News Wrap for 7/28/08

The International Herald Tribune takes a looks at the recent murder of Cambodian journalist Khim Sambor, who worked for one of only two opposition papers operating in the Southeast Asian country. The article also examines the overall press freedom climate in Cambodia as the nation held presidential elections over the weekend.

The burning of a journalist’s house in Brazil last week is the topic of discussion at Brazil Magazine. The journalist, Jeso Carniero, said he believes the attack was in retaliation for some critical coverage of local politicians that appeared on his show, “Opiniao.”

The Wall Street Journal writes about China’s continued inability to meet the promises made about press freedom as we approach the start of the 2008 Olympic Games.

The New York Times examines a new trend in Russia, where despite an oppressive climate for most opposition voices, tabloid newspapers are thriving as long as they avoid criticizing the Kremlin.

Also in the news today is Editor & Publisher’s coverage of a scuffle at the NABJ Unity 2008 conference where Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade was scheduled to speak.

Over the weekend, VOA posted an audio and text editorial about the death of Iraqi journalist Soran Mama Hama, who was shot and killed last week in Kirkuk.

Late last week, CPJ’s Washington Representative Frank Smyth wrote a guest post for Congressional blog The Hill in response to Rep. Betty McCollum’s (D-MN) recent trip to Tunisia and her subsequent comments. Smyth contended that McCollum had sidestepped the sticky topic of Tunisia’s lack of democracy while promising to work to further its relations with the U.S.