Joanne Tomkinson
Joanne Tomkinson joined AlertNet from Oxfam in 2007. She regularly scans the global coverage of emergencies and digests the most interesting highlights for AlertNet's MediaWatch section.
MEDIAWATCH: Blame game escalates over India floods
Author: Joanne Tomkinson
India's eastern Bihar state is ravaged by the worst flooding for 50 years. Whether or not this is a natural or manmade disaster is a hot topic in the Indian press. As reports of overcrowded relief camps, food shortages and riots increase, many commentators are asking who is to blame for the monsoon misery that has engulfed the state. The flooding started after the Kosi river breached its banks in neighbouring Nepal. Some people are blaming the authorities for not desilting dams and barrages, while others say the scale of the suffering could have been avoided with better disaster planning. ...
Author: Joanne Tomkinson
India's eastern Bihar state is ravaged by the worst flooding for 50 years. Whether or not this is a natural or manmade disaster is a hot topic in the Indian press. As reports of overcrowded relief camps, food shortages and riots increase, many commentators are asking who is to blame for the monsoon misery that has engulfed the state. The flooding started after the Kosi river breached its banks in neighbouring Nepal. Some people are blaming the authorities for not desilting dams and barrages, while others say the scale of the suffering could have been avoided with better disaster planning. ...
International Criminal Court prosecutor under fire
Author: Joanne Tomkinson
The reputation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has lost its shine of late. There's a growing storm of criticism against ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, and some commentators have even called for him to resign. So what are the charges being levelled at the five-year-old court, established to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes? ...
Author: Joanne Tomkinson
The reputation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has lost its shine of late. There's a growing storm of criticism against ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, and some commentators have even called for him to resign. So what are the charges being levelled at the five-year-old court, established to prosecute individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes? ...
MEDIAWATCH: Surprises in Sudan
Author: Joanne Tomkinson
The sight of Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir dancing and promising peace during a recent visit to Darfur was the first of many surprises to result from moves by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to indict him on charges of genocide and war crimes in the region. The recent efforts by ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo to issue a warrant for Bashir's arrest provoked widespread concern that the moves would destabilise ongoing peace efforts, and jeopardise aid operations and regional security. Yet, the Sudanese government's reaction has so far surprised many commentators. ...
Author: Joanne Tomkinson
The sight of Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir dancing and promising peace during a recent visit to Darfur was the first of many surprises to result from moves by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to indict him on charges of genocide and war crimes in the region. The recent efforts by ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo to issue a warrant for Bashir's arrest provoked widespread concern that the moves would destabilise ongoing peace efforts, and jeopardise aid operations and regional security. Yet, the Sudanese government's reaction has so far surprised many commentators. ...
MEDIAWATCH: Key to saving Zimbabwe is in Africa
Author: Joanne Tomkinson
"African neighbours (are) key to saving Zimbabwe," says an editorial in the U.S paper Star Tribune, echoing a common sentiment in the British and American press. "Zimbabwes neighbours, led by South Africa, have tolerated this tyranny for too long. They should refuse to recognise his re-election," says Britain's Financial Times. With state-sponsored violence accelerating in Zimbabwe and a one-candidate election under way, international condemnation of president Robert Mugabe is escalating. Does the African press agree that its continent's leaders hold the key to solving the crisis in the Southern African country? ...
Author: Joanne Tomkinson
"African neighbours (are) key to saving Zimbabwe," says an editorial in the U.S paper Star Tribune, echoing a common sentiment in the British and American press. "Zimbabwes neighbours, led by South Africa, have tolerated this tyranny for too long. They should refuse to recognise his re-election," says Britain's Financial Times. With state-sponsored violence accelerating in Zimbabwe and a one-candidate election under way, international condemnation of president Robert Mugabe is escalating. Does the African press agree that its continent's leaders hold the key to solving the crisis in the Southern African country? ...
MEDIAWATCH: Where's the good news from Africa?
Author: Joanne Tomkinson
A lot has changed in Rwanda since the 1994 genocide. The country has seen impressive economic growth, has made great strides in democracy and education, and now ranks first in the world in terms of the number of women elected to parliament and in cabinet. So why don't we hear more about Rwanda and other stories of progress in Africa? That's because poverty, instability, disease, illiteracy and corruption dominate Western press coverage of the continent, according to New African magazine this month (subscription only). Taking the Western media to task for their biased and distorting reporting of the continent, the magazine looks at why so little good news makes it out of Africa. ...
Next entries
Author: Joanne Tomkinson
A lot has changed in Rwanda since the 1994 genocide. The country has seen impressive economic growth, has made great strides in democracy and education, and now ranks first in the world in terms of the number of women elected to parliament and in cabinet. So why don't we hear more about Rwanda and other stories of progress in Africa? That's because poverty, instability, disease, illiteracy and corruption dominate Western press coverage of the continent, according to New African magazine this month (subscription only). Taking the Western media to task for their biased and distorting reporting of the continent, the magazine looks at why so little good news makes it out of Africa. ...
