The Launch of TrialWatch 2019

Nice. I guess if we want to see George this is the kind of thing we'll have to look for. Not quite the same, but it'll have to do.

Trialwatch is critical now more than ever considering that so many countries are flaunting with authoritarian rule. George’s strong passion and belief in a free press makes this endeavor a natural undertaking for him.

Thanks pan for the link above.

Pleasure, Jo. Here's a shot of George and Amal with Maria Ressa of Rappler, under threat of prison, if not worse, from President Duterte of the Phillipines for her online column.

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I have met this lady - she's tiny, soft-spoken - and shorter than me, which is saying something!

How are you? Pretty bleak day down here....but it's darker later!

This is certainly not any old tinpot organisation! Some new appointments:

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The press in the United States and world wide IS NOT FREE;  they DON'T have the freedom to speak truth to power.  The United States Press IS OWNED AND RAN BY BIG BUSINESS.  The United States Press shape perception and drive the perspective BIG BUSINESS want a wide audience to believe.  

The fight to free journalist with the "absence of" and/or "focus on" the investigative journalism they are responsible for, is a courtroom grandstand void of substance.

I'm sure the trial watch means well, however I just find it a media grandstand to make people think freedom of the press is in danger, when the truth is THERE IS NO FREEDOM OF THE PRESS.

Ah. So on that basis I assume you are happy to read, publish and believe all those non-articles from fake new sites.

PAN, please don't get me started on fake news.

What George and Amal are doing is amazing. They are showing the world just how bad the press are treated and not just in this country but world wide. They are finding ways to help the press and keep trials honest. Which our country and others are not doing. The idiot in the White House is all for destruction of the press and free speech.

Maybe George and Amal should tackle fake news.  There's really NOTHING like the truth.

This courtroom journalist grandstand is not impressive, and does NOTHING to tackle freedom of the press.

That is your opinion and you are entitled to it , it is not mine and I find it very impressive.

I can imagine how very proud Nick and Nina are of George and Amal. I think this is so important to them both
 because Nick and Baria are both journalists.

I find it interesting that someone who believes there is "NO FREEDOM OF THE PRESS" because we are only fed what big business wants us to see bothers to pay so much attention to what is published - and why they see fit to discuss so much of the "news", if it is all fake.

Big business does have a major influence on what we see in the media, which is why what George and Amal are doing is so important. They are supporting the segment of the media that is still independent and trying to tell truth to power. We need more like them.

party animal - not! wrote:This is certainly not any old tinpot organisation! Some new appointments:

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Very impressive additions.  I didn’t fully realize how impressive John Prendergast’s resume was.  I expect the group has their work cut out for them with the alarming increase of assaults on the free press.  Trump is certainly doing his part and if he gets four more years the foundation may have to focus some of their efforts stateside.

Quite, Lizzy. 

The phrase 'freedom of the press' as a definition refers to the ability of journalists to find out report the facts of an often dangerous situation, to research and report corruption, human rights violations, and deaths by governments around the world. 

By dismissing all of that with a 'why bother' shrug of the shoulders attitude when more journalists than ever are imprisoned, abused and sometimes killed eg Khashoggi for reporting on Saudi Arabia's heir,  and Daphne Galizia, killed for investigating widespread corruption at the very top of government in Malta. is frankly beyond me








   around the world for reporting what they see sh

PAN - I suppose it's easier to throw your hands up and do nothing than it is to acknowledge that one might have a responsibility to act in some way to fix the problem. I don't know what that action might be since each of us is in a different situation and we certainly don't all have G&A's clout, but I'm sure there are things we can all do individually to help.

You hit the nail on the head. 

And of course social media bosses and their owners empower that and make it easier for us to read endless trivia about some soap star nobody ever heard of - and make money.

A couple of interesting things from today.

From The Guardian - the paper George describes as 'stellar' -

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and Jake Tapper reported this yesterday evening - apparently CNN were excluded from a White House press conference....

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British journalists and tv reporters all walked out of No 10 when Boris Johnson's men tried to do the same.........

PAN thanks for pointing out CNN being excluded from that Trump press briefing. I had not heard about this. Every member of the press who was there should have walked out if this story is true. I think the media has done a hell of a job investigating Trump and pointing out the thousand of lies he has told. But they have also faltered. One cable news person yesterday called out the media for continuing to give Trump so much credit for the strong U.S. economy. Trump lied his way through the SOTU address on Tuesday night. That’s why Pelosi ripped up Trump’s speech right in front of him. He made false claims about Obama’s economy over and over again. The statistics show something very different. The media needs to constantly call him out on his many bogus claims.

Yes, I totally agree, Donnamarie, but no-one holds his feet to the fire. I have often wondered why - and I think there could be two reasons: the first is that there don't seem to be very many long interviews (see Emily Maitlis on the BBC with Prince Andrew!) but that may be because interviewers always have to look at the clock for the next advert break - or one wonders which board  or owners of which TV stations are Republicans!

Agsin, Michael Lewis's book paints an even scarier picture -and is very well sourced! Oh, and apparently more information continues to be revealed including the fact that once again Ukraine have said that they are still waiting for another 30 million dollars worth of guns and ammuniciation promised by the US...

John Bolton seemed to be a good bet, but as a reporter here said it is now clear that he'd rather sell books!

Trump has no checks on him any longer. He is quite dangerous at this point. Especially since his acquittal. He’s out for revenge on his enemies. He just had Col. Vindman who was a witness during the impeachment hearings escorted off the White House grounds today. No checks from Republicans or anyone in the White House. That leaves the media and the courts (they work too slowly). Trump has done some interviews with NYT and some network news programs. Those interviews are not necessarily hard hitting. They act like they want to stay on Trump’s good side. Not a good look and it needs to change. He does most interviews with Fox News ... for obvious reasons. It’s his propaganda machine.

John Bolton showed his true colors. You’re right. He’d rather sell books and let the truth come out that way in stead of doing what would have been the right thing to do.

Yes, Donnamarie. When I saw the Vindman story a few hours ago I have to confess that I did wonder whether we were talking about Russia or China!

I'm also guessing most of the Republican party are acting out of fear - or think that the rising stock market is more important!

This from a very eloquent Twitter feed

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Cannot recommend Michael Lewis's latest book enough -

.....Vindman's lawyer is David Pressman, who was US attorney to the UN, and friend and 'cousin' to George....