AUSTRALIA: Media Company Seeks ‘Big Money’ With New Stock Shares
AMBER VERNETTI WRITES – Ready for a comeback faster than Sylvester Stallone in Rocky III? Nine Entertainment certainly is. Barely a year after its near bankruptcy, Nine Entertainment Co., one of Australia’s leading media groups, plans to release an initial public offering (IPO), as announced early last week. With this…
Full Article AUSTRALIA: Media Company Seeks ‘Big Money’ With New Stock SharesMALAYSIA: Trickery beats out U.S. Navy’s Ignorance
MARLENA NIP WRITES– A sneaky Malaysian businessman is accused of overcharging the U.S. Navy and obtaining military secrets from naval officers. Three senior officials were arrested from the United States Navy for taking part in one the highest corruption scandals within the Navy in years. U.S. Naval Commander Jose Luiz…
Full Article MALAYSIA: Trickery beats out U.S. Navy’s IgnoranceAFGHANISTAN: The “Courage” of an Afghan Journalist
VITTO BANEZ WRITES – What makes a good journalist? Is it the way they pursue a lead? Or can it be the way they go with their gut? For Najiba Ayubi, it was her love for the media of her homeland. This passion led her to voice her opinion on the country’s…
Full Article AFGHANISTAN: The “Courage” of an Afghan JournalistCAMBODIA: A Call on the Political Elite for the Rights to Media Freedom
ARACELI PALAFOX WRITES – Want to figure out how democratic a country really is? You don’t have to go far. The freedom of its press goes a long way toward revealing its overall democratic values and practices. And in Cambodia, the lack of democracy has been revealed both at home…
Full Article CAMBODIA: A Call on the Political Elite for the Rights to Media FreedomLEBANON: Apologize to Hezbollah or Face Social Unrest?
NICOLE SABA WRITES – How could a skit lead to violent protests? Just ask the Lebanese! According to the Daily Star, a recent episode of the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International’s (LBCI) show, “Basmat Watan” included impersonations of Hezbollah’s Secretary-General, Hassan Nasrallah, as well as the Prophet Jonah, causing much unrest…
Full Article LEBANON: Apologize to Hezbollah or Face Social Unrest?
MOVIE REVIEW: The Redeeming Value of a ‘Touch of Sin’
ROBERT DYLAN FIELDS WRITES – Globalization is a heated issue in China. Even as the country has synced with the rest of the world economically — lifting millions out of poverty in the process — some Chinese fear too much integration threatens the very foundation Chinese culture. As a populace…
Full Article MOVIE REVIEW: The Redeeming Value of a ‘Touch of Sin’BAHRAIN: The Pen Is Mightier than a Kalashnikov
AHMAD ALKHUZAM WRITES – Justice may be served, but at a smaller price to the criminals than anticipated. The Associated Press reported October 27 that a Bahraini court had cut the sentences — from seven years down to three — of two police officers convicted of killing journalist Abdul Karim…
Full Article BAHRAIN: The Pen Is Mightier than a KalashnikovPHILIPPINES: Pacquiao Looking to Punch His Career Back on Track
TREVOR ISBELL WRITES – A palpable hue of anticipation seizes the Philippine Islands as the Filipino professional boxer, Manny Pacquiao, gears up for his bout against what some are calling his next victim, American boxer, Brandon Rios. Filipino boxing fans are brimming with expectation as Pacquiao seems hungrier than ever…
Full Article PHILIPPINES: Pacquiao Looking to Punch His Career Back on TrackINDIA: The Media’s Whitewashing of Beauty
Want to be happy with your life? Then according to Indian media, make sure to have fair skin. A legacy from India’s caste system, fair skin is still considered essential for success in business and love, and Indian media still spreads this message. Controversial products such as whitening creams are…
Full Article INDIA: The Media’s Whitewashing of BeautyCHINA: Journalist Fesses Up
LEXIE TUCKER WRITES – How far would you go to make some extra money? Would you forsake your vow to report the truth and nothing but the truth? Chen Yongzhou, a Chinese writer for the New Express, has admitted to continuously fabricating reports that were unsubstantiated and false against Zoomlion,…
Full Article CHINA: Journalist Fesses UpThe ‘Big Guns’ of Journalism Show More Than Just Courage
ELODIE INTROIA WRITES – On October 23, three Asian and Middle-Eastern women were recognized for their journalistic bravery. It is well known that being a reporter is one of the most dangerous professions. But for women, the risks are even greater. The women who were honored with the Courage in…
Full Article The ‘Big Guns’ of Journalism Show More Than Just CourageTHAILAND: Political Trend Alert – Red is Out
ELIZABETH NAAI WRITES – Donning a “Red shirt” may soon be a political faux pas due to the highly contested Amnesty bill before Parliament. After 2010’s violent political strife, Thailand finds itself navigating the retributive versus restorative justice debate. Deep political rifts between the Red and Yellow shirts have done…
Full Article THAILAND: Political Trend Alert – Red is OutMALAYSIA: Government says NO to Ke$ha
MARLENA NIP WRITES — Tick Tok. At the eleventh hour, the Malaysian government closed its gates to American pop star, Ke$ha. The risqué pop star was scheduled to play a concert in Kuala Lumpur, the nation’s capital. Livescape, the promotion group holding the event, was notified the night before that Malaysian…
Full Article MALAYSIA: Government says NO to Ke$haHONG KONG: Media Freedom Denied, Decision Unexplained
LAUREN CHEN WRITES – “Must we all buy the type of toilet paper designed by the government?” Disgruntled Hong Kong Television Network’s (HKTV) chairman, Ricky Wong Wai-kay asked this very question after his network was denied a free-to-air TV license. The unexplained denial has created backlash among many who feel as…
Full Article HONG KONG: Media Freedom Denied, Decision UnexplainedPAKISTAN: Action Movie Paints India as the Bad Guy
AUSTIN SZABO WRITES – With explosions and non-stop action, Pakistan’s first action blockbuster, Waar, is making waves. Indians are less excited: they are the bad guys. Reuters offered a summary of the movie: “Indian villains team up with Islamist militants to plot spectacular attacks across Pakistan. Pakistani security forces jump in…
Full Article PAKISTAN: Action Movie Paints India as the Bad GuyUNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Annual Media Summit Discusses Promising Digital Era
AMBER VERNETTI WRITES – The 2013 Abu Dhabi Media Summit was conducted in the United Arab Emirates’ capital last week to discuss the world’s ongoing digital revolution. With Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) as an event partner, this three-day occasion focused on advancing the digital proficiency of the Middle East, the…
Full Article UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Annual Media Summit Discusses Promising Digital Era