Stories about Media & Journalism from January, 2010
Africa: Free Kiswahili synthetic voice for Freedom Fone
Brenda writes about free Kiswahili synthetic voice for Freedom Fone, a project of Kubatana in Zimbabwe: “In recognition of the competitive mobile phone tariffs prevailing in east Africa and the...
Japan: Shifted Stances in News Reporting
In a post titled ‘Media Shifts Make Japan A Harder Read‘, the Shisaku blog describes the changes in the way major news outlets have been reporting news since the establishment...
More websites banned in Myanmar. Global Voices banned too
Bagan ISP, one of the two internet service providers in Myanmar has started banning more websites, including blogs with their own domains. The Global Voices website was also banned.
Trinidad & Tobago, Haiti: Blame the Alcohol
“As thousands in [Haiti] were trapped under rubble and were wailing for their lives, our politicians…decided to go ahead with the ceremonial opening of Parliament. Prime Minister Patrick Manning…left the...
Japan: For Haiti it may be too little, too late
In an odd twist of fate, the worst earthquake to hit Haiti in two hundred years has erupted within days of the 15th anniversary of Japan's worst earthquake since the second world war: the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995. Given the timing of the catastrophe, one might have expected a strong Japanese presence in Haiti. To the frustration of many in Japan, the opposite was in fact the case.
Jordan: Bloggers Take On Controversial Court Ruling
Following the recent Jordanian Cessation Court’s decision to subject electronic websites to the Press and Publication Law, the Jordanian web has been overflowing with reactions to the court ruling which many Jordanians see as a step back for freedom of speech in the country.
Haiti, USA: When politics challenge compassion
In a post [Fr], Haitian writer Alain Mabanckou exposes the right-wing American radio host Rush Limbaugh, who has told his listeners that President Obama is using this catastrophe as a...
Haiti: Instances of “Looting,” but Little Confirmed Evidence of Post-Quake Violence
Four nights after the Haiti earthquake the airwaves and the Internet are seeing a raging debate over blogs and news media's use of the word “looting." Marc Herman offers a look into blogs and press from all over the world.
Bahamas: The Easy Way Out?
Bahamian Nicolette Bethel takes issue with the alleged statements of her Prime Minister when it comes to helping Haiti: “The message that [he] is sending is that it is all...
Haiti: Getting the Word Out
Those of us outside of Haiti can only imagine the stark reality of daily life in the earthquake's aftermath - but amidst attempts to find loved ones, efforts to administer to the wounded and the overwhelming task of getting relief to those who most need it - bloggers in and around Port-au-Prince are finding the time to communicate with the outside world, which is desperate for news from those closest to the disaster.
Mauritania: Hanevy Ould Dahah Remains Imprisoned
In June of 2009, Global Voices Advocacy was the first to report that Mauritanian editor Hanevy Ould Dahah, who runs leftist site Taqadoumy, had been arrested over a comment left on the site. Ould Dahah, sentenced to 6 months in prison, should have been released on December 24, however, on December 26 it was reported by blogger Nasser Weddady on Dekhnstan, that Ould Dahah was still being held.
Barbados, DR, Haiti: Good vs. Evil
Regional bloggers lash back at American televangelist Pat Robertson, whose comments about the Haiti disaster left a bad taste in their mouths.
Barbados, Haiti: Helping our Neighbours
“Remember how Barbados struggled when one house collapsed into a cave? We couldn’t rescue five people with everything we had on the island and a special team in from the...
Nigeria: Nigerian bloggers take on would-be bomber Umar Abdulmutallab
On December 25th, the world was taken by surprise when news broke that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a 23-year-old Nigerian citizen, had nearly succeeded in detonating explosives on a Northwest Airlines flight between Amsterdam and Detroit. At first, many Nigerians reacted with shock and disbelief, some even doubting whether Abdulmutallab was truly a Nigerian.
Russian Bloggers React to Haiti Earthquake
Reaction of Russian bloggers to the devastating earthquake in Haiti is diverse and sometimes unexpected. The cataclysm provided an opportunity for sorrow, support, contemplation and self-observance.
Russia: Businessman in Exile Uses Blog to Answer Questions
One of the youngest Russian millionaires Yevgeny Chichvarkin [EN], who escaped Russian authorities and currently resides in London, UK, used his blog [RUS] as a platform for a virtual press conference. This live...
Ecuador: Radio Voice of Arutam Taken Off the Air
Radio Voice of Arutam, which broadcasts to the indigenous community of the Shuar, was taken off the air because the Ecuadorian government said that it had incited violence during protests in 2009.
Zimbabwe: Putting information in the hands of Zimbabweans
Kubatana's Freedom Fone Project helps put information in the hands of Zimbabweans: “The Freedom Fone project aspires to help civic organisations extend their information in an audio format to mobile...
Cambodia: Conference on “Open knowledge, free culture”
The conference “Open Knowledge, free culture” was organized at the Royal University of Phnom Penh in Cambodia. Speakers discussed, among others, the impact of new technology and social media in...
Haiti: Destruction in Jacmel
“Prayers are needed all throughout Haiti. This is not over yet. We are still getting tremors constantly”: First-hand reports of the earthquake from Cody, a blogger in Jacmel, here and...
Bahamas, Haiti: Where is the Love?
“The headlines of our foremost newspapers…rather than forcing us Bahamians to shake our deep, deep prejudices against our closest neighbours…instead reinforce our prejudices and our fears”: Nicolette Bethel says that...
