Commentary / World Jun 11, 2019
Press freedom: 'No one is above the law' is a slogan, not a policy
by Ramesh Thakur
Blowing the whistle on state crimes is not a threat to national security; only to the reputation of ministers and generals.
Asia Pacific / Crime & Legal May 7, 2019
Media freedom advocates praised the surprise release of Reuters reporters in Myanmar but stressed the pair should never have been jailed in the first place and called for sweeping reforms of paralyzing press laws. The Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters walked free from Yangon's Insein prison Tuesday ...
Asia Pacific Apr 2, 2019
Facebook and rights groups hit out at Singapore's planned fake news bill
Singapore submitted wide-ranging fake news legislation in Parliament on Monday, stoking fears from internet firms and human rights groups that it may give the government too much power and hinder freedom of speech. The law will require social media sites like Facebook to carry warnings ...
Commentary / World Feb 18, 2019
Sleazy journalism can serve the public good
by Stephen Mihm
Long before Bezos's battle with the National Enquirer, a fight involving a scabrous newspaper led to a U.S. Supreme Court decision expanding freedom of the press.
National / Politics Feb 13, 2019
Government slammed for singling out 'problematic' Tokyo Shimbun reporter in warning to press club
by Tomohiro Osaki
The government's handling of a Tokyo Shimbun reporter known for her assertive questioning style has come under heavy scrutiny, after it emerged that authorities issued a statement last year singling her out for criticism and urging the Japanese press to keep their questions "accurate" ...
Asia Pacific Jan 29, 2019
Detentions, visa delays and suspected phone bugging are among the challenges faced by foreign journalists in China, who say working conditions are getting worse with many reporting being watched and harassed. A survey of 109 journalists published Tuesday "painted the darkest picture of reporting conditions ...
World Dec 20, 2018
An Australian academic who was followed for a week by a state-owned newspaper in Hong Kong has suggested Beijing could be behind the intimidation and has vowed not to be bullied. Kevin Carrico — a lecturer in Chinese Studies at Sydney's Macquarie University — was ...
Asia Pacific Nov 21, 2018
Police harassment of Chinese environmental reporter sparks anger and apology
A Chinese environmental journalist's account of police harassment while reporting on a chemical spill has sparked widespread condemnation online and an apology from the police. Chinese financial publication Caixin on Sunday published an article by reporter Zhou Chen describing how local authorities had trailed her ...
Asia Pacific Nov 9, 2018
Philippines announces charges against news site critical of government
Philippine prosecutors said Friday they will file tax evasion charges against a news website that has clashed with President Rodrigo Duterte, a case the outlet branded as an "intimidation" effort. Rappler, which denies the allegations, is one of few Philippine media outfits openly critical of ...
Business Nov 1, 2018
by Reiji Yoshida
The top administrative official in the Hong Kong government attended a symposium in Tokyo on Thursday during her first official visit to Japan, to promote the special Chinese region as a global business hub and a gateway for Japanese firms to advance into mainland ...
Asia Pacific / Crime & Legal Oct 11, 2018
Myanmar arrests three journalists over report on Suu Kyi protege, raising more press freedom worries
Myanmar police Wednesday arrested three journalists after their paper criticized the financial management of Yangon's government, which is overseen by a protege of leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in the latest case to spark concern over press freedom. Rights groups criticized the detention of the ...
Asia Pacific / Politics Oct 10, 2018
Hong Kong will 'fearlessly take action' against independence efforts
Hong Kong will "fearlessly take action" against independence calls and protect China's interests, leader Carrie Lam said Wednesday, as concerns grow that the city's freedoms face an unprecedented challenge from Beijing. Lam's annual policy address came as her government stood accused of attacking press freedoms ...