FC: Request for nominations: Best & worst Net journalism of 1999 awards

[Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>]

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[Disclaimer: I am a judge. --DBM]

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Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 22:49:34 +0000
From: "Internet Freedom" <campaign () netfreedom org>

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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