English – Frontline Club

Extremism, the changing news industry and a special preview reading of Bang Bang

Julie Tomlin — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 11:17:07 +0000

There are still some tickets left for tonight’s discussion on both far right and Islamic extremism – but book now if you would like to be there. In the week ahead we will be joined by two key players in the news industry, David Carr of the New York Times and Richard Gizbert of Al Jazeera English, to discuss its future. There’s also a special preview reading of Bang Bang Bang, which tells the story of two human rights defenders as they embark on a trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

We will be screening The Nigerian Connection, an undercover investigation into the terrifying world of drugs and sex trafficking from Nigeria to Europe.

There is also a third party event that will be looking at investigative journalism and don’t forget to join us for our September Club Quiz.

Follow us on Twitter and catch up on any events you missed on the Forum blog or download our podcasts on iTunes.
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Getting back into the swing of things – September at Frontline Club

Julie Tomlin — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 12:24:49 +0000

Tomorrow night is a First Wednesday Special in association with BBC Arabic: with a panel including the New Statesman‘s Mehdi Hasan and former diplomat Carne Ross, we will be discussing how the world has changed since the terrorist attacks almost ten years ago and ways the response to 9/11 might continue to shape our future.

We will also be discussing the situation in Somalia, the nature of extremism and photography documenting the plight of some of the 43 million refugees around the world today. Industry veteran Martin Bell will be joining us to look back on a career which has taken him to 11 countries and over 80 wars.

Drawing on their experiences working with two very different global media players, the New York Times‘ David Carr and Richard Gizbert of Al Jazeera English will be with us to discuss the future of the news industry.

Screenings in September include a special preview of The Debt, a story of injustice in the Philippines, human trafficking in Nigeria and neo-Nazism in Russia.

We also have a special preview reading of Bang Bang Bang, a play coming to the Royal Court Theatre in October that documents a seasoned human rights defender and her idealistic young colleague embarking on a trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

ForesightNews world briefing: upcoming events 29 August – 4 September

Julie Tomlin — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:00:20 +0000

A weekly round up of world events from Monday, 29 August to Sunday, 4 September from ForesightNews

By Allan Williams

Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega has until Monday to appeal against his extradition to Panama. The 77-year-old is currently serving a prison sentence in France after being convicted of money laundering in July 2010.

On Tuesday attention turns to Japan when the Parliament elects its sixth Prime Minister in five years. Incumbent Naoto Kan announced he was stepping down over plummeting approval ratings, following the earthquake and tsunami earlier this year.

Wednesday sees Canada release its second quarter GDP figures. Fears of the economy contracting grew following an announcement earlier this month that manufacturing sales declined 1.5per cent in June, to their lowest level since November 2010.

Also on Wednesday South African President Jacob Zuma makes a state visit to Norway at the invitation of King Harald V. The two-day trip includes a wreath-laying ceremony at the National Monument and a meeting with Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.

In the UK, on Thursday, repatriations of deceased British troops move from RAF Lyneham to RAF Brize Norton. RAF Lyneham and the parade through the nearby town of Wootton Bassett have made the headlines with the dignified way locals have mourned the fallen.

In Thailand that same day, Chiranuch Premchaiporn, editor of the liberal news website Prachatai, has her trial for lese majeste offences recommence. It is alleged that Premchaiporn failed to screen comments on her website that were critical of the Thai royal family, and if convicted faces up to 20 years in prison.

Attention turns stateside on Friday, when a US district court decides whether to order a retrial of former baseball star Roger Clemens, who was accused of lying to Congress in 2008 when he denied using anabolic steroids. The original trial was declared a mistrial on 14 July.

In London on Saturday the far-right English Defence League are expected to demonstrate in the borough of Tower Hamlets, against what it sees as militant Islam. The march is expected to be banned by the Home Secretary, but the action group Unite Against Fascism has arranged a counter-protest against the EDL.

On Sunday the UN Special Representative on Somalia Augustine Mahiga convenes a conference in the east African nation to provide clear timelines and benchmarks for the Transitional Federal Institutions.

And in Germany there’s a test for Chancellor Merkel’s coalition when state elections take place in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, with local elections coming under increasing scrutiny as a gauge of popularity for Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union.

That back to school feeling: talks and screenings to feed your mind in September

Julie Tomlin — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:28:14 +0000

There are plenty of talks and screenings at Frontline Club in September to get the grey matter going after the summer season.

At our First Wednesday Special, discuss the cultural and political changes set in motion by the events of 9/11 ten years ago and look ahead to the next decade.

We’ll also be discussing extremism, Somalia, photography in transit and the cult of youth in newspapers and there’s also a great opportunity to hear from industry veterans Martin Bell and the New York Times‘ David Carr and Richard Gizbert of Al Jazeera English.

Our screenings include a double bill of films by John D. McHugh, a special preview of The Debt, insight into the world of teenage miners in Bolivia and human trafficking in Nigeria.

Go to our website for further details of all the talks and screenings, PLUS a preview reading of Bang Bang Bang, a multimedia storytelling masterclass with Brian Storm and third party events on remembering 9/11 and on investigative journalism.

Follow us on Twitter and catch up on any events you missed on the Forum blog or download our podcasts on iTunes.