Stories about Media & Journalism from June, 2012
Tajikistan: Becoming a Popular Blogger in 11 Steps
In an ironic post, Blog Avestiyca explains [ru] how to become a popular blogger or social media user in Tajikistan. The author recommends an 11-step process which includes raising obvious issues, blaming everything on corrupt officials, using smart words, and criticizing those who dare to disagree with your opinion.
South Korea: Fight Continues over Jeju Naval Base Construction
GangJeong, a small rural town in the Jeju island has made headlines for several months with intense conflict going on between the government forging ahead with its construction plan and environmentalists and rights groups struggling to protect the natural resources. A net user posted an English subtitle (not embedded) for...
Kyrgyzstan: Videos Abound of ‘Patriotic’ Attacks on Migrant Women in Russia
A number of 'patriotic' videos depicting male Kyrgyz labor migrants abusing their female compatriots for associating with men from other ethnic groups while working in Russia has recently been disseminated online. The videos have sparked outrage across domestic and international networks.
Russia: Death Threats for Journalists and Forgiveness for Officials
A bizarre story involving Russia's top investigator threatening the life of an opposition newspaper's deputy editor, and how everyone reconciled a day later. Kevin Rothrock reports.
Kazakhstan: Disbelief Shrouds Confession to Mysterious Deaths on Border
Following a deadly incident on a remote Kazakh border post, young conscript Private Vladislav Chelakh has reportedly confessed to killing 14 fellow border guards and a forest ranger. However, some netizens are not convinced about the official account of the incident and Chelakh's role in it.
Cuba: Bloggers say there are more like “Antunez”
Diaspora bloggers still have their attention focused on Cuban dissident Jorge Luis García Pérez (Antunez), who was reportedly beaten and detained following his testimony at a United States Senate sub-committee hearing concerned with infringements on the human rights of Cuban citizens.
Egypt: Documentary on Female Journalist of the Revolution going on US Tour
Words of Witness, a documentary on a young female journalist reporting the Egyptian revolution is going on tour in the USA. First in film festivals in California and in New York, then through a crowd-funding initiative they hope to raise funds to go to even more university campuses to share the story of youth, revolution, gender roles and new media.
Guyana: Shared Humanity
“I do not believe that the response to human savagery and the solution to banditry should be vulgar violence and the public glorification of the defilement of a human being”: A powerful post by Imran Khan about humanity, society and intelligent thinking.
North Korea Seems to be Testing Digital Radio Broadcasting
North Korea Tech blog wrote about evidence showing that North Korea tested digital radio broadcasting. The blogger also embeded a Youtube video posted by a radio monitor in Japan.
Puerto Rico: Plagiarism and Mainstream Media
Journalist and blogger Sandra Rodríguez Cotto wrote a series of three posts [es] on plagiarism and the common practice of not giving credit to the original sources of information in mainstream media in Puerto Rico.
Poland: Football Fans Clash Ahead of Poland-Russia Game
Over 180 people were detained due to clashes that broke out between rival Russian and Polish football fans in Warsaw on June 12. Anna Gotowska reports.
Africa: Improving Governance and Accountability with New Media
L. Abena Annan speaks with Kwami Ahiabenu,II from African Elections Project about the impact of new media technologies in coverage of elections in Africa. African Elections Project enhances the ability of journalists, citizen journalists and the news media to use new media tools to monitor and cover elections.
Cuba: Bloggers Rally Around Beaten Dissident
Bloggers from the Cuban diaspora are concerned about the reported beating and detainment of dissident Jorge Luis García Pérez, more popularly known as Antunez, after he testified via teleconference at a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing about the human rights situation on the island.
Brazil: Satirical Blog ‘Falha’ Summarizes Censorship Case in Video
Brazilian journalist Lino Bocchini recorded [pt] a 2 minute video that summarizes the case of the satirical blog Falha de São Paulo. Falha was censored and sued by the newspaper Folha de São Paulo in 2010. Global Voices published an update on the story in May, 2012.
Algeria: Qatar's Role in Mali
Algerian-American blogger Kal, from The Moor Next Door, discusses claims of Qatar's alleged role in funding armed groups in northern Mali in this post.
India: Aamir Khan's TV Show Stirs Up Social Issues
A new Indian TV talk show titled Satyamev Jayate (Truth Alone Prevails) hosted by Bollywood actor and filmmaker Aamir Khan is bringing up and debating taboo and sensational social issues which are engaging more and more Indians. Netizens react.
Brazil: Deeper Media Coverage of Belo Monte Dam Needed
A lot of information is shared daily around the world about controversy surrounding the construction of the Belo Monte dam in the Amazon. At the same time, however, it is unclear how well circulated the concerns of those to be directly affected - the river-dwellers, 'caboclos' and indigenous peoples - by what some have labeled 'pharaonic' construction work.
Myanmar: Who Started the Tension in Arakan State?
Writing for the New Mandala, Sai Latt analyzes the situation in Arakan State in Myanmar where riots have spread in several villages. The author writes about the racist campaign against the Rohingya people.
Poland: Obama's “Polish Death Camp” Gaffe Causes Controversy
In the last days of May, a storm of controversy struck the Polish public opinion when the US President Barack Obama used the expression "a Polish death camp" rather than stating clearly that what he meant was a Nazi Germany-operated death camp on the Polish territory. Anna Gotowska reports.
Egypt: Spies Ads Feed Distrust In SCAF
Egypt State television aired two advertisements warning Egyptians from foreigners and spies. Netizens react to the ads with ridicule, reasoning and concern.
Armenia, Azerbaijan: Nagorno Karabakh Conflict Resumes… On Twitter
In war, as the old saying goes, the first casualty is always the truth. This is particularly true in the South Caucasus where the media in Armenia and Azerbaijan more often than not spreads misinformation or subjective propaganda concerning the long-running and unresolved conflict over Nagorno Karabakh. On 7 June that was certainly the case on micro-blogging site Twitter.
