Stories about Media & Journalism from May, 2011
Bolivia: New Ministry of Comunications Raises Doubts
Rodrigo Reque Mejía, owner of the blog Puro Papo [es], compares the Bolivian government's newly created Ministry of Communications with the fictitious Ministry of Truth in Geroge Orwell's 1984 novel. His concerns have to do with potential Internet censorshio, among others.
Chile: Should State TV Play Hidroaysen Ads?
Luis Cuello in El Quinto Poder, describes how [es] Television Nacional de Chile, the State's television channel, played the latest of ads by Hidroaisen campaign during the night news (prime time in Chile). He asks readers whether this is the right approach, considering that thousands have repeatedly protested in past weeks...
Azerbaijan: Jon Snow and Amnesty International in Twitter Action
Ahead of tonight's Amnesty International Media Awards 2011, the organisation has launched a Twitter photo campaign to call for the release of an imprisoned journalist and newspaper editor in Azerbaijan. With major British media names such as Jon Snow on board, pro-government supporters in Azerbaijan reacted negatively.
Trinidad & Tobago: Gay Rights
gspottt thinks that “it’s impressive that the Ministry is interested in attitudes to homosexuality; and notable that the poll [about equal rights for homosexuals] was commissioned by the last government”, but maintains that “it’s a matter of how you ask the question.” Photos and video of Trinidad and Tobago's first...
Azerbaijan: Free Eynulla Fatullayev! Twitter campaign
Amnesty International has started a Twitter campaign to call for the release of imprisoned journalist and prisoner of conscience Eynulla Fatullayev. Supported by prominent English journalists such as Channel 4's Jon Snow, more details of how to participate can be found here.
Myanmar: Profile of jailed journalists
Mizzima News has uploaded on Scribd the profiles of imprisoned journalists in Myanmar. There are about 21 journalists in the country's prisons.
Russia: Medvedev and Press Freedom
Vadim Nikitin of Foreign Policy Association's Russia blog writes that while the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev “had no problems embracing iPad and Twitter,” he “seems to be a late adopter when it comes to good old fashioned press freedom.”
Russia: Daghestani Media Online
Window on Eurasia reports that “virtually all Daghestani media outlets now have online versions.”
Cuba: More on “The Student”
More details on the death of Juan Wilfredo Soto Garcia, from Without Evasion.
Barbados: Code of Ethics for Elected Officials
The irony of the acting Prime Minister “ha[ving] the audacity to lecture the Barbados news media on ethics and the purpose of journalism” in the absence of a “code of ethics for elected and appointed government officials” is not lost on Barbados Free Press.
Puerto Rico: New digital magzine
Students, activists, journalists and bloggers have launched the digital magazine El Punto [es] to foster a transnational conversation between Puerto Ricans living on the Island and those who belong to the diaspora in the United States.
Korea: Is North Korea Behind Every Unsolved Cyber Attack?
A slew of fearsome reports on the North Korea's cyber attack capability recently came out in South Korea, and even on Fox News this week. The South Korean government concluded North Korea was behind the latest attack. But South Korean Tweeters have made sarcastic jokes about the government's poor analysis and its knee-jerk reaction of blaming North Korea for every unsolved case.
France: French Women Bloggers on the DSK Scandal
French feminists bloggers and women bloggers writing on women's issues, have gained a larger audience and a new respect in France in the aftermath of the Domininique Strauss-Kahn scandal. Meet a few French feminist bloggers laboring online against prejudices and the French perception of sexual harassment and crimes.
Australia: Journalist Arrest Over Facebook Photo
Australian journalist arrested and iPad seized! No it’s not Julian Assange. But Ben Grubb’s brief encounter with Queensland authorities raised several serious cyber issues including social media privacy and security, police powers of arrest and confiscation of digital devices, plus journalists’ rights.
North Korea: Has Idolization of Kim Jong-Un Failed?
Whilst North Korean regime tries hard to apotheosize Kim Jong-un, report came out today claiming that most ordinary North Korean has no interest to the heir. The Free Radio for North Korea which founded and runs by defectors revealed [ko] that most low-level soldiers are unaware of the new dictator,...
Russia: Billionaire Gives Up Business After Publishing a Video On Bank Fraud
Alexander Lebedev, Russian tycoon, said that he will give up his banking business and join pro-Kremlin People's Front, after he published a video clip [ru] on corruption in Federal Security Service and Central Bank in his blog, Gazeta.ru reported [ru]. The video has been removed shortly after its publication, although...
Social media usage in Cambodia
Journalism students from Phnom Penh upload a video which discuss social media usage in Cambodia, including the threat to block websites which are critical to the government.
Trinidad & Tobago: Dangerous Dogs & the Bigger Picture
Globewriter posts an interview he did with the President of the T&T Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Against the backdrop of a recent spate of dog attacks, they discuss the existing law as it pertains to dangerous dogs, as well as responsible pet ownership, animal welfare and...
Trinidad & Tobago: Manning Suspended
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog reports that former Prime Minister Manning has been suspended from the House of Representatives, having been found guilty of contempt of Parliament.
Trinidad & Tobago: New Politics?
“The PP government is establishing a ‘new normal’ insofar as ethics and acceptable standards of behaviour in public office are concerned”: Despite the mixed signals, Afra Raymond welcomes the new direction.
Uzbekistan: The authorities ban American cartoons
The authorities in Uzbekistan have started a massive attack on American cartoons and animated movies, available on cable television, citing ‘violence’ and ‘negative pressure’, Avicenna says.