Stories about Media & Journalism from July, 2019
Disappointment with the West is crucial for growth of pro-Russian narratives in the Balkans, says researcher
"Although all countries in the region have been targets of pro-Russia disinformation efforts recently, there has been no recognition of this trend as a security issue at the political level"
New book presents rarely researched aspects of Myanmar's political and media transition
"But as many of the contributors noted, while the space for expression did open up, the threats against journalists and activists did not reduce."
Video of the military using violent methods divides public opinion and highlights gravity of the attacks in northern Mozambique
"Mozambican president, Filipe Nyusi, called the attacks acts of terrorism and promised the military would continue the combat on the ground and would not rest until peace is restored."
Bangladeshis use social media to tackle a dengue outbreak
With the lack of initiative and awareness campaign from the government, people are resorting to social media to educate and spread awareness about Dengue fever
After two straight weeks of protests, Puerto Ricans force governor to resign
Secretary of Justice Wanda Vázquez will be Puerto Rico's second female governor.
Twitter campaign by Pakistani ruling party warns media against anti-state criticism
According to the government, the idea behind the series of tweets was not to ridicule but to ‘educate’ the media. However, the activists feel otherwise amidst troll attacks.
Walk the streets of Japan on YouTube with Rambalac
"I started filming my walks just for fun and additional reason to go outside."
Fake news about “human sacrifices” for the Padma Bridge leads to violence in Bangladesh
Eight people have been detained across Bangladesh for spreading ‘Human heads and blood will be sacrificed for Padma Bridge pillars’ rumors on Facebook.
Netizen Report: In Nigeria and Russia, laws against online ‘insult’ put internet activists on thin ice
Activists in Nigeria and Russia face charges for "online insult", a Twitter campaign targets "anti-Pakistan" journalists abnd Mauritania’s internet is back on, for now.
Former news anchor threatened for speaking out on crime in Trinidad and Tobago
Tired of the spiralling crime in her community, former national news anchor Coleen Holder continues to speak out, despite death threats against her.
How Nigeria uses the law to repress free speech: The case of journalist Jones Abiri
Draconian legislation often used to arbitrarily detain journalists and dissenting voices exemplifies the precarious state of press freedom and free speech in Nigeria.
The fight against disinformation in Bulgaria is almost nonexistent, says journalist Ivan Georgiev
"Bulgaria is a border state between the West and the East and it is seen as a weak spot on the European map by the Russian propaganda."
Puerto Ricans demand that Governor Rosselló resign amid corruption and #Telegramgate scandals
A corruption probe by the FBI and and an 889-page Telegram chat leak reveal an ugly side of the governor and his cabinet.
Moldova's journalists cautiously optimistic after ‘silent revolution’
Following inconclusive parliamentary elections, the pro-Russian and pro-EU opposition put their differences aside and formed a government, ousting the ruling party lead by the country's most powerful oligarch.
Pseudoscientific racial theories by discredited British psychologist keep going viral in the Balkans
The cyclical spread of pseudoscientific notions about IQs based on race or ethnicity taps into pre-existing stereotypes as well as it reinforces them in this region.
Macedonian PM publicly apologizes after he was deceived by pro-Kremlin Russian pranksters
In the video, the Russian pranksters pretend to be the former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Should Trinidad and Tobago repatriate the families of ISIS recruits?
Trinidad and Tobago is the highest per capita recruiting source for ISIS fighters in the Western hemisphere. The nation must now decide whether or not to repatriate their dependents.
New York Times ad for Nairobi bureau chief riddled with clichés about Africa
The NYT’s language to describe their ideal Nairobi bureau chief reignited the debate on Western media's perpetual use of tired clichés and tropes about Africa.
Netizen Report: Preventing bias or protecting extremism? Debunking the new US Senate proposal for Silicon Valley
Cuba bans citizens from using foreign web hosts, Iran's internet falters and The Guardian shows that even tourists are subject to targeted surveillance in western China.
Is Cuba trying to outlaw independent media? A new decree will prohibit foreign web hosting
“The law leaves independent media without ‘legal’ hosting options,” said local journalist and Global Voices author Elaine Diaz.
Iran’s Draft Data Protection Act: Too little but not too late
While lawmakers wait to ratify the Draft Act, they must pay heed to international digital rights standards in the new Draft Law for the Personal Data Protection and Safeguarding