation, like almost everything else about the case, was a stretch—this morning, Ressa decried it as “legal acrobatics”—but that didn’t stop a judge handing down a guilty verdict. Ressa and Santos could now face up to six years in prison. They plan to appeal. Whatever the eventual sentence, the verdict is another sharp blow to press freedom in the Philippines, whose authoritarian president, Rodrigo Duterte, has waged a relentless campaign to silence critics, including Ressa, who have spoken out about atrocities including a war on drugs that has claimed at least twelve thousand Filipino lives to date, many at the hands of the state. The Philippines’ National Union of Journalists said the verdict against Ressa and Santos “basically... Continue reading at 'Columbia Journalism Review'

[ Columbia Journalism Review | 2020-06-16 12:23:58 UTC ]
News tagged with: #small group #memoir

Other news stories related to: "Maria Ressa’s conviction, and the Philippines’ dire information climate"


A Commentary on the State of Reading in the Philippines

Calling the Philippines 'a country enmeshed in entertainment and feel-good books,' Tyrone Velez writes that literary intelligence is threatened. The post A Commentary on the State of Reading in the Philippines appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-05-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


BISG's Making Information Pay Highlights Print, Audiobook Resurgence

At the Book Industry Study Group's Making Information Pay conference NPD BookScan revealed that in 2016 hardcovers outsold ebooks for the first time in five years, while audiobooks now account for $1.77 billion in sales. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Best of the week: Subscription sites like the Information can thrive, but scale isn’t dead

A look at Jessica Lessin at her subscription tech news site, why Google is beating out Facebook for publisher hearts and minds, the lonely plight of the agency Republican, and why scale isn't dead yet. The post Best of the week: Subscription sites like the Information can thrive, but scale isn’t... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2017-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


At 25, the New Press Thrives In Politically Charged Climate

The New Press plans to celebrate its 25th anniversary with an energized publishing program focused on the challenge of resisting the new administration's political agenda. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #25th anniversary #press plans


Political climate looms over London Book Fair trade

Manuscripts which help readers escape from the angst of the political climate are tipped to be hot at this year's London Book Fair, according to publishers and agents. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #political climate


Kate Hamer | 'I was brought up on fairytales and I think that informs a lot of what I do'

The author’s follow-up to her unusual and striking début is set in the ancient Forest of Dean. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Prince Charles pens climate change book for new Ladybird Expert series

Prince Charles has written a book on climate change as part of a new Ladybird Expert series, set to be published later this month. His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales has written The Ladybird Expert Book on Climate Change, outlining its challenges and possible solutions, along with former... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-01-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #royal highness #climate change #prince charles


AAP Taps Maria Pallante to Succeed Tom Allen

The former U.S. Register of Copyrights will succeed Tom Allen as AAP president and CEO. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-01-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Julia Roberts to star in Maria Semple TV adaptation

Julia Roberts is starring in Annapurna Pictures' TV adaptation of Maria Semple's second novel Today Will be Different. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-12-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #maria semple #tv adaptation #julia roberts


Can Better Writing Make Climate Change Less Polarizing?

How do writers and publishers handle charged topics like climate change? Environmentalist Jamie Clarke makes a case for including more perspectives, both for the sake of book sales and the planet. The post Can Better Writing Make Climate Change Less Polarizing? appeared first on Publishing... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-12-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #book sales #climate change


The Philippines’ National Book Awards Longlist Is Out

A wide array of poetry and prose, in English and Filipino and other languages, goes into competition in The Philippines' awards program, which comprises work in multiple languages. The post The Philippines’ National Book Awards Longlist Is Out appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-09-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #awards program #wide array #multiple languages


Distribution, Competitiveness, Education: The Philippines’ Andrea Pasion-Flores

In her appraisal of The Philippines' book industry challenges, Manila-based literary agent Andrea Pasion-Flores talks of the disparities of retail access to books in various parts of the country. The post Distribution, Competitiveness, Education: The Philippines’ Andrea Pasion-Flores appeared... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-08-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Goodreads reviews show how gender informs book criticism

Analysis of book reviews on Goodreads has revealed some intriguing patterns concerning authorship and the popularity of reviews among peers, reports Robert Blincoe. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #book reviews


‘Draw That Roadmap to the World’: The Philippines’ Karina Bolasco

'Our publishing industry is complex and vibrant,' says publisher Karina Bolasco, who speaks on October 18 as The Philippines' analyst in Frankfurt Book Fair's The Markets: Global Publishing Summit. The post ‘Draw That Roadmap to the World’: The Philippines’ Karina Bolasco appeared first on... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-06-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #publishing industry


Catholic Publisher Ave Maria's Longtime Editorial Director Retires

Robert Hamma, Ave Maria's editorial director since 1996 who is retiring in July, reflects on his career in Catholic publishing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-06-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #catholic publishing


Frankfurt’s The Markets: A Snapshot of The Philippines

With a 96-percent literacy rate reported in 2015, and a young population engaged in narrative, The Philippines is a study in contrasting opportunities and challenges in the lineup of The Markets: Global Publishing Summit in October at Frankfurt Book Fair. The post Frankfurt’s The Markets: A... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #post frankfurt #philippines appeared


Making Information Pay: Is Privacy Becoming a Commodity?

At BISG's Making Information Pay seminar, Pew's Lee Rainie told attendees that, in a recent survey, 91% of Americans said they feel they have lost the ability to control their personal data. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-05-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #personal data #recent survey


BEA 2016: Maria Semple: Writing to Escape Pain

Although Maria Semple has written two previous novels—most recently the bestselling "Where’d You Go, Bernadette," with a film adaptation in the works—the one-time TV writer ("Mad About You," "Arrested Development") says writing them never gets easier. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-05-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #film adaptation #maria semple


Bizarre Romanian Law Frees Convicts Who Publish Books

A law in Romania allows prisoners who publish books to cut months off their sentences. Several imprisoned politicians and businessmen have taken advantage. The post Bizarre Romanian Law Frees Convicts Who Publish Books appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #publish books


What are the rules when a site publishes false information about you?

If an Internet company publishes false information about you online, can you sue for damages even if you weren't demonstrably harmed?That, essentially, is the question that hangs in the balance Monday as the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments in a case that pits online data broker Spokeo against... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2015-11-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | All news stories tagged with: #good reason #watching closely