English first policy in Global Voices kills the information freedom

Does internet age awaken people that information is available everywhere ?

Not only that, but this English language first also kills the talented journalists to provide more information.



Not all people are talented in languages.

One is able to write and gather good information does not mean that s/he can write well in English language. In the Internet age, we know that more than 75% people in the world do not speak a word of English, according to BBC data. In fact, it is more than 75%.

The #Brexit caused another blow to the English language position in the world. Many people do not accept the real fact about it and the editors in Wikipedia refuse to change the data.

Compulsory learning English language in a country does not mean all the learners can read well in English, especially writing well in English.

This is not what I do not want to raise in the GV forum, it is already tried and the management team do not see eye to eye with my suggestion. Though there are few people in the team knew well and agreed on that, it is however, the top management still hold dear to English language but not the quality of the information.

If you read carefully in Global Voices, you can see very less information from South East Asia, a part which I am interested. Gathering information from the net and editing it into a piece of information post risk to the quality of writing. If the writer has no experience living in that particular country, the local culture is totally ignored. The article will paint a bad image for that particular country.

Yes, GV needs only a few hundred to volunteer in translation, however, a good translator does not equate to good journalist writing.

Just give an example, how many people in Thailand and Indonesia, least to say in Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar can write good English and at the same time is a good journalist ?

If GV can do away the English first policy, I am very sure that the quality of articles will improve and freedom of information can be achieved.

Well, Global Voices advocates for freedom of information and journalism but on its backyard it practices domination and colonisation attitudes.

Regrets !

https://globalvoices.org/