· December, 2007

Stories about Media & Journalism from December, 2007

Kuwaiti Publisher in Court

  31 December 2007

The Kuwait authorities levied charges of libel against Dr. Saad bin Tifla [translate], the publisher of the first online newspaper in the Gulf – Alaan – citing their Press & Publications Law of 2006, reports Bahraini blogger Mahmood Al Yousif.

Kenya: Total media blackout

  31 December 2007

Kenyan Pundit on total media blackout in Kenya: “I have no news to report. It’s a total total blackout. Watching TV feels like watching TV under some crazy dictatorship. I mean we all know that the country is on fire, but KBC is airing Just for Laughs. WTF???”

Hong Kong: Top News in 2007 Blogosphere

  31 December 2007

As the year end is approaching, local blogger sidekick has her picks of "Top News in Hong Kong 2007 Blogosphere". She also calls for more comments and suggestions for the year end round up. Below is a translation of her selection:

Egypt: Murad and the Freedom of Speech

  31 December 2007

Judge Murad lost his case and the court ruled in favour of freedom of speech. The Administrative Judicial Court issued a sentence in Case No. 15575 / 61, which was brought by Judge Abdul Fattah Murad calling for banning the 51 websites on the Internet in Egypt. You can read...

China: Official Olympics channel's unveiling ceremony crashed

  29 December 2007

How did a couple's marital issues become today's top sports story? She's a prominent Beijing television broadcaster, he's one of Chinese sports news' top official faces for the Olympics; she just crashed his high-profile unveiling of China's new Olympics channel, and someone's put the video online.

Jamaica: Qualified Unemployment?

  28 December 2007

Francis Wade republishes a letter to the editor by a returning Jamaican national who can't get a job in order to make a point about why educated Jamaicans remain abroad.

Barbados, Pakistan: What Now?

  28 December 2007

“I wonder what implications this tragic act will have for upcoming elections in Pakistan, as well as for the relations between the United States and the nuclear-armed nation”: Cheese-on-bread! speculates on the aftermath of Benazir Bhutto's assassination.

China: 1Bao Blocked

  28 December 2007

In Dec 26, 1bao was blocked again, Zhai Minglei said he would continue to write and wait for the blog to be unblocked again (zh).

Bolivia: Interview With Pedro Montes

  28 December 2007

Mario Duran of Palabras Libres [es] interviews Pedro Montes, Executive Secretary of the Bolivian Worker's Union. Montes has enclosed himself inside the union's headquarters in protest of the government's lack of progress in investigating the bombing attack of the union's offices.

Slovenia: Dimitrij Rupel

  27 December 2007

Sleeping With Pengovsky writes about Slovenian foreign minister Dimitrij Rupel and the stuff he's written for Sinfo, a PR magazine issued monthly by the governmental Communications office”: “(great choice of name, BTW. Fire your chief marketing officer toot-suite!)”

Russia: Ded Moroz Ad Banned; Yolki in Moscow

  27 December 2007

James of Robert Amsterdam's blog writes about the government's ad on “a TV ad from an electronics retailer which poked fun at the existence of this mythical gift giver on the grounds that it broke a rule discrediting parents and teachers.” Lyndon of Scraps of Moscow posts his 2005 pictures...

Guatemala: The Media's Shortcomings

  27 December 2007

Criticisms against the mainstream media in Guatemala has focused on its lack of coverage of rural areas, and its emphasis placed on countries like Venezuela. Bloggers have also noted double standards in its coverage of politicians. In addition, the use of new tools like blogs on the newspaper's site leaves a lot to be desired.

Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, Pakistan: RIP Bhutto

  27 December 2007

“Benazir Bhutto was for me an inspiration. She was fierce. She was bold. She was beautiful and smart and fearless”: Puerto Rican born blogger Liza Sabater recognizes Bhutto as a “sheroe”, while Coffeewallah, blogging from Trinidad, says: “Whatever Ms Bhutto may have been, she was seemingly trying to change Pakistan...