Media Highlights – September 6, 2012
Media Highlights – September 6, 2012
About Our Broadcasters
VOA Has 70 People Covering the Conventions – Radio World, September 5, 2012
Last week we heard from Chris Nelson of NPR about the technical side of radio coverage at the Republican National Convention. Today we reached Voice of America Radio Broadcast Technician Gary Jaffe in Charlotte, site of the Democratic convention, to ask the same questions.
Think tank seeks new federal office to counter extremist ideology – Government Executive, September 5, 2012
Bruce Sherman, BBG’s director of strategic planning and development, said in an email that the board “sees no contradiction between high-quality, independent journalism and support for U.S. counterterrorism efforts. Telling people the truth and engaging audiences in constructive dialogue, two core BBG activities, is especially critical to countering extremist lies and ideology from the Taliban-infested” tribal areas of Pakistan to the al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb-controlled territory of northern Mali. “The U.S. wins when audiences listen to us and trust what we are telling them.”
African Journalists, PAOs share perspectives at first AFRICOM media symposium – Bikya Masr, September 6, 2012
The four days also included role-specific break-out sessions. The PAOs heard presentations from public affairs directors from U.S. Africa Command, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, and U.S. Naval Forces Africa. Two representatives from Voice of America led discussions with the journalists from Africa.
Media Citations of BBG Broadcasters
South China Sea dispute: China says it will work with neighbors – Christian Science Monitor, September 5, 2012
Regional power China steadfastly maintains its sovereignty over a number of small islands in the region, even islands that are much closer to the smaller claimants. But in a potential sign of movement on the issue, Voice of America reports, Beijing told US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton today it was willing to work with its neighbors to peacefully resolve the dispute, though showed no sign on budging on its claims.
Monk held, monastery placed under legal education – Tibetan Review, September 6, 2012
Arbitrary detentions continue to be the order of the day in Chinese ruled Tibet with a monk named Kalsang Gyatso, 28, of Bora Monastery in Tsoe (Chinese: Hezuo) City in Kanlho (Chinese: Gannan) Prefecture, Gansu Province, being picked up from a bathhouse in the night of Aug 28 from the local town area. He had taken a break from a religious retreat at his monastery to visit the town. His friends tried to stop the police who, however, used force to take him away, reported Radio Free Asia (Washington) Sep 4.
EU to Seek Explanations from Baku over Murderer’s Pardon – RIA Novosti, September 5, 2012
“According to what we know now, on the basis of the information gathered, it would appear that certain conditions and commitments that were agreed between Hungary and Azerbaijan on the transfer of Ramil Safarov have not been met,” Maja Kocijancic, a spokeswoman for EU Foreign Affairs chief Catherine Ashton, said in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Opinion: Marion Barry’s Democratic Convention – NBC Washington, September 5, 2012
With each media appearance, be it good or bad, Barry reminds everyone of the District’s checkered past and scandalous present. That’s just the way it is. From Voice of America to CNN to NPR, Barry is the District politician the world has been hearing from lately.
In the foreign-language press:
Protests in Hong Kong over Chinese patriotic education – Le Monde (French newspaper), September 5, 2012
Fifteen years after its handover to China , Hong Kong still plays the rebellious face in Beijing, not hesitating to protest against the political hierarchy. Monday, September 3, nearly 8000 protesters surrounded the headquarters and local government to protest against a proposed modification of curricula, report The Daily Telegraph and Voice of America.
Several media outlets published articles about the launch of Alhurra’s new program Rayheen Ala Feen, Arabic for ‘Where Are They Going,’ which will provide a personal perspective on how young Egyptians have been affected by the tumultuous changes following the revolution. Coverage includes: Ain, Akhbar Elyom, Akhbarak, ENN, Hoorya, Masress and many others.
Of Interest
Why didn’t CNN’s international arm air its own documentary on Bahrain’s Arab Spring repression? – The Guardian, September 4, 2012
In late March 2011, as the Arab Spring was spreading, CNN sent a four-person crew to Bahrain to produce a one-hour documentary on the use of internet technologies and social media by democracy activists in the region. Featuring on-air investigative correspondent Amber Lyon, the CNN team had a very eventful eight-day stay in that small, US-backed kingdom.
Bullish on the Bear – Foreign Policy, September 4, 2012
Democracy for today’s Russia may seem like a distant dream. The autocratic regime of Vladimir Putin has been in charge of the country since the end of 1999. His Kremlin controls the courts, a commanding swath of the pivotal oil-and-gas sector of the economy, and — perhaps most importantly — the principal organs of the news media, including national television. While protests against Putin’s rule have attracted tens of thousands of demonstrators, mainly in Moscow, Team Putin is starting to crack down on key opposition leaders, such as the recent arrest, on possibly trumped-up charges of embezzlement, of the charismatic blogger-activist Aleksei Navalny. The regime, in short, appears to hold all the cards. But for author and veteran Russia analyst Leon Aron, a longer and deeper view of the situation suggests reason for hope.
Playing Defense – American Journalism Review, August 30, 2012.
All computer users can be targeted by malware, but for the media, the stakes are especially high. Digital stalkers can intercept electronic tools journalists routinely use – mobile phone conversations, e-mails, text messages and satellite communications are prime targets. They can track information and pinpoint locations. The Committee to Protect Journalists sees the threat increasing “at an alarming rate.”
Tor Project Offers a Secure, Anonymous Journalism Toolkit – PBS Idea Lab, September 5, 2012
“On condition of anonymity” is one of the most important phrases in journalism. At Tor, we are working on making that more than a promise.The good news: The Internet has made it possible for journalists to talk to sources, gather video and photos from citizens, and to publish despite efforts to censor the news. The bad news: People who were used to getting away with atrocities are aware that the Internet has made it possible for journalists to talk to sources, gather video and photos from citizens, and to publish despite efforts to censor the news.
Justice Dept. Gallup lawsuit came after Axelrod criticized pollsters – The Daily Caller, September 6, 2012
Internal emails between senior officials at The Gallup Organization, obtained by The Daily Caller, show senior Obama campaign adviser David Axelrod attempting to subtly intimidate the respected polling firm when its numbers were unfavorable to the president.After Gallup declined to change its polling methodology, Obama’s Department of Justice hit it with an unrelated lawsuit that appears damning on its face.
Organizing for a Strategic Ideas Campaign to Counter Ideological Challenges to U.S. National Security – Hudson Institute, April 2012
The 9/11 attacks, which jolted Americans into recognizing that Islamist terrorists considered themselves at war with the United States, provoked a multifaceted U.S. response. Military, intelligence, law enforcement, financial, and diplomatic tools were all brought to bear. From the outset, some senior U.S. officials argued that the war on terrorism should include a serious effort to counter the ideology motivating America’s radical Islamist enemies. Indeed, some officials have argued that the “battle of ideas” is not simply important, but is essential to victory.