North Korea has reaffirmed its plans to continue with an announced rocket launch to put a satellite into orbit, despite facing widespread opposition from the international community. The launch is widely speculated to be a cover for testing missile technology and therefore a violation of a UN Security Council Resolution. A spokesman from the North [...]
Archive | March, 2012
NEW ZEALAND: Cameraman Free of Police Charges, Though Not of Scandal
Police officials in New Zealand have decided not to press charges against a freelance cameraman involved in the “teapot tapes” affair during last year’s election cycle. Allegedly, cameraman Bradley Ambrose intentionally recorded a conversation between Prime Minister John Key and Act Party Epsom candidate John Banks at a public press conference in Auckland. The tape [...]
BANGLADESH: Media Turn Up the Volume for Independence Celebrations
Forty-one years ago, Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan in the bloody nine-month Liberation war. Now, with the help of its media, the country honors this day. On March 26, 1971, the Bangladeshi government informed the public via radio that the Liberation War had reached its conclusion. On Monday, March 26, 2012, The Daily Star reported [...]
SOUTH KOREA: A Brief Look at the Nuclear Security Summit
In what is being called the largest diplomatic gathering in history, the nuclear security summit held in Seoul this past Monday and Tuesday, with leaders of nearly 60 nations and international organizations in attendance, has led to the release of a sweeping agreement known as the “Seoul Communique.” Initially the gathering was hampered by North [...]
CHINA: Blogging Community Reaches Out, But Too Late
Wang Shanshan, a senior student at Nanjing Technology College hanged herself in her dorm on March 17. A frequent blogger on China’s popular Sina Weibo site, Shanshan left a suicide note on her blog that automatically uploaded 12 hours after her death. It stated: ”I have depression, so I want to die. There’s no important reason, [...]
SRI LANKA: Navy Denies Attacking Tamil Fishermen From India
Sri Lanka is used to being accused of abusing Tamils, but usually those under attack are their own, not India’s. Sri Lanka appears to be caught up in a publicity scandal in which its Navy has been accused of attacking a ship of 16 Tamil fisherman from India on March 23rd. Those on the Indian [...]
THAILAND: Canadian Columnist Explains Complexities of Political Asylum
By Asia Media staff writer Brian Canave (pictured above) — Amid all the articles and columns published in the world, with topics ranging from technology to the latest fashion, we have for you a golden beacon of hope: a column exemplifying journalism’s sense of social responsibility at its best. Well-known columnist Campbell Clark, of The [...]
GUEST COLUMN ABOUT HONG KONG: SHAME OF THE NEWS MEDIA
Gutter journalism made a mockery of the island territory’s self-proclaimed ‘march toward democracy’, argues Alice Wu Hong Kong, 29 March — Sex, lies, sleaze, money, mafia, illegal basement, and tear-gas — boy, calling Hong Kong’s just-completed Chief Executive election “scandal [...]
CHINA MEDIA: The Mad Scramble to Arrest a Key Keyword!
Opinionated Chinese Netizens have long blogged and slogged Chinese leaders for being corrupt. But last week’s sacking of Bo Xilai, a top Chinese Leader, ignited an explosion of blogging activity about official corruption that topped anything anyone has ever seen. At first, perhaps surprisingly, the Chinese government allowed the eruption to proceed apace. But on [...]
ASIA INSIGHT VIDEO NO. FOUR: STEPHANIE GARCIA AND HER VIEW ON AMERICAN JOURNALISM AND SINGAPORE
Professor Tom Plate meets with South-South News
Professor Tom Plate Goes Live With South-South News to discuss his book on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. Professor Plate reveals why he decided to write a book on Ban Ki-Moon -- and how the Western media stereotypes the Korean diplomat.
Staff Writer Lauren Chen Reflects on the Death of a Journalist