News

Reporters Without Borders hails the release of three newspaper journalists - Addis Zena editor Wosonseged Gebrekidan, Hadar editor Dawit Kebede and Goshu Moges of Lisane Hezeb - who were set free along with some 30 other opposition members on 18 August under a pardon issued by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. “We can only welcome the release of these journalists, who had been imprisoned for about a...

Reporters Without Borders today condemned a communication ministry order on 8 August forbidding community radio stations to broadcast programmes of a political nature. The order, which will remain in effect during the campaign for municipal and departmental elections scheduled for 28 October, was issued under a 1995 decree banning “political proselytism” on such stations. “It is regrettable that...

Reporters Without Borders today condemned a physical attack on radio journalist Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Moghdad by the prime minister’s bodyguards on 16 August, as well as a charge of “libelling the First Lady” that was brought against newspaper editor Sidi Mohamed Ould Ebbe on 18 August, which could result in prison sentence. “Press freedom had made some progress in Mauritania, especially during the...

(IPYS/IFEX) - In a unanimous ruling made known on 9 August 2007, the Second Bench of the Supreme Court confirmed the conviction of three journalists of the Chilevisión (CHV) television station for the use of hidden cameras. Press editor Patricio Caldichoury Ríos, journalist Fernando Reyes Amín and producer Raúl Poblete Barrios each received a suspended three-month prison sentence. The court...

More than 100 new channels are awaiting government approval in India as media companies jostle for position in a second wave of expansion in the television industry. However, the surge towards 300 channels could come at a heavy cost for new entrants, as up to $1 billion (£500 million) is pumped into a fast-growing market with technical shortcomings and a dearth of creative talent. According to...

Israeli forces have been holding a Syrian TV reporter for three weeks without offering any explanation, Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) said today. RSF called for the immediate release of Ata Farahat, the correspondent of Syrian public television and the daily newspaper Al-Watan in the Golan Heights, who was arrested on July 30 and is currently held in Al-Jalama prison (14 km southeast of Haifa)...

The International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission to Nepal has expressed serious concern about continuous violence against journalists in Nepal. Nepalese listen to a speech by unseen Maoist Chairman Prachanda at a rally in Kathmandu. Nepal's Maoists are cementing their new found political clout by establishing unions that could cripple the country and undermine a fragile peace deal...

The Centre for Science and Environment is inviting active journalists to address issues revolving around rivers in India through the Seventh CSE Media Fellowships. Selected Fellows will be expected to devote time to travel, research and report on the subject. Background: India has 12 major river basins that account for 85 per cent of its river waters. Entire civilisations have grown and thrived in...

As Tribune Co. shareholders prepare to convene in Chicago on Tuesday to vote on an $8.4-billion buyout led by investor Sam Zell, the noise in the background is Wall Street traders chirping that the deal might never get done -- at least as proposed. Amid one of the most turbulent summers in years for the stock market, Tribune shares have slid steadily and steeply. The stock closed Friday at $25.67...

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Google Inc revealed on Monday that it had acquired a stake in Chinese community Web site Tianya.cn, indicating a foray by the global search leader into social networking in the world's second-largest Internet market. A Google spokeswoman confirmed the stake holding by email, but declined to give further details. Various local media reports on Monday put the estimated size of...