Stories about Media & Journalism from May, 2008
China: Children Protection
Wang Xiaofeng criticized mainstream media practice in interviewing the children earthquake victims as such interviews may have negative impacts on children's psychology [zh].
China: Quake Lake
Michael from the Opposite End of China points out that the Sichuan earthquake has added a new lexicon “Quake lake” to the English speaking world.
Lebanon: An Eyewitness Report
Lebanese journalist and blogger Lelia Mezher was one of several Lebanese bloggers who worked round the clock to keep the world informed about the crisis which rocked her country when different factions clashed in Beirut. Global Voices Online caught up with Mezher, who is involved with News Lab, in this quick interview.
Cuba: Media Manipulation?
As Fidel Castro comments on the US presidential campaign, Child of the Revolution calls him “the consummate manipulator”.
Trinidad & Tobago: Ah Have ah Tabanca
“You know if this was a relationship with a man, you wouldn’t still be here. You would never stick around and take this abuse. Stay for what? Because this is where you were born? This is what you know? This is the only place that understands you?”: Trinidad and Tobago...
Cuba: Incipient Crackdown?
Both Uncommon Sense and Ninety miles away…in another country blog about an incident in which “police and thugs from a ‘rapid response brigade’ swarmed about two dozen people as they marched toward a local cemetery to present a floral wreath honoring the memory of the iconic political prisoner Pedro Luis...
Jordan: Shy of Bras
An exhibition with a difference is being held in Jordan – that of bras – and the media is shy from covering it, writes Ahmed Humeid.
Barbados, U.S.A.: Taking It Back
On the heels of Hillary Clinton's comment about Bobby Kennedy, Barbadian blogger Jdid comments: “You're just playing the spoiler now. It almost looks like you are trying to muddy the waters for your fellow democrat. All I can say is both you and Bill showed a wicked and dirty side...
Jamaica: Gays and Golding
Kadene Porter at Jamaica's Abeng News Magazine analyzes the Prime Minister's controversial BBC interview in which he said that there would be no gays in his Cabinet: “It is rather strange that this single issue has come to define the morals of a people, considering the heinous nature of crimes...
China: An Earthquake Reporter's Self-Mockery
A Beijing reporter wrote a self-mockery confession on his trip to Wenchuan earthquake center [zh].
Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Barbados, Jamaica: Chanderpaul's Heroics
West Indies Cricket Blog quotes cricket commentator Tony Cozier on Shivnarine Chanderpaul's “heroics” vs. Australia, adding: “The energy from Sabina Park was unbelievable. Really bummed I wasn’t there.”
Cayman Islands: Not Here?
Cayblogger responds to a mainstream media editorial by examining the Cayman Islands’ attitude towards homosexuality and crime: “There have been, what… five murders in Cayman this year to only one ‘gay kiss?’ Which means that we, as a society, are less tolerant of a gay kiss than of a murder.”
Dominica: Banana Spat
Steve's Dominica reports on “the ongoing spat between various banana organisations.”
Chile: Spanish Photographer Injured While Covering Protests
A Spanish photographer was injured after being hit by a Chilean policeman, while covering protests in the city of Valparaíso. Fernando Meza of Periodismo Globa [es] has the full story.
China: Q&A with Premier Wen
An increasing number of questions are being asked as China continues to mourn for the massive number of lives lost in the earthquake in Sichuan earlier this month. Veteran news figure Rose Luqiu has posted her recent questions to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on her blog along with his answers, in full.
Hong Kong: Floating Voices
An independent video maker Law Man Lok has produced a video, called floating voices (with English subtitles), on inmediahk.net, a citizen journalist site in Hong Kong. (via inmediahk.net)
Israel: Religious Communities Object to “Sex” in Advertising
“[Blank] in the City?” An Israeli media company is protesting advertising promoting the release of the new “Sex and the City” movie, claiming the word “sex” is offensive and should be removed. “You really don’t know whether to get angry or just laugh at the ridiculousness of this whole thing,”...
Israel: We Have No iPhones Today
“Apple finally sells the iPhone in the Middle East but not in Israel. Who cares?” asks Ouriel Ohayon. “On average [every] 1/3 person I meet has an iPhone here… Well done Steve Jobs!”
Algeria, Unspoken Stories
Salim Bachi reviews Algérie, histoires à ne pas dire (Algeria, Unspoken Stories), a controversial 2007 film by Jean Piere-Lledo about the Algerian War. Of public reaction to the film, which is banned in Algeria, Bachi writes: “Jean-Pierre Lledo has been accused of ever evil on earth..[by a] population that didn't...
The Burma Daily Online
Copies of the The Burma Daily were confiscated in Cambodia. But articles of the paper can be accessed online.
Peru: Too Much Media Attention Given to Tula Rodríguez
De La Selva Su Web [es] is repulsed by the excess attention given by the media (including blogs) to the pregnancy of Tula Rodríguez, a well-known model and host on Peruvian television.
