A project of the Tactical Technology Collective.
from their website:
"Info-Activism is an approach which helps rights advocates tactically utilise information, communications and digital technologies to enhance advocacy work. Tactical Tech believes that new technologies have significant potential to enhance the work of campaigners and advocates, giving them the tools to gather and analyse information and the means to turn that information into action."
http://www.informationactivism.org/
Monday, January 26, 2009
"In Pakistan, Radio Amplifies Terror of Taliban"
Does anyone know more about the story in this article?
from the NY Times
By RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr. and PIR ZUBAIR SHAH
Published: January 24, 2009
PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Every night around 8 o’clock, the terrified residents of Swat, a lush and picturesque valley a hundred miles from three of Pakistan’s most important cities, crowd around their radios. They know that failure to listen and learn might lead to a lashing — or a beheading.
Hundreds gathered Jan. 11 in Swat to watch drug dealers punished. The Taliban also have made it a crime to shave a beard.
Using a portable radio transmitter, a local Taliban leader, Shah Doran, on most nights outlines newly proscribed “un-Islamic” activities in Swat, like selling DVDs, watching cable television, singing and dancing, criticizing the Taliban, shaving beards and allowing girls to attend school. He also reveals names of people the Taliban have recently killed for violating their decrees — and those they plan to kill.
“They control everything through the radio,” said one Swat resident, who declined to give his name for fear the Taliban might kill him. “Everyone waits for the broadcast.”
International attention remains fixed on the Taliban’s hold on Pakistan’s semiautonomous tribal areas, from where they launch attacks on American forces in Afghanistan. But for Pakistan, the loss of the Swat Valley could prove just as devastating....(see link for rest of the article)
from the NY Times
By RICHARD A. OPPEL Jr. and PIR ZUBAIR SHAH
Published: January 24, 2009
PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Every night around 8 o’clock, the terrified residents of Swat, a lush and picturesque valley a hundred miles from three of Pakistan’s most important cities, crowd around their radios. They know that failure to listen and learn might lead to a lashing — or a beheading.
Hundreds gathered Jan. 11 in Swat to watch drug dealers punished. The Taliban also have made it a crime to shave a beard.
Using a portable radio transmitter, a local Taliban leader, Shah Doran, on most nights outlines newly proscribed “un-Islamic” activities in Swat, like selling DVDs, watching cable television, singing and dancing, criticizing the Taliban, shaving beards and allowing girls to attend school. He also reveals names of people the Taliban have recently killed for violating their decrees — and those they plan to kill.
“They control everything through the radio,” said one Swat resident, who declined to give his name for fear the Taliban might kill him. “Everyone waits for the broadcast.”
International attention remains fixed on the Taliban’s hold on Pakistan’s semiautonomous tribal areas, from where they launch attacks on American forces in Afghanistan. But for Pakistan, the loss of the Swat Valley could prove just as devastating....(see link for rest of the article)
Community radio director in Paraguay murdered
Below is the statement from COMUNICA Paraguay. I don't have original news article on this incident, but there is a history of incidents of violence against community radios in the country.
Comunica Denounces Murder of Community Radio Director in Paraguay
Asuncion, Paraguay, 13 January 2009.
The “Asociación Paraguaya de Comunicación Comunitaria, COMUNICA”, and the Coordinadora de Derechos Humanos del Paraguay, denounce the murder of Martín Ocampos Paez director of the Community Radio Hugua Ñandú FM, member of COMUNICA, and
member of a farmers union producers. The Hugua Community Radio works
with the community of same name denouncing the impunity of ranchers,
drug trafickersealers and the security forces that protect them and
persecute the peasants under the excuse of fighting organise crime.
The murder of Martin Ocampo, coincides with militar and police
operations ordered by the government under the presure of economic
groups that are willing to create confusion by arguing the supposed
existence of guerrila groups, that have not been proved. The area has
become a “free zone” for narcotraffic under the contrôle of local
government authorities.
We denounce the disinformation campaign by some media, trying to present
the murder of Martin Ocampo as killed in the burning of a military post,
that the communicator was a member of a guerrilla army and that he was
connected to narcotrafic. All this in ordre to discredit him and the
Community Radio Hugua Ñandú FM aa well as all community radios in Paraguay.
We also denounce the repression against the Organización de Lucha por la
Tierra (OLT) whose members are being detained for defending the health
clinic for the Tava`i community that was closed by the government. For
this case there is more than fifty detainees, among them communicators
and community leaders supporting this organisation and expressing those
ideas through the community radio Joaju FM that belongs to the OLT. The
local authorities are trying to silence the radio and the military are
repressing the peasant resistence.
We demand that the Paraguay government clarifies this violent attacks
against freedom of expression, so they are punished. We call national
and international public opinion, to the social organisations to remain
alert and we call for solidarity to denounce the situation.
COMUNICA and its member organisations are in permanent alert todo defend
and organise by all means necessary our hard earned rights and warns the
government that we will not tolerate the repression and the impunity as
a contition for governance.
Contact Comunica; Victor Onieva : amarcpy@hotmail.com
Comunica Denounces Murder of Community Radio Director in Paraguay
Asuncion, Paraguay, 13 January 2009.
The “Asociación Paraguaya de Comunicación Comunitaria, COMUNICA”, and the Coordinadora de Derechos Humanos del Paraguay, denounce the murder of Martín Ocampos Paez director of the Community Radio Hugua Ñandú FM, member of COMUNICA, and
member of a farmers union producers. The Hugua Community Radio works
with the community of same name denouncing the impunity of ranchers,
drug trafickersealers and the security forces that protect them and
persecute the peasants under the excuse of fighting organise crime.
The murder of Martin Ocampo, coincides with militar and police
operations ordered by the government under the presure of economic
groups that are willing to create confusion by arguing the supposed
existence of guerrila groups, that have not been proved. The area has
become a “free zone” for narcotraffic under the contrôle of local
government authorities.
We denounce the disinformation campaign by some media, trying to present
the murder of Martin Ocampo as killed in the burning of a military post,
that the communicator was a member of a guerrilla army and that he was
connected to narcotrafic. All this in ordre to discredit him and the
Community Radio Hugua Ñandú FM aa well as all community radios in Paraguay.
We also denounce the repression against the Organización de Lucha por la
Tierra (OLT) whose members are being detained for defending the health
clinic for the Tava`i community that was closed by the government. For
this case there is more than fifty detainees, among them communicators
and community leaders supporting this organisation and expressing those
ideas through the community radio Joaju FM that belongs to the OLT. The
local authorities are trying to silence the radio and the military are
repressing the peasant resistence.
We demand that the Paraguay government clarifies this violent attacks
against freedom of expression, so they are punished. We call national
and international public opinion, to the social organisations to remain
alert and we call for solidarity to denounce the situation.
COMUNICA and its member organisations are in permanent alert todo defend
and organise by all means necessary our hard earned rights and warns the
government that we will not tolerate the repression and the impunity as
a contition for governance.
Contact Comunica; Victor Onieva : amarcpy@hotmail.com
recent headlines
BENTON'S COMMUNICATIONS-RELATED HEADLINES for SUNDAY JANUARY 25, 2009
INTERNET/BROADBAND
Internet users worldwide surpass 1 billion in December
Irish Government to Spend $362 Million on Broadband Infrastructure
Why Republicans Should Love The Rural Fiber Fund
America's Most Wired Cities
INTERNET/BROADBAND
Internet users worldwide surpass 1 billion in December
Irish Government to Spend $362 Million on Broadband Infrastructure
Why Republicans Should Love The Rural Fiber Fund
America's Most Wired Cities
Sunday, January 25, 2009
BBC and Gaza aid charity appeal
Interesting question being raised regarding whether or not the BBC (or other British broadcasters) should air charity appeal for Gaza aid.
Here is the CNN article, though perhaps better to follow British press on this.
excerpt from cnn.com
LONDON, England (CNN) -- The BBC is refusing to broadcast a plea from leading British charities for aid to Gaza, saying the ad would compromise the public broadcaster's appearance of impartiality.
Demonstrators protest at the BBC's central London offices Saturday against the broadcaster's decision.
Demonstrators protest at the BBC's central London offices Saturday against the broadcaster's decision.
The Disasters Emergency Committee, which includes the British Red Cross, Oxfam, Save the Children and 10 other charities, plans to launch its appeal Monday.
British broadcasters, led by the BBC, originally declined to air the advert -- but in the face of criticism from government ministers and others, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 changed their minds. CNN was not approached to broadcast the ad, a DEC spokesman said.
About 5,000 people demonstrated in front of the BBC's Broadcasting House in central London on Saturday over the broadcaster's stance. Seven people were arrested. Video Watch protest against BBC decision »
The BBC is standing by its decision, director general Mark Thompson wrote in a blog post on the corporation's Web site.
"We concluded that we could not broadcast a free-standing appeal, no matter how carefully constructed, without running the risk of reducing public confidence in the BBC's impartiality in its wider coverage of the story," he wrote Saturday.
"Inevitably an appeal would use pictures which are the same or similar to those we would be using in our news programs but would do so with the objective of encouraging public donations. The danger for the BBC is that this could be interpreted as taking a political stance on an ongoing story," Thompson said....(story continues on the link above)
Here is the CNN article, though perhaps better to follow British press on this.
excerpt from cnn.com
LONDON, England (CNN) -- The BBC is refusing to broadcast a plea from leading British charities for aid to Gaza, saying the ad would compromise the public broadcaster's appearance of impartiality.
Demonstrators protest at the BBC's central London offices Saturday against the broadcaster's decision.
Demonstrators protest at the BBC's central London offices Saturday against the broadcaster's decision.
The Disasters Emergency Committee, which includes the British Red Cross, Oxfam, Save the Children and 10 other charities, plans to launch its appeal Monday.
British broadcasters, led by the BBC, originally declined to air the advert -- but in the face of criticism from government ministers and others, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 changed their minds. CNN was not approached to broadcast the ad, a DEC spokesman said.
About 5,000 people demonstrated in front of the BBC's Broadcasting House in central London on Saturday over the broadcaster's stance. Seven people were arrested. Video Watch protest against BBC decision »
The BBC is standing by its decision, director general Mark Thompson wrote in a blog post on the corporation's Web site.
"We concluded that we could not broadcast a free-standing appeal, no matter how carefully constructed, without running the risk of reducing public confidence in the BBC's impartiality in its wider coverage of the story," he wrote Saturday.
"Inevitably an appeal would use pictures which are the same or similar to those we would be using in our news programs but would do so with the objective of encouraging public donations. The danger for the BBC is that this could be interpreted as taking a political stance on an ongoing story," Thompson said....(story continues on the link above)
"The Icelandic Facebook Revolution"
Here is an excerpt from a blog on Huffington Post by Sigtryggur Magnason.
"...Today, January 22. It's early morning in Iceland, late at night in the US. My Facebook shows people are protesting again today. Recent research shows that 95.8% of Icelanders in the 20-29 age group have their profiles on Facebook. From the age of 13 and up, 46.9% of Icelanders is on Facebook.
Icelanders have been rather frigid when it comes to protesting. We don't have the culture of crowds. There are no subways, no train stations. Our culture of cafes is rather young. The University of Iceland, the biggest university, has until recently been scattered around Reykjavík. Facebook has made a great social impact. The Internet has played a vital role in the 110 days since the crash on October 6th.
People are probably meeting at 10.30am at the Parliament. The messages from the meeting of the Social Democratic Alliance were precise last night. Their chairman and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, is at a hospital in Sweden being treated for her brain tumour. She'll be back to Iceland tomorrow. Will the party wait for her to break up the coalition with the Independence party or not? Will the government resign?
It's 10am in Reykjavík. It's not bright yet, although the sun is breaking it curfew, staying up for a few minutes longer every day.
Iceland. We've come to a conclusion: the laissez faire experiment has failed. Big time. Our message to the rest of the world is: don't try this at home."
"...Today, January 22. It's early morning in Iceland, late at night in the US. My Facebook shows people are protesting again today. Recent research shows that 95.8% of Icelanders in the 20-29 age group have their profiles on Facebook. From the age of 13 and up, 46.9% of Icelanders is on Facebook.
Icelanders have been rather frigid when it comes to protesting. We don't have the culture of crowds. There are no subways, no train stations. Our culture of cafes is rather young. The University of Iceland, the biggest university, has until recently been scattered around Reykjavík. Facebook has made a great social impact. The Internet has played a vital role in the 110 days since the crash on October 6th.
People are probably meeting at 10.30am at the Parliament. The messages from the meeting of the Social Democratic Alliance were precise last night. Their chairman and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, is at a hospital in Sweden being treated for her brain tumour. She'll be back to Iceland tomorrow. Will the party wait for her to break up the coalition with the Independence party or not? Will the government resign?
It's 10am in Reykjavík. It's not bright yet, although the sun is breaking it curfew, staying up for a few minutes longer every day.
Iceland. We've come to a conclusion: the laissez faire experiment has failed. Big time. Our message to the rest of the world is: don't try this at home."
Friday, January 23, 2009
"Author jailed for insulting Thai king"
From CNN.com
BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- An Australian author was sentenced Monday to three years in prison in Thailand after falling foul of a Thai law that makes it a crime to insult the country's royal family.
Harry Nicolaides behind the bars of a Thai holding cell on Monday.
Harry Nicolaides behind the bars of a Thai holding cell on Monday.
Harry Nicolaides was arrested last August over a 2005 book called "Verisimilitude," which includes a paragraph about the king and crown prince that the authorities deemed a violation of the Lese Majeste law.
Nicolaides, 41, was bombarded with questions from foreign journalists as he arrived at the court Monday, wearing shackles as he stepped from a prison bus. In tears, he said he would plead guilty.
"Truth is stranger than fiction," he said. "It's been an ordeal for months. It feels like a bad dream." Video Watch shackled Nicolaides at court »
The Thai Criminal Court originally sentenced Nicolaides to six years in jail but cut the punishment in half because of the guilty plea. He listened calmly as the verdict was translated to him.
After hearing his verdict Nicolaides said: "I wish my family the best." Video Watch Nicolaides' brother's reaction »
One of his lawyers said no decision had been made about whether to appeal or seek a royal pardon. King Bhumibol Adulydej has pardoned foreigners in other similar cases in the past.
CNN has chosen not to repeat the allegations made by Nicolaides because it could result in CNN staff being prosecuted in Thailand....
BANGKOK, Thailand (CNN) -- An Australian author was sentenced Monday to three years in prison in Thailand after falling foul of a Thai law that makes it a crime to insult the country's royal family.
Harry Nicolaides behind the bars of a Thai holding cell on Monday.
Harry Nicolaides behind the bars of a Thai holding cell on Monday.
Harry Nicolaides was arrested last August over a 2005 book called "Verisimilitude," which includes a paragraph about the king and crown prince that the authorities deemed a violation of the Lese Majeste law.
Nicolaides, 41, was bombarded with questions from foreign journalists as he arrived at the court Monday, wearing shackles as he stepped from a prison bus. In tears, he said he would plead guilty.
"Truth is stranger than fiction," he said. "It's been an ordeal for months. It feels like a bad dream." Video Watch shackled Nicolaides at court »
The Thai Criminal Court originally sentenced Nicolaides to six years in jail but cut the punishment in half because of the guilty plea. He listened calmly as the verdict was translated to him.
After hearing his verdict Nicolaides said: "I wish my family the best." Video Watch Nicolaides' brother's reaction »
One of his lawyers said no decision had been made about whether to appeal or seek a royal pardon. King Bhumibol Adulydej has pardoned foreigners in other similar cases in the past.
CNN has chosen not to repeat the allegations made by Nicolaides because it could result in CNN staff being prosecuted in Thailand....
and wikipedia considers a different direction
"wikipedia may restrict public's ability to change entries
Wikipedia May Restrict Public’s Ability to Change Entries
By Noam Cohen
Stung by criticism after vandals changed Wikipedia entries to erroneously report that Senators Edward Kennedy and Robert Byrd had died, Wikipedia appears ready to introduce a system that prevents new and anonymous users from instantly publishing changes to the online encyclopedia.
The new system, called Flagged Revisions, would mark a significant change in the anything-goes, anyone-can-edit-at-any-time ethos of Wikipedia, which in eight years of existence has become one of the top 10 sites on the Web and the de facto information source for the Internet-using public.
The idea in a nutshell is that only registered, reliable users would have the right to have their material immediately appear to the general public visiting Wikipedia. Other contributors would be able to edit articles, but their changes will be held back until one of these reliable users has signed off, or “flagged” the revisions. (Registered, reliable users would see the latest edit to an article, whether flagged or not.)...
Wikipedia May Restrict Public’s Ability to Change Entries
By Noam Cohen
Stung by criticism after vandals changed Wikipedia entries to erroneously report that Senators Edward Kennedy and Robert Byrd had died, Wikipedia appears ready to introduce a system that prevents new and anonymous users from instantly publishing changes to the online encyclopedia.
The new system, called Flagged Revisions, would mark a significant change in the anything-goes, anyone-can-edit-at-any-time ethos of Wikipedia, which in eight years of existence has become one of the top 10 sites on the Web and the de facto information source for the Internet-using public.
The idea in a nutshell is that only registered, reliable users would have the right to have their material immediately appear to the general public visiting Wikipedia. Other contributors would be able to edit articles, but their changes will be held back until one of these reliable users has signed off, or “flagged” the revisions. (Registered, reliable users would see the latest edit to an article, whether flagged or not.)...
"In Wake Of Killings, Russian Newspaper Wants To Arm Journalists"
from radio free europe / radio liberty:
http://www.rferl.org/Content/After_Killings_Russian_Newspaper_Wants_To_Arm_Journalists/1373529.html
http://www.rferl.org/Content/After_Killings_Russian_Newspaper_Wants_To_Arm_Journalists/1373529.html
"Lawyer Markelov and Journalist Baburova Shot Dead in Moscow"
Here is a report on the killings from Global Voices that includes some translated excerpts from some Russian bloggers.
From that story:
"Russian human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov, 34, was shot to death Jan. 19 as he walked from a news conference along Prechistenka Street in central Moscow. Journalist Anastasia Baburova, 25, who accompanied Markelov, was also shot as she tried to intervene; she died in hospital a few hours later. Baburova was a freelance journalist for Novaya Gazeta.
Many Russian bloggers reacted with shock and outrage to the broad-daylight shootings of Markelov and Baburova. Below are some of the initial responses, translated from Russian.
LJ user tupikin:
[…] I've known Stas [Stanislav] for God knows how many years, from the early 1990s perhaps, from the time he was a law student. Then he finished his studies, cut his long hair short and became a lawyers who was defending the truth, defending human rights even when it seemed that it was impossible to defend them.
He worked in Chechnya against the federals, he worked against the police, he worked against the Nazis.
And he, damn it, was an incredibly cheerful and optimistic person, despite all these nightmares that accompanied him in life. […]"
From that story:
"Russian human rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov, 34, was shot to death Jan. 19 as he walked from a news conference along Prechistenka Street in central Moscow. Journalist Anastasia Baburova, 25, who accompanied Markelov, was also shot as she tried to intervene; she died in hospital a few hours later. Baburova was a freelance journalist for Novaya Gazeta.
Many Russian bloggers reacted with shock and outrage to the broad-daylight shootings of Markelov and Baburova. Below are some of the initial responses, translated from Russian.
LJ user tupikin:
[…] I've known Stas [Stanislav] for God knows how many years, from the early 1990s perhaps, from the time he was a law student. Then he finished his studies, cut his long hair short and became a lawyers who was defending the truth, defending human rights even when it seemed that it was impossible to defend them.
He worked in Chechnya against the federals, he worked against the police, he worked against the Nazis.
And he, damn it, was an incredibly cheerful and optimistic person, despite all these nightmares that accompanied him in life. […]"
Everyone is on You Tube!
excerpt from BBC article (url posted below):
Pope to launch Vatican on YouTube
"The Pope is said to be fond of new technologies. Pope Benedict XVI is set to have his own dedicated channel on the popular video sharing website, YouTube.
Video and audio footage of his speeches as well as news of the Holy See will be posted on the site, the Vatican says.
Although the Vatican has its own website, the YouTube venture represents its biggest reach into cyberspace, says the BBC's Duncan Kennedy, in Rome.
Officials at the Vatican say it is aimed at everyone from devout Catholics to the casual web browser.
But there is a debate within the Catholic Church about the value of the internet as a missionary tool, our correspondent says...."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7846446.stm
Pope to launch Vatican on YouTube
"The Pope is said to be fond of new technologies. Pope Benedict XVI is set to have his own dedicated channel on the popular video sharing website, YouTube.
Video and audio footage of his speeches as well as news of the Holy See will be posted on the site, the Vatican says.
Although the Vatican has its own website, the YouTube venture represents its biggest reach into cyberspace, says the BBC's Duncan Kennedy, in Rome.
Officials at the Vatican say it is aimed at everyone from devout Catholics to the casual web browser.
But there is a debate within the Catholic Church about the value of the internet as a missionary tool, our correspondent says...."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7846446.stm
Global computer worm
Althuogh some unfortunate analogies to Pearl Harbor, another topic that connects with our discussions.
from the NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/23/technology/internet/23worm.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper
from the NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/23/technology/internet/23worm.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper
corportions follow wikipedia model...and tech economy woes
Also from Benton headlines:
ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA TO ALLOW USER EDITS
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Josh Lowensohn]
Encyclopedia Britannica President Jorge Cauz said that the encyclopedia's free, online version, Britannica.com, will soon be allowing user edits and additions to its pages. Registered users will be able to make corrections, or add entirely new sections to encyclopedia pages--much like Wikipedia. The big difference, however, is that Britannica.com's editing and approval system will be managed by its own editors and contracted staff instead of power users.
and in same issue, numerous stories on the troubling econmic climate for tech companies.
ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA TO ALLOW USER EDITS
[SOURCE: C-Net|News.com, AUTHOR: Josh Lowensohn]
Encyclopedia Britannica President Jorge Cauz said that the encyclopedia's free, online version, Britannica.com, will soon be allowing user edits and additions to its pages. Registered users will be able to make corrections, or add entirely new sections to encyclopedia pages--much like Wikipedia. The big difference, however, is that Britannica.com's editing and approval system will be managed by its own editors and contracted staff instead of power users.
and in same issue, numerous stories on the troubling econmic climate for tech companies.
Who pays for journalism?
from Benton Headlines:
NEWSPAPERS MAY SEEK PHILANTHROPY TO SUPPORT NEWS-GATHERING
[SOURCE: Online Journalism Review, AUTHOR: David Westphal]
[Commentary] Could newspapers and local broadcasters begin seeking philanthropic support from the civic foundations and private donors that are starting to bankroll news non-profits? It appears entirely likely. With for-profit media watching their news-gathering resources dwindle, some editors say they're open to the idea of seeking help from donors. Charlotte Hall, president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, said the idea raises multiple questions about how newspapers could solicit philanthropic support and still retain credibility. But bottom line? "I believe that a model could emerge for foundations to fund some local reporting at newspapers -- investigative reporting or an important local beat, for example," she said in an e-mail. "A new kind of firewall would be needed to assure independent reporting and unencumbered editing." The idea that for-profit media might seek subsidies from community foundations came into sharp focus last week, when the Knight Foundation awarded $5 million to 21 civic foundations that pitched plans for expanding news and information in their communities. Some of the ideas sounded much aligned with the mission statements of local newspapers and TV stations.
NEWSPAPERS MAY SEEK PHILANTHROPY TO SUPPORT NEWS-GATHERING
[SOURCE: Online Journalism Review, AUTHOR: David Westphal]
[Commentary] Could newspapers and local broadcasters begin seeking philanthropic support from the civic foundations and private donors that are starting to bankroll news non-profits? It appears entirely likely. With for-profit media watching their news-gathering resources dwindle, some editors say they're open to the idea of seeking help from donors. Charlotte Hall, president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors, said the idea raises multiple questions about how newspapers could solicit philanthropic support and still retain credibility. But bottom line? "I believe that a model could emerge for foundations to fund some local reporting at newspapers -- investigative reporting or an important local beat, for example," she said in an e-mail. "A new kind of firewall would be needed to assure independent reporting and unencumbered editing." The idea that for-profit media might seek subsidies from community foundations came into sharp focus last week, when the Knight Foundation awarded $5 million to 21 civic foundations that pitched plans for expanding news and information in their communities. Some of the ideas sounded much aligned with the mission statements of local newspapers and TV stations.
Report on "soft censorship"
New report released:
"Authoritarian regimes have traditionally managed news media through direct censorship, assuming control over media outlets or by intimidating and arresting journalists and outlet owners. But “a more insidious form of censorship has emerged, according to Soft Censorship: How Governments Around the Globe Use Money to Manipulate the Media, a new report from the Center for International Media Assistance.
Soft censorship entails influencing news coverage by applying financial pressure, often through selective advertising, punishing media outlets and individual journalists considered critical while rewarding those deemed friendly, the report’s author, Don Podesta, told a meeting at the National Endowment for Democracy today..."
"Authoritarian regimes have traditionally managed news media through direct censorship, assuming control over media outlets or by intimidating and arresting journalists and outlet owners. But “a more insidious form of censorship has emerged, according to Soft Censorship: How Governments Around the Globe Use Money to Manipulate the Media, a new report from the Center for International Media Assistance.
Soft censorship entails influencing news coverage by applying financial pressure, often through selective advertising, punishing media outlets and individual journalists considered critical while rewarding those deemed friendly, the report’s author, Don Podesta, told a meeting at the National Endowment for Democracy today..."
Egypt’s bloggers and labor activists make common cause
The article is from fall 2008, but connects with many topics we have been discussing in class
Over a dozen Egyptian “Facebook activists” were arrested last week, as authorities continued to suppress a network resulting from a recent textile workers’ strike. Those detained included Ahmed Maher whose Facebook group that supported the strikers attracted some 60,000 people.
Egypt’s crackdown on Facebook activism reflects the authorities’ anxiety that protests have escalated over several months, generating perhaps the biggest wave of strikes since the 1940s and that strikers protesting against economic hardship are starting to form independent unions, raise political demands and form links with civil society activists. Bloggers ” have taken on the role of bridging the gap between civil society’s desire for democracy and workers’ demands for better pay and working conditions,” according to one recent report.
The state is also disturbed at the growing use of the Internet for political ends. “The government wants to separate electronic space from politics and clamp down on young people who would dare to use that space to call for an end to the regime,” says newspaper editor Mohamed Sayed Said. “It is launching a wave of terror against young intellectuals who would use electronic space as a means to access freedom of expression.”...
Over a dozen Egyptian “Facebook activists” were arrested last week, as authorities continued to suppress a network resulting from a recent textile workers’ strike. Those detained included Ahmed Maher whose Facebook group that supported the strikers attracted some 60,000 people.
Egypt’s crackdown on Facebook activism reflects the authorities’ anxiety that protests have escalated over several months, generating perhaps the biggest wave of strikes since the 1940s and that strikers protesting against economic hardship are starting to form independent unions, raise political demands and form links with civil society activists. Bloggers ” have taken on the role of bridging the gap between civil society’s desire for democracy and workers’ demands for better pay and working conditions,” according to one recent report.
The state is also disturbed at the growing use of the Internet for political ends. “The government wants to separate electronic space from politics and clamp down on young people who would dare to use that space to call for an end to the regime,” says newspaper editor Mohamed Sayed Said. “It is launching a wave of terror against young intellectuals who would use electronic space as a means to access freedom of expression.”...
Democracy Digest
This website might be of interest to some of you.
It is not without it's biases, coming from the National Endowment for Democracy, but they offer this digest with a range of articles. Their receht issue includes:
Inside most recent Issue:
NGO related news
Screws tighten on Russia’s NGOs
Enough says enough - time for regime change in Zimbabwe
Next step for Iraq’s fledgling democracy
Defend civil society, urges eminent persons group
Ethiopia’s NGO law - disabling by design
Eurasian autocrats turn against free media
Somali journalist, NED associate, killed
Zimbabwe: jailed activists prompt concern, solidarity
Resources
and:
“An Ethical Framework for ‘Strategically Vital” Democracy Assistance?
“Egypt’s Bloggers and Labor Activists Make Common Cause
Turkish Democracy Triumphs - Narrowly - Over Judicial Coup?
Islamist Parties: Bona Fide Democrats?
Democracy Deficit Fails to Benefit Arab Democrats
China’s ‘Bifurcated Authoritarianism‘ a Challenge to Freedom Agenda
Zimbabwe: Tsvangirai’s Leadership Questioned
Venezuela: Chavistas ‘Losing momentum’
See also this short article on 'civil society' causing backlash in Asia.
It is not without it's biases, coming from the National Endowment for Democracy, but they offer this digest with a range of articles. Their receht issue includes:
Inside most recent Issue:
NGO related news
Screws tighten on Russia’s NGOs
Enough says enough - time for regime change in Zimbabwe
Next step for Iraq’s fledgling democracy
Defend civil society, urges eminent persons group
Ethiopia’s NGO law - disabling by design
Eurasian autocrats turn against free media
Somali journalist, NED associate, killed
Zimbabwe: jailed activists prompt concern, solidarity
Resources
and:
“An Ethical Framework for ‘Strategically Vital” Democracy Assistance?
“Egypt’s Bloggers and Labor Activists Make Common Cause
Turkish Democracy Triumphs - Narrowly - Over Judicial Coup?
Islamist Parties: Bona Fide Democrats?
Democracy Deficit Fails to Benefit Arab Democrats
China’s ‘Bifurcated Authoritarianism‘ a Challenge to Freedom Agenda
Zimbabwe: Tsvangirai’s Leadership Questioned
Venezuela: Chavistas ‘Losing momentum’
See also this short article on 'civil society' causing backlash in Asia.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
benton communications digest
Greetings!
This is to encourage all of you to join the daily digest of communications policy and industry news. I guarantee you will find it emensely useful in connecting issues raised in this course with what is happening right now. It is, however, very US-centric, but you simply scroll down the list of story links and brief descriptions and read what is of interest to you. They are increasing their amount of international stories, however. Check it out!
www.benton.org/headlines
This is to encourage all of you to join the daily digest of communications policy and industry news. I guarantee you will find it emensely useful in connecting issues raised in this course with what is happening right now. It is, however, very US-centric, but you simply scroll down the list of story links and brief descriptions and read what is of interest to you. They are increasing their amount of international stories, however. Check it out!
www.benton.org/headlines
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