Stories about Media & Journalism from July, 2013
Vigilante Justice & Race Riots in Provincial Russia
A bar fight that broke out last weekend between two young men in a small town of Pugachev in Russia’s central Saratov region, ended with racial violence.
Global Voices Launches Partnership with North American Congress on Latin America
Global Voices and The North American Congress on Latin America (NACLA) have launched a new partnership that will combine Global Voices’ focus on citizen media and NACLA’s analysis and expertise to bring our readers original, in-depth coverage about the region.
Pulling Back on Police Powers in Jamaica?
Back at the end of May, Jamaica's take on this year's Blog Action Day dealt with the issue of extra judicial killings and police brutality – but now, one of the bloggers who organised JA Blog Day is reporting on what the police can't do, thanks to a recent judicial ruling.
Journalist Sued for Comparing Tajik ‘Intelligentsia’ to Excrement
Tajikistan's state-approved 'intelligentsia' is showing itself to be more thin-skinned than intelligent.
Japan: Winny Developer Dies at 42
Isamu Kaneko, the Japanese developer of file-sharing software Winny, died due to an undisclosed illness on July 8, 2013 at the age of 42. He was charged in 2006 with “assisting” Winny users to violate copyright, but the case against him was later overturned and his acquittal upheld by the country's Supreme...
Al Jazeera Accused of “Biased” Egypt Coverage
Al Jazeera has come under fire in Egypt for what many describe as its “biased” reporting during and following the ousting of former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi on July 4. The Qatar-based channel is being accused of siding with the Muslim Brotherhood and being its mouthpiece.
“Tweet-debate” on the Benefits and Drawbacks of Citizen Journalism
The Press Association of Madrid organized a debate on Twitter about citizen journalism in its third "Tweet-debate" of the #Tuitsyperiodigno (#Tweetsanddignifiedjournalism) cycle put forth by the association with the goal of addressing various aspects of journalism.
Chinese Social Media Users are Rumor-Happy, Low-Educated, Report Says
A new report from the state-run Chinese Academy of Social Sciences that labels social media in China as a rumor mill and social media users in China as having low levels of education and income is raising alarm among netizens.
Egypt says: “It is NOT a Coup”
The US meddling in Egyptian affairs – and the coverage of news networks, particularly CNN, of the political developments in Egypt – came under fire last night. The ousting of former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi after a year in office ushered celebrations across the country, as well as a bout of violence between pro- and anti-Morsi supporters.
Protests Erupt in South Korea Over Spy Agency's Electioneering
Protests have continued for several weeks in South Korea against the state secret agency’s electioneering. Nine agents from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) created hundreds of Internet IDs and wrote more than 5,000 posts on the Internet and used some of them to attack domestic opposition parties and their candidates ahead of South Korea’s presidential election last December.
Malaysian Internet TV Up with Viewers
KiniTV, a Malaysian Internet TV service recorded 7.2 million video views last May: KiniTV will be producing news reports and talk-shows that come straight from ordinary people and independent analysts, free from censorship and to promote dialogue and encourage transparency.
How Edward Snowden Divides Russians
When Edward Snowden left Hong Kong for Moscow, it placed Russia at the center of what had primarily been an American story. For Russians, his prolonged stay in Sheremetyevo has turned the question of what should be done with him from academic to practical, as his fate now rests largely in Russia's hands.
Russia's #1 Social Network Attacked Abroad
On June 26, 2013 VKontakte co-founder Nikolai Durov reported that Ukrainian authorities have seized the company's Ukrainian servers.
The Day Russia's Libraries Stood Still
On July 2, 2013 three of Russia's popular online libraries blocked user access to their websites and collections as a way to protest a new law aimed at combating internet piracy: "On their side is money, power and congenital brain failure. On ours -- technology, science and the aspirations of millions of people."
Electioneering Protests in South Korea
Spearheaded by students at major universities in South Korea, protests against the National Intelligence Service's electioneering have continued over two weeks. Several photos of last week's protest in Seoul and protest photos of Korean community in the United States have been shared online.
Roberto Beličanec, Macedonian Media Expert and Vocal Activist, Dies
Macedonian media expert, activist and blogger Roberto Beličanec died of heart attack on June 29 at the age of 41. Beličanec was one of the few remaining publicly vocal proponents of liberty and human rights in Macedonia, with a large social media following as a result of his courage to openly speak against the misuse of power, against corruption, censorship, and hate speech.
