Category: Iran

February 21, 2014 media notes: Venezuela and Iran and their media, an Olympic prediction on media and women's sport

2/21/2014

For Friday, February 21, 2014, here are some media stories of note:

The violence in Venezuela, somewhat overshadowed by attention on the Ukraine, has taken on a new dimension as the country threatens to expel CNN for its coverage of protests. BBC reports President Nicolas Maduro says the CNN journalists will be sent out of the country if the organization does not "rectify" its coverage. The Electronic Frontier Foundation is reporting on the systematic shutdown of media by the government in regions of the country. The Atlantic reports on how Twitter is a force in the protests in the country.
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The New York Times reports that a new pro-government newspaper has been closed by the judiciary, possibly for carrying a quote about the eye-for-an-eye principles of Islamic law. The Times speculates that the closure might be designed to ensure the reform-minded president does not have access to media beyond the official government newspaper and news agency.
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At my slow-to-get-off-the-ground beta site, www.presswatching.com, my latest post deals with the incongruent media coverage of women in sport.

media notes 06.21.13

6/21/2013

Here are some media stories of note for Friday, June 21, 2013:

The Committee to Protect Journalists chronicles the plight of the 55 journalists it has helped flee their homelands in 2013. Nicole Schilit notes that most in such countries as Syria and Somalia were facing threats of violence, while journalists in Iran (particularly in the pre-election period) and other countries were facing prison. The survey only covers those CPJ directly supported; it observes there are many other cases worldwide. World Refugee Day was Thursday.

John Paton, the CEO of Digital Media, addressed the Global News Editors conference in Paris and said bad CEOs and editors are killing the future for journalists. He encouraged them to demand change and said that if their companies were not investing heavily in digital (and shedding legacy media costs), they should get out because their companies were dying. He argues that every dollar of profit today will be 56 cents of loss in five years if nothing is done. Heavy risk-taking is necessary, he said, as is sharing the rewards with those employees who take it. The past will not help the future; the future must be built.

Margaret Sullivan, The New York Times' public editor, looks at the Times' elimination of several blogs in recent weeks. As the news organization evolves, it is finding that some blogs don't hold the same purpose they once did as a bridge to the Web. It is opting to pull out of some fields, particularly those that resemble their section fronts on the Web, even if it risks or disappoints readership.

Instagram, the image-sharing service recently acquired by Facebook, introduced video-sharing Thursday in a clear gesture to undercut Vine, the Twitter-owned service that has so quickly gained popularity. The difference: Instagram's videos are 15 seconds long, compared to the six-second Vine videos. There are also video filters for effects. The Guardian reports on the initiative and Quartz notes it is no coincidence that Instagram videos are the same length as commercials --- it says Facebook is going to get us watching TV commercials again.

media notes 06.13.13

6/13/2013

Here are some media stories of note for Thursday, June 13, 2013:

A survey by the Pew Research Center, reported on its new FactTank service, suggests there is some support among non-profit news organizations for government support of their work. This finding runs somewhat counter to the conventional view that these services want financial and operational independence at all costs. Pew found 39 per cent would support such support, 30 per cent would not, and 28 per cent were unsure.

Jared Malsin, writing for the Columbia Journalism Review, looks at the scarcity of western journalists in Iran to cover Friday's election. Not only has the government denied access, there are longstanding complaints that coverage there focuses on diplomatic tension and security, rather than on Iranian society itself. It is the Iran conundrum, he concludes.

Mathew Ingram, writing for paidContent, praises the Washington Post's initiative in sponsored content. The Post's new Sponsored Views feature permits advertisers to post content next to editorial content on the same theme. The effort is being applied in opinion content and appears just below the editorial piece and above the online comments. Ingram says it is one of the smarter attempts to drive revenue (although he is skeptical of how much) and address demand for new forms of advertising.

A follow to the story on Greece's abrupt closure of its state broadcaster (defied by the broadcaster by moving to an Internet stream of its content): European broadcasters have stepped in and shifted the broadcaster's content to a satellite channel that feeds it back into the country, the Guardian reports. What isn't clear is how anyone will be paid.

February 21, 2014 media notes: Venezuela and Iran and their media, an Olympic prediction on media and women's sport

media notes 06.21.13

media notes 06.13.13

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