International Media

Media Didn’t Understand Latinos

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Article in Poynter by Fernanda Camarena, 11/7/24

Headline:  “The mainstream media misunderstood Latino voters once again”

“The election results underscore how disconnected and oversimplified media coverage of this community turned out to be”

“While Trump lost the overall percentage of Latino votes to Vice President Kamala Harris, he jumped 13 percentage points from 2020 to a record high for a Republican presidential nominee, according to national exit poll data. As the media dutifully documented Trump’s insults, threats and rhetoric along the campaign trail, it framed his immigration and mass-deportation plans as game-changers (or “game over”) for Latino voters. But Latino voters ultimately demonstrated across the country, including within many key swing-state districts, that they believed a Trump presidency is a better bet for them than a Harris term.

“It’s clear that news organizations inaccurately reflected Latino priorities while leaning on assumptions about how they expected Latinos should react or feel about Trump’s aggressive immigration plans. The ‘garbage’ joke was essentially framed as the last straw.”

https://www.poynter.org/ethics-trust/2024/latino-voters-trump-racism-tony-hinchcliffe-media/

Media Blackout in Gaza

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Headline:  “”We are witnessing the final stage of genocide in Gaza”

Article in The Guardian by Arwa Madawi, 11/6/24

“I obviously have no idea how many people have been killed in Gaza. Partly that’s because – and I don’t understand why every single journalist in the west is not appalled by this – the foreign press is not freely allowed in. Meanwhile – and, again, I don’t understand why every single journalist in the west is not enraged by this – Palestinian journalists are being wiped out. There is essentially a media blackout. So it’s hard to assess the death toll. But what I do know is this: citing that official 43,000 figure without providing a long list of caveats feels like journalistic malpractice at this point.”

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/06/we-are-witnessing-the-final-stage-of-genocide-in-gaza

 

Social Media Politically Ghosting?

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Article in Vox by Aja Romano, 11/2/24

Headline:  “Were Bad Bunny and Ricky Martin really shadow banned by Instagram and X?”

Subhead:  “What social media shadow ban rumors tell us about election anxiety.”

“In the lead-up to the election, allegations are flying that social media platforms have been “shadow banning,” or in some way filtering the political content of, celebrities. After multiple Latine stars spoke out against the racism and misogyny on display at last week’s Madison Square Garden rally, Ricky Martin posted an Instagram Story claiming that the platform was blocking a post he’d published on the subject. Users also speculated that their access to other public figures who posted about the rally, including Bad Bunny, was being somehow restricted.”

https://www.vox.com/culture/381925/instagram-shadow-ban-political-election-posts-ricky-martin-bad-bunny-twitter-x-censorship

Trump Media and Mexico

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Article in ProPublica by Robert Faturechi, Justin Elliott and Alex Mierjeski, 11/2/24

Headline:  “Trump Media Outsourced Jobs to Mexico Even as Trump Pushes “America First””

Subhead:  “On the campaign trail, Donald Trump threatened businesses that send jobs south of the border, while his own company that runs the Truth Social platform outsourced coding jobs to workers in Mexico, outraging some staff members. “

“ormer President Donald Trump’s social media company outsourced jobs to workers in Mexico even as Trump publicly railed against outsourcing on the campaign trail and threatened heavy tariffs on companies that send jobs south of the border.

The firm’s use of workers in Mexico was confirmed by a spokesperson for Trump Media, which operates the Truth Social platform. The workers were hired through another entity to code and perform other technical duties, according to a person with knowledge of Trump Media. The reliance on foreign labor was met with outrage among the company’s own staff, who accused its leadership of betraying their “America First” ideals, the person said.”

https://www.propublica.org/article/donald-trump-media-outsourced-jobs-mexico-truth-social

Article In MediIte by Jennifer Bowers Bahney. 11/3/24

Headline:  “Trump’s Media Company Reportedly Outsourced Jobs to Mexico — Amid Trump Pledge to Impose Tariffs on Companies That Outsource Jobs”

Article in Raw Story by Robert Faturechi ,11/2/24

Headline:  “Trump Media outsourced jobs to Mexico as Trump pushed ‘America First'”

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-media-outsourced-jobs-to-mexico-zas-trump-pushed-america-first/

Social Media Good or Bad for Democracy?

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Article in AP, 11/1/24

Headline: “Mauritius suspends access to social media ahead of parliamentary elections”

“JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The government of Mauritius on Friday banned access to social media websites ahead of parliamentary elections on Nov. 10 in which Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth is seeking a second term in power.

‘The directive was announced by the national communications regulator, which said social media sites will be banned until Nov. 11, the day after the election.

‘The unprecedented social media ban follows a wiretapping scandal which rocked the country last month when recorded conversations of politicians, business people, and members of civil society were leaked on social media.

‘According to media freedom advocacy group Reporters Without Borders, the recorded conversations of five well-known journalists were also published on social media.

https://apnews.com/article/mauritius-social-media-suspension-elections-pravind-jugnauth-2e4e13fcd2ab37c32f85e4d042726022

Article in Reuters

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/mauritius-suspends-social-media-until-after-election-communications-regulator-2024-11-01/

Article in Al Jezerra

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/1/mauritius-blocks-social-media-until-after-election-amid-wiretapping-row

 

No Human Anymore . . . No Human Anymore . . . No Human . . .

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Article from AP on CNN Business, 10/24/24

Headline:  “Polish radio station replaces journalists with AI ‘presenters’ “

” A Polish radio station has triggered controversy after dismissing its journalists and relaunching this week with AI-generated “presenters.”

“Weeks after letting its journalists go, OFF Radio Krakow relaunched this week, with what it said was ‘the first experiment in Poland in which journalists … are virtual characters created by AI.’

“The station in the southern city of Krakow said its three avatars are designed to reach younger listeners by speaking about cultural, art and social issues including the concerns of LGBTQ+ people.”

“. . . The change got nationwide attention after Mateusz Demski, a journalist and film critic who until recently hosted a show on the station, published an open letter Tuesday protesting ‘the replacement of employees with artificial intelligence.’ ”

https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/24/media/polish-radio-ai-presenters-scli-intl/index.html

Sputnik Radio – We’re Not In Kansas City Anymore!

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Article in FAIR by Ari Paul, 10/22/24

Headline:  “US Sanctions Shoot Down Sputnik Radio”

“Russian state radio network Radio Sputnik is off the air in the two markets on which it aired in the United States, and the cause of the closure is reportedly US government sanctions.

“The Desk (10/15/24), quoting “one source familiar with the decision to wind down the network,” said “it was directly influenced by the US State Department’s imposition of new sanctions on Russia-backed broadcast outlets last month.”

“While Sputnik was not specifically named by the State Department,” the Desk reported, the sanctions did hit Sputnik‘s parent company, a Russian government media agency called Rossiya Segodnya. This “made it difficult to continue leasing time on Washington and Kansas City radio stations where its programming was heard.”

“. . . US government broadcaster Voice of America (10/16/24) said Sputnik‘s departure comes “after years of criticism that its local [Washington] radio station, WZHF, carries antisemitic content and false information about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”

https://fair.org/home/us-sanctions-shoot-down-sputnik-radio/

Cambodia Reporter Exposed Scams, Jailed

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Article in The Guardian by Rebecca Ratcliffe, 10/24/24

Headline: “Journalist who exposed Cambodia’s scam industry released by authorities”

Subhead:  “Mech Dara, charged with incitement, freed on bail after video of him apologising to country’s leaders appears”

“Mech Dara, one of Cambodia’s most prominent journalists, known for exposing the country’s billion-dollar scam industry, has been released on bail after a video of him apologizing to the country’s leaders appeared in pro-government media.

“Dara was arrested last month while traveling with his family, and charged with incitement over social media posts.”

“. . . Dara investigated scam compounds doggedly for the outlet Voice of Democracy (VOD) until it was shuttered last year by authorities in a move widely seen as an attack on independent media. He continued reporting for other outlets, doing so at far greater risk and with fewer rewards than many international reporters, Southern said.”

His reports documented the Telegram channels where trafficked workers are bought and sold, and the desperate pleas of those trapped inside compounds; he wrote about workers who jumped from balconies in attempts to escape, and the role and response of Cambodian officials.”

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2024/oct/24/cambodian-journalist-mech-dara-exposing-scam-industry-released

 

No Media, No News?

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Video Article in Al JAzeera by Hashem Ahelbarra, 10/23/24

Headline:  “Will the US pressure Israel to allow foreign journalists into Gaza?”

“Dozens of US House Democrats urge US President Joe Biden to push Israel for independent media access to Gaza.

“Israel has severely restricted international journalists from entering Gaza as its military has carried out its assault on the Palestinian territory for more than a year.

“Politicians in the United States are questioning the decision to block access to foreign media outlets

https://www.aljazeera.com/program/inside-story/2024/10/22/will-the-us-pressure-israel-to-allow-foreign-journalists-into-gaza

Tax on Tech Media for News Posts?

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Article by Rod Sims on TechXplore, 10/23/24

Headline: Should a big tech tax fund news? A new report reopens debate on platforms and media

What will Australia do?

“Meta’s announcement nearly eight months ago that it would no longer do commercial deals under the News Media Bargaining Code has led to much speculation as to how the government would respond.

“The code became law in 2021. Facing the threat of designation under it—which would involve further legal obligations platforms may wish to avoid—both Google and Facebook (now Meta) did deals with news media businesses worth up to A$250 million per year.”

https://techxplore.com/news/2024-10-big-tech-tax-fund-news.html