MEDIABLAB NOVEMBER 15
November 15th 2007 01:37
MediaBlab is a daily news service published by Dow Jones' Factiva, soon to be owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp
NEWS AGENCY BAN ON CRICKET AUSTRALIA CONTINUES, WITH NEW ZEALAND NEWSPAPER COALITION ALSO RESISTING DEMANDS TO LIMIT MEDIA COVERAGE
International news agencies will probably extend a boycott of Australian cricket after attempts to broker a deal over coverage stalled.
The Australian newspaper today reports that Reuters, the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse are all expected to boycott this week's second Test between Australia and Sri Lanka starting on Friday in Hobart in protest at Cricket Australia's demands.
Cricket Australia wants the media organisations to pay for the right to distribute photographs from the event but the agencies are refusing, saying it threatens journalistic integrity.
The three international agencies were locked out of last week's first Test in Brisbane but were hoping to find a solution in time for the second Test.
Also, a coalition of New Zealand newspapers has written to Cricket Australia saying they will resist demands to limit media coverage during next month's Chappel-Hadlee series. The International Cricket Council said it hopes the dispute is resolved amicably.
Australia are the highest ranked team in world cricket but only 55,953 people attended the five days of the first Sri Lanka test. Television viewing figures were down nearly 41 per cent on last year, according to a report in yesterday’s Sydney’s Daily Telegraph.
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN PREMIER ACCUSES DAILY NEWSPAPER OF BEING MANIPULATED BY FORMER DISGRACED PREMIER
Western Australia's daily newspaper has been manipulated by disgraced former premier turned lobbyist Brian Burke, says current Premier Alan Carpenter.
A select parliamentary committee report recommended another parliamentary committee should investigate whether information leaked to a journalist at The West Australian constituted a breach of privileges or contempt of parliament, according to a report in The Australian. .
It said The West published two articles, on November 7 and 8, after the journalist contacted the Corruption and Crime Commission and members of the select committee earlier in the week over an inquiry it was holding.
The journalist asked if the CCC had provided intercept material to the select parliamentary committee and whether it was true Burke had objected to Philip Urquhart acting as counsel assisting the committee.
The report said the CCC evidence could have been leaked by any number of people involved in the secret hearings.
SINGAPORE-BASED MOBILE CONTENT PROVIDER ZINGMOBILE OFFICIALLY LISTS ON AUSTRALIAN STOCK EXCHANGE
Mobile phone content provider Zingmobile Group Ltd, the Australian division of Singapore-based Zingmobile Pte Ltd, was admitted to the official list of ASX Ltd on Wednesday, November 14, 2007.
Official quotation of the following securities will commence on Friday, November 16: 58,082,820 ordinary shares fully paid issued at 50c per share.
The new company’s ticker code is: zmg.
Founded in 2002, Singapore’s Zingmobile Group Pte Ltd is the leading pioneer for publishing value-added mobile content, services and applications for today’s dynamic mobile market. Dedicated in providing first class entertainment, informative and relevant mobile content; Zingmobile works with MNOs, content developers and suppliers to ensure that they are working with the latest technology in providing the most enhanced solutions in delivering mobile content.
Zingmobile operates throughout the Asia Pacific region with offices in Malaysia, Indonesia, China, and Bangladesh. Mobiletainment contents are being delivered through major networks operating within the region serving more than 500 million mobile subscribers.
Zingmobile is a profitable and growing public company that develops and markets mobile content direct to consumers. Zingmobile has developed its own content library of over 100,000 unique items across 25 applications and service and over 90 percent of sales are from its own content.
Zingmobile Mobiletainment© caters to more than 500 million mobile subscribers in the Asia Pacific region and delivers mobile media contents in the most effective and innovative ways possible.
Zingmobile provides a comprehensive selection of mobiletainments, which allows users to personalise, get valuable information on their mobile phones and most of all be entertaining.
Contents are presented in various languages which include English, traditional and simplified Chinese, Bahasa Melayu and Tamil.
PHOTON HIRES MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR ITS INTERNET DIVISION
Photon Group Ltd has appointed Caitlin Millar-Jack as managing director of its fast growing internet marketing and communications division.
Caitlin joins from M&C Saatchi where she was general manager - digital, direct and data. She has an extensive background in digital and internet marketing through several leadership roles at M&C Saatchi and also Deloitte (Eclipse Group) both in Australia and New Zealand.
Executive chairman of Photon, Tim Hughes said, “Caitlin’s appointment comes at an opportune time as we continue to seriously build our capability in the internet marketing sector. Through strategic acquisitions of companies such as OB Media, Found and iMega, internet marketing now accounts for close to 20 percent of the group’s earnings and Caitlin will be instrumental in driving this growth further.”
Caitlin Millar-Jack joins Photon on November 19.
LOOP MOBILE LANDS ITV CONTRACT IN UK TO CREATE MYITV
Loop Mobile Ltd, recently spun out of sex toys company, has secured a new contract for the development of a series of mobile communities for ITV plc, the UK’s largest commercial television broadcaster.
The contract will facilitate user generated content, user profiles, and instant chat for ITV audience members for a set of reality, entertainment, sport and talk programs.
The contract commences immediately and will see Loop Mobile tailoring its Moko platform to be branded, MyITV, for the launch of individual television programs and accompanying mobile communities.
Communities for X-Factor and the women’s talk back show Loose Women are already live and new communities to be launched over the coming months include Britain’s Got Talent, ITV Sport covering the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League and the Formula 1 Grand Prix, and one of the highest rating soap operas in Britain, Emmerdale.
The contract includes development fees for tailoring the company’s platform to ITV Network branding and style requirement, plus a revenue share agreement on user generated content activity.
This revenue was not forecasted by Loop in its IPO prospectus for the 2007/2008 financial year.
Loop Mobile ceo and managing director, Martin Hoffman said this contract was part of an innovative incorporation of mobile communities for media organisations.
“We are pleased to announce this contract and be the first global organisation to work with ITV in building its mobile community presence. This contract is an endorsement of mobile community platforms and an exciting expansion of our business since listing in June.”
MOGADISHU MAYOR DEFENDS SOMALIAN CRACKDOWN ON UNAUTHORISED MEDIA
Reuters reports that Mogadishu's mayor yesterday defended a government crackdown on Somali media that has been condemned by rights groups, saying three radio stations were closed this week because they were spreading lies.
In the latest attack on local media, government forces raided Simba Radio and Radio Banadir on Tuesday, a day after shutting down Shabelle Radio for the eighth time this year.
"These three radio stations have been closed down because they have no permit. We told them repeatedly to get the official documents, but they ignored the government notification," Mayor Mohamed Dheere, a former warlord, told Reuters.
Happily MediaBlab editor Peter Olszewski carries the correct official documentation for coverage of Mogadishu, and therefore is at no risk of upsetting the warlord turned mayor if, by some remote possibility, MediaBlab decides to research the Somalian media situation first hand.
MediaBlab’s accreditation reads:
“Republic of Somalia
Ministry of Information
Subject: Permission
This ministry has fully authorised and permits the bearer of this letter, Mr. Peyotl Olszewski, to move about the city, take photographs of any place of interest to him and talk and ask questions to officials and other individuals.
Thanks.
The Director General of the Ministry of Information
Mr Abdi Haji Goobabon.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Dheere also accused the private stations of undermining national security by fabricating reports that the presidential palace had been hit by mortar bombs.
"These radios have generated violence by airing exaggerated false reports. So, we have to crack down on them because of national security interests," he said.
"The international community does not have to pressure us over lies told by the media."
Staff at Simba and Shabelle said both stations had obtained the necessary permissions and stood by their broadcasts.
Seven reporters have been killed in Somalia since January.
MEDIA OWNERSHIP RULES MAY BE RELAXED IN THE US FOLLOWING FCC PROPOSAL
The Washington Post reports that the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission has proposed relaxing an agency rule to allow big-city US newspapers to buy the smaller television stations in their markets, a move designed as a compromise in the ongoing issue of corporate control of the airwaves.
Under Chairman Kevin Martin's plan, set for a commission vote December 18, newspapers in the nation's 20-largest media markets could buy one radio or television station in their cities, if certain conditions apply. The station could not be among the four most-watched in the market, essentially preventing newspapers from buying popular stations affiliated with ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox.
Anti-consolidation groups vehemently disagreed, saying it would place too much power in the hands of a few moguls. Critics denounced Martin's proposal for containing what they said were loopholes that could lead to widespread consolidation.
AP RETRACTS STORY ABOUT PARIS HILTON HELPING DRUNKEN ELEPHANTS IN INDIA
The Associated Press has issued a retraction, saying that in a November 13 story it incorrectly reported that Paris Hilton was praised by conservationists for highlighting the problem of binge-drinking elephants in north eastern India.
Lori Berk, a publicist for Hilton, said she never made any comments about helping drunken elephants in India.
PREMIER GUITAR MAGAZINE INVITES SUBSCRIBERS TO NAME THEIR OWN PRICE FOR SUBSCRIPTION
Folio reports that Premier Guitar magazine in the US will launch a Radiohead-inspired campaign allowing subscribers to name their own price for a year-long subscription.
The monthly for "serious and accomplished guitarists" is wrapping 10,000 copies of its December issue with a "pay what you want" subscription card and sending them to non-subscribers.
MYANMAR JUNTA LAUNCHES ANTI-WESTERN-MEDIA MEDIA CAMPAIGN
Myanmar’s ruling junta has begun a not-so-subtle outdoor and online campaign against western media’s news slant in reporting on doings in the pariah nation.
The Irrawaddy Journal reports that one slogan in downtown Yangon translate as “Oppose those who rely on America, act as their stooges and hold negative views.”
Photographs of protesting monks and anti-US rallies were posted on an official regime web site on Wednesday. Some captions accused protesting monks of being imposters and "destructive elements," and said Myanmar’s history will be written by the Myanmar people, not by President George W. Bush.
The logos of western radio stations including the British Broadcasting Cooperation, Radio Free Asia, the Voice of America and the Democracy Voice of Burma are marked with red crosses on the web site.
According to observers, many residents have been coerced into attending pro-junta rallies and told to hold posters deriding a "skyful of liars," including the BBC.
MURDOCH SAYS PROFIT-CHALLENGED FREE-TO-AIR TV COULD BENEFIT FROM QUALITY PROGRAMS THAT CAN BE SOLD LATER AS DVDS.
Rupert Murdoch’s pronunciations in Australia are receiving wide coverage in American media.
Media Daily News, for example, reported that he has all but declared on Tuesday that the sky's-the-limit profits from traditional broadcast TV are over.
Calling broadcast television a "highly challenged industry in America," he said that big events such as the Super Bowl can still prosper, but ho-hum-rated series that fill prime time are at risk for generating declining interest among audiences and advertisers alike.
"I think we have to be a little sensible about this, and realise that free-to-air television faces a lot of challenges, just from the sheer fragmentation of the audience," Murdoch told shareholders in Australia, citing many homes with hundreds of channels. And that comes, he said, despite broadcasters "probably offering the best programs with the most excitement about them."
But Murdoch did offer a business model that could help stem any negative tide, one t that will perhaps give hope to striking US film and television writers.
He said the answer could be to make quality programs that will yield significant profits when sold later on DVDs. Hollywood writers have sought a greater share of DVD revenues in the negotiations that led to their walkout.
"The essential thing is we make them very, very high quality so that they can be sold around the world and find an audience, and then be brought back to America, or to anywhere in the world, for that matter, and be sold as DVDs," he said. "We're finding that several programs, which you would think based on their ratings couldn't be making money ... are in fact very profitable (via DVD sales)."
An example: Fox cancelled animated comedy Family Guy, only to bring it back after DVD sales surged.
PUBLISHER OF ITALY’S LEADING FINANCE PAPER WINS STOCK EXCHANGE APPROVAL TO LIST
Italy's Il Sole 24 Ore, publisher of the country's most influential financial daily, has won stock exchange approval for its market debut, which is expected to take place early in December, Borsa Italiana said on Tuesday.
Reuters reported that analysts say the group, which has disclosed hardly any details on its listing plans, could have an enterprise value of between US$1.2 billion to US$1.5 billion.
Italian media outlets have reported that the group plans to list about 30 percent of its capital and say the market debut will most likely take place on December 6.
Il Sole 24 Ore sells just under 350,000 copies a day and is the most widely read financial newspaper in Italy. It was created in 1965 from the merger of Il Sole and 24 Ore. The company also publishes books, has a thriving radio station, owns a news agency, Radiocor, and organises conferences and courses.
The group has a partnership with Spanish financial newspaper El Economista.
UK DAILY MAIL’S HISTORIC INDIAN $5 BILLION NEWSPAPER PARTNERSHIP LAUNCHES IN INDIA TOMORROW
The Australian newspaper in recent weeks has increased its coverage of Asian and Indian media news, and today reports that the Daily Mail newspaper formula will be reinvented in India with the launch this week of a 48-page tabloid written in English.
As previously reported in MediaBlab, the paper will be aimed at the country’s emerging middle classes and neglected female readers.
Mail Today, a joint venture between Daily Mail and General Trust and the family-run India Today Group, goes on sale in Delhi on Friday with an initial print run of 120,000, aimed at the nine million English-speakers in the capital and regions near by.
The new title aims to reproduce the Daily Mail’s campaigning style of journalism, and the group is helping with the design and the editorial approach. It will not say how much it is committing to the venture, but official figures say that the total is £2.2 million ($A5 billion).
It is the first time that the Daily Mail group has invested in developing a leading newspaper outside Europe, although the British company is conscious that it is a minority partner. It holds 26 percent, the maximum permitted.
PAKISTAN’S NEW SATELLITE DISH IMPORT LAW DESIGNED TO SHORE UP CABLE BROADCAST BAN
Reporters Without Borders says it condemns the government's decision to restrict the import of satellite dishes in order to prevent Pakistanis from receiving the Pakistani and foreign TV news stations that have been subject to a cable broadcast ban within Pakistan since November 3.
The federal government yesterday modified the import law, making it harder to buy satellite dishes, decoders, encoders, modulators and other broadcast equipment abroad. Importers will now have to get permission from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority. Satellite dish sales have soared since the declaration of a state of emergency, despite an initial ban on the sale of satellite equipment.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH CELEBRATES ITS FIRST ANNIVERSARY
Al Jazeera English celebrates its first birthday today, and to airs channel which today mark the passing of its maiden year, Al Jazeera English will promote its extensive editorial scope with some of its best known presenters reporting live from key stories across the world.
The channel will showcase its dedication to accurate hard-hitting journalism through the exclusive broadcast of up to date special reports and first person accounts from some of the children who have been directly affected by the complex issues at the core of many landmark stories.
With it’s four broadcast centres in Doha, Kuala Lumpur, London and Washington DC, Al Jazeera English is the first international TV news channel to provide a single 24-hour news feed to the entire English-speaking world.
Just recently the channel was acclaimed for producing unparalleled and exclusive coverage from Myanmar, Burma, where ‘undercover reporters’ vividly portrayed the violence that was used against protestors.
Other high points in Al Jazeera English’s first year included being the only English-speaking TV station covering the Hamas takeover from inside Gaza, with its own offices becoming part of the battleground, its unrivalled coverage of the conflict between the rebel and government/NATO forces in Afghanistan, and being the first to announce Tony Blair’s new job after finishing as British PM, with the Middle East Quartet.
Al Jazeera English, based in Kuala Lumpur, has achieved a global viewer presence of more than 100 million homes just one year after going live and is carried by major cable and satellite operators across the globe, although it still does not have a platform in Australia.
It does however have a a number of Australians working for it. Including correspondent Dan Nolan, presenter and correspondent Hamish Macdonald, program editor Marcus Cheek (ex-ABC), news editor Jeremy Custance (ex-ABC), producer Cath Turner (ex-Seven), executive producer Mick Bunworth (ex-ABC), producer Kylie Grey (ex-SBS), producer Danielle Culbertson (ex-Ten) and producer Shawn Devitt (ex-Nine).
Many of the camera crews are Australians, too.
JOURNALISM IN ALL ITS UGLY-AUSTRALIAN STYLE
The Australian newspaper journalist Caroline Overington has been accused of attempting to influence an independent candidate into referencing Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull in return for front-page treatment of the story.
She is now at the centre of another email controversy, Crikey.com reports.
Crikey said Overington changed from flirtatious to threatening in emails she sent trying to obtain an interview with and photo of Labor's candidate in Wentworth, George Newhouse.
Overington's style of journalism has attracted much attention since being highlighted on the ABC's Media Watch on Monday, and is now attracting even more attention following the publication by Crikey of this bizarre and ominous email exchange with Newhouse.
The following emails were sent on October 9:
Overington wrote at 11.08am: "Let's chat today, shall we? I could come out to Bondi, since I live there. And now you are single, I might even make a pass at you."
Newhouse, 11.11am: "You describe me (previously in an article) as short, dark and Jewish, so why would you do that? And I know you are married (and I know who to) so why would I reciprocate? George."
Overington, 11.14am: "Not married, me. Separated five months ago. I might like short, dark and Jewish, you never know. My grandfather is Jewish. But he married a Polish blonde. Perhaps we are related."
Overington, 11.35am: "Either you say yes to a photograph smiling and happy and out campaigning, or we stake you out at ... Bondi Junction, and get you looking like a cat caught in a trap, in your PJs. Your choice."
Newhouse, 11.40am: "Now that doesn't sound like burying the hatchet … What is the story? George."
Overington, 11.43am: "Because we ran a piece today saying you're a scaredy cat that needs ALP minders and can't run your own campaign. You're saying it ain't so. So why are you still hiding from us? Let's be pals."
Overington, 12.51 pm: "OK, we are sending a bloke out at 1pm. We do not have all day, George."
Overington, 2.48 pm: "We're out the front of your house, and your office, just so you know."
ABC WILL NOT FIGHT SEVEN NETWORK’S INJUNCTION OVER CHASER ANTICS
The ABC told AAP that it will not going to fight a successful injunction by the Seven television network to prevent the Chaser program The Chaser from airing a segment featuring Seven Today Tonight show host Anna Coren.
On Tuesday night Coren took part last night in a humorous segment, What Have We Learnt From Current Affairs This Week, but the Chaser team was afterwards confronted at Seven's Martin Place studios by journalists and executive producer and accused of trespassing.
The footage did not air on The Chaser program on the ABC last night, but instead Seven spent the first 17 minutes of its Today Tonight show airing the exchange between a Chaser reporter and a Today Tonight reporter.
"We're stunned that Today Tonight has completely beaten up this story," Chaser executive producer Julian Morrow said in the statement.
"Who do they think they are - Today Tonight?"
NEWS AGENCY BAN ON CRICKET AUSTRALIA CONTINUES, WITH NEW ZEALAND NEWSPAPER COALITION ALSO RESISTING DEMANDS TO LIMIT MEDIA COVERAGE
International news agencies will probably extend a boycott of Australian cricket after attempts to broker a deal over coverage stalled.
The Australian newspaper today reports that Reuters, the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse are all expected to boycott this week's second Test between Australia and Sri Lanka starting on Friday in Hobart in protest at Cricket Australia's demands.
The three international agencies were locked out of last week's first Test in Brisbane but were hoping to find a solution in time for the second Test.
Also, a coalition of New Zealand newspapers has written to Cricket Australia saying they will resist demands to limit media coverage during next month's Chappel-Hadlee series. The International Cricket Council said it hopes the dispute is resolved amicably.
Australia are the highest ranked team in world cricket but only 55,953 people attended the five days of the first Sri Lanka test. Television viewing figures were down nearly 41 per cent on last year, according to a report in yesterday’s Sydney’s Daily Telegraph.
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN PREMIER ACCUSES DAILY NEWSPAPER OF BEING MANIPULATED BY FORMER DISGRACED PREMIER
Western Australia's daily newspaper has been manipulated by disgraced former premier turned lobbyist Brian Burke, says current Premier Alan Carpenter.
It said The West published two articles, on November 7 and 8, after the journalist contacted the Corruption and Crime Commission and members of the select committee earlier in the week over an inquiry it was holding.
The journalist asked if the CCC had provided intercept material to the select parliamentary committee and whether it was true Burke had objected to Philip Urquhart acting as counsel assisting the committee.
The report said the CCC evidence could have been leaked by any number of people involved in the secret hearings.
SINGAPORE-BASED MOBILE CONTENT PROVIDER ZINGMOBILE OFFICIALLY LISTS ON AUSTRALIAN STOCK EXCHANGE
Mobile phone content provider Zingmobile Group Ltd, the Australian division of Singapore-based Zingmobile Pte Ltd, was admitted to the official list of ASX Ltd on Wednesday, November 14, 2007.
Official quotation of the following securities will commence on Friday, November 16: 58,082,820 ordinary shares fully paid issued at 50c per share.
The new company’s ticker code is: zmg.
Founded in 2002, Singapore’s Zingmobile Group Pte Ltd is the leading pioneer for publishing value-added mobile content, services and applications for today’s dynamic mobile market. Dedicated in providing first class entertainment, informative and relevant mobile content; Zingmobile works with MNOs, content developers and suppliers to ensure that they are working with the latest technology in providing the most enhanced solutions in delivering mobile content.
Zingmobile operates throughout the Asia Pacific region with offices in Malaysia, Indonesia, China, and Bangladesh. Mobiletainment contents are being delivered through major networks operating within the region serving more than 500 million mobile subscribers.
Zingmobile is a profitable and growing public company that develops and markets mobile content direct to consumers. Zingmobile has developed its own content library of over 100,000 unique items across 25 applications and service and over 90 percent of sales are from its own content.
Zingmobile Mobiletainment© caters to more than 500 million mobile subscribers in the Asia Pacific region and delivers mobile media contents in the most effective and innovative ways possible.
Zingmobile provides a comprehensive selection of mobiletainments, which allows users to personalise, get valuable information on their mobile phones and most of all be entertaining.
Contents are presented in various languages which include English, traditional and simplified Chinese, Bahasa Melayu and Tamil.
PHOTON HIRES MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR ITS INTERNET DIVISION
Photon Group Ltd has appointed Caitlin Millar-Jack as managing director of its fast growing internet marketing and communications division.
Caitlin joins from M&C Saatchi where she was general manager - digital, direct and data. She has an extensive background in digital and internet marketing through several leadership roles at M&C Saatchi and also Deloitte (Eclipse Group) both in Australia and New Zealand.
Executive chairman of Photon, Tim Hughes said, “Caitlin’s appointment comes at an opportune time as we continue to seriously build our capability in the internet marketing sector. Through strategic acquisitions of companies such as OB Media, Found and iMega, internet marketing now accounts for close to 20 percent of the group’s earnings and Caitlin will be instrumental in driving this growth further.”
Caitlin Millar-Jack joins Photon on November 19.
LOOP MOBILE LANDS ITV CONTRACT IN UK TO CREATE MYITV
Loop Mobile Ltd, recently spun out of sex toys company, has secured a new contract for the development of a series of mobile communities for ITV plc, the UK’s largest commercial television broadcaster.
The contract will facilitate user generated content, user profiles, and instant chat for ITV audience members for a set of reality, entertainment, sport and talk programs.
The contract commences immediately and will see Loop Mobile tailoring its Moko platform to be branded, MyITV, for the launch of individual television programs and accompanying mobile communities.
Communities for X-Factor and the women’s talk back show Loose Women are already live and new communities to be launched over the coming months include Britain’s Got Talent, ITV Sport covering the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League and the Formula 1 Grand Prix, and one of the highest rating soap operas in Britain, Emmerdale.
The contract includes development fees for tailoring the company’s platform to ITV Network branding and style requirement, plus a revenue share agreement on user generated content activity.
This revenue was not forecasted by Loop in its IPO prospectus for the 2007/2008 financial year.
Loop Mobile ceo and managing director, Martin Hoffman said this contract was part of an innovative incorporation of mobile communities for media organisations.
“We are pleased to announce this contract and be the first global organisation to work with ITV in building its mobile community presence. This contract is an endorsement of mobile community platforms and an exciting expansion of our business since listing in June.”
MOGADISHU MAYOR DEFENDS SOMALIAN CRACKDOWN ON UNAUTHORISED MEDIA
Reuters reports that Mogadishu's mayor yesterday defended a government crackdown on Somali media that has been condemned by rights groups, saying three radio stations were closed this week because they were spreading lies.
In the latest attack on local media, government forces raided Simba Radio and Radio Banadir on Tuesday, a day after shutting down Shabelle Radio for the eighth time this year.
"These three radio stations have been closed down because they have no permit. We told them repeatedly to get the official documents, but they ignored the government notification," Mayor Mohamed Dheere, a former warlord, told Reuters.
Happily MediaBlab editor Peter Olszewski carries the correct official documentation for coverage of Mogadishu, and therefore is at no risk of upsetting the warlord turned mayor if, by some remote possibility, MediaBlab decides to research the Somalian media situation first hand.
MediaBlab’s accreditation reads:
“Republic of Somalia
Ministry of Information
Subject: Permission
This ministry has fully authorised and permits the bearer of this letter, Mr. Peyotl Olszewski, to move about the city, take photographs of any place of interest to him and talk and ask questions to officials and other individuals.
Thanks.
The Director General of the Ministry of Information
Mr Abdi Haji Goobabon.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Dheere also accused the private stations of undermining national security by fabricating reports that the presidential palace had been hit by mortar bombs.
"These radios have generated violence by airing exaggerated false reports. So, we have to crack down on them because of national security interests," he said.
"The international community does not have to pressure us over lies told by the media."
Staff at Simba and Shabelle said both stations had obtained the necessary permissions and stood by their broadcasts.
Seven reporters have been killed in Somalia since January.
MEDIA OWNERSHIP RULES MAY BE RELAXED IN THE US FOLLOWING FCC PROPOSAL
The Washington Post reports that the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission has proposed relaxing an agency rule to allow big-city US newspapers to buy the smaller television stations in their markets, a move designed as a compromise in the ongoing issue of corporate control of the airwaves.
Under Chairman Kevin Martin's plan, set for a commission vote December 18, newspapers in the nation's 20-largest media markets could buy one radio or television station in their cities, if certain conditions apply. The station could not be among the four most-watched in the market, essentially preventing newspapers from buying popular stations affiliated with ABC, CBS, NBC or Fox.
Anti-consolidation groups vehemently disagreed, saying it would place too much power in the hands of a few moguls. Critics denounced Martin's proposal for containing what they said were loopholes that could lead to widespread consolidation.
AP RETRACTS STORY ABOUT PARIS HILTON HELPING DRUNKEN ELEPHANTS IN INDIA
The Associated Press has issued a retraction, saying that in a November 13 story it incorrectly reported that Paris Hilton was praised by conservationists for highlighting the problem of binge-drinking elephants in north eastern India.
Lori Berk, a publicist for Hilton, said she never made any comments about helping drunken elephants in India.
PREMIER GUITAR MAGAZINE INVITES SUBSCRIBERS TO NAME THEIR OWN PRICE FOR SUBSCRIPTION
Folio reports that Premier Guitar magazine in the US will launch a Radiohead-inspired campaign allowing subscribers to name their own price for a year-long subscription.
The monthly for "serious and accomplished guitarists" is wrapping 10,000 copies of its December issue with a "pay what you want" subscription card and sending them to non-subscribers.
MYANMAR JUNTA LAUNCHES ANTI-WESTERN-MEDIA MEDIA CAMPAIGN
Myanmar’s ruling junta has begun a not-so-subtle outdoor and online campaign against western media’s news slant in reporting on doings in the pariah nation.
The Irrawaddy Journal reports that one slogan in downtown Yangon translate as “Oppose those who rely on America, act as their stooges and hold negative views.”
Photographs of protesting monks and anti-US rallies were posted on an official regime web site on Wednesday. Some captions accused protesting monks of being imposters and "destructive elements," and said Myanmar’s history will be written by the Myanmar people, not by President George W. Bush.
The logos of western radio stations including the British Broadcasting Cooperation, Radio Free Asia, the Voice of America and the Democracy Voice of Burma are marked with red crosses on the web site.
According to observers, many residents have been coerced into attending pro-junta rallies and told to hold posters deriding a "skyful of liars," including the BBC.
MURDOCH SAYS PROFIT-CHALLENGED FREE-TO-AIR TV COULD BENEFIT FROM QUALITY PROGRAMS THAT CAN BE SOLD LATER AS DVDS.
Rupert Murdoch’s pronunciations in Australia are receiving wide coverage in American media.
Media Daily News, for example, reported that he has all but declared on Tuesday that the sky's-the-limit profits from traditional broadcast TV are over.
Calling broadcast television a "highly challenged industry in America," he said that big events such as the Super Bowl can still prosper, but ho-hum-rated series that fill prime time are at risk for generating declining interest among audiences and advertisers alike.
"I think we have to be a little sensible about this, and realise that free-to-air television faces a lot of challenges, just from the sheer fragmentation of the audience," Murdoch told shareholders in Australia, citing many homes with hundreds of channels. And that comes, he said, despite broadcasters "probably offering the best programs with the most excitement about them."
But Murdoch did offer a business model that could help stem any negative tide, one t that will perhaps give hope to striking US film and television writers.
He said the answer could be to make quality programs that will yield significant profits when sold later on DVDs. Hollywood writers have sought a greater share of DVD revenues in the negotiations that led to their walkout.
"The essential thing is we make them very, very high quality so that they can be sold around the world and find an audience, and then be brought back to America, or to anywhere in the world, for that matter, and be sold as DVDs," he said. "We're finding that several programs, which you would think based on their ratings couldn't be making money ... are in fact very profitable (via DVD sales)."
An example: Fox cancelled animated comedy Family Guy, only to bring it back after DVD sales surged.
PUBLISHER OF ITALY’S LEADING FINANCE PAPER WINS STOCK EXCHANGE APPROVAL TO LIST
Italy's Il Sole 24 Ore, publisher of the country's most influential financial daily, has won stock exchange approval for its market debut, which is expected to take place early in December, Borsa Italiana said on Tuesday.
Reuters reported that analysts say the group, which has disclosed hardly any details on its listing plans, could have an enterprise value of between US$1.2 billion to US$1.5 billion.
Italian media outlets have reported that the group plans to list about 30 percent of its capital and say the market debut will most likely take place on December 6.
Il Sole 24 Ore sells just under 350,000 copies a day and is the most widely read financial newspaper in Italy. It was created in 1965 from the merger of Il Sole and 24 Ore. The company also publishes books, has a thriving radio station, owns a news agency, Radiocor, and organises conferences and courses.
The group has a partnership with Spanish financial newspaper El Economista.
UK DAILY MAIL’S HISTORIC INDIAN $5 BILLION NEWSPAPER PARTNERSHIP LAUNCHES IN INDIA TOMORROW
The Australian newspaper in recent weeks has increased its coverage of Asian and Indian media news, and today reports that the Daily Mail newspaper formula will be reinvented in India with the launch this week of a 48-page tabloid written in English.
As previously reported in MediaBlab, the paper will be aimed at the country’s emerging middle classes and neglected female readers.
Mail Today, a joint venture between Daily Mail and General Trust and the family-run India Today Group, goes on sale in Delhi on Friday with an initial print run of 120,000, aimed at the nine million English-speakers in the capital and regions near by.
The new title aims to reproduce the Daily Mail’s campaigning style of journalism, and the group is helping with the design and the editorial approach. It will not say how much it is committing to the venture, but official figures say that the total is £2.2 million ($A5 billion).
It is the first time that the Daily Mail group has invested in developing a leading newspaper outside Europe, although the British company is conscious that it is a minority partner. It holds 26 percent, the maximum permitted.
PAKISTAN’S NEW SATELLITE DISH IMPORT LAW DESIGNED TO SHORE UP CABLE BROADCAST BAN
Reporters Without Borders says it condemns the government's decision to restrict the import of satellite dishes in order to prevent Pakistanis from receiving the Pakistani and foreign TV news stations that have been subject to a cable broadcast ban within Pakistan since November 3.
The federal government yesterday modified the import law, making it harder to buy satellite dishes, decoders, encoders, modulators and other broadcast equipment abroad. Importers will now have to get permission from the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority. Satellite dish sales have soared since the declaration of a state of emergency, despite an initial ban on the sale of satellite equipment.
AL JAZEERA ENGLISH CELEBRATES ITS FIRST ANNIVERSARY
Al Jazeera English celebrates its first birthday today, and to airs channel which today mark the passing of its maiden year, Al Jazeera English will promote its extensive editorial scope with some of its best known presenters reporting live from key stories across the world.
The channel will showcase its dedication to accurate hard-hitting journalism through the exclusive broadcast of up to date special reports and first person accounts from some of the children who have been directly affected by the complex issues at the core of many landmark stories.
With it’s four broadcast centres in Doha, Kuala Lumpur, London and Washington DC, Al Jazeera English is the first international TV news channel to provide a single 24-hour news feed to the entire English-speaking world.
Just recently the channel was acclaimed for producing unparalleled and exclusive coverage from Myanmar, Burma, where ‘undercover reporters’ vividly portrayed the violence that was used against protestors.
Other high points in Al Jazeera English’s first year included being the only English-speaking TV station covering the Hamas takeover from inside Gaza, with its own offices becoming part of the battleground, its unrivalled coverage of the conflict between the rebel and government/NATO forces in Afghanistan, and being the first to announce Tony Blair’s new job after finishing as British PM, with the Middle East Quartet.
Al Jazeera English, based in Kuala Lumpur, has achieved a global viewer presence of more than 100 million homes just one year after going live and is carried by major cable and satellite operators across the globe, although it still does not have a platform in Australia.
It does however have a a number of Australians working for it. Including correspondent Dan Nolan, presenter and correspondent Hamish Macdonald, program editor Marcus Cheek (ex-ABC), news editor Jeremy Custance (ex-ABC), producer Cath Turner (ex-Seven), executive producer Mick Bunworth (ex-ABC), producer Kylie Grey (ex-SBS), producer Danielle Culbertson (ex-Ten) and producer Shawn Devitt (ex-Nine).
Many of the camera crews are Australians, too.
JOURNALISM IN ALL ITS UGLY-AUSTRALIAN STYLE
The Australian newspaper journalist Caroline Overington has been accused of attempting to influence an independent candidate into referencing Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull in return for front-page treatment of the story.
She is now at the centre of another email controversy, Crikey.com reports.
Crikey said Overington changed from flirtatious to threatening in emails she sent trying to obtain an interview with and photo of Labor's candidate in Wentworth, George Newhouse.
Overington's style of journalism has attracted much attention since being highlighted on the ABC's Media Watch on Monday, and is now attracting even more attention following the publication by Crikey of this bizarre and ominous email exchange with Newhouse.
The following emails were sent on October 9:
Overington wrote at 11.08am: "Let's chat today, shall we? I could come out to Bondi, since I live there. And now you are single, I might even make a pass at you."
Newhouse, 11.11am: "You describe me (previously in an article) as short, dark and Jewish, so why would you do that? And I know you are married (and I know who to) so why would I reciprocate? George."
Overington, 11.14am: "Not married, me. Separated five months ago. I might like short, dark and Jewish, you never know. My grandfather is Jewish. But he married a Polish blonde. Perhaps we are related."
Overington, 11.35am: "Either you say yes to a photograph smiling and happy and out campaigning, or we stake you out at ... Bondi Junction, and get you looking like a cat caught in a trap, in your PJs. Your choice."
Newhouse, 11.40am: "Now that doesn't sound like burying the hatchet … What is the story? George."
Overington, 11.43am: "Because we ran a piece today saying you're a scaredy cat that needs ALP minders and can't run your own campaign. You're saying it ain't so. So why are you still hiding from us? Let's be pals."
Overington, 12.51 pm: "OK, we are sending a bloke out at 1pm. We do not have all day, George."
Overington, 2.48 pm: "We're out the front of your house, and your office, just so you know."
ABC WILL NOT FIGHT SEVEN NETWORK’S INJUNCTION OVER CHASER ANTICS
The ABC told AAP that it will not going to fight a successful injunction by the Seven television network to prevent the Chaser program The Chaser from airing a segment featuring Seven Today Tonight show host Anna Coren.
On Tuesday night Coren took part last night in a humorous segment, What Have We Learnt From Current Affairs This Week, but the Chaser team was afterwards confronted at Seven's Martin Place studios by journalists and executive producer and accused of trespassing.
The footage did not air on The Chaser program on the ABC last night, but instead Seven spent the first 17 minutes of its Today Tonight show airing the exchange between a Chaser reporter and a Today Tonight reporter.
"We're stunned that Today Tonight has completely beaten up this story," Chaser executive producer Julian Morrow said in the statement.
"Who do they think they are - Today Tonight?"
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