MEDIA-MEXICO: Broadcasting Law to Face Supreme Court Challenge

A year ago, the Mexican government and political parties caved in to pressure from powerful media consortia Televisa and TV Azteca, and passed a law that favoured the two broadcasting giants, to the detriment of aims to democratise the media.

VENEZUELA: The Gift of Native Tongues, On the Air

Eiker García and Nelson Maldonado took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly, producing a long "mmm" sound, following the instructions of the professional radio presenter who was giving them breathing and elocution lessons.

PRESS FREEDOM: Journalists in Colombia Create New National Federation

Journalists in Colombia, one of the most dangerous countries in the world for reporters, finally have their own national association.

PRESS FREEDOM: On Parole in Portuguese-Speaking Countries

Only a small proportion of the 235 million people who live in the eight Portuguese-speaking (Lusophone) countries scattered over four continents enjoy access to a truly free press.

PRESS FREEDOM DAY-THAILAND: Media Landscape Worries Activists

Blocked websites, banned films, news programmes taken off the air, self-censorship among traditional media. These have been the military government's 'sins' since it seized power in September 2006, in the eyes of advocates of freedom of expression and free media advocates.

Q&A: Colombian Reporters ‘Have Counted So Many Dead That We Lose Count’

"Freedom of the press is merely rhetorical," says veteran Colombian journalist Javier Darío Restrepo. "The only thing that counts are free reporters."

PRESS FREEDOM DAY: Sri Lanka Out of the Reckoning

"Press and freedom? In Sri Lanka?" was the incredulous response of one journalist when asked what he thought of celebrating World Press Freedom Day, May 3. "Keep my name out of this," was all he would further venture to say.

Q&A: Victims in Colombia Are Gagged, the Public Misinformed

When a murder occurs in a Colombian community, the locals know who committed it: far-right paramilitaries, leftwing guerrillas, or the security forces. They also know if fighting really took place, or if the "enemy" bodies displayed on television as "trophies" by army officers were in fact dead civilians.

PRESS FREEDOM DAY-RUSSIA: Posthumous Honour Points to Muzzled Media

A posthumous award will be presented on Press Freedom Day Thursday in honour of Anna Politkovskaya, the investigative reporter who exposed human rights abuses including rape, abductions and killings in the breakaway republic Chechnya.

PRESS FREEDOM DAY-PAKISTAN: Caught Between Taliban and Gov’t

Both the federal government and pro-Taliban groups threaten press freedom in Pakistan's largely rural Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA), along the porous border with Afghanistan.

NEPAL: ‘Bad News’ Hounds the Media

Bad news continue to plague Nepali journalists against whom attacks go on unabated.

MEDIA-NICARAGUA: Government’s Press Policy Comes Under Fire

The communication strategy of the Nicaraguan government of Daniel Ortega, which consists of getting information out "directly and uncontaminated" through friendly media outlets, has drawn fire and complaints about possible threats to freedom of speech.

ARGENTINA: Civil Society Keeps Eye on First Lady’s Tours

A non-governmental organisation in Argentina is monitoring the trips made by Senator Cristina Fernández, President Néstor Kirchner's wife, who travels with a large entourage and an appointments schedule worthy of a head of state.

HEALTH-LATIN AMERICA: Limiting the Junk Food Banquet

Amidst a little pushing and shoving, dozens of girls and boys order fried potatoes, soft drinks, hotdogs and candy at the shop in a private school in Mexico. Similar scenes can be found across Latin America, where junk food sales are strong.

EGYPT: Reporters Fight for Right to Cover ‘Terror’

Parliament head Fathi Sorour set off a furore when he said earlier this month that planned anti-terrorism legislation could be applied to reporters covering news on "terrorist" organisations. The reported comments rattled journalists and rights activists.

EAST AFRICA: Tackling the Digital Divide From a Regional Perspective

The digital divide between urban and rural areas in East Africa - and between rich and poor - continues to loom large, highlighting the need for initiatives that will enable all to benefit from information and communication technologies (ICTs).

MEDIA-US: Public Broadcaster Pulls TV Documentary on Islamism

The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) has dropped a documentary film purporting to show the struggles of U.S. "moderate" Muslims against Islamic extremists from a television series airing this week on more than 300 U.S. public television stations.

MEDIA-US: Public’s Grasp of Current Issues Unchanged Despite Internet, Cable TV

Despite the emergence of 24-hour cable television news and fast-growing use of internet news sources, the U.S. public's knowledge of national and international personalities and issues is little changed from nearly 20 years ago, according to a new survey released by the Pew Research Centre for the People and the Press.

MEDIA: Grenade Attack Shocks Serbia

For five minutes from noon Monday, traffic stood still at mot places in all 165 municipalities of Serbia, in protest against a hand grenade attack against leading investigative journalist Dejan Anastasijevic.

MEDIA-SOUTH ASIA: Joint-TV Programmes May Yet Build Regional Trust

A unique, private media initiative involving joint television programmes may do what political leaders in South Asia have failed to do so far - bring together the people of this fractious region.

MEDIA: When Hate Speech Turns Deadly, Who Can Stop It?

Thirteen years ago, Rwanda's Hutu majority slaughtered 800,000 Tutsis in just a few months, partly thanks to a media campaign that exaggerated their cultural differences and made the two groups bitter enemies.