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Eskinder Nega is an Ethiopian journalist and blogger who, in July 2012, was convicted under the country’s broad anti-terrorism law and sentenced to 18 years in prison for exercising his right to free expression. Nega’s conviction has been roundly condemned: by the United Nations, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and numerous [...] more »
If you consider the level of ethical breaches, law-breaking, cozying with politicians and police, the British press comes off as a chaotic mess in the phone-hacking scandal. Something must be done! After nine months of investigating and studying the matter, Lord Justice Leveson delivered a nearly 2,000 page report, saying the U.K. needs more stringent [...] more »
BANGKOK — Less than a week after a new cybercrime law came into force in the Philippines, the country’s Supreme Court today ruled to suspend implementation, pending review to decide if the law undermines civil liberties. The suspension comes after a public outcry mounted against some of the provisions of the law, which aims to [...] more »
It has been a difficult time for the British press, caught up in the phone-hacking scandal that has meant the death of the News of the World paper, along with arrests of News Corp. personnel, suspensions at Scotland Yard, and never-ending investigations. But from those ashes has risen one idealistic effort to promote free press [...] more »
Russia’s State Duma has passed a number of new laws in the past week, all seemingly aimed at reining in civil society and criticism of public figures. The bills would re-criminalize defamation and impose limits and labels on NGOs. They follow last month’s introduction of excessive fines for unauthorized protests. Government Crackdown Heightens One of [...] more »
Just before the Syrian revolution became increasingly violent eight months ago, Hussein worked for his family’s real estate company showing apartments around the city of Quasir. That all ended when frequent bombings and gunfire between President Bashar al-Assad’s forces and Syrian rebels turned the country into one of the most dangerous places in the world. [...] more »
In a meeting of journalists last year, many of whom work with sources in sensitive places like Iran and Syria, one editor said she knew how to keep her sources safe. When pressed, she detailed a strong understanding of traditional safety methods, but — to the horror of security experts in the room — also [...] more »
Since September, police have arrested dozens of journalists and activists around the country for the “crime” of trying to document political protests in public spaces. People using smartphones and mobile devices are changing the way we record and share breaking news. In return, police have targeted, harassed, and in many cases, arrested those trying to [...] more »
Search for the term “international media development” and you won’t find many university departments or publications. Nonetheless, the field is over 50 years old and has exerted a major influence on many regions of the world, accounting for a budget of half a billion dollars a year. The Center for International Media Assistance, a Congressionally-funded [...] more »
Click here to read all the year-end roundups This year’s been a big one. Spain won the World Cup. Lindsay Lohan went to jail. Don Draper married his secretary. And, of course, the federal courts waded into some of the thorniest legal issues affecting new media. Three cases stand out from the rest of 2010’s [...] more »