Media Highlights – September 14, 2012
Media Highlights – September 14, 2012
About Our Broadcasters
Stu Bykofsky: How to fight ‘their Islam’ – Philadelphia Daily News, September 14, 2012
It’s hard to overcome generations of ignorance, but there are some things we can do. First, ramp up operations of the Voice of America, which can be harnessed to dispense “our side” across a broad range of media – radio, TV and, importantly, the Internet. It will take a long time, but we can use our ingenuity to crack open those closed minds a bit. It’s a smart use of soft power.
Joaquin Phoenix is back! Mel Karmazin prepared to bolt! – Los Angeles Times, September 13, 2012
Daily Dose: Comcast executive Jeff Shell’s resume just got a big bump. Shell, president of NBCUniversal International, has been nominated by the president to join the Broadcasting Board of Governors as its chairman. The BBG is an independent government agency that oversees nonmilitary international broadcasting. Shell will not be giving up his day job if his nomination goes through.
Media Citations of BBG Broadcasters
Pussy Riot members announce new protest – AFP, September 13, 2012
“We first of all want to do a new protest finally, so that we have something to talk about,” two band members, who gave their nicknames ‘Balaclava’ and ‘Tomcat’, told the Russian service of Radio Liberty. Both wore home-made balaclavas.
‘Producer’ of anti-Islam film says no regrets: radio – SAPA-AFP, September 14, 2012
“No, I do not regret it. I am saddened by the killing of the ambassador but I do not regret making it,” Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, a 55-year-old Egyptian Copt living in California, told American Arabic-language Radio Sawa.
From the archive, 14 September 1978: Bulgarian dissident killed by poisoned umbrella at London bus stop – The Guardian, September 14, 2012
The English-born Mrs Annabel Markov, aged 36, said her husband’s work, especially when he wrote freelance scripts for Radio Free Europe, had often been highly critical of the Bulgarian government. His revelation of Ministers’ activities had caused outrage in Bulgaria.
Zimbabwe: Remove South Africans As Facilitators in Zimbabwean Stalemate – AllAfrica, September 13, 2012
When the Voice of America’s Studio Seven told Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai that, according to emails they receive, people are fed up with this long negotiation process, he said: “They’ll have to be patient,” and added something about Rome not being built in a day.
Turkmenistan: Ashgabat Stops Iranian Railroad Project in its Tracks – EurasiaNet, September 13, 2012
Turkmenistan has not always bowed to the West’s wishes on trading with Iran. In July, the foreign ministers from Iran and Turkmenistan met and promised to keep trade channels open. Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov said the relationship between the two would never be influenced by “marginal issues” such as sanctions, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty quoted him as saying.
Liberia: In Sande Bush – Woman Bleeds to Death – AllAfrica, September 13, 2012
Liberia’s traditional school (Sande and Poro) authorities have vowed to continue with the practice despite the negative campaign from a few local and international groups for abolition. Their commitment comes in the wake of report on the Voice of America (VOA) African service program Wednesday, suggesting that a 20-years old woman died in a sande bush after being circumcised in Nimba County.
Of Interest
Cambodian journalist found murdered – AFP, September 12, 2012
A Cambodian journalist who exposed rampant illegal logging has been found murdered in the boot of his car, police said Wednesday, in a country where environmental activists often face violent retribution.
Google blocks YouTube clip only in Egypt and Libya – Reuters, September 12, 2012
YouTube, the video website owned by Google Inc, will not remove a film clip mocking the Islamic Prophet Mohammad that has been blamed for anti-U.S. protests in Egypt and Libya, but it has blocked access to it in those countries.
Putin Confesses: Hilarious, Manly Photo Ops Were Staged – The Atlantic, September 13, 2012
In an interview with Kremlin critic Masha Gessen, the Russian president confessed that his wildlife photo ops were staged but, in the end, totally worth it because they raised public awareness to Russia’s conservation projects.