#Wikidata - Frances Oldham Kelsey

When someone like Mrs Kelsey dies, it is wonderful to read about her in the Wikipedia article. There are always some factoids that can be added to the Wikidata item.

What struck me most is not the story of how Mrs Kelsey prevented the USA from the effects of thalidomide in babies but the importance that an article in the Washington Post had. Thanks to an article by Morton Mintz there was an outcry that resulted in the passing of the Kefauver Harris Amendment. It required drug manufacturers to provide proof of the effectiveness and safety of their drugs before approval.

Another fun fact is that the FDA named an award after Mrs Kelsey; she was the first to be awarded the FDA Kelsey Award. There is not much to find about this award because there is a controversy about the award. People protested that Mrs Kelsey's good name was abused by political appointees to the FDA who wanted to diminish its powers..

For Mrs Kelsey only a few awards were added in Wikidata. There are more awards but as always, there is more to do.
Thanks,
     GerardM

#Dilbert and restricting access to problematic texts

who can claim copyright

The Dutch National Archive is busy digitising newspapers. They make them available on the Internet. For most newspapers this is not that controversial. These newspapers are a sign of the times, they reflect the opinions that were prevalent in those days. For some newspaper it can be controversial.

Dilbert, September 2 2010

Before and during the second world war, the NSB was the Dutch Nazi party. There were NSB newspapers before the war and during the war who made propaganda for a nazi and fascist ideology. As the National Archive received a large subsidy to digitise the heritage of the war, and as a scientific advisory committee selected the "wrong" newspapers as well these NSB newspapers will be digitised as well.

The Dutch justice system warned the National Archive about the legality of publishing the NSB papers. As a consequence many pundits gave their opinion. In the end it is agreed by most that the National Archive allows people to do a faithful study of the period only because these newspapers are published.

The nazis and fascists will indeed be able to find these sources but they are there also for everybody else. Given that they prefer to quote out of context, the publication may even be a blessing in disguise for those who fight fascist propaganda.
Thanks,
       GerardM

For more information see the Q&A of the National Archive about this issue (in Dutch).

Sad news from #UNESCO

UNESCO's Communication and Information Sector's news service often brings the news of journalists that were killed for doing their job. Today I received two such mails in my in-box; the killings of Magomedvagif Sultanmagomedov and Israel Zelaya Diaz were condemned by Irina Bokova.

When I receive such mails it strikes me how lucky I am that there are reasonable journalism practices in my country. At the same time I realise that the death of journalists results in a lack of understanding of what happens elsewhere. The journalists die because their stories may not be heard. Stories that often provide an unwelcome view on our world, stories that are inconvenient, stories that disturb the notions of a propaganda.

With the death of journalists the points of view they represented are endangered. The terror instilled in their colleagues prevents many of presenting  the news out.  In effect these killers, these terrorists endanger our potential to write encyclopedically in a neutral point of view.
Thanks,
        GerardM

World Press Freedom Day

Every year on the third of May it is World Press Freedom Day. It is difficult to find to find the appropriate verb for this day. You want to celebrate press freedom except, in many countries there is nothing to celebrate. In those countries there is everything to hope for, remembering the days when there was a more free press or envying the countries where the press is more free.

As I am preparing this blog, I find myself considering what is worst, the 99 journalists killed in 2009, or the 136 who were in jail on December 1, the 573 journalists arrested.. I could illustrate all three. Reading the interviews of journalists who have to deal with a lack of press freedom is also sobering..

It is a mistake to think that press freedom is only about elsewhere, journalists in the USA have been victimised by law officials who flaunt the law. In a country where the press is truly free, such officials would have to face the law.

I blog and, in a way I am like a journalist, I report, editorialise and I am happy to have my worldwide public. My subject matter is a niche but I report about what I consider relevant. In order to keep this freedom, it is important to raise the issue of a free press. A free press is essential to be free, to make up your  opinion and to be heard.
Thanks,
     GerardM

Alan Johnston is free

The best news of today is the release of Alan Johnston. Alan is a reporter for the BBC who was kidnapped by some criminals and held hostage for 114 days. It is wonderful news because at least one reporter is alive to tell the tale.

When you read what UNESCO has to say about Freedom of the Press, it is sickening to see how many journalists have been killed for keeping our society Free and informed. When you are part of the Wiki world like I am, many of the notions what makes good journalism, what makes for providing people with good information are the same.

Today we celebrate the release of Alan Johnston, it is wonderful that he is Free. The price of the kidnap may be that there will be no journalist of Alan's stature left to report from places like Gaza. The price may be that we will not be informed of what is happening in many parts of the world. The price may be that we will only know our point of view without the possibility of getting something like a neutral point of view.

• 03-07-2007 - Hamed Abd Farhan
• 21-06-2007 - Filaih Wadi Mijthab
• 19-06-2007 - Sahar Hussein Ali al-Haydari
• 19-06-2007 - Serge Maheshe
• 13-06-2007 - Saif Fakhri
• 11-06-2007 - Zakia Zaki and Shokiba Sanga
• 29-05-2007 - Luiz Carlos Barbon Filho
• 25-05-2007 - Ali Khalil
• 24-05-2007 - Abshir Ali Gabre and Ahmed Hassan Mahad
• 22-05-2007 - Alaa Uldeen Aziz and Saif Laith Yousuf
• 18-05-2007 - Suleiman Abdul-Rahim al-Ashi and Mohammad Matar Abdo
• 15-05-2007 - Raad Mutashar, Imad Abdul-Razzaq al-Obeidi and Ageel Abdul-Qader, and of their driver Nibras Razzaq
• ... I wish it would stop ... it does not stop here ...

Thanks,
GerardM