PRINT JOURNALIST ASSAULTED IN DARKHAN-UUL PROVINCE

On September 28, T. Bayasgalan, reporter for the “7 day Darkhan,” newspaper, was assaulted by a market vendor while he was reporting the alleged unlawful business of selling pine nuts in the central market of Darkhan-Uul province 200 kilometers from Ulaanbaatar.
Mr B. Sandagdorj, vendor of the “Tun,” company, tied the reporter’s hands behind his back when he asked the vendor to show the permission documents for selling pine nuts and requested to see the pine nuts in the car. Sandagdorj told to the reporter, “You have no right to see it. It is a secret of the organization”. . Read more...

LOCAL JOURNALIST THREATENED

Globe International) – A northern region journalist of Huvsgul province and her coworkers have repeatedly received threats from a businessman concerning a critical publication.
U. Gereltuya, editor of the Huvsgul-based newspaper Khuvsguliin erkh chuluu (Freedom of Khuvsgul), which has approximately 500 subscribers, said “We repeatedly receive threats and are insulted by businessmen.”For instance last year Mr L.Tumurbaatar, director of Khuvsgul Geology Company and owner of Dalai Eej newspaper, threatened U.Gereltuya concerning a publication that he was lobbying a judge for selecting his newspaper as “best media of the year”. Read more...

JOURNALIST'S RIGHTS VIOLATED

On August 21, the State special protection staff violated the professional rights of Mr. E. Renchinkhand, a reporter for Unuudur daily newspaper, who tried to report on the Dalai Lama’s visit to Mongolia. However, other reporters who also reported on the visit said they had no obstacles with the state protection staff and freely reported the visit.
According to Mr. Renchinhand, “Despite Mongolian National Radio and TV’s (MNRTV) reporter and cameramen, all journalists and photographers were denied access by the Special protection staff to enter into the airport, even though they all had press credentials.” Read more...

JOURNALISTS DISCLOSE THEIR SOURCES BECAUSE OF SCARE

Journalists whose rights have been violated could obtain legal advice free of charge. It was revealed at a press conference held on September 22 by Globe International, non-government organization. According to the NGO, the organization has been implementing a project on “Monitoring Free Expression Violation and Supporting the Rights of Independent Media” with financial support from London’s Open Society Institute and in partnership with Canadian-based International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) Clearing House. Read more...

NEWS ON PRESS CONFERENCE

“Globe International” NGO held a press-conference at the Mongolian Press Institute on 22 September 2006 to present the implementation status of the project on “Monitoring Free Expression Violation and Supporting the Rights of Independent Media”. During the press-conference Kh. Naranjargal, head of “Globe International NGO”, advised journalists to receive free legal consultations from the NGO’s lawyers and seeks answers to their questions through the Legal link of www.monitoring.mn.
Since the start of the project, 28 alerts have been received from the regional monitors, 11 of which have been disseminated through IFEX. 9 alerts have been placed on the NGO’s website. Read more...

THE MONGOLIAN PUBLIC OFFICIALS EFFICIENTLY USE THE DEFAMATION LEGISLATION

The study of the use of the defamation laws involved a period between 2001 and 2005. The Courts reviewed 187 defamation cases in total. 178 of those are civil and 9 criminal defamation cases of which 155 cases were against media and journalists. 5 of those are criminal cases.
Compare to the previous study by the Mongolian Foundation for Open Society (999- 2001) in average 31.5 civil and 1.6 criminal cases were brought for defamation per year. The results of our study show 29.2 civil and one criminal case were brought for defamation per year. The number of defamation cases has slightly decreased for 0.9%.
Read more...


REGIONAL NEWS

North region

LOCAL MEDIA SHOULD WORK INDEPENDENTLY

An independent survey on local media activities of Mongolia has disclosed that local authorities have been influencing the publicizing policy of local media organizations.
Anke Redl, journalist from “Media Monitor” agency has introduced result of the survey on independent status of Mongolian local media after having worked in the rural areas of Mongolia in September within the frame of UNESCO program. Read more...

JOURNALIST LEARNED ON LABOR AGREEMENT

Trade Union Vice Chairman Mr. D.Batjargal of Darkhan-Uul aimag met local print and broadcast journalists on concluding a labor agreement.
A survey carried out among a dozen of local journalist prior the meeting had revealed that over one-fourth the journalist in the aimag had not had any labor agreements with their employers. Only two persons had made fixed term labor agreements. Social insurance fees of a quarter of the media people were not paid by their employers.
Most of the journalists have insufficient knowledge on significance for concluding labor agreements, joint contracts, contract’s term and how to conclude the labor contracts. Read more...

ORGANIZATIONS KEEP SECRET THEIR INFORMATION

Local state and private organizations have been keeping secret their information from the journalists.
It was revealed at a meeting of local journalists from Darkhan-Uul aimag, 200 kms in the north of Ulaanbaatar with M.Charlie, American journalist of Washington public radio, USA, who has been working there by invitation of Mongolian Rural Radio Association for improving legal working environment of the journalists.
Any local organizations have been trying to keep secret their information even the information had not included in the state and organizational list of classified information, told journalists from “Darkhan Dolgion” and “Orkhon 106” radio stations. Read more...

North western region

ADS PROCEDURE VIOLATED

Birth of a law on Public TV and Radio in 2005 had almost banned all commercial ads except socially useful advertisements on Mongolian National Public Television.
But in some local areas, particularly in Zavkhan aimag, over 700 kms in the northwest from Capital City Ulaanbaatar, the situation has been absolutely different.
However, the law prohibits broadcasting of commercial ads via the public television, the local branch of Mongolia Telecommunication Company, the sole national communication carrier has been directly closing national TV programs in order to air local ads, making sharp frustration among local population with about 17000 people.
Read more...

Central region

INFORMATION ABOUT STATE ORGANIZATIONS ARE INSUFFICIENT

Information about state organizations activities are insufficient. It was revealed in a survey carried out among residents of Uvurkhangai aimag. The survey covered over 150 residents and they dissatisfied with information provided by Departments of Professional Monitoring, Land, Environment, Education and Culture, and Agriculture. Half of the respondents said some local government organizations, including Departments of Health, Social Welfare and Labor, Emergencies, Governor Offices of Uvurkhangai aimag and Arvaikheer soum provide with quite good information. Read more...

THIRD NEWSPAPER WITH SAME NAME “UVURHANGAI”

“Newspaper of Uvurkhangai”, which has been regularly reporting about activities of Parliament members G.Batkhuu, Z.Enkhbold and R.Badamdamdin, who elected to the parliament from Uvurkhangai aimag, 400 kms in the southwest from Capital city Ulaanbaatar, has been issued a month.
Beside it, there is also a monthly newspaper named “Uvurkhangai Life”, which mostly reports daily life of the province’s governor office. Recently or starting from this August Sh.Sharavdorj, General Secretary of Mongolian Journalists Confederation issued another new newspaper also named “Uvurkhangai News”. It will be issued three times a month. Readers expect more specific news from these papers. Read more...

2.Events

PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON STATE SECRECY LEGISLATION

On 28 September, 2006, Globe International, a non-government organization organized a public discussion on state secrets and freedom of information at National Legal Center.
About 40 representatives from Ministry of Finance and Economy, Ministry of Justice and Internal Affairs, Central Intelligence Agency, General Police Department, General Staff of Military Force participated in the public discussion and they expressed their positions on need and requirements for renovating the law on State secrets. Read more...

DECLARATION OF MONGOLIAN DAILY NEWSPAPERS' UNION

Mongolian biggest daily newspapers, including “Udriin Sonin”, “Zuuny Medee”, “Unuudur”, “Unen”, “Ardiin Erkh” and “Mongolyn Medee” has recently declared establishment of Union of Mongolian Daily Newspapers. The Union elected Ts.Baldorj, General Editor of “Unuudur” newspaper as its president.
The Union has issued a Declaration of its mission and activity objectives in order to realise the fourth governance for the use of the society by respecting rights of the society as the people have broadly acknowledged intellectual and enlightening duties of the daily newspapers. Read more...

JOURNALIST AWARDED ON ECONOMIC REPORTING

An award giving ceremony for “The Best Article of Economy” was held on last Wednesday of September 20, 2006.
Open Society Forum in cooperation with Initiative of Supporting the Policy Discussion based in New-York had announced the article writing contest in June 2005 and carried out subsequently journalistic training for Mongolian journalists on the theme of “Writing the development issues.” Read more...

TV9 PURPLE WITH RAGE!

More than once I’ve written on this blog about the poor quality of Mongolian journalism and why ethics in Mongolian journalism is in need of serious attention. The latest controversy that TV5 and TV9 are trying to generate about Eagle TV goes right to that point. To illustrate the problem I’m posting the full text of both station’s reports about Eagle TV, along with my comments in bold. When you read this keep in mind that this kind of journalism in Mongolia is not unusual. Read more...

3.Other news

DEMANDS TO STOP EXPLOIT JOURNALISTS' HARD WORK

That launching your own website on the Internet for business purposes is today a worldwide practice cannot be disputed. Unfortunately, it is highly regrettable that our biggest national websites “Olloo.mn” (www.olloo.mn) and “Sonin.mn” (www.sonin.mn) run business through taking advantage of journalists' hard work. While sitting strenuously in their offices, these websites’ staff make profits by placing on their websites the news and information that journalists found through risking their lives and freedom. Read more...

HACKERS ATTACKED “UDRIIN SONIN” DAILY WEBSITE

On September 13, 2006, online readers of “Udriin Sonin”, one of Mongolia’s main opposition daily couldn’t access to its website www.dailynew.mn. When the readers go through the website a black screen arises and access to the information was halted. Complaints from domestic and foreign readers mounted at that day.
Some English and Turkish messages such as “Your website has been attacked” left on the screen. Read more...

REALITY SHOW CHANGES YOUTH MINDS

As the world TV program approaches have been changed, prorams based on people’s real life and images have been dominating on TV. Following this trend, some Mongolian TVs have already organized several reality shows.
“Udshiin Khemnel” (Evening Rhythm) studio of Mongolian National Public Television successfully took footage of a reality show named “Life is itself SAK” since 17 August.
In occasion of worldwide historical anniversary being marked this year, the show is made in territory of Khentii province, the birth place of Great Chinggis Khaan so the show reminded livelihood of premature era people.
Read more...