Media independence takes a knock in South Africa, with an apparently retaliatory sacking. While publicly-supported broadcasters are often quite good (the BBC comes to mind), there is a built in risk of government interference, and here it is. RSF press release, via AllAfrica. Reporters sans Frontières (Paris) PRESS RELEASE7 May 2008Posted to the web 7…
Last week, we asked if American television networks were going to cover the story that the Pentagon coordinated pro-government statements in secret meetings with the news networks’ on-air employees. In a word: No. They aren’t going to cover that. Politico: ‘Deafening’ silence on analyst story
LA Times: “Federal agents Tuesday swarmed the home and office of the Bush administration official responsible for protecting government whistle-blowers, part of an investigation into whether the official retaliated against his employees and obstructed justice.” Washington Post: More than a dozen agents participated in the daylong raid, temporarily shutting down the e-mail and computer systems…
An analysis of recent political violence in Kenya posits that corruption and failures of the democratic process, not ethnicity, are driving the conflict. While few readers here will be shocked by this conclusion, the authors do a fine job of assembling the supporting evidence. Authors Rachel Itwaru and Sarah J. Johnson: Indeed, though the killing…
Global Integrity’s Mohammed Syful Islam writes in from Bangladesh with his take on the future of corruption in his government. Corruption is everywhere, he says, but change may be coming.“Koun Bonega Crorepati?” in Bangladesh By Mohammed Syful Islam On “Koun Bonega Crorepati” (“Who Will Be The Owner of Crore of Taka”), a popular game show…
Global Integrity’s friends at The Center for Investigative Reporting – Bosnia-Herzegovina, have launched a news portal addressing organized crime in the Balkans, in partnership with a host of local muckrakers. The URL is www.reportingproject.net, or read below for background. CIR/BiH’s Drew Sullivan writes from Sarajevo: Hello friends: Very quietly we have put up our regional…