PHILIPPINES: Pageant Goes Swimmingly on Hindu Bali
TREVOR ISBELL WRITES – In the thick of all the chaos of governmental corruption and religious rebellion surrounding the Philippines lately, the nation still stands proudly, accepting recognition as the homeland of the new Miss World. Twenty-three year old world beauty pageant contestant Megan Young gives this breath of life…
Full Article PHILIPPINES: Pageant Goes Swimmingly on Hindu BaliINDIA: Elections Go Online, But Will It Matter?
AUSTIN SZABO WRITES – If you live in India, expect a “friend request” from your local representative. The upcoming 2014 election will see an explosion of social media campaigning, according to The Times of India. India’s Bharatiya Janata and Congress parties are scrambling to woo internet users. From local politicians getting in touch directly…
Full Article INDIA: Elections Go Online, But Will It Matter?MYANMAR: A News Revolution but Social Media Takes the Lead
ALEXANDRE GUIRAUD-CONTREAU WRITES – It was less than a year ago that Myanmar was celebrating the return of print media, but is seems that social media has already made these sources obsolete. With an increase in freedom and an opening of the trade market, the population in Myanmar has been…
Full Article MYANMAR: A News Revolution but Social Media Takes the LeadBANGLADESH: Televised Nationwide Quiz – No Cheating!
KIARA BRAMASCO WRITES – In the hopes of promoting a well rounded education, Bangladesh is turning to the media to showcase its first ever, nation wide quiz. Launched by the leading Bangladeshi newspaper, The Daily Star and the e-learning portal champs21.com, the quiz tested kids from classes VI to X…
Full Article BANGLADESH: Televised Nationwide Quiz – No Cheating!CHINA: Media Coverage Hypes Rabies Awareness
LEXIE TUCKER WRITES – Were you even aware that World Rabies Day existed? Probably not. According to the National Health and Family Planning Commission, rabies kill more than 2,400 people a year in China – that’s the most in the world after India. That is quite depressing considering one can…
Full Article CHINA: Media Coverage Hypes Rabies AwarenessVIETNAM: Like a Virgin (Insured)?!
YVONNE EPPS WRITES – Cultural icons can get away with insuring the body parts that made them famous, but when someone starts insuring their virginity, things can get dicey. The king of nhac vang, a genre of music, Ngoc Son, is reported to tell the media that he’s insuring his virginity for…
Full Article VIETNAM: Like a Virgin (Insured)?!NEW ZEALAND: Diving into an Ocean of Telecommunication
EJ DE LARA WRITES – New Zealand is taking the plunge into a deep sea of possibilities for research and telecommunication development with its new submarine cable plans. On October 26, the New Zealand Government signed a deal with Hawaiki submarine cable for 15 million. With this plan, Hawaiki plans…
Full Article NEW ZEALAND: Diving into an Ocean of TelecommunicationCHINA: More Cautious Than Bold
TOM PLATE WRITES IN HIS SYNDICATED NEWSPAPER COLUMN: I used to find flying on a Chinese carrier a dreadful experience. No more. A recent nonstop from Los Angeles to Guangzhou on China Eastern was as smooth as silk; and the return to Los Angeles from Beijing on Air China was…
Full Article CHINA: More Cautious Than BoldINDIA: Sexy Commercials Keep Women Vulnerable
AUSTIN SZABO WRITES – The hanging of four men convicted of rape and murder will do little to stem misogyny in India. The solution lies with the media and how it represents women. From 1990 to 2008, the number of reported rapes in India more than doubled, according to official…
Full Article INDIA: Sexy Commercials Keep Women VulnerableAUSTRALIA: Ad Regulators Think Serious is Too Sexy
AMBER VERNETTI WRITES — It wasn’t too much skin, but too little smile that led Australian advertising authorities to can a provocative billboard last week. The ad, promoting Ella Bache skincare products, featured three nude women with straight poker faces beneath the catchphrase, “Skin Solutions As Individual As You Are.” An…
Full Article AUSTRALIA: Ad Regulators Think Serious is Too SexyPHILIPPINES: Is Aquino’s Replacement of the PDAF Progress or Delusion?
TREVOR ISBELL WRITES – After suffering years of government corruption, public anger in the Philippines has reached a boil and President Benigno Aquino III is finally being forced into action. Facing a massive and well-organized protest over a public works funding scandal, Aquino told the nation he’d do better. Janet…
Full Article PHILIPPINES: Is Aquino’s Replacement of the PDAF Progress or Delusion?VIETNAM: An Extreme Obsession with Tourism
YVONNE EPPS WRITES – What do police patrols, food, and WiFi have in common? No, it’s not cops eating donuts while browsing Tumblr on their smartphones, but rather Vietnam’s obsession with tourism. From promoting the country as the “kitchen of the world” to protecting tourists from robbers, Vietnam is concerned…
Full Article VIETNAM: An Extreme Obsession with TourismBangladesh: Art in the Slums Honors Working Women
KIARA BRAMASCO WRITES – The hard-working women of Bangladesh were honored recently in an art exhibition just as beautiful as they are, with the added bonus of the art being reusable for housing insulation later! On September 13 a public art exhibition opened in the Korail slum, the largest in…
Full Article Bangladesh: Art in the Slums Honors Working WomenMALAYSIA: Grammy Nominated Band Denied Concert by Malaysian Government
MARLENA NIP WRITES – Malaysian officials won’t take any risks with Western bands bashing Allah and the Quran. The Communications and Multimedia Ministry has denied Lamb of God, a U.S.-based heavy metal band, a permit to perform in Kuala Lampur. Tour promoter Livescape Asia had scheduled a concert featuring the Grammy-nominated band…
Full Article MALAYSIA: Grammy Nominated Band Denied Concert by Malaysian GovernmentTHAILAND: Give this Director an Oscar
BRIAN CANAVE WRITES – Hey Hollywood, want to learn how to make an emotionally charged film? Check out this three-minute commercial from Thailand. The ad has awed netizens seemingly overnight, showing up in countless reposts on Facebook and Twitter, and praised as more moving and poignant than most Hollywood films…
Full Article THAILAND: Give this Director an OscarHONG KONG: Disdain for Mainlanders, But Schools Need Children
LAUREN CHEN WRITES – Perhaps mainlanders aren’t locusts after all. Despite fervent disdain toward folks across the straight, Hong Kong schools have begun soliciting students from Mainland China. The negative feelings towards Mainlanders are accurately portrayed through popular Memes. A recent South China Morning Post article printed the view of an expat…
Full Article HONG KONG: Disdain for Mainlanders, But Schools Need Children