Asia

  
MDP protesters demonstrate outside the Maldivian High Commission in Colombo. (AFP/Lakruwan Wanniarachchi)

#Maldives media debate unfolds on Twitter

It started at 6:34 p.m. Monday. Abdulla Riyaz (@riyazabdulla), whose Twitter bio describes him as commissioner of the Maldives Police Service (MPS), published the following on his personal account: “MPS decides NOT to cooperate to Raajje TV [sic]. A statement will be released today.”

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Rescuers evacuate a Chinese woman from her home. (AFP)

A year after Wenzhou, China still censoring disaster stories

New York, July 24, 2012–A year after drawing public ire for censoring coverage of a high-speed train crash, Chinese authorities should allow journalists to freely cover the aftermath of Saturday’s deadly flooding in and around the capital, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. International news accounts said 37 people died in Beijing and up…

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From YouTube's demonstration page

Face-blurring comes into focus for journalists

This week, YouTube announced a feature that should catch the eye of video journalists and bloggers working in dangerous conditions. After uploading a video to YouTube, you can now deploy a “blur faces” post-production tool that, in theory, should disguise the visual identity of everyone on the screen. The Hindu newspaper has an excellent how-to…

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Xi Jinping's youth is the subject of an article that may be related to a newspaper editor's reassignment. Xi is expected to be China's next president. (AP/Jason Lee)

Chinese censors move staff from outspoken papers

Top figures at two outspoken newspapers in China were shuffled or suspended this week, according to online news reports.

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Afghanistan’s draft media law slowed, but not stopped

For now, the Afghan government’s apparent attempt at railroading through a less-than-media-friendly new Mass Media Law without consultation seems to have been sidelined, though not derailed. On Sunday in Kabul, representatives of the Ministry of Information and Culture received recommendations from civil society workers and journalists, including some from the provinces, which were drawn up…

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Radio journalist Mam Sonando, seen here with police in court in 2005, was charged with anti-state activities on Monday. (Reuters/Chor Sokunthea)

Cambodian broadcaster detained on insurrection charges

Bangkok, July 17, 2012–Cambodian authorities should immediately release Mam Sonando, one of the country’s leading critical journalists, who has been held since Sunday on anti-state charges, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. 

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Indian newspaper editor shot, in critical condition

New York, July 16, 2012–Authorities must immediately investigate Sunday’s attack on Tongam Rina, a journalist for a local Indian daily, and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Rina was in critical condition today in a local hospital, according to news reports.

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China’s diverse censors

Attempts to rein in microblogs like Sina Weibo are a huge part of China’s sophisticated information control strategy these days. However, news reports last week serve as a reminder that propaganda authorities also rely on methods that are more old school. 

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Maldives media offer first-hand accounts

Violent clashes between police and opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) protesters continued in the streets of the capital, Malé, on Thursday night, according to international news reports. You can read CPJ’s news alert on journalists swept up in the unrest–and background on the demonstrations–here, and some lively discussion on the situation here.

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MDP supporters demonstrate at a rally in Male in February. (AFP)

At least four journalists attacked in Maldives protests

New York, July 12, 2012–Authorities in the Maldives must ensure journalists are able to cover ongoing political demonstrations in the country without fear of being attacked, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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