Analysis & Commentaries

By Yamamoto Munesuke

It was painful to witness the images broadcast worldwide on September 27. Japanese cameraman Kenji Nagai was lying on his back on a street in Rangoon. Then there was the piercing sound of a bullet fired from the rifle of a soldier.

By Nalaka Gunawardene

In many disaster and conflict hot spots of the world, journalists and relief aid providers work closely together. There are times when journalists play Good Samaritan and aid workers dabble as reporters. In the difficult field conditions of emergencies, this is understood and accepted. But should journalists become 'embedded' in humanitarian operations? If so, how impartial or independent would their coverage be?

Once referred to as the 'most hacked blogger of Malaysia', Jeremiah Foo moves around in the music, publishing and computer industry circles -- yes, all of those. He co-founded the eMuse Network, a pioneer in digital media and content development in south-east Asia. Before becoming a full-time journalist, Foo was the artiste and repertoire manager for Sony Music Entertainment. The multi-awarded songwriter and composer was also co-founder of the National Music Society of Singapore.

LAHORE, Pakistan, Sep 16 (IPS) - Eminent writer, historian and filmmaker Tariq Ali was born in Lahore in 1943. While a student at Oxford University, he became involved in the movement against the war in Vietnam. That was the beginning of a long career in the literary arts and in peace activism that has earned him iconic status.

NEW DELHI, Sep 3 (IPS) - Palagummi Sainath, winner of this year’s Ramon Magsaysay award in the category for journalism, literature, creative communication and arts, believes that while India has a free press there is a growing disconnect between mass media and mass reality, arising from monopolistic trends.

By Nalaka Gunawardene

In their ceaseless efforts to keep their organisations in the media spotlight, spin doctors of development agencies are distorting news values and corrupting the media, turning issue-based communication products into 'logo delivery mechanisms'.

With permission from the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Thailand, the AMF is reprinting in full BBC correspondent Jonathan Head's article that tackles the perils of reporting in Thailand in these politically interesting times. The story came out in the FCCT's magazine, Dateline, in its 2007 first quarter issue.

World Business Academy senior editor David Zweig analyses the implications of the international daily newspaper 'Wall Street Journal's' imminent sale to Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.