· December, 2009

Stories about Media & Journalism from December, 2009

Russia: Yegor Gaidar, Russia's Economic Reformer, Dies at 53

RuNet Echo  19 December 2009

Yegor Gaidar, a Russian economist and politician who initiated the 1992 "shock therapy" reforms, died in Moscow on Dec. 16 at the age of 53. Russian bloggers' responses serve as a vivid reflection of how divided people still are on Gaidar's legacy and on the direction the country has taken since the demise of the Soviet Union.

Japan: Peace picture books

  19 December 2009

The pacifist association called Peace Picture Books [ja, en] published online their last story titled Evil & Punishment: psychology of punishment [en]. On the same website it`s possible to read picture books by different illustrators.

Uganda: Can the media force a country to mourn?

  18 December 2009

Can the media force a country to mourn? This it the main question that the Ugandan journalist and blogger, Rosebell Kagumire, raised in a lively conversation that took place on her blog and Facebook page following local media coverage of the death of Uganda's Vice President Prof. Gilbert Bukenya’s son.

Ecuador: Debates Over New Communication Law

  18 December 2009

In Ecuador, there is an ongoing debate about a proposed Communication Law, which would require practicing journalists to hold degrees, require journalists to reveal sources, and other changes. Opponents are calling this a new 'Gag Law.'

Bermuda: Of Crime & Injunctions

  17 December 2009

As the spate of violence continues in Bermuda, bloggers are further troubled by news of the government taking out an injunction against a newspaper, allegedly to prevent the publication of a news story.

Jamaica: The Good and the Bad

  17 December 2009

The good and the bad: The Phoenix in a Gas House reports that dancehall artist Buju Banton has been officially indicted for cocaine possession, while Letter From Jamaica is pleased that Usain Bolt is a runner-up in TIME magazine's Person of the Year.

Yaoi in the Philippines

  17 December 2009

The View from the Fence blogs about the popularity of Yaoi, “female-oriented fictional media that focus on homoerotic or homoromantic male relationships,” among the Filipino youth.

Russia: Two Stories of Space Blogging

RuNet Echo  16 December 2009

Blogging from and about space gains popularity and recognition among professional space travelers and regular bloggers. Russia is no exception. While the latest fashion for NASA astronauts is space twittering [ENG], more and more space explorers are going full-text. And the fact that one wouldn't necessarily call those blogs par...

Bangladesh: Independent media and Bangla blogs

  15 December 2009

Muktangan starts off an interesting freewheeling discussion about the role of Bangla blogs and why it is still not at par with some of the leading blog platforms around the world that have created equity for themselves as independent media.

Cuba, U.S.A.: American Arrested in Havana

  15 December 2009

The Cuban Triangle comments on press reports that “an American citizen working on a USAID contract was arrested in Cuba” for allegedly “distributing ‘cell phones, laptops, and other communications equipment’.”

Twitter in Japan

  15 December 2009

Fumi Yamazaki tells her readers how Twitter is quickly increasing its presence in Japan nowadays.

Caribbean: New Media & Celebrity Fascination

  14 December 2009

The fascination with celebrities has always been at a fever pitch, but in the current age of new media and consumer-generated content, it’s at an all-time high. While Caribbean bloggers do not tend to overly focus on gossip, they often tune in on the current story at hand.

Tunisia: Student Jailed for Media Interview

  14 December 2009

Tunisian activists have started a Facebook group and a blog in support of Mohamed Soudani, 24, who disappeared on October 22, 2009, in Tunisia, after giving interviews to Radio Monte Carlo International and Radio France International. Friends have since learned he was detained and tortured.

India: Being selective about feedback

  14 December 2009

Cartoonist Anshul Maheshwari at Brainstuck.com takes a good-humored dig at the possibilities of selective perception when collecting data or feedback through crowdsourcing.