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After results were released in the final round of voting for their next president, victory for retired NATO general Petr Pavel appears assured, reported Deutsche Welle (January 28). In much of the civilized world the sigh of relief was palpable. With 99% of votes counted, General Pavel took about 58%, billionaire former prime minister Andrej Babis trailing with about 43%, “the biggest margin ever in the history of Czech presidential elections,” said Czech public broadcaster Radio Prague (January 28). Voter turnout in the second round was also a record, approaching 70%.
The election campaign, particularly the period between the initial (January 13) and final rounds of voting, was fraught with wild disinformation and fake news. Czech Human Rights Commissioner Klara Simackova Laurencikova warned (January 26) of “alarming” levels of disinformation, quoted by Euroactiv (January 27). “If somebody is absolutely irresponsibly scaremongering about mobilisation and war, not having information based on any rational basis, and causing panic, particularly among the fragile parts of society, then I really think that we need to make a clear stand against this approach.” She was referring to the campaign of Mr. Babis, a “close ally” of Hungarian far-right prime minister Viktor Orban, noted Bloomberg (January 28). Spread on social media later last week were rumors of the death of general Pavel. (See more about elections and media) (See more about disinformation here)
The Czech presidency is largely ceremonial but largely influential. Outgoing president Milos Zeman, in office for a decade, was a regular presence in headlines and TV news, often espousing populism and admiration for Vladimir Putin until the invasion of Ukraine. Mr. Babis continues to have a firm hand on Czech media as principal owner of publisher/broadcaster Mafra. General Pavel is known for “calm” as well as leading NATO forces in Afghanistan and the Serbo-Croatian war. As president he will lead the Czech armed forces.
The Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation has deemed exile news portal Meduza “undesirable,” reported Meduza and various news agencies (January 26). This is a legal designation, a step above the widely used “foreign agent.” In effect, Russian citizens are prohibited from working for, quoting or even reading Meduza under penalty of criminal prosecution. Further, persons or organizations outside the Russian Federation are prohibited from any “cooperation” with Meduza.
Apparently, infamous Wagner Group mercenary leader Evgeny Prigozhin sent a letter last July to Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov asking for Meduza’s addition to the list for its reporting on Ukraine. Other publications designated as “undesirable” include iStories, investigative reporting group Bellingcat, Proekt and The Insider. Andrei Pivovarov, former executive director of Open Russia, was designated as “undesirable” for posting several critical items and sentenced to four years in jail. (See more about media in the Russian Federation here)
A statement from the Prosecutor General’s office said Meduza’s “activities pose a threat to the foundations of the Russian Federation’s constitutional order and national security.” Meduza has operated from Riga, Latvia since 2014 when it exited Moscow offices. The publication was designated a “foreign agent” in 2021 making impossible raising revenue through advertising. It shifted to a crowdfunding model when the Russian Federation invaded Ukraine 11 months ago. (See more about censorship here)
In response, ally of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny Rusian Shaveddinov wrote, quoted by Reuters (January 26): ”The undesirable organisation is the handful of people who have seized power in Russia.” In a letter of support for Meduza, the editorial staff of Novaya Gazeta Europe, also an exile Russian news portal, wrote, quoted by FranceInfo (January 26): ”We believe that by doing so, the Russian authorities are moving towards the complete isolation of the country's citizens of any independent information about the war and its consequences for Russian society.”
Some among us began 2023 hopeful that media sector disruption had passed. The previous year or two were rather miserable. Those viewers, listeners and readers just couldn’t control themselves nor would they let anybody know where they were going. What a bunch of teenagers, right?
Big media houses - the executives, at least - thought this disruption could be brought under control. If January evidence is any clue, 2023 could be even wilder. Fortunately, there will be pictures shared on TikTok.
This week Rupert Murdoch said News Corporation and Fox Corporation would not be recombined. He is, of course, the major shareholder in both companies, which he hived from each other in 2013. “In withdrawing the proposal, Mr Murdoch indicated that he and Lachlan K Murdoch have determined that a combination is not optimal for shareholders of News Corp and FOX at this time,” said the US Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing (January 24). (See more about Rupert Murdoch and News Corp here)
Unbeknownst to many, the two companies have rowdy activist shareholders not pleased with putting the two companies back together. Independent Franchise Partners, a notable shareholder in both companies, indicated opposition last November shortly after the Murdochs proposed the plan, reported CNN (January 24). After finding the recombination not “optimal” the board-level special committees formed to examine the plan were dissolved, members thanked “for their service.” (See more about mergers and acquisitions here)
T Rowe Price, the largest non-family News Corporation shareholder, also thought the recombination plan undervalued News Corp and “other options to unlock value” are available, said portfolio manager Vincent DeAugustino, quoted by Bloomberg (January 25). The obvious “option” is shedding real estate investments. Indeed, coincident with the recombination plan can the announcement that News Corporation is shedding real estate holding company Move Inc.
Two weeks ago rumors swirled that News UK chief executive Rebekah Brooks would be named News Corporation chief executive, reported Daily Beast (January 9), contingent on the recombination. In addition to Dow Jones, the Wall Street Journal and New York Post in the US, News Corporation owns News UK, publisher of the Sun, The Times and Sunday Times and licensee of television channel TalkTV. Wholly-owned subsidiary News Corporation Australia publishes The Australian and several metropolitan and regional titles plus television channel Sky News Australia. Fox Corporation owns the infamous Fox News TV channel, several sports channels, Fox Business channel and 28 regional TV channels in the US.
It is common in the post-modern age for attention to flow directly to the top. There is a certain logic. Anything thing or any one outside the top ranks is perceived as unworthy of attention. Littleness is not an aspiration. But, at the same time, those who criticize most loudly take great pleasure in whittling big ones down to size, however that is conceived.
As the media concern with the greatest UK reach and influence, public broadcaster BBC attracts lightening. Over the course of many years - particularly since the ill-fated Brexit - BBC critics have become louder and more shrill. Too much, too little, too often, too anything they say with industrial fervor. (See more about the BBC here)
This past weekend brought out the roasters turned to high with the disclosure that BBC chairperson Richard Sharp may have participated in a corrupt practice by “facilitating” a GB£800,000 - about €900,000 - loan to then prime minister Boris Johnson. Allegedly this took place in 2021 as Mr. Johnson appointed Mr. Clark to the prestigious position. Since his removal as prime minister Mr. Johnson has taken on that toxic appearance. Every UK news outlet - beginning with the Sunday Times (January 21), published by News UK, principally owned by the Murdoch family - has been howling to the moon. (See more about media in the UK here)
A former Goldman Sachs banker and multimillionaire, Mr. Sharp had been acquainted with Mr. Johnson and others near that pinnacle of power, including current PM Rishi Sunak. His appointment was vetted by a government agency. Critics at the time - February 2021 - said the appointment was “political.” To various UK news outlets this week Mr. Sharp said there was no conflict of interest, it was “simply connecting” people. That, of course, is what big league bankers do. To the BBC (January 24) he said he would not step down. His term expires in two years. The UK Public Appointments Commission is now reviewing.
National authorities have certain rights in determining broadcast access within their borders. Allowing for some fluctuations within European Union rules most anything is allowed so long as the broadcasters follows the law, pays their bills and is not too creepy. Digital technology, we’ve seen, has provided the errant with a few workarounds.
Last week the French government effectively closed French bank accounts of Russian Federation propaganda outlets RT, formerly known as Russia Today, and Sputnik. A year earlier, at the onset of the Russian Federation invasion of Ukraine, the European Union (EU) ruled that RT and Sputnik could not broadcast within the EU. Nearly all EU Member States quickly complied. Freezing financial assets of RT France came as part of the ninth round of EU sanctions related to the invasion of Ukraine.
A day later RT France threw in the towel and shut the Paris operation. RT France president Xenia Fedorova blamed “five years of harassment,” quoted by Le Monde (January 21). More than 100 French employees, she said, would not receive January salaries. “This is called censorship,” she added. (See more about propaganda here)
After a short reflection the Russian Federation Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated it would respond. “The freezing of RT France's accounts will lead to retaliatory measures against the French media in Russia,” said its official statement, quoted by Lenizdat RU (January 21). “If the French authorities do not stop terrorizing Russian journalists they will be remembered.” The Russian website for international broadcaster RFI has already been blocked as has news channel France 24.
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