Archive for April, 2008
A Sign of the Times
Posted on April 28, 2008 - Filed Under media
We’ve talked much on this blog about the coming downfall of the newspaper. One economist predicted that it would be in the mid 2040’s that the final newspaper would cease production. Blogflict isn’t convinced newspapers even have that long, but while their end date is still a subject for debate, today we can […]
Read More..>>The Results Come In…Again
Posted on April 26, 2008 - Filed Under Zimbabwe
The election recount results are coming in from Zimbabwe and they show exactly what the previous vote count showed — that Robert Mugabe lost, again. The ruling party in Zimbabwe has tried to delay releasing the votes and recounting them, but with today’s announcement they will be boxed into a tighter corner.
All independent observers have […]
A Growing Crisis in Zimbabwe
Posted on April 23, 2008 - Filed Under Elections, Zimbabwe
All the elements are in place. It is the perfect storm for all the things that can go wrong in a struggling nation. There is rampant hyperinflation, unemployment is at 80%, there are food and money shortages and the populous is desperate for a change. Welcome to Zimbabwe.
Last month, the citizens has an […]
Free Media in Russia Takes a Beating Putin Style
Posted on April 18, 2008 - Filed Under Putin, Russia
This story pretty much sums up the power that Vladimir Putin has over Russia these days.
According to Reuters, “A Moscow newspaper that reported Vladimir Putin had divorced his wife and planned to marry an Olympic gymnast was closed by its publishers on Friday, just hours after the Russian president angrily denied the report.”
The report in […]
Bad Night for Obama, Worse Night for ABC
Posted on April 17, 2008 - Filed Under Clinton, Obama, citizen journalism, media
Are you kidding me????
That seemed to be the main consensus after the debacle that was supposed to be an important presidential debate. When was the last time you saw the hosts of a debate kill the last 15 minutes by taking almost constant commercial breaks and then showing the candidates sign autographs? Why wasn’t that […]
The Olympic Cop-Out?
Posted on April 13, 2008 - Filed Under China
With two weeks to go to the Pennsylvania Primary, most thought the Sunday news programs in the US would be dominated by talk of the unsettled democratic field. But President Bush’s National Security Adviser managed to steal the spotlight.
Appearing on both Fox and ABC, Stephen Hadley said that boycotting the opening ceremonies at the […]
Does Print Have a Future?
Posted on April 11, 2008 - Filed Under citizen journalism
It does, if you ask Ryan Blethen of the Seattle Times, who writes:
“I am convinced newspapers have a future. So do citizen journalism and blogging. The sustained success of these different news outlets can only help keep people informed. It is time to stop trumpeting a death that will not come and focus on […]
France’s Sarkozy May Boycott Bejing Olympics
Posted on April 5, 2008 - Filed Under China, Tibet
Nicolas Sarkozy, the President of France, is considering a boycott of the opening ceremony to the Olympics in Beijing, in response to the conflict in Tibet. For Sarkozy to attend he is calling on China to release the political prisoners, end the violence in the region, and engage the Dalai Lama in talks. […]
Read More..>>A Tense Moment for Zimbabwe
Posted on April 3, 2008 - Filed Under Elections, Zimbabwe
There has been talk recently about rising inflation in the US. It is clear that prices are on the rise. It costs over $3.00 per gallon for gas. The cost of food in the supermarket is higher as wheat prices have gone up. But the kind of inflation the people of Zimbabwe have had to […]
Read More..>>In Zimbabwe, is the Fix in?
Posted on April 2, 2008 - Filed Under Elections, Zimbabwe
Clearly, this is not a good sign.
The newspaper owned and operated by the government said today the election is close and headed for a runoff between President Robert Mugabe and his main opposition rival, Morgan Tsvangirai.
Here’s the problem with that announcement - all international observers saw this election as easily going against Mugabe and when […]