On Friday March 8th, Rodrigo Neto was killed by two gunman while walking to his car. Mr. Neto hosted a radio show and wrote a column for a Brazilian paper, Ipatinga daily ale do Aco. As reported in The Rio Times "The crime against journalist .Rodrigo Neto had the characteristic of an execution. It was an attack on life, human rights and freedom of expression." RodrigoNeto was a reporter of crime and local corruption. According to Carlos Muller, a spokesman for the NAN (National Assoication of Newspapers) the majority of recent cases in Brazil are related to local issues usually... Continue reading

For the first time ever in Lebanon social media activists will recieve awards for their works at the Social Media Awards Beirut. The Social Media awards will allow the Lebanese online community to nominate, vote for and award bloggers, journalists, content creators, community managers, public relations personas, users of social media and celebrities for their efforts in communication and online creation. The online community is the power behind social media. The aim is to empower the Lebanese online community to evaluate, select and award nominees according to certain categories. The voting is done from April 1, 2013 to April 25,... Continue reading

Viber is a prorietary cross platform instant messaging voice over internet application developed by Viber Media. In addition, to text messaging, users can exchange images, video and audio media messages. Viber currently reaches over 175 million users. Viber Media is a Cyrus based company with development centers in Balarus and Isreal. The company was found by American -Isreali entrepeneur, Talmon Marco. The Company has been banned by the Lebanese ministry of telecommunications due to its Isreali origin. There are apparently many reasons or allegations as to why the Lebanese ministry has chosen to block Viber. But is appears onr major... Continue reading

In Pakistan media is teaming up with police and attending police raids while trying to harass individuals and then broadcasting it on air. In an article in the New York Times dated February 8, 2013, Maria Kahn, the host of a talk radio show in Lahore, Pakistan went on a raid with police of a massage parlor. She actually accused the women of being prostitutes as her camera crew threatened the employees with arrest. They then rifled through their purses, while spuing racists comments at the alleged. All the while filming it live and televising it. The accused repeatedly asked... Continue reading

During the reign of the taliban, the journalists of Afghanistan could not report freely. But after September 11,2001, this all changed. Led by the US goverment, Afghanistan media now can report freely . They have over 75 televisions stations , 175 radio stations and hundreds of print publications and at least a dozen daily newspapers. In an article published January 30,2013, in the Huffington Post , an Afghan journalist named, Karokhel helped to launch Pajhwok Afghan News, which is an independent newspaper with backing by USAID. Karokhel stated, "There is a clear reason for goverment and aid organizations to support... Continue reading

Social Media writers though they had the final say on whether an article was published. Boy!! were they wrong. There is active censorship on social media sites including deletion of what is to be considered outspoken commentators. In a recent article of TeaLeafNation Ren Zhiqiang an outspoken businessmen in china with 13 million followers tweeted " Freedom of press and freedom of speech are rights given to the society and the people by the constitution; they are also symbols of human rights and freedom. Yet they have been pipe dreams without the rule of law, being seriously distorted and restricted.... Continue reading

Many newspapers in China are currently criticizing Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for seeking US support over the territorial row. In an article dated February 22,2013 in BBC Mr.Abe said Beijing had a "deeply ingrained need to challenge Japan and other neighbors over territory to strengthen domestic support." The media continued to express anger at both Mr. Abe and the United States for comments. They are apparently angry at US for accusing Beijing of "industrial cyber-espionage." Similar reports in an interview with Mr. Abe in an article in the Washington Post reported how the Chinese Government spokesman expressed shock at... Continue reading

Youtube filed suit Monday February 11,2013 in a Moscow Arbitration Court after the Federal Consumer Protection had added yet another video to its list of banned websites. In an article posted February 12,2013 in the Moscow Times. Federal Consumer Protection Chief Gennady Onishchenko stated " this video was about how to apply special makeup and contained instructions for how to commit suicide." By special makeup they are referring to fake blood and a plastic razor blade . They are probably props used by actors for movies or theater. The video actually illustrates how to appear to be slitting your wrists... Continue reading

In KwaZula-Natal, South Africa the McCalls were victims of five buglaries and a robbery as reportedy by The telegaph paper. They were away for the weekend when the lastest robbery occurred and the thief stole their samsung tablet. When changing passwords Mr. McCall noticed a picture was uploaded to his wife's page. Most people never sign off their tablets so the thief probably did not even realize that it was posted on that page. The story was also reported on news 24 by a reporter named Durban. This is the local daily news of South Africa. Both sources reported how... Continue reading

In an article in BBC News on January 25, 2013, Twitter has suspended Al-Shabaab account. The account which was opened in December 2011, tweeted that it would kill a French hostage and then said it was done. On Wednesday, the Al-shabaab account posted a video link of two Kenyan civil servants telling the Kenyan goverment their lives were in danger unless it released all Muslims held on "so called terrorism charges" in their country. Twitter would not respond on suspension but its rules state threats of violence are banned. The story was also carried in All Africa ,who also reported... Continue reading