This index measures the state of press freedom in the world. It reflects the degree of freedom journalists and news organisations enjoy in each country, and the efforts made by the state to respect and ensure respect for this freedom.
Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2006
Free press
The free newspapers phenomenon is increasing in Portugal. Formerly restricted to the two main cities, Lisbon and Porto, these last weeks the distribution network was extended to three more cities. Destak and Metro, two free newspapers, also state that they will create the conditions for starting to produce local news.
Even if the main press disregarded this subject, concerning the current crisis in this sector, it should be seen as a relevant issue, maybe as turning position for a different approach related with the "conventional" press.
Even if the main press disregarded this subject, concerning the current crisis in this sector, it should be seen as a relevant issue, maybe as turning position for a different approach related with the "conventional" press.
I've seen this before...
A television programme that purports to show widespread drug use among Italy’s MPs was scrapped before transmission last night amid uproar over both the results and the methods used to entrap the politicians.
In a classic sting operation some 50 politicians were fooled into thinking they were being interviewed about aspects of next year’s draft budget, currently before parliament. Instead, a make-up artist with a satirical TV show swabbed their eyebrows to get a sample of their perspiration, which was then tested for traces of cannabis and cocaine. Twelve allegedly tested positive for cannabis and four for cocaine, all apparently taken in the 36 hours before being approached.
Full article in The Guardian.
Google buys YouTube
It would be easy to have a blog only about Google's new achievements.
Chad Hurley and Steve Chen, the YouTube founders, have made a video on YouTube about being bought by Google. Check it here.
Memory - when is it too much?
Lately, it seems that "too much memory" can be considered as a legitimate excuse to dismiss journalists.
A fazer fé num relato do último plenário de redacção do jornal Público relatado pelo semanário Sol, um dos administradores da empresa proprietária do diário terá justificado a necessidade de dispensar jornalistas pelo facto de, segundo disse, haver «memória a mais» na redacção (...).
More and more, by Google
Google expanded its controversial Google News service yesterday, adding an archive of articles spanning more than 200 years, including stories from the Guardian, Washington Post and New York Times.
Google News Archive Search allows users to look up articles from publications dating as far back as the 18th century. Users will be able to read stories reporting the assassination of President Kennedy, the unfolding of the Watergate scandal and England's 1966 World Cup victory. (...)
Full article in Guardian Unlimited.
Citizen journalism, a new development
In an experiment in collaborative journalism, Wired News is putting reporter Ryan Singel at your service.
This wiki began as an unedited 1,059-word article on the wiki phenomenon, exactly as Ryan filed it. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to do the job of a Wired News editor and whip it into shape. Don't change the quotes, but feel free to reorganize it, make cuts, smooth the prose or add links -- whatever it takes to make it a lively, engaging news piece.
Ryan will answer questions from the comments page, and, when consensus calls for it, conduct additional reporting. If there's something he missed, let him know, and he'll get on the phone and investigate, then submit new text to the wiki for your review.
Readers can also submit headlines for the story, and write and edit the "deck" -- a blurb for our front page and RSS feed that promotes the article.
To make any changes, you'll first need to create a free account at Socialtext.
We'll release the results under a Creative Commons license, and, if the whole thing doesn't turn into a disaster, run the final story on Wired News on Sept. 7, 2006.
Check it here.
Crisis in the Middle East
This website provides a map of the conflict with a view by blogs belonging to some local bloggers (Lebanese, Palestinian and Israeli) and others related with the coverage of this crisis.
(Link in the title.)