Stories about Media & Journalism from October, 2012
Trinidad & Tobago: R.I.P., Bertie Marshall
Mark Lyndersay pays tribute to the late steel pan pioneer, Bertie Marshall, who passed away last week.
China: New media organization to tackle social issues
Charlie Custer, China Geeks blog author has launched his new project: 2Non.org, a non-profit media organization producing documentary films and shorts as well as written reportage on issues of social justice.
A Maligned Law to Protect the Philippines from Cybercrime
The majority of Filipino internet users and media groups opposed the passage of the Philippine Cybercrime Law because of provisions which they think would curtail media freedom and other civil liberties. But prior to the insertion of online libel and other last minute amendments, the bill was actually quietly supported by many.
Puerto Rico: Journalism Called Into Question
Former President of the Association of Puerto Rican Journalists (ASPPRO), Wilda Rodríguez, wrote a scathing column [es] on the current state of journalism in Puerto Rico for local blog 80grados.net. In it, she asks for what she refers to as “simply the basics”: journalism that is informed, honest, and sensible,...
After Japan Earthquake, a New Local Newspaper by Citizens
Since the local newspaper in Otsuchi, Japan was forced to close down after the 2011 earthquake, a new hyper-local, hybrid newspaper project is teaching local citizens skills in reporting, and invites journalism students from across the country to sign up for internships.
Portugal: Media Sector Struggling in Hard Times
A four-day strike by Portuguese news agency Lusa's workers, against 30% cuts recently announced in the 2013 Budget and more, may represent the starting point for a broader discussion about the role of journalism in democratic societies, in their various forms of organization, financing and distribution.
Myanmar: Newspapers Now Printed in Color
Government-sponsored newspapers in Myanmar are now printed in color, this was announced [my] by the Deputy Minister of Ministry of Information on his Facebook. There are only three major daily papers in Myanmar, all published in monochrome version except on special occasions like Independence Day. Weekly publications by other local media...
Beijing's Intervention on Radio License in Hong Kong Leaked
A leaked tape exposes that a commercial radio station in Hong Kong has been pressured by Beijing to wind up the company and return the license back to the Hong Kong government.
Slovakia, UK: “Child Snatching” or “Child Protection”?
As many as 30 UK-based Slovak children have been removed from their families by British social workers in recent years. While some consider it "child protection," others call it "child snatching." Tibor Blazko reports on the controversy.
Russia: Regional Governor Holds Twitter Q&A
Two days ago Alexander Tkachev, governor of the the southern Kradnodarskiy Krai (one of Russia's 87 federal regions), announced a “twitter-conference” [ru], soliciting questions from his followers. Today he spent a few hours answering several dozen of them. The new-media-savvy public relations move met with hundreds of “trolling” questions like “how...
Ministers Caught Browsing ‘Zambia's WikiLeaks’
Zambia's Finance Deputy Minister Miles Sampa and Minister in Charge of Chiefs Nkandu Luo were recently caught on camera during a Lusaka council meeting browsing the online news website Zambian Watchdog. The online publication, known for its investigative reporting, was this month threatened with de-registration by the Registrar of Societies.
Radio Campaign to Protect Colombian Human Rights Defenders
Front Line Defenders has joined Colombian social movement ‘MOVICE‘ [es] (National Movement of Victims of State Crimes) in a campaign to develop a series of 6 radio Public Service Announcements (PSAs) to “encourage public opinion in Colombia to support greater protection for [human rights defenders].”
Malawi: Online Journalist Arrested for Allegedly Insulting the President
Malawian online journalist Justice Mponda was arrested Monday morning 15 October 2012 in Blantyre allegedly for insulting the president, publishing false information and criminal libel. Mponda works with malawivoice.com. His arrest came in the wake of a new E-Bill, which seeks to regulate and control online communications in Malawi.
Turkey: Hundreds of Kurdish Political Prisoners go on Hunger Strike
Hundreds of Kurdish political prisoners have entered an indefinite hunger strike, challenging Turkey's treatment of Kurdish political prisoners. Through their protest, some are demanding re-trials and language rights while others want to raise international attention about Turkey's treatment of Kurdish political prisoners. Despite their hunger strike, which is nearing six weeks, international media outlets have largely remained silent.
China, Hong Kong: Launching of Investigative Journal
China Media Project blogs about the launching of an investigative journal, i-sun affairs, in Hong Kong. Many of its editors and reporters were former journalists and dissidents in mainland China.
Syria: The Revolution Goes Multilingual
The revolution in Syria is not just taking place on the battleground, between Daraa's alleyways or Aleppo's Citadel. There is a bigger battle going on online. We interview the netizens behind La Revolution Syrienne en Français (The Syrian Revolution in French), a popular page among hundreds of pages on Facebook on the revolution, to know the motives behind creating such a page in French particularly and how they think they are contributing to the uprising in Syria - virtually.
Taiwan: Media Workers Act to Save Journalistic Autonomy
In response to the erosion of journalistic autonomy, professional journalists, scholars and independent media workers start to put forward concrete plans and take action to save professional journalism.
China: Cross-province News Censorship
Jing Gao from Ministry of Tofu explains how the Fujian government extended its black hand to Yunnan to stop the publication of a news story that exposes the corruption of a Fujian government official.
Serbia: Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2012
Wikimedia CEE Meeting 2012 took place in Belgrade on October 13–14, 2012, and is the first Wikimedia CEE Meeting for Central and Eastern Europe. The primary goal of the event is to intensify cooperation among the Wiki communities, Wikimedia chapters, and other interested groups from Central and Eastern Europe. The...
Spain: Government Insults Judge for Exonerating Protestors
Judge Pedraz's writ, which closes the case against eight people detained at the 25-S protests, has not gone down at all well in government circles. The Congress spokesperson, Rafael Hernando, has described the decision as "indecent and unacceptable" and labelled the judge a "posh anarchist."
Online Journalist Barred from Japan's Diet Press Hall
Video journalist Hajime Shiraishi, who heads online media Our Planet TV, has been denied access to film from the rooftop of Diet Press Hall because she is not a member of the official Press Club.
