· February, 2008

Stories about Media & Journalism from February, 2008

Russia: Election Roundup

  29 February 2008

A roundup on Russia's upcoming presidential election: Mark MacKinnon writes on the 72 percent “target” for Medvedev; Megan Case writes about the reasons NOT to vote; Robert Amsterdam writes about betting on the Russian election, writer Victor Erofeyev's pro-Putin and pro-Medvedev op-ed in the New York Times, and more election...

Argentina: Direct Taxes and Digital Rights

  29 February 2008

A new proposal in Argentina sought to add a direct tax to any electronic equipment capable of reproducing digital media, which would seek to offset some of the revenues lost by artists due to piracy. Bloggers in that country mobilized to say that this move would encourage piracy because compensation would have already been paid. It would have also raised the prices of these goods in a country where the prices are already expensive.

Iran and Israel: foes forever or future friends?

  28 February 2008

The online video posted by the Century Foundation regarding the relations between Israel and Iran and the geopolitical forces that are behind this situation has several bloggers discussing their ideas on who is really pulling the strings.

South Africa: Racist Black Journalists?

  28 February 2008

"The media was instrumental is getting this country to where it is today. There were white journalists who risked their lives and even paid the ultimate price to give this country its democracy. What were these black journalists discussing, closeted together with Zuma, that they didn’t want white journalists to hear???," writes ONC Today following the decision by the Forum of Black Journalists (FBJ) to exclude White journalists from covering an off-the-record briefing by Jacob Zuma.

Russia: Ethnically-Motivated Violence

  27 February 2008

Moscow Through Brown Eyes reviews the coverage of a recent surge in ethnically-motivated violence in Moscow: “A month ago in my relatively sleepy bedroom community, a young Tadzhik citizen was stabbed thirty-six times. He died in the courtyard that my bedroom window looks out onto. I read about his attack...

Taiwan: Hope Map Project

  27 February 2008

A month before the presidential election, a group of internet and new media activists launched a hope map project for visualizing common hopes for Taiwan future.

Cuba: Cardinal Points

  27 February 2008

“Nowhere in the world has the Catholic Church been a greater force for evil than in Cuba,” according to Review of Cuban-American Blogs. Babalu is not impressed with Cardinal Bertone's recent visit either.

Serbia: Ambassadorial Discontent

  26 February 2008

While some of the foreign embassies were being set on fire in Belgrade in protest to the unilateral proclamation of independence of Kosovo, Serbian embassies in Belgium and Russia were having diplomatic activities of a different kind - and Serbian bloggers took interest in them. Sinisa Boljanovic translates.

Africa: AfricanLoft Update

  26 February 2008

Grandiose Parlor talks about recent updates on AfricanLoft: “AfricanLoft is ever committed to ensuring that only the best is good enough for our readers and contributors. In addition to the Main Homepage which has been redesigned to ensure easier navigation and better presentation of contents, we’re pleased to announce the...

South Africa: Is this anti-democracy?

  26 February 2008

Was it right to bar white South African journalist from the forum of black journalists: “This forum of black journalists is so anti democracy and transparency. I listened to all their excuses for barring white journalists and they did not make any sense. The truth is they are making us...

South Africa: Where are black bloggers hiding?

  26 February 2008

Inside Candy wonders where South African black bloggers are: “I realise that this is a potentially loaded question, but where the hell are all the black bloggers hiding? To date, I’ve only met one (I repeat, one) black South African blogger – Obakeng, “The Chief” of ONC Today.”

Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago: Regional FBI?

  26 February 2008

As the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago raises the question of a regional policing body, Barbadian blogger Notes From The Margin says: “When you look at the implications of a Caribbean Law Enforcement agency, it’s not as simple as it might appear at first blush.”

Ecuador: My Mobile Voice and Citizen Journalism

  26 February 2008

Mi Voz Móvil (My Mobile Voice) is a project in citizen journalism from the newspaper Ultimas Noticias in Quito, Ecuador. The mobile van travels to neighborhoods where they conduct workshops for aspiring citizen journalists. In many cases, individuals that have submitted news see their stories side-by-side with the professional journalists. Here is a short video of the paper's editor explaining the mobile reporting room.

Kosovo, Serbia: A Roundup

  26 February 2008

Update on Kosovo/Serbia: Belgrade 2.0 sums things up; East Ethnia discusses the possibility of partition; Csíkszereda Musings writes on the meaning of Kosovo for Romania's Székelyföld autonomy; Greater Surbiton re-posts his article on what's “at stake in the struggle for Serbia”; Steady State writes on the implications of Kosovo for...