Stories about Media & Journalism from July, 2014
Vanity Military Selfies Are Spoiling Russia's Attack in Ukraine
"We shelled Ukraine all night long." These are the words a young Russian soldier wrote online last week, where he published a photograph of military equipment in an open field.
The Angriest Man in Odessa is on the Front Lines of Ukraine's Information War
Odessa's vigorously anti-Moscow LiveJournal star, Zloy_Odessit, has his work cut out for him. Indeed, open dialogue with pro-Russian bloggers is still a long way off.
Camera Phones vs. Kalashnikovs in Ukraine's Separtist-held Luhansk
How "streamer" journalism both empowers and endangers civic reporters in eastern Ukraine.
The Mouthpiece of Totalitarian Propaganda — Crimea's Colonel Cassad
Colonel Cassad has little love for Vladimir Putin. Despite this his blog has become massively popular among Putin's supporters. It has also earned him the ire of Ukraine's intelligence services.
Spanish Soldier Who Penned a Best-Selling Novel About Military Corruption Gets Jail Time
Luis Segura, a lieutenant in the Spanish army, is in prison for criticizing the military during interviews for his novel "Un paso al frente" (A step forward).
Highway Africa 2014 Extends Deadline for Registration
The deadline for registration for the 18th annual Highway Africa Conference has been extended to Friday, 08 August 2014: Due to the influx of interest in the 18th annual Highway Africa Conference, the deadline for registration has been extended to Friday, 08 August 2014. The world’s largest annual gathering of...
‘Terrified’ Founder Decides to Shutter Hong Kong Pro-Democracy News Site ‘House News’
Some are speculating that the site was pressured to shut down as part of a wider crackdown by Beijing on Hong Kong's media.
Macedonian Authorities Claim Social Networks ‘Have Always Been Blocked’ in University Dorms
Residents of a state-run student dormitory in Skopje began an online campaign to expose the horrific living conditions. Then, access to Facebook and other websites was cut off.
Trinidad & Tobago Minister Passes the Buck with Failed LifeSport Programme
Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister has shut down the controversial Life Sport programme following the results of an audit, which uncovered the ministry's inability to account for millions of dollars in taxpayers’ money. The programme was originally intended to provide disenfranchised youth with options to a life a crime through...
Spanish Congress Comission Approves AEDE Tax or Google Tax
The Spanish Congress’ Commission of Culture approved the so called AEDE Tax (for the Spanish name of the Association of Editors of Spanish Newspapers), also known as Google Tax as part of the draft bill of the Law of Intellectual Property. GurusBlog explains what is this tax about: A tax...
Colombian Sentenced to Prision and Fined for Comments Online
On a judicial ruling that sets a dangerous precedent in Colombia, the Supreme Court of Justice refused to reconsider an appeal taken on the verdict that orders 18 months of imprisonment and a 9,5 milon pesos fine (about US$5,1000) for netizen Gonzalo López for comments published on El País newspaper...
Russia Is About to Lose “Fake News,” But the Internet Freedoms Going with It Are Real
The owner of an independent TV channel has staged a curious "intellectual provocation" to shock people into understanding the peril of Internet freedom in Russia.
The Hypocrisy of Outrage Against LGBT Rights in Jamaica
An off-colour comment by a Jamaican sports commentator who “dampened the moment of post World Cup celebrations with his shouts of ‘Heil Hitler’ on national television” leads author and blogger Kei Miller to pen a letter to the editor illustrating why his countrymen are living a double standard – outraged...
Burmese Reporters Get Ten Years in Jail Plus Hard Labor for Reporting About Myanmar's Chemical Weapons Factory
Four journalists and the CEO of a Burmese journal were sentenced to ten years in jail with hard labor for reporting about Myanmar's chemical weapons factory.
2 Journalists Arrested for Alleged Defamation of a Minister in Madagascar
Two journalists from the daily paper Madagascar Matin were placed under arrest at Antanimora's jail, in the capital city of Madagascar, Antananarivo. Earlier this morning (July 23), both of them were summoned to the Brigade of Fiadanana for a hearing. Solo Rajaonson, another local journalist, posted the following update in...
Wanted to Watch Saint Lucia's Carnival on TV This Year? You Were Out of Luck
"How regressive! Did the organisers consider Saint Lucians in the diaspora, those in other countries and foreigners who might be interested in being part of Saint Lucia Carnival...?"
Dozens of Activists in Brazil Were Arrested Not for Protesting the World Cup, but for Possibly Planning to Do So
Thirty-seven people were preemptively arrested ahead of the World Cup final in Rio de Janeiro because police believed they might protest violently in the future.
Bahrain's Foreign Minister Seems to Have Forgotten His Country's Ill Treatment of Journalists
Khalid Alkhalifa took a dig at NBC after it pulled Ayman Mohyeldin out of Gaza for "doing his journalistic duty." Twitter users quickly reminded Alkhalifa of Bahrain's own shoddy record.
Twitter Users Call the NY Times Out On Shifting Coverage of Israeli Bombing On Gazan Children
"Joan of Arc drawn to stake, and into center of large fire." Find out how this relates to the Press coverage of the Israeli offensive on Gaza.
Palestinians are Friends with Journalists
Marcelino Torrecilla N. has started a series in Spanish called Stories from Gaza. The first installment by this United Arabe Emirates based Colombian was published on El Tiempo of Bogotá and tells a story of two Gulf News journalists in Abu Dhabi. Taking pictures in the Gulf is challenging and...
The World Cup in Brazil Ended Just Like It Began — With Tear Gas, Stun Grenades and Police Aggression
Activists captured some police officers on film lashing out seemingly with provocation at protesters and journalists.
