|
The millstone around Russia --- Michael Hedges June 23, 2008 Belarus, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan – all on Russia’s edge – are pushing media repression to new lows. With all broadcasting and most print media firmly under State control, the Web is the current target. Dictators on Russia’s borders perplex even Russian media. |
|
‘Your mother wears combat boots’ and other slanders --- Michael Hedges April 27, 2008 The Russian State Duma sharpened legal language on slander and libel to include ‘damaging honor and dignity,’ the consequence for media outlets being an even closer watch on what they say or print or face being closed. Defamation laws continue to discourage dissent, criticism and other forms of free speech. But, then, not everybody believes free speech and free press are good things. |
|
|
Vote for me and I’ll set you free --- Michael Hedges - November 19, 2007 Election campaigns are always newsmakers. Politicians, political parties and their messages become the stuff of media for weeks, and in some cases months. Political advertising augments what time and space they can get for free. Two recent studies, one from Russia and one from the US, show it is all very irritating. |
|
|
Post-conflict media training expensive and ‘naïve’ --- Michael Hedges October 18, 2007 Immediately after the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords ending military and para-military action in Bosnia and Herzegovina Europe and the US rushed in the media specialists. ‘Hate radio’ may not have been invented in Bosnia but through years of conflict it flourished and, against all best efforts, pieces remain today. The international community’s intention was to use media for the good of that devastated civil society. With that end in mind, but hardly in sight, money poured in for equipment, from transmitters to printing presses, and for training. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
They Were Wrong About ACTA --- Michael Hedges February 20, 2012 - Follow on Twitter Street protests in several cities over recent days generated more than headlines anti-piracy advocates never expected. The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), a multi-lateral treaty to protect 'copyright protected works' through a new global enforcement mechanism, is just short of ratification. Activists mounted a campaign to derail, at most, or disrupt, at least and it may have succeeded. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
News Outlets Prepare For Wild Election Harvest --- Michael Hedges August 5, 2020 - Follow on Twitter Elections always get attention; from those in power, those seeking such and news outlets assigned to the observational task. All elections are, thus, consequential. As such, candidates and their surrogates craft important messages to persuade and, maybe, excite the electorate. In more recent times those messages have turned to raising anxieties and uncertainties. Hope battles fear, over and over. |
|
|
|
|
|
Media In High Contrast, Very Black And White, No Grain Or Gain --- Michael Hedges April 25, 2016 - Follow on Twitter Armed only with their digital devices, pens long ago disappearing, media workers seem less equipped to fend off the onslaught of paranoia, polarization and propaganda. Complicit authorities keep inventing new and creative ways to sideline even basic news, lest the public know too much. Where media freedom is respected, however, folks seem to get along quite well, even happier. Perhaps that's the point. |
|
|
|