We received sad news from Syria during the holiday season: Molhem Barakat, a young Syrian photographer who freelanced for Reuters and whose iconic photos appeared in many global publications, was killed a few days ago in the line of duty. Believed to be no older than 19–possibly as young as 17–years old, Baraka was […]
In Memoriam: Remembering Journalists Killed Covering Syria in 2013
Posted December 30th, 2013 at 9:02 am (UTC+0)
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Facebook Knows When We Self-Censor and What Makes Us Do It
Posted December 25th, 2013 at 9:55 am (UTC+0)
Self-censorship is defined as censorship imposed from within out of fear of the consequences. Put more bluntly, it’s the practice of keeping our mouths shut. A journalist living and working in a repressive society may refrain from writing about government corruption out of fear of going to jail or worse; a celebrity might decide against […]
UPDATE: UAE Sentences American Spoof Film Maker to One Year in Jail
Posted December 23rd, 2013 at 3:15 pm (UTC+0)
In follow up to an earlier post, an American citizen is among eight youths in Dubai who have been convicted of “defaming the UAE society’s image abroad” and sentenced to jail terms ranging from eight months to one year. Minnesota resident Shezanne Cassim, along with two Indian co-defendants, received the longest prison sentences — one […]
US: Duck Dynasty Crying Fowl Over Free Speech Rights
Posted December 20th, 2013 at 10:30 pm (UTC+0)
I’ve hesitated this week to blog about a big free speech debate that’s raging in America, because in the big, global picture, where gays in Uganda risk life in jail and activists in Syria simply disappear, it might seem embarrassingly petty. But it is about free speech, something we Americans still tangle with. “Duck Dynasty” […]
Unconfirmed Reports Saudi Arabia May Monitor, Censor Video Internet Uploads
Posted December 19th, 2013 at 10:29 am (UTC+0)
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Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hayat newspaper has reported that the Kingdom is considering setting up a new agency that would monitor and censor video content uploaded onto YouTube and other internet sharing sites. It quotes the head of the Kingdom’s Commission for Audiovisual Media, Dr. Riadh Najem, who has since criticized the report–though he has not confirmed […]
China Clamps Down on Foreign Journalists – A Conversation With Paul J. Mooney
Posted December 16th, 2013 at 9:14 am (UTC+0)
Currently some two dozen journalists from the New York Times and Bloomberg are waiting to receive their visas from the Chinese government, as a year-end deadline approaches. Meanwhile, web sites of both media outlets have been blocked in China after they published articles detailing the wealth of the families of China’s top leaders. Last […]
New French Law Gives Government Massive Internet, Phone Snooping Powers
Posted December 12th, 2013 at 6:38 pm (UTC+0)
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In spite of fierce opposition from rights activists, the French Senate has passed a controversial new law which allows government agencies to monitor citizens’ phone and internet communications. According to the Index on Censorship, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the French internet freedom advocacy group La Quadrature Du Net, the new law: Authorizes real time, […]
Lebanon: Journalist Covering Weapons Smuggling Stands Accused Himself
Posted December 9th, 2013 at 7:08 pm (UTC+0)
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A small group of friends and supporters were waiting at Beirut’s Rafik Hariri airport Sunday evening for the arrival of Lebanese journalist Rami Aysha. But they weren’t the only ones. Lebanese immigration and security were also there. They took him into custody and on Monday, for the second time this year, Aysha appeared before a military […]
Malaysia: When Censorship Backfires
Posted December 9th, 2013 at 9:24 am (UTC+0)
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Sometimes when you try to censor something, you end up drawing even more attention to it. That’s what the town of Johor Bahru recently discovered when it whitewashed over a street mural town officials believed cast the city in a bad light. You see, Johor Bahru famous for two things: Asia’s only Legoland amusement park […]
UPDATE: Elton John Plays Moscow, Criticizes Russian Anti-Gay Laws
Posted December 7th, 2013 at 3:48 pm (UTC+0)
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Sir Elton John went ahead and played at Crocus City Hall in Moscow Friday night, December 6, pausing to explain why he decided to perform. This full transcript of his remarks is provided on the Elton John Facebook page: “I have something to say. I have always loved coming here, coming to this country, ever […]
