In The News

US Network Falters in Mideast Mission

Craig Whitlock July 23, 2008
The Bush administration’s War on Terror has evolved beyond traditional military operations, and has become a propaganda war in which the hearts and minds of average citizens are at stake. The US primarily uses the radio for communication, but Al Qaeda has become more technologically advanced and imaginative. Therefore, despite the US being a leader in the communications sector, it often finds...

Chinese Seek a Day in Court

Geoffrey A. Fowler July 11, 2008
The practice of law in China has been somewhat problematic, especially when legal goals interfered with politics. Until recently, the police listened to conversations between lawyers and clients, and lawyers could be jailed for pursuing cases with political ramifications. But with the help of television, the internet and handbooks, average citizens in China are learning about their potential...

In the Internet Age, a New Cultural Revolution: Chinese Fans Follow American TV Online – for Free

Laura Sydell June 25, 2008
The Chinese government does not allow US television shows on Chinese television networks. But that has not slowed their popularity and could even add to their allure. China has more people online than any other country, and citizens with internet access can download translated shows, available soon after the original broadcast. Volunteer translators provide Chinese subtitles including extra...

Bollywood Takes on the West

Dominic Rushe June 20, 2008
India’s film industry has a formula for success – flamboyant dancing, sexually charged scenes, and tension between traditional parents and rebellious offspring. Bollywood has long incorporated Western ideology in its films, yet only recently added English dialogue. Critics suggest the next step for Bollywood is to move beyond whimsical confections – and produce meaningful stories that resonate...

Networks, Olympics Organizers Clash

Stephen Wade June 16, 2008
Foreign media that paid top dollar to cover the Olympics are descending on Beijing – and bristle about rules and regulations. The journalists protest the limits on live coverage and delays in shipping technical equipment. “Any interference with news coverage will be at odds with promises made seven years ago when Beijing was awarded the games,” writes Stephen Wade for the Associated Press,...

China Leader Makes Debut in Great Wall of Facebook

Edward Wong June 4, 2008
In the aftermath of the Sichuan earthquake, amongst the rubble, aid and rescue operations, a Facebook profile of the Chinese leader Wen Jiabao has surfaced. Regardless of the actual identity of the profile creator, its existence suggests unprecedented level approachability. Increasing numbers of politicians, including US presidential candidates, recognize the value of online social networking...

Burma Victims Lose Aid Battle as Cash Flows Into China on a Flood of Sympathy

Rosemary Bennett May 22, 2008
An open society, one that allows photos during national disasters and the weakest moments, immediately invites world sympathy and offers of help. The contrast in media coverage of the May 2 cyclone in Burma and the May 12 earthquake in China could not be starker: The Chinese government and people instantly mobilized, and photos showed widespread devastation and earnest rescue efforts; Burma may...