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Reflections: Paul Mason
Paul Mason will be at the Frontline Club in conversation with Matthew Eltringham, editor of the BBC College of Journalism website and events to discuss a career which has seen him cover the corporate scandals at Enron and Worldcom and stories as diverse as Hurricane Katrina, gang violence on Merseyside, the social impact of mobile phones in Africa and the rise of Aymara nationalism in Bolivia. His groundbreaking reports on the rise of China as an economic power won him the Wincott Award in 2003.
FULLY BOOKED Phone hacking – ethics and tabloid journalism
LATER START TIME OF 8.15PM
The closure of the News of the World following further revelations that schoolgirl Milly Dowler’s phone was allegedly hacked by private investigators has failed to draw a line under the growing crisis.
The print media has long defended its freedom from outside regulation. Is there a future for statutory regulation of the press or is it time for the Press Complaints Commission to be scrapped as actor and recent privacy crusader Hugh Grant has claimed?
Join us at the Frontline Club with an expert panel to discuss this ever-deepening scandal, as we consider what ‘hackgate’ might mean for the future of British journalism.
Focus on Sudan: What does independence mean for North and South?
Salva Kir is to lead South Sudan into independence on the 9 July after a landslide referendum earlier this year where 99% of the South voted to secede from the North. But with relations still tense over disputed border regions of Abyei and the surrounding area, what does the future hold for North and South alike?
Insight with Colin Freeman: Life as a Somali pirate hostage
View in iTunes In late 2008, Daily Telegraph correspondent Colin Freeman and Jose Cendon, a Spanish photographer travelled to Somalia to investigate the recent spate of piracy attacks that were terrorising shipping in the Gulf of Aden. Their aim was to track down some of the pirates and secure an exclusive interview. They were […]
Reflections: Bill Neely – Northern Ireland’s Troubles to uprising in Libya
In the latest of our Reflections series, Bill Neely ITV News” international editor, will be joining us in conversation with former BBC executive Vin Ray.
Looking back at a career that includes covering major stories around the world since 2002 and posts in Europe, Washington Bill Neely will discuss the stories that he has covered and the work and people that have inspired him.
On the media: celebrities, super-injunctions and phone hacking
When more details about the News of the World phone hacking scandal were revealed earlier this year, there were calls for greater regulation of the press. At the same time, the use of super-injunctions (or ‘gagging orders’) by celebrities to stop the press revealing details about scandals has also been called in to question.
Focusing on issues of privacy, justice and journalistic ethics, we will be asking whether the current system of law and regulation is – or is not – in need of reform.
First Wednesday: Iran’s Green Revolution and the Arab Spring
Two years after Iranians took to the streets to protest against the apparent rigging of the presidential elections we will be examining the impact of the Arab Spring. What has been the response of the government of Iran to the uprisings? Could they inspire further protests among the people? We will also be looking at the power struggle between President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the conservative clerics and asking what it could mean for Iran’s future.
FULLY BOOKED Insight with Leila Ahmed: A Quiet Revolution
Leila Ahmed was raised in Cairo in the 1940’s, by a generation of women who never dressed in veils and headscarves. To them, they seemed irrelevant to both modern life and Islamic piety. Today, the majority of Muslim women throughout the Islamic world again wear the veil. Why, Ahmed asks, did this change take root so swiftly, and what does this shift mean for women, Islam, and the West.
Leila Ahmed, who is the Victor S. Thomas Professor of Divinity at the Harvard Divinity School, will be joining us at the Club in conversation with Azadeh Moaveni, Iranian-American writer, journalist and author of Lipstick Jihad, to discuss her new book A Quiet Revolution: The Veil’s Resurgence, from the Middle East to America and her surprising discoveries about Muslim women, Islamism and democracy.
World’s oceans in crisis: What can be done?
The world’s oceans are in a state of crisis and decline, with the continuing affliction of climate change, overfishing and other pressures.
The Fish Fight campaign fronted Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Sir David Attenborough’s Horizon on The Death of the Oceans? have put the spotlight on the state of our oceans. Ahead of the release of new scientific findings from IPSO Frontline Club will kick off the first of a series of events with a panel of experts discussing what is happening to our oceans and what can be done about it.
FULLY BOOKED A safer world? What does Osama bin Laden’s death mean for Pakistan, Afghanistan and the West?
View in iTunes After the tracking down and killing of Osama bin Laden by a U.S. special operations team the questions have come thick and fast. At our May First Wednesday we are hoping to throw light on some of them: What impact will the death of Osama bin Laden have on Al Qaeda and […]
Insight with Zarghuna Kargar: The women of Afghanistan
Zarghuna Kargar will be at the Frontline Club in conversation with Afghanistan researcher for Human Rights Watch, Rachel Reid to discuss the stories of the hidden lives of women of Afghanistan that she heard while working on the popular radio show, Afghan Woman’s Hour.
FULLY BOOKED On the media: what does the future hold for Arab state media?
Join us at the Frontline Club when we will be discussing what the future holds for state media, the impact of channels such as Al Jazeera and BBC Arabic, and the ways that people are using the internet and other social media to circumvent that power.
In the Picture: On your doorstep, photography and poverty
An eye-opening presentation of photographs will be accompanied by a discussion with two respected photographers about their experiences of working in the UK, covering issues on their doorstep. What are the challenges at home compared to overseas? Liz Hingley will talk about problems of access, media interest and legal issues.
First Wednesday: Foreign policy, diplomacy and the new world order
With people movements rising up across the Middle East and North Africa the US, the UK and other European powers have had to think fast, abandoning old friends and allies and attempting to form new alliances with emerging leaders. Join us with Paddy O’Connell of BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House to discuss the new political landscape and the challenges it represents – have the rules of engagement changed or is the West trying to play the same game with different players?
FULLY BOOKED Insight with Ahdaf Soueif: The spirit of revolution in Egypt
Egyptian author, political and cultural commentator Ahdaf Soueif will be joining us in conversation with BBC presenter Mishal Husain, to discuss her experiences at the heart of the protest in Tahrir Square during those momentous 18 days, looking at the roots of the pro-democracy movement and addressing the question of where her country goes from here.
Reflections: Nick Robinson
In the sixth of this series of events in which journalists discuss the stories that have impacted them most and the journalists whose work has helped shape their careers. BBC political editor Nick Robinson will be in conversation with former BBC executive Vin Ray.
First Wednesday: People, Protest and Democracy in the Middle East and North Africa
As protests continue across the Middle East and North Africa, March’s First Wednesday event will be an opportunity to discuss the Libya crisis and take stock of events elsewhere in the region.
FULLY BOOKED Zimbabwe 2011: An Opportunity for Change?
Zimbabwe’s leaders have been locked in a shaky power sharing coalition since opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was sworn in as Prime Minister in January 2009. President Mugabe is now pressing for fresh elections in 2011, despite MDC leader Tsvangirai saying that they could not take place without reforms and constitutional review. Join us at the Frontline Club with a panel of experts to discuss what the coming year holds for Zimbabwe – could there be a fair election, or will violence and intimidation again escalate?
FULLY BOOKED Masterclass: The Art of the Interview
Rottweiler or poodle? Good cop or bad cop? What is the best way for journalists to get a good interview?
We will joined by interviewer, film analyst, writer, mentor to screenwriters and conversationalist Warren Etheredge to discuss his thought-provoking ideas and tips about interviewing and his assertion that a great interview needs more than tough questioning.
FULLY BOOKED The changing nature of protest: does the mainstream media get it?
From regime change in Tunisia, persistent calls for President Mubarak to step down in Egypt, and protests in Jordan and Syria to student demonstrations in Britain and unrest in Ireland, Greece and France – we are witnessing unprecedented revolt against power structures around the world. But are journalists equipped to understand the nature of these protests, what drives them and how they are organised?
FULLY BOOKED Will the internet be the battleground of the 21st Century?
“Whether we like it or not, cyber is going to be part of future warfare, just as tanks and aircraft are today. It’s a cultural change.” These were the words of General Sir David Richards, chief of the defence staff. Join us at the Frontline Club where we will be examining the claims about what has been described as the “fifth domain of warfare” and assessing the threats posed by states launching attacks against another’s military infrastructure, government and communications systems, and financial markets.
Insight with David E. Hoffman: Reagan, Gorbachev and the Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race
David E. Hoffman, who worked for 27 years as a reporter and editor at The Washington Post, will be at the Frontline Club to discuss the relationship between US president Ronald Reagan and Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev and the dying days of the Cold War.
FULLY BOOKED First Wednesday: The Tunisian domino effect and the Middle East
At February’s First Wednesday we will be bringing together a panel of experts to discuss the recent unrest in the Middle East since demonstrators in Tunisia ousted President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali.
Following unrest in a number of North African and Middle East countries, the world’s attention is now on Egypt, where the next 48 hours are considered crucial in determining the future of this pivotal country.
We hope you will join us to discuss the remarkable events of recent weeks and on the nature of the changes that are taking place in Egypt and what they mean for the future of the region.
In the Picture: Cartoonist of the Year – Martin Rowson
Although they are often ignored as a serious form of journalism, cartoons not only capture the flavour of a political era, they can provide some of the most enduring memories of politicians.
Cartoonist Martin Rowson will be speaking with Laurie Taylor at the Club about the power of satire, how he uses cartoons to create acerbic critiques of the world of politics and politicians and explaining how he goes about his work.
Aid and the Media
In the third of this series of events looking at aid and development we will be examining the often troubled relationship between the media and aid agencies. With an expert panel we will be discussing how the media and aid agencies work together and the problems that arise.
Insight with Wilbert Rideau: In the Place of Justice
In 1961 Wilbert Rideau was a nineteen year old African-American living in Louisiana, the deep south of segregated America. An eighth-grade dropout despaired by the dead-end and small-town future his life held for him he set out to rob a local bank. The robbery went very wrong and Rideau found himself sentenced to death row. Award winning journalist Wilbert Rideau will be joining us at the Frontline Club in conversation with Afua Hirsch, the Guardian’s legal affairs correspondent to recount his extraordinary story and the work he now does educating people about the realities of the world behind bars.
On the Media: WikiLeaks – Holding up a mirror to journalism?
Throughout 2010 whistleblower website WikiLeaks and its founder Julian Assange were making headlines with the release of classified documents. Both the leaks and the controversy surrounding Assange have been covered extensively by the media. For the first On the Media discussion of the year we are going to be putting the spotlight on the media and asking what the WikiLeaks operation and the media coverage of it tells us about the press.
First Wednesday: Inside Al-Qaeda
Another opportunity to join in a lively public meeting, hosted by Paddy O’Connell of BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House. We will be beginning the year by bringing together a panel of experts and commentators to discuss the inner workings of Al-Qaeda with our audience.
Looking back at 2010: Insights at the Frontline Club
Our Insight events bring prominent figures in their field to the Frontline Club to talk about their life and work, and respond to questions and comments from the audience. The past year has seen a host of events offering unique insights into the lives of some great thinkers, academics, journalists and campaigners. Here is a […]
First Wednesday: WikiLeaks – The US embassy cables
Following the release this weekend of 251,287 confidential United States embassy cables, this month’s First Wednesday debate will focus on the revelations of this latest leak from whistle-blower website WikiLeaks. We will be joined by WikiLeaks spokesperson Kristinn Hrafnsson and an expert panel.
