For Thursday, November 28, 2013, here are some media stories of note:
The travails for Asian journalism continue.
The latest measure in the crackdown by the Vietnamese government on dissent involves new fines for criticizing the government on social media. While not necessarily criminal, the criticism would fall into a category of "reactionary ideology" and "propaganda against the state" and be subject to fine of 100 million dong (about $4700), Reuters reports.
The Japanese lower house, meanwhile, has approved a bill that would stiffen penalties for public servants for leaking secrets or for journalists obtaining them. The bill identifies 13 areas that now are classified. Public servants face up to 10 years in jail for betraying secrets and journalists face up to five years for obtaining those secrets through "grossly inappropriate" means. BBC reports the bill now moves to the upper house, where it is expected to pass.
And China is boasting that it has cleansed the Internet of rumours and slander. Reuters reports one of the government regulator's top officials has stated that efforts have been effective in the fight. When social media becomes a platform for criticism, the government works with local Internet providers to delete user-generated content deemed to politically sensitive.
The travails for Asian journalism continue.
The latest measure in the crackdown by the Vietnamese government on dissent involves new fines for criticizing the government on social media. While not necessarily criminal, the criticism would fall into a category of "reactionary ideology" and "propaganda against the state" and be subject to fine of 100 million dong (about $4700), Reuters reports.
The Japanese lower house, meanwhile, has approved a bill that would stiffen penalties for public servants for leaking secrets or for journalists obtaining them. The bill identifies 13 areas that now are classified. Public servants face up to 10 years in jail for betraying secrets and journalists face up to five years for obtaining those secrets through "grossly inappropriate" means. BBC reports the bill now moves to the upper house, where it is expected to pass.
And China is boasting that it has cleansed the Internet of rumours and slander. Reuters reports one of the government regulator's top officials has stated that efforts have been effective in the fight. When social media becomes a platform for criticism, the government works with local Internet providers to delete user-generated content deemed to politically sensitive.
