· April, 2007

Stories about Media & Journalism from April, 2007

Egypt: From Fisk to Heykal

A week or two ago The Independent ran a portrait-interview of Muhammad Hassanein Heykal by Robert Fisk. It was a rather odd piece — an ode of admiration and self-admiration...

30 April 2007

Oman: Why No FM Stations?

“If I'm not mistaken the law governing the licensing of private TV and radio stations came out in August 2004 and the license fee structure was agreed by committee overseeing...

30 April 2007

Bahrain: Multi-Cast a First!

Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif took part in a multi-cast, the first in the Middle East, in which an Egyptian judge accused of plagiarism was expected to make an appearance....

30 April 2007

Japan: Media has its eyes wide shut

Ampontan posted a detailed and scathing attack on American media (notably CNN and AP) for their failure to catch the “story staring them in the face”: “In the past two...

30 April 2007

Arabeyes: On Selling a Palestinian Kidney and Changing the Israeli Flag

Do you want to know why a Palestinian wants to sell his kidney, or what had happened to the bicycle of a Lebanese blogger on September 10, 2001? What is more difficult: returning home after living abroad for five years or demanding that Israel changes its flag just as the Kurds want to change the Iraqi flag? And last but not least: why does Ala'a Abdulfattah - the Godfather of Egyptian bloggers - say he isn't and was never a blogger? To know more, read on.

30 April 2007

Lebanon: Art, Water and Tensions

This week was marred by the kidnapping and killing of two Lebanese youth, bringing back memories from the dark years of the Lebanese civil war. This was the topic updated and analysed by most Lebanese bloggers. In addition to this sad event, there are blog posts featuring paintings, poetry and political analysis about the expected water crisis in the Middle East as well as the huge billboard with photos of the captured Israeli soldiers that was place on the southern Lebanese borders.

30 April 2007

Serbia: Blogosphere Reacts to Protect Press Freedom

Two hand grenades were placed on a window sill of Serbian journalist Dejan Anastasijevic's apartment on Saturday, April 15. The explosions caused material damage but no injuries. There were numerous comments about who might have stood behind the attack. Bloggers started a petition requesting prompt reaction of the police for the sake of press freedom.

30 April 2007

China: Prison Break

Joel Martinsen from DANWEI has translated a BBS post, Musings on the Chinese version of Prison Break, which addressed the question: how would a Chinese Prison Break be adapted so...

30 April 2007

China: An Eye for an Eye

The dog abuse case in Nanjing has resulted in furious internet response and real life threat: “You burned that dog to death and therefore I want you ‘dead'!” ESWN translated...

30 April 2007

Kuwait: When Our Only Tourist Attraction is a Shopping Mall

With the summer temperatures soaring, life in Kuwait revolves around air-conditioned shopping malls, reports Abdullatif Al Omar. Follow the arrows to read bloggers' reactions to why else a foreign head of state is treated to a visit to a mall; friends meet in malls and a boat show is held there.

29 April 2007

Venezuela: RCTV's Loss of License

RCTV (Radio Caracas Television), a private media station and critic of President Hugo Chavez will not have its license renewed by the government at the end of May. Oil Wars...

28 April 2007

Somalia: Mogadishu Tech Massacre

Espresso Royale Commentaries discusses “Mogadishu tech massacre”: The Mogadishu massacre was bigger in number but lesser known to most people because it didn’t make to be a prime media piece....

27 April 2007