April 19–26, 2001

on media

Soundbites

Two books by Inquirer reporters will hit the shelves in early May: Jennifer Weiner’s first, Good in Bed (www.jenniferweiner.com), and Mark Bowden’s fourth, Killing Pablo: The Hunt for the World’s Greatest Outlaw (www.killingpablo.com).

Sometimes members of the media are inundated by phone calls and press releases from public relations flacks. But the fact remains — we rely on them as much as they rely on us. So reporters from the Inquirer, KYW News Radio and Fox 29 television will participate in a workshop geared at teaching activists how to attract media attention. The event is part of the Audubon Society’s effort to raise awareness about family planning programs and their relation to preserving natural resources. In addition to members of the media, speakers will include family planning experts, environmentalists and elected officials. The workshop, part of the Audubon Society’s "Planet" initiative, will be held Saturday, April 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 40 Monument Ave., Bala Cynwyd. For reservations, call 610-664-7930.

Journalists in Jeopardy

"Press freedom in Russia is under threat following a number of serious setbacks last year, the media watchdog Reporters Sans Frontiers (RSF) said in a report published [April 11]. At least six journalists were killed in Russia in 2000 and many more were threatened, the Paris-based group said. The recent move by the state-dominated gas giant Gazprom to take over Russia’s only independent television network, NTV, has added to the worries. ‘With doubts cast over the freedom and pluralism of the media, one of the most fundamental guarantees of the future of Russian democracy is now very directly threatened,’ the report said. Without directly implicating Russian President Vladimir Putin, RSF quoted him verbally attacking one reporter and said he had benefited from clear support from state-controlled television networks in last year’s presidential election. Putin has said on many occasions that he backs a free press, but Russian liberals have accused him of trying to tighten the reins on the media."

—from European Journalism Centre’s (www.ejc.nl) daily e-mail, based on a Reuters report.

—Frank Lewis and Gwen Shaffer