Category Archives: Censorship

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1:48 p.m. ET June 20, 2017

High school yearbooks that featured digitally altered photographs of students supporting President Donald Trump will be reissued.

So, Wall taxpayers will be footing the bill for new yearbooks because some kid decided to wear a Trump T-shirt for his yearbook photo and it was edited because someone on the yearbook staff thought it was inappropriate? (Trump censorship: Wall H.S. to get new yearbooks, June 15).

First of all, what student would wear a T-shirt for his yearbook photo?

But he does learn a lesson. If he stomps his feet and holds his breath he can get daddy to rally round the poor choices. Maybe the lesson should have been, Sorry Charlie. You made a poor choice in your attire. Live with it.

What teacher in Wall will want to do anything more than teach their classes? Why take a chance that some misguided youth and his righteous dad will raise a stink and tag some inflammatory description on the decision. There is censorship in schools every day. Its part of the learning process.

Chuck Person

Barnegat

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LETTER: Wrong lesson learned by yearbook censorship - Asbury Park Press

Alarmed by torrent of censorship imposed by administrators? Support student journalists

This week I saw a preview screening of a documentary about Syrian citizen journalists who chronicled the rise of ISIS before anyone in the West gave a damn about the propaganda-fueled jihadist group.

The heroes of City of Ghosts, which releases commercially next month,are ordinary internal people whose lives are threatened not words are violence threatened, but mortally threatened every time they secretly record the daily atrocities in Raqqa, the ISIS capital.

They feed it out to their still-endangered external compatriots who manage the news operation, known as Raqqa is Being SlaughteredSilently, from abroad.

The first leader of the group, Naji Jerf,who put these young journalists through a crash course in war reporting, was tracked down by ISIS in Turkey and executed during the documentarys filming. Thats how dangerous unfiltered information is to propagandists.

He looks like a college journalism adviser, I thought as I watched the screening, organized by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. (Two of the citizen journalists made a surprise visit. Our questions for them kind of sucked because we were stunned they made it here.)

Naji Jerf was basically working with people many of whom appear to be college age who had non-journalism livelihoods, but felt compelled to shine a light on their besieged city when no one else would.

For those of us safely reporting on absurd things in America, where the main victim is sanity and common sense, our work feels puny compared to the daily life-and-death struggle of Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently.

But there are faint shadows of the Syrian citizen journalists struggle in many towns in America, where youngsters operate under the constant threat of punishment and censorship for reporting on their communities.

The Washington Post profiles the important work of the Student Press Law Center, which we occasionally feature and consult for College Fix stories, and its outgoing executive director, Frank LoMonte, who is headed to the University of Florida to do journalism law.

I feel a certain kinship to SPLC because were both tiny shoestring-budget nonprofits working with journalism newbies who are vulnerable to pressure and intimidation from administrators, especially when students are covering their own schools.

As Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan notes, the problems cut across ideology and political lines when SPLC swoops in to defend student journalists:

LoMonte helped a reporter at the student newspaper at New Jerseys Kean University as she tried to pry loose a surveillance video that the universitys police department was wrongly withholding.

At an Omaha high school, the student newspaper wanted to publish a column suggesting that teachers keep their politics out of the classroom. (It observed that some of them were trash-talking Trump, using words such as Nazi and Hitler.)

The school administration found the column unacceptable. Then, when students tried to write about the censorship, that article was killed, too. With SPLCs intervention, both pieces were published and won a state high school journalism award.

Ive gotten people out of jail, Ive gotten cameras back from police this is an urgent-level service, said LoMonte

SPLC is also leading the charge at the state level for statutory protections for student journalists, and it sends out 200-odd lawyer-volunteers who run journalism workshops for students.

LoMonte makes a great argument when he faces off against administrators who want to suppress reporting:

That schools would be acting in their own self-interest to let students publish because, in the social-media era, theyll find a way to get their message out in some other (perhaps less accurate) form, anyway.

Its a little easier for High Schoolers Being Censored Silently to circumvent the powers-that-be than for the brave journalists of Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, thankfully.

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Associate Editor

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Alarmed by torrent of censorship imposed by administrators? Support student journalists - The College Fix

To the editor:

As we are in the season of graduation, I hope you will allow this retired educator to reflect on the Early College yearbook fiasco.

First, let me address the nauseating defense of censorship offered up by John Robich (Richmond County Daily Journal, June 3-4). His attempts to ingratiate the reader by extolling the virtues of the Early College at the expense of censorship is an abysmal failure. He delights that school officials put down the yearbook as if free speech were a rabid dog.

Mr. Robich reinforces his moralistic rant stating the potential threat of information that neither he or any of the public had access to, yet he claims that information potentially inflammatory, controversial and offensive.

Sir, you need a refresher course in Constitutional Law 101.

His most laughable observation goads the reader to be concerned over how posterity might perceive the yearbook in question. Yes, Mr. Robich, the students will remember the yearbook, but not for the reasons you so smugly suggest.

They will recall how obsessed school officials used collusion to steal the work of a year of collaboration. Where are they confiscated books? Have they been destroyed? At least the Nazis burned their books in public. Oh, that one copy still copy still exists to be downloaded to the freedom of the internet.

In his arrogantly condescending tone, Mr. Robich admonishes those who disagree with him to consider the big picture.

Yes, we see the big picture. The educational caste system is alive and well in Richmond County. Do you really think our citizens will acquiesce to such thinking?

At every turn, he insults the intelligence of the readers ability to make their own moral choices. That Principal Waddell made the right and morally good decision would make it astounding that students and parents can make these choices at all! Its a sure bet that next years publication will be closely scrutinizedoopssanitized.

Our superintendents failure to publicly weigh in on the crisis has been noted. Her silence speaks volumes. With the national spotlight on our school system, Dr. Goodman missed an opportunity for transparency in her administration.

Some would want to maintain the status quo. Sorry folks. Pandoras Box has been opened and things will never be the same again.

In recent months, we have witnessed massive student walkouts in our state over social issues. It is to their credit our students chose not to disrupt their education.

Are you listening administrators? Who are the adults in this scenario?

Congratulations to the graduates of Early College. Despite the despicable act of betrayal perpetrated on you, you still hold the promise of a democratic society. Never let anyone or group of people put braces on your brains. My prayer of you, in the words of one spiritual revolutionary, is to continue to ask, seek and knock all the days of your life.

I applaud the Daily Journal for keeping the issue in the forefront. Although our school officials are on report, you can be sure you have not heard the last of their draconian antics.

Vigilance is the price we pay for freedom. I hope Richmond Countys motto Fiat Justicia, (Let Justice Be Done) will prevail in the end.

Eddie Russell

Rockingham

http://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_letter_web-6.jpg

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LETTER: Defense of censorship was nauseating - Richmond County Daily Journal

BBG CEO, John F. Lansing said:"The right to seek, and impart, facts and ideas is a universal human right which many repressive governments seek to control. This website presents an incredible opportunity to provide citizens around the world with the resources they need to access a free and open internet for uncensored news and information essential to making informed decisions about their lives and communities."

The broadcasters supporting theBypass Censorshipsite are part of the DG7 group of global media organizations supportive of UN resolutions on media freedom and the safety of journalists.

The Broadcasting Board of Governors is an independent federal agency, supervising all U.S. government-supported, civilian international media, whose mission is to inform, engage and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy. BBG networks include the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa), Radio Free Asia, and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (Radio and TV Marti). BBG programming has a measured audience of 278 million in more than 100 countries and in 61 languages.

CONTACT: BBG Public Affairs, 202-203-4400

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/broadcasters-promote-news-freedom-via-bypass-censorship-website-300476174.html

SOURCE Broadcasting Board of Governors

https://www.bbg.gov/

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Broadcasters Promote News Freedom via "Bypass Censorship" website - PR Newswire (press release)

The Egyptian authorities have shifted their onslaught against media freedom to the digital sphere, blocking access to more than 40 news sites without justification in recent weeks, in an attempt to eliminate the countrys last remaining spaces for criticism and free expression, said Amnesty International.

At least 63 websites have been blocked in total since 24 May according to the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression, including 48 news sites. Mada Masr, an independent news site which regularly published news and analysis deeply critical of the authorities was among the first to be blocked. Most recently on 11 June the Egyptian news sites Albedaiah, run by independent journalist Khaled al Balshy, Elbadil and Bawabit Yanair were blocked. Access to the global online publishing platform Medium was also cut off on 10 June.

The latest clampdown on digital media is further evidence of Egypts age-old police state tactics in motion. Even in the darkest days of the repressive Mubarak era the authorities didnt cut off access to all independent news sites, said Najia Bounaim, Amnesty Internationals North Africa Campaigns director.

With this move the Egyptian authorities seem to be targeting the few remaining spaces for free expression in the country. It shows just how determined the authorities are to prevent Egyptians from accessing independent reporting, analysis and opinion about Egypt. The authorities must immediately stop arbitrarily blocking news websites. On 24 May, state media announced that Egyptian authorities had blocked a group of websites including the prominent independent news platforms Mada Masr, Daily News Egypt, Elborsa and Masr Al Arabia. The authorities failed to provide any evidence of illegal activity or to clarify the legal basis for the decision. Instead officials made vague statements to the media saying this was in connection with publishing false information and supporting terrorism. On 25 May, Egyptian newspapers published reports citing a sovereign agency

(a term usually used to refer to Egyptian intelligence agencies) justifying the move on the grounds of combating terrorism and accusing Qatar of supporting some of the blocked websites, again without providing evidence.

Amnesty International has reviewed the list of blocked websites. The majority are news sites but the list also includes sites where VPN and TOR, which can be used to access blocked sites, can be downloaded. Amnesty International was able to identify only one website connected to groups that use or advocate violence.

Many of the sites that have been blocked had served as a refuge for Egypts remaining critical voices who no longer are allowed to appear on TV or in the print media, which have been firmly in the grip of the state since President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi came to power.

The independent news and analysis website Mada Masr is known for unflinchingly exposing human rights violations committed by the Egyptian authorities in recent years, including arbitrary detention, unfair trials, the crackdown on human rights NGOs, extrajudicial executions and the use of the death penalty.

The sites editor-in-chief, Lina Attallah, told Amnesty International that she believes the site was blocked because it publishes well-researched investigations based on verified information. We publish what authorities dont want people to read, she said.

The Egyptian government appears to be exploiting recent violent attacks by armed groups in the country to crack down on the remaining free space and silence critical voices. Once again the authorities are using national security grounds to justify outright repression, said Najia Bounaim.

Instead of attacking critical and independent voices Egypt should respect the obligations enshrined in its own constitution and in international law not to impose arbitrary restrictions on freedom of expression and to protect the right of everyone to seek, receive and share information.

The governments decision to block these websites also flouts Egypts constitution, which prohibits censorship of the media, except at times of war and military mobilization, and protects freedom of expression and press freedom both in print and digital formats. The constitution also upholds the right of all citizens to use telecommunication tools and methods.

The legal grounds and authority the government has used to block these sites is ambiguous and it remains unclear whether emergency law provisions were applied. There are, however, a number of Egyptian laws that can be used to censor the media and the internet, on the grounds of national security.

After the bombing of two churches in Tanta and Alexandria in April 2017, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi declared a three-month state of emergency. An hour later, the authorities confiscated that days edition of Albawaba newspaper, which demanded that the Minister of Interior be held accountable for failing to prevent the bombing.

Under emergency laws, the authorities have broad powers to impose surveillance and censorship on media. On 10 April, the head of the Egyptian parliament, Dr Ali Abdelal announced that these laws will extend to social media platforms, such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. He added that these platforms were being used as means of communication between terrorists and warned that online offenders would face prosecution.

The vaguely worded articles of Egypts counterterrorism law also allow punishments of up to 15 years in prison for establishing a website for the purpose of promoting terrorist ideas and grant the authorities the power to block websites suspected of promoting terrorism.

Two of the blocked websites, Daily News Egypt and Elborsa, belong to the Business News Company, which is licensed by the government. In November 2016, the government froze the companys assets under the pretext that it belonged to the Muslim Brotherhood, without providing evidence to support this claim. The papers 230 staff have not received their salaries since.

Representatives of many of the websites affected have filed complaints with the Press Syndicate, the National Council for Media, the Ministry Communications and the Public Prosecutor, but so far received no response. Mada Masr has filed an appeal against the decision to block its website before an administrative court, but it has not yet heard the appeal.

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Dozens of news sites blocked as Egypt ramps up digital censorship - Amnesty International USA

Dark Horizons

China's Edits To 'Alien: Covenant' Reportedly Censor Out Most Of The Reasons To See The Movie UPROXX The nation has long had a strange relationship with gay content in films, blocking films like Brokeback Mountain but having no issues with Beauty And The Beast's touted gay moment. Both are at very different ends of the film spectrum, but the nation ... You're Taking The Kiss: China Cuts Gay Kiss For Censored 'Alien: Covenant'moviepilot.com China Censors Cut Alien: Covenant Fass-KissDark Horizons Michael Fassbender's gay kiss in Alien: Covenant was cut by censors in China alongside five further minutes of contentDigitalSpy.com attitude.co.uk -Gizmodo -The Hindu -Hollywood Reporter all 28 news articles »

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China's Edits To 'Alien: Covenant' Reportedly Censor Out Most Of The Reasons To See The Movie - UPROXX

Forbes

When Facebook Censors Journalists Forbes In a world in which 62% of American adults use social media as a news source and where nearly half of American adults access news via Facebook in particular, social media is increasingly becoming a critical gatekeeper in our access to the world's ...

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When Facebook Censors Journalists - Forbes

Grant Berardo, a Wall High School junior, saw his image digitally altered with a plain black T-shirt in his yearbook. Mike Davis

Wall Township High School junior Grant Berardo's T-shirt was digitally altered in the school's yearbook. He wore a Donald Trump campaign shirt for his portrait.(Photo: Courtesy of Joseph Berardo, Jr.)

WALL -High school yearbooks that featured digitally altered photographs of students supporting President Donald Trump will be reissued, according to the district superintendent.

In a letter to parents issued Thursday evening, Superintendent Cheryl Dyer outlined a series of "mistakes," including the intentional alteration of a student's T-shirt to remove a Trump campaign logo.

Other mistakes were unintentional, likely because of "carelessness or lack of attention to detail or lack of sufficient proofreading," she said.

ICYMI: Wall High teacher suspended over alleged Trump yearbook censorship

MORE INFO: Wall teen's Trump shirt censored in yearbook

"Ido not believe that it is possible to create a yearbook of 248 pages, thousands of pictures, namesand lines of text and have it be error free," Dyer said. "That being said, I cannot allow the intentional change that was not based on dress code to be ignored. I am the chief school administrator in this district and I take responsibility for the actions of those who are employed here.

"Therefore, I have determined that a reissuance of the yearbook is necessary," she continued.

The new yearbooks will be available in about two weeks, Dyer said. The school's commencement ceremony for seniors is scheduled for Friday.

Wall High School has grabbed national attention over the last week after three students reported that their images or words supporting Trump had been altered in the yearbook.

Grant Berardo, a junior at the school, took his school pictures wearing a navy blue "Make America Great Again" shirt from the campaign. In the yearbook, his photo had been digitally altered so it resembled a nondescript black T-shirt, which you can see in the video at the top of the story.

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It was Photoshopped," Berardo said in an interview. "I sent it to my mom and dad, just like You wont believe this. I was just overall disappointed.

"I like Trump, but its history too. Wearing that shirt memorializes the time," he said.

In her letter, Dyer said this alteration was "intentional."

People make mistakes. Sometimes, the mistakes they make are intentional, Dyer said in an interview. An adult altered a picture. I dont know why, and I dont know if Ill ever know why. But I do know the how, and I know that Im not OKwith it, so Im going to do something to fix it."

But it's not yet clear whether aquote attributed to Trump was purposely left out of a section dedicated to Montana Dobrovich-Fago's role as freshman class president, Dyer said.

Traditionally, class presidents pick a quote to accompany their picture."I like thinking big. If you are going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big," Trump's quote read.

The quote was submitted before a deadline but did not appear in the yearbook.

ELSEWHERE: Bleeding liberal blue in red Jackson

Montana's older brother, Wyatt Dobrovich-Fago, wore a sweater vest with a Trump logo for his school picture. The logo was cropped out of the photograph in the yearbook, but Dyer said it was done in "the same manner as all of the underclass photos."

It did not appear to be intentional, she said.

According to Dyer, other errors in the yearbook included:

Digital media teacher Susan Parsons, also the yearbook adviser, was suspended with pay because of the incident. The school board is expected to discuss further discipline at its June 20 meeting.

Parsons has not returned multiple calls seeking comment.

MORE: Trump yearbook censor is registered Democrat

Mike Davis: 732-643-4223; mdavis@gannettnj.com

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Trump censorship: Wall HS to get new yearbooks - Asbury Park Press - Asbury Park Press

The nation has shut down the internet in various regions 20 times in the first five months of this year, according to a report from Human Rights Watch. Four of those blackouts have taken place this month, all in states where violent protests took place.

That represents a dramatic uptick from last year, when 31 shutdowns were recorded in total, and an even greater increase since 2012 -- which saw only three shutdowns.

The Indian government did not respond to a request for comment on the report, but has argued in the past that restricting access is sometimes necessary to prevent social media rumors from fueling violence.

Related: Can Theresa May use tech to stop terror attacks?

The disputed and conflict-ridden region of Kashmir, for example, has seen 33 shutdowns in five years.

"The lack of transparency and failure to explain these shutdowns only furthers the perception that they are meant to suppress nonviolent reporting and criticism of the government," said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director for Human Rights Watch.

While the Indian government doesn't have its own internet-blocking apparatus like China's "Great Firewall," it can order service providers to go offline. That power stems from a law written in 1973, which allows the government to impose various restrictions on the public to prevent everything from riots to "obstruction, annoyance or injury."

Related: A huge wave of new users is killing 4G speeds in India

India, which is often referred to as the world's largest democracy, has been called out for online censorship before.

A 2016 survey of internet freedom in 65 countries by U.S.-based think tank Freedom House gave India a score of 41. China, with a score of 88, came last. Estonia performed best with a score of 6.

In another report by the Brookings Institution last year, India tied for first place with Iraq for the highest number of internet shutdowns among 19 countries (including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Syria and North Korea).

Facebook also ranks the Indian government among the top countries asking it to censor content. The social media giant said in its latest Government Requests Report that India ordered 719 pieces of content to be restricted, lower only than Brazil, Turkey and Germany.

India topped Facebook's list for two straight years up to June 2015.

CNNMoney (New Delhi) First published June 16, 2017: 10:13 AM ET

Continued here:
Internet censorship in India is on the rise - CNNMoney

A New Jersey high school yearbook adviser has been suspended amid an investigation into censorship allegations overphotos and a quotation that were altered to remove references to President Trump, according to news reports.

Three students at Wall High School in central New Jersey noticed the changes in their yearbooks late last week, and their parents have since been calling for action.

Wall Township public schoolsSuperintendent Cheryl Dyer said last weekthat the district learned aboutan allegation of censorship and the possible violation of First Amendment rights and was investigating the matter. She told USA Todaylate Monday that the teacher, whom she would not name,was suspended pending further disciplinary action. NJ.com reported that the teacher has been suspendedindefinitely with pay while the district investigates the allegations.

Dyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the suspension. Its still unclear what role the teacher may have played in the yearbook alterations.

[Parents outraged after pro-Trump messages were edited out of this high schools yearbooks]

On picture day in October, one student,juniorWyatt Dobrovich-Fago, had worn a fleece vest with a Trump campaign logo, but it appeared to be cropped out in the yearbook. His sister, Montana, who was freshman-class president, was missing a Trump quote that was meant to appear beneath her photo. I like thinking big. If you are going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big, itread,according to CNN.

But perhaps the most blatant edit was to17-year-oldGrant BerardosTRUMP Make America Great Again! T-shirt, which was apparently altered in his yearbook photo to removethe Republican presidential nominees campaign slogan. In the yearbook, the high school junior appeared to be wearing a plain and simple, dark-colored T-shirt.

Grants father,Joseph Berardo, said in a Facebook post Monday night that he had met with the school administration earlier in the day and was informed that the teacher had been suspended.

There was a lapse in judgement and mistakes were made. I suspect there will be meaningful consequences, Berardo wrote.

I refuse to be censored although my son was, he added. Issues like these are too important to look the other way. HOWEVER, if we agree to talk instead of shout, I believe we can always find common ground.

Berardo earlier told The Washington Post that school pictures were sent home to the studentsfamilies after the electionand that there did not seem to be any issue with Grants portrait.

In fact, he said, Grants picturewasused as hisschool identificationphoto.

He was just really surprised; it was the first election he ever took an interest in, he said of his son. His question was, Is it okay? Did someone do something here that they shouldnt have done? Thats why Im pursuing it.He said he wants his son to understand that althoughthese are your teachers and administrators, there are still things youre permitted to do throughthe Constitution.

Dyer, the superintendent, previouslysaid in a statement, Two parents have notified the school district of ways in which the attire of their children was altered in yearbook photos. Further, there are claims that comments or quotes offered for inclusion in the yearbook were not published. References to and support of President Trump were involved in each of these incidents.

There is nothing in Wall Township High Schools student dress code that would prevent a student from expressing his or her political views, or support for a political figure, via appropriate clothing and attire, she said. Indeed, the administration applauds students for becoming involved in politics, making their voices known, and taking an active part in our democracy.

The district has not identified the suspended adviser, but Berardo said it was Susan Parsons, who has worked for the district for 15 years, according to her course website. Thecourse sitestates that Parsons oversees Yearbook 1, 2 and 3, as well as other technology courses such as digital media, Web page design, computer repair and digital animation and gaming.

Parsons could not immediately be reached Tuesday for comment and an email sent to her schoolemail address came back as undeliverable. But she told the New York Post, We have never made any action against any political party.

Shewould not say who made the edits, according to the New York Post.

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Excerpt from:
Adviser suspended after pro-Trump messages were edited out of high school yearbooks - Washington Post