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In the crosshairs: The perils of environmental journalism

Eric Freedman

Journal of Human Rights, volume 19, issue 3 (2020), pp. 275-290

"Journalists covering environmental issues around the globe are at heightened risk of murder, arrest, assault, threats, self-exile, lawsuits, and harassment because environmental controversies often involve influential business and economic interests, political power battles, criminal activities, an ... more

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WHO’s Media Guidelines in the Press and in Public Perception

Kuang-Kuo Chang, Eric Freedman

Journal of Media Ethics, volume 33, issue 1 (2018), pp. 14-25

"This study based on a content analysis and a nationwide survey examines Taiwan’s suicide coverage and general public evaluations of the World Health Organization media guidelines, alongside the copycat effect. Key findings show the daily newspaper Apple Daily essentially failed to follow the guid ... more

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Journalism after jail: Coping with the trauma of imprisonment

Eric Freedman

Media Asia, volume 44 (2017), pp. 21-24

"Journalists continue to face imprisonment for practicing their profession in ways that antagonize regimes, militaries, oligarchs, and other powerful interests. What do journalists do after their release from prison? Do they resume their professional work in their home country or in exile? How do th ... more

Press Coverage of Environmental News in Kyrgyzstan and the Role of Eco-Nongovernmental Organizations

Chinara Sultanalieva, Eric Freedman

Central Asia and the Caucasus, volume 16, issue 2 (2015), pp. 144-160

"This article explores obstacles and conditions that environmental nongovernmental organizations face in interacting with media outlets in Kyrgyzstan. It also examines the limited scope of environmental journalism and the resulting limited ability of news outlets and eco-NGOs to help set the public ... more

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Barriers to Coverage of Transborder Environmental Issues in the Ferghana Valley of Central Asia

Eric Freedman

Applied Environmental Education & Communication, volume 13, issue 1 (2014), pp. 48-55

"Three former Soviet republics occupy Central Asia's Ferghana Valley, a region of serious transborder environmental problems, especially ones that involve water and energy. Most news organizations in Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan provide little in-depth coverage of these issues. Journalists ... more

Social Media, Cyber-Dissent, and Constraints on Online Political Communication in Central Asia

Brian J. Bowe, Eric Freedman, Robin Blom

Central Asia and the Caucasus, volume 13, issue 1 (2012), pp. 144-152

"This paper reviews recent events and legal developments related to the Internet and social media in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. They include legislation extending libel laws to online communications, blocking of oppositional and independent websites, and punishi ... more

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Media Watch and Journalism Rights Organisations as Advocates of Press Freedom in Post-Soviet Central Asia

Richard Shafer, Eric Freedman

Journal of Development Communication, volume 23, issue 1 (2012), pp. 56-75

"In the bleak press rights territory of post-Soviet Central Asia, domestic and international nong-overnmental organisations, foreign governments, news outlets, and multinational entities such as the Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe (OSCE) and UNESCO monitor constraints on the pres ... more

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Deepening Shadows: The Eclipse of Press Rights in Kyrgyzstan

Eric Freedman

Global Media and Communication, volume 8, issue 1 (2012), pp. 47-64

"In March 2005, a relatively nonviolent uprising ousted an authoritarian president in the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan. In the aftermath of the so-called Tulip Revolution, press rights advocates and journalists welcomed the promise of greatly enhanced freedoms. However, the new regime proved ... more

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After the Czars and Commissars: Journalism in Authoritarian Post-Soviet Central Asia

Eric Freedman, Richard Shafer (eds.)

East Lansing: Michigan State University Press (2011), 299 pp.

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New Developments in Central Asian Mass Media Research

Eric Freedman, Richard Shafer

Central Asia and the Caucasus, volume 12, issue 4 (2011), pp. 128-143

"This wide range of contemporary mass media research illustrates how Central Asia press outlets remain tightly controlled and manipulated, first under the czars, then under the Soviets, and now under authoritarian regimes. Over the past two decades, the press systems have not achieved even minimal d ... emocratization and independence by international standards. Perhaps the Internet and other technologies will have a better chance of circumventing censors and the economic obstacles that deny the great mass of Central Asians the ability to participate in a useful dialog leading to more transparent and participatory governance. Several overarching observations emerge from this synthesized examination of recent research. The five separate press systems that replaced the single Soviet system share many commonalities, although significant differences also exist. These studies indicate varying but not decisive degrees of external influences from multi-governmental entities, media-building foundations, and promoters of civil society; such influences on Central Asian media development originate with mostly Western-based journalism and mass media trainers. Another observation concerns regimes’ use and abuse of laws to control information about public affairs and public issues. That pattern evident from several studies reflects a disconnect between constitutional and statutory guarantees of press freedom on one side and actual threats to those guarantees on the other side due to libel and “honor and dignity” suits, criminal prosecutions, and tightening regulation of the Internet. Examined collectively, these studies suggest the following obstacles to democratic and independent media development in Central Asia: strict governmental and extra-governmental restraints on the press, regardless of the type of medium—print, broadcast, or Internet; inadequate professional training, leadership, resources, financial incentives, and ethical standards for journalists and prospective journalists; limitations on the ability of domestic and international press and human rights defenders to compel changes in policies and laws; insufficient market resources to create and sustain independent news organizations; and a resulting lack of credibility and public trust in the press." (Summary and conclusions, page 142) more

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Environmental Journalism in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan: Reporting Scarce Amid Environmental and Media Problems

Eric Freedman

Applied Environmental Education & Communication, volume 10, issue 2 (2011), pp. 126-134

"Independence for the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia has not led to press freedom, solutions to pressing environmental problems, or development of effective grassroots nongovernmental organizations. This article examines relations between journalists and environ ... more

Authoritarian Regimes, Muslims' Religious Rights in Central Asia, and Lack of Foreign Press Coverage of Rights Violations

Eric Freedman

Central Asia and the Caucasus, volume 11, issue 1 (2010), pp. 146-158

"Today, extended geographical links are the most important yet far from the only factor that makes Central Eurasia highly significant for China's conceptualization of its security. The Soviet Union's disintegration, which created newly independent states, also generated favorable conditions for Chin ... more

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Controversy on the Airwaves: Public Diplomacy, Portraying America, and Public Outreach Through the Voice of America Uzbek Service

Navbahor Imamova, Richard J. Schaefer, Richard Shafer, Eric Freedman

Central Asia and the Caucasus, volume 11, issue 4 (2010), pp. 110-125

"From a research perspective, this case study highlights the need for further research into BBG-sponsored international broadcast services, both individually and collectively. Such studies could include quantitative content analyses of program content, survey research of listeners and viewers, inter ... more

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Press Constraints as Obstacles to Establishing Civil Societies in Central Asia: Developing a New Model of Analysis

Richard Shafer, Eric Freedman

Journalism Studies, volume 10, issue 6 (2009), pp. 851-869

"More than a decade and a half after independence, none of the press systems in Central Asia's five former Soviet republics are categorized as free, nor have any of these countries transitioned to democracy. The question becomes: Why have they failed to evolve into democratic nations after successfu ... more

Defending the Inverted Pyramid Style: Advocating an Emphasis on Teaching Traditional Practices in International Journalism Education

Richard Shafer, Eric Freedman, Stepehn Rendahl

Communication & Social Change, volume 2, issue 1 (2008), pp. 140-158

"The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization has prepared model curricula intended to improve international journalism education. While the overall goal is worthy, serious obstacles exist to its implementation in the "developing countries and emerging democracies" if it is ... more

Covering Religion-Related News and Conflicts in the Caucasus: A Case Study of a Western “Christian Initiative” News Service

Eric Freedman, Kuang-Kuo Chang, Richard Shafer

Caucasus Journal of Social Sciences, volume 1, issue 1 (2008), pp. 150-175

"This study examines how a Christian-oriented Western press organization [Forum 18 News Service, Norway] covers religion-related news in the Caucasus. Coverage in 2005 overwhelmingly focused on Christianity. Although governmental sources are more likely to be cited than religiously affiliated source ... more

Coverage of the Central Asian Political, Press, and Speech Rights Issues by Independent News Websites

Eric Freedman

Asia Pacific Media Educator, issue 16 (2005), pp. 71-88

"Since independence in 1991, the Central Asian republics to varying degrees have given lip service to democratization and the recognition of free press and political rights. However, the reality has been dramatically different under all five authoritarian regimes. That reality includes limits or ban ... more

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Designing and Implementing the First Environmental and Science Journalism Course for an Uzbekistan Journalism School

Eric Freedman

Applied Environmental Education & Communication, volume 3, issue 3 (2004), pp. 153-161

"Uzbekistan faces severe ecological problems including the rapidly shrinking Aral Sea, desertification, residues of biochemical weapons, and environmentally related respiratory disease. Even so, the country’s print and broadcast media do little in-depth or analytical reporting on environmental iss ... more

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