For the weekend of November 9-10, here are some media stories of note:
Spiegel Online reports on MafiaLeaks, a new anonymous tip service in Italy aimed at bringing forward information to media and authorities about organized crime. The service depends on a series of servers through the Tor browser that encrypt content and mask the IP addresses (and thus the identities) of those who step forward. Even its URL cannot be reached without using the Tor browser. Organizers hope the site will prove useful in other jurisdictions, too.
International media operations in China and other countries with histories of suppression of free expression have always had to walk a fine line between independent reporting and excessive self-censorship. They want to stay there to report, but not at the expense of reporting. But an account in the International New York Times suggests Bloomberg News has directed stories in China in recent times to be spiked because they might anger China and jeopardize its bureau's continued presence in the country. Bloomberg says that isn't so.
The story of Dylan Davies, the British security officer who claimed to be an eyewitness to the attack on the U.S. outpost in Benghazi, seems to be too compelling to be true. CBS' 60 Minutes issued a correction and apology for featuring him in a segment two weeks ago, and Simon & Schuster pulled his book from the shelves in recent days after questions were raised about the differences in his story now and his story earlier to the FBI and his employer about his whereabouts on the night of the attack last year. The Wrap's Sara Morrison notes, though, that FOX News used Davies as the source of some of its reporting, too, but hasn't followed suit in climbing down.
Spiegel Online reports on MafiaLeaks, a new anonymous tip service in Italy aimed at bringing forward information to media and authorities about organized crime. The service depends on a series of servers through the Tor browser that encrypt content and mask the IP addresses (and thus the identities) of those who step forward. Even its URL cannot be reached without using the Tor browser. Organizers hope the site will prove useful in other jurisdictions, too.
International media operations in China and other countries with histories of suppression of free expression have always had to walk a fine line between independent reporting and excessive self-censorship. They want to stay there to report, but not at the expense of reporting. But an account in the International New York Times suggests Bloomberg News has directed stories in China in recent times to be spiked because they might anger China and jeopardize its bureau's continued presence in the country. Bloomberg says that isn't so.
The story of Dylan Davies, the British security officer who claimed to be an eyewitness to the attack on the U.S. outpost in Benghazi, seems to be too compelling to be true. CBS' 60 Minutes issued a correction and apology for featuring him in a segment two weeks ago, and Simon & Schuster pulled his book from the shelves in recent days after questions were raised about the differences in his story now and his story earlier to the FBI and his employer about his whereabouts on the night of the attack last year. The Wrap's Sara Morrison notes, though, that FOX News used Davies as the source of some of its reporting, too, but hasn't followed suit in climbing down.
