Media News - Monday, September 01, 2008

Swedish government in press subsidy reversal

The Swedish government will not implement a controversial proposal which would drastically cut press subsidies to the Svenska Dagbladet (SvD) and Skånska Dagbladet newspapers. Instead, the matter will be addressed by the European Commission, based on the level of press support approved by the Riksdag in 2006, writes Sweden's Minister of Culture Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth in SvD's opinion pages. In the meantime, the government has put forward a new proposal that would still cut supports to the two newspapers, but by much smaller amounts. In the spring, the government proposed that subsidies to SvD and Skånska Dagbladet would be reduced incrementally from the current level of SEK 65.4m (EUR 6.9m) to SEK 17m. The reduction was set to start next year and be phased in over a five-year period. The government's new proposal entails a much smaller cut big-city newspaper supports, as well as a 10 percent increase in overall press subsidies. The new press support levels are to take effect in 2009. (The Local)

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Owner of Russian opposition website killed

An opposition internet news site owner in Russia's troubled Ingushetia region was fatally shot Sunday soon after being detained by police, and his colleagues called for a rally to protest his death. Magomed Yevloyev is one of the most high-profile journalists to be killed in Russia since investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya was shot dead near her Moscow apartment in 2006, provoking condemnation of Russia's record on media freedom. Yevloyev, owner of the www.Ingushetiya.ru website, was a vocal critic of the region's Kremlin-backed administration, accused by opponents of crushing dissent and free speech. (The Independent)

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Ecuador orders broadcasters to transmit government programmes

Ecuador has ordered television and radio stations to transmit government programmes that inform the public about a plan to reform the constitution that will bolster President Rafael Correa's powers. In a letter, the education ministry told the country's media watchdog to enforce a law that obliges private radio and television stations to broadcast up to one hour of state-run educational programming every day. It was not clear what sanctions broadcasters could face if they do not transmit the spots. Short programmes will be broadcast three times a day, sometimes during prime-time, and would likely help Correa rally support before the 28 September referendum for a constitution that would give him greater sway over the economy. The leftist leader is inching closer to the 50 percent majority he needs to pass the reform, recent polls show. Some broadcasters said they feared the government could use the programmes for electoral purposes, and were evaluating whether to obey the order. Correa launched a public television and radio station this year and already broadcasts messages to the public via private TV and radio stations several times a week. Opposition politicians say Correa wants to increase state intervention in the media and accuse him of seeking dictatorial powers via the proposed constitution, which allows him to run for reelection once after one term. (Reuters via Media Network Weblog)

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Turkey to relax restrictions on foreign investments in Turkish media

Restrictions on foreign investor participation in Turkish broadcasting companies will be relaxed with amendments to be made to the current Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) Law, which currently allows foreign companies only partial ownership (up to 25 percent) of media institutions in Turkey. A draft RTÜK bill prepared by the Council and sent to the Prime Ministry in January 2008 has been reviewed by the government as part of efforts to harmonize Turkish legislation with that of the EU. In the draft of the Third National Program, which maps the EU-required reforms that the government aims to introduce, the government pledged that restrictions on foreign capital participation in media would be relaxed by 2009 with amendments to be made to Law No. 3984, related to the broadcasts of radio and TV stations. It was also noted that all restrictions on foreign capital participation in the media would be lifted two years before Turkey is granted full membership to the bloc and that the new regulations will go into effect simultaneously with Turkey's membership. (Today's Zaman via Media Network Weblog)

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Syrian opposition TV channel goes off the air after nine days

New Syria TV - the first attempt by the Syrian opposition to launch a television station - began broadcasting on 17 August but stopped being transmitted on the evening of 26 August. The channel, broadcast via satellite from Brussels, is backed by the opposition National Salvation Front, which is led by former Syrian vice-president Abdel Halim Khaddam, a powerful opposition figure who split from the regime in 2005. Bashar Elsbei, the head of New Syria TV's Washington office, said that while the problem might have been caused by a technical glitch, the National Salvation Front suspects the Syrian authorities were responsible for the blackout. Technicians had not yet determined why the signal was not working, said Elsbei, although he was optimistic the station would be broadcasting again by next week. New Syria TV is broadcast through Eutelsat's Hotbird network, which is available in Syria and much of the Middle East. The party had hoped that it could use satellite technology to beam opposition views into Syria, where the government maintains a strong grip on the media. (the Institute for War & Peace Reporting via Media Network Weblog)

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Hollywood writer-producer Aaron Sorkin to write Facebook movie

Hollywood writer-producer Aaron Sorkin, co-creator of The West Wing, is to write a film about the creation of Facebook - and has entered into the social networking spirit of the website by setting up a group page to find out 'how this works'. Sorkin announced his latest movie project to users of the social networking site by launching a group page on Facebook called Aaron Sorkin & The Facebook Movie. Sorkin has also set up his own private profile page on Facebook. The film is likely to look at how, following its creation in 2004 by Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg in his university dorm, Facebook quickly became an internet, business and social phenomenon with more than 100 million users worldwide. Embracing the community ethos of the social network, Sorkin asked members to get in touch with stories relating to the site and engaged users in a Q&A on his group page fielding questions on issues as diverse as studio interference and the best place to get cheap food in New York. Despite being offered billions for the site, Zuckerberg has remained independent. Facebook's key rivals in social networking, MySpace and Bebo, have both sold out to larger media organisations. (The Guardian)

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