2005-2014

11 April 2007

Zimbabwe: Press freedom falls prey to arrests and torture

BULAWAYO, 11 April 2007 (IRIN) - The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) in Zimbabwe has warned journalists of an increasingly hostile working environment after the abduction and subsequent murder of a freelance reporter, and the arrest and torture of two other foreign correspondents. "The unlawful arrest and subsequent severe assault of photojournalist Tsvangirai Mukwazhi while in police...

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11 April 2007

Concern about fate of Iraqi journalists held hostage

Reporters Without Borders today voiced deep concern about the fate of the 12 media personnel held hostage in Iraq after the security forces found the body of Othman Al-Mashhadani, the correspondent of the Saudi daily Al-Watan. “The figures are horrendous, but measures still have not been taken to put an end to the butchering of journalists and their assistants,” the press freedom organisation said...

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11 April 2007

Uzbekistan: Charges brought against journalist arrested in January

Reporters Without Borders today urged the European Union to be tougher with Uzbekistan after charges were brought against journalist and human rights activist Umida Niyazova on 9 April. According to her brother, she has been charged with smuggling, crossing the border illegally, accepting foreign money and working against the government, and faces between five and 15 years in prison. She was...

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11 April 2007

Somalia: TV crew arrested by order of presidential official

Reporters Without Borders expressed concern today about press freedom in Somalia after a presidential spokesman ordered the arrest of a TV crew and the authorities in Puntland, a stronghold of President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, banned journalists from holding professional meetings without permission. “Security problems and the risk of regional destabilisation must not be used as an excuse to settle...

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11 April 2007

Hearst partners with Brightcove to launch Internet video channels

NEW YORK, NY and CAMBRIDGE, MA--(MARKET WIRE)--Apr 11, 2007 -- Hearst Newspapers, a division of Hearst Corporation, and Brightcove, the Internet TV pioneer, today announced that Hearst Newspapers will be introducing ad-supported Internet video channels. The San Francisco Chronicle and Houston Chronicle are expected to be two of the first papers to launch this year. "Video is a crucial piece to an...

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11 April 2007

DRC newspaper suspended, director jailed for defamation

New York, January 11, 2007—The director of a newspaper in the capital, Kinshasa, was jailed today for an 11-month term and his publication suspended for six weeks on a criminal defamation charge, according to the local press freedom group Journaliste en Danger (JED) and local journalists. Rigobert Kwakala Kash, who also edits the private twice-weekly Le Moniteur, was arrested on a court order at...

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11 April 2007

Afghan journalist buried, Italy accused of doing too little to save Ajmal

The body of slain Afghan journalist Ajmal Naqshbandi was buried Wednesday in Afghan capital Kabul as hundreds of mourners attended his funeral. Naqshbandi, 26, a freelance journalist, was beheaded on April 8 by Taliban extremists as the Afghan government refused to release Taliban prisoners in exchange. Hundreds turned out to pray in the street and see the journalist’s coffin lowered into the sun...

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11 April 2007

UGC could cause online schism

The growth of user generated content such as blogs and amateur videos could create an "us and them" climate between internet users and traditional media organizations, according to a new report. Management consultancy Accenture's survey of senior executives from sectors including media, advertising and music revealed a relative optimism about digital content revenues. However, the survey also...

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11 April 2007

Tampa Tribune to trim 70 jobs

The Tampa Tribune will cut about 70 jobs and make other changes to reduce costs amid advertising and circulation declines that have shaken the newspaper industry. Most layoffs will be in circulation, customer service and classified advertising telephone sales, said Denise Palmer, president and publisher of the newspaper owned by Media General, based in Richmond, Va. Fewer than 10 positions will be...

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11 April 2007

Real estate riches flow into newspapers

CHICAGO — Subscribers, shareholders and advertisers may be leaving newspapers in droves but real estate moguls, of all people, are sinking part of their fortunes into the business. For better or worse, that gives outside magnates a growing role in newspapers at a time of dramatic change for an industry long dominated by traditional media ownership. The new players aren't all about real estate but...

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