The end of local news as we know it?

It’s fair to say that local and regional media’s received a bit of a beating recently. First, the rejection of BBC Local-a new super-local news service aimed at a younger audience, Secondly, the homogenisation of ITV regions, meaning a loss of programming from Plymouth, and finally, the big one, our beloved friend, the local rag.
So [...]

My MA Project and Free Speech

My MA Project, see here -, about the conflict between Christians and Hindus in India’s Orissa, touches on censorship issues over there.
One of which is this.
Also, I may encounter some freedom of speech issues my self, although I hope not. Any that I do I will log on this blog.
 
On the actual topic, even though I have learnt [...]

Fair Comment…

As our blog deadline looms and we’re all getting around to wrapping up and doing our last few posts I’d just like to take this opportunity to comment on how much I’ve learned from this whole experience in group blogging. Not only do I feel like I’ve become a mini expert on press freedom and [...]

Finally!

Here is the Sami Ben Gharbia interview!
http://paulknowles.podbean.com/

Muslim protests in Luton

OK, so this isn’t exactly “fresh news”.  But, I haven’t (yet at least) picked-up any other UCF blogs on the story AND I’m keen to post my thoughts anyway.  I should add that it’s more to do with general freedom of expression rather than the more specific issue of press / broadcast freedom.
Quick reminder: this was [...]

Lese-majeste laws in Thailand – defamation laws? gagging laws?

Lese-Majeste laws in Thailand have been in the international news over the last months with the arrest of foreigners there who have been accused of bad-mouthing the Royals.
In Thailand the Royal Family are taken extremely seriously and any expressions of disrespect are zero tolerated. One Thai intellectual, Sulak Sivaraksa,  was arrested for calling The King (when talking [...]

Maddy: press intrusion?

Hi you lovely Fair Commenters…spotted a tasty morsel on IRN today.  Gerry McGann has criticised the press for the way in which the disappearance of his daughter Madeleine was reported.  He’s answering questions from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on privacy laws.  He’s spoken-out in pretty blunt terms.  I’ve HOPEFULLY embedded some AUDIO for [...]

Around the world in 80 blogs

Here’s our final powerpoint presentation, available to download:
Around the World in 80 Blogs
Just to give you a bit of background, the purpose of the presentation was to act as a background to our talk and we felt that, given the title of our presentation, we should show as many blogs and examples of media freedom [...]

Fair Comment final presentation

Hi Jules,
Since you’ve the final presenatation of our blog, can we try and upload this on our site.

Presentation…done!!!

Hey fellow faircommentors!
First of all I think we all deserve a big pat on the back for the presentation on Thursday. If I do say so myself, I think our hard work paid off and we all did a very good job.  I think the outfits and the music and dramtics really bought it to life. [...]