Media News - Monday, September 10, 2012

EU says Microsoft pledged to meet antitrust requests on browsers

Software giant Microsoft is ready to introduce measures that would address the European Union's antitrust concerns about users' ability to chose between different browsers, European Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said on Saturday. EU antitrust regulators are investigating whether Microsoft blocks computer makers from installing rival web browsers on its upcoming Windows 8 operating system, following complaints from several companies. Almunia is in charge of antitrust enforcement at the European Commission. "In my personal talks with Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer he has given me assurances that they will comply immediately regardless of the conclusion of the anti trust probe," Almunia said at an economic conference in northern Italy, adding that he considered the matter a "very, very serious issue." The affair is part of an investigation opened in July into the world No. 1 software company's failure to offer users a choice of rival web browsers which it had agreed with regulators three years ago. In its latest spat with the U.S. group, the EU watchdog is also looking into allegations that Microsoft does not provide access to complete interfaces (APIs) for non-default browsers in Windows 8. (Reuters)

Portugal examines privatizing broadcaster

For news on the economic turmoil that has gripped their country, many people in Portugal tune in to RTP, the public television and radio broadcaster. Now it looks like RTP could itself become a victim of the crisis. Seeking to plug the gaping holes in its finances, the Portuguese government last month floated the idea of shutting down or privatizing most of RTP, which runs two of the country’s four main television channels. The proposal rattled the European broadcasting sector, where many people consider public TV and radio companies an essential feature of the media landscape. Whether the proposal will be adopted remains unclear. It is only one of several ideas that are being discussed to cut the cost of funding RTP; other options would be less radical. But opposition to privatization has been swift and loud, inside and outside Portugal.Analysts say it is unclear when the situation will be resolved. A new RTP board is set to take over this week. Amid the uncertainty over the government’s plans, commercial rivals of RTP, which have long complained that the public broadcaster does too much, have proposed their own alternatives, under which they would take over some public service functions. (New York Times)

Israel’s Maariv daily sold to hawkish publisher

The owner of Israel's third-largest daily has agreed to sell the money-bleeding newspaper to the publisher of a hardline religious publication. It is not clear whether Maariv's new publisher, Shlomo Ben-Tzvi, will bring the newspaper in line with his hawkish Makor Rishon daily or maintain its more centrist take on diplomatic issues. Maariv is owned by cash-strapped Israeli businessman Nochi Dankner. On Sunday, Maariv said only 300 to 400 of the paper's 2,000 employees will be kept on after the USD 21m deal is complete. Maariv has been unprofitable for years. Maariv, published since 1948, ranks third in readership behind Yediot Ahronot and Israel Hayom, the free daily supportive of the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and funded by Jewish-American billionaire Sheldon Adelson. (Business Week)

UK government earmarks GBP 10m for open access publishing

The UK government has announced GBP 10m in funding for UK academics to publish their research in journals that allow free public access to the material online without a subscription. The funding, which is a response to the recommendations of a report led by Professor Dame Janet Finch, is not new money but will be taken from the science budget. It will be apportioned by Research Councils UK, the body that disseminates government research funds. Calls for "open access publishing" have been steadily growing in academic circles, with Dutch commercial publishers Elsevier being boycotted by thousands of academics in protest at perceived profiteering through journal access costs. The government is adopting a funding model proposed by Finch called "gold" open access, where – instead of university libraries subscribing to journals – researchers pay commercial publishers or learned societies to publish their research, but access to their results is immediate and unrestricted. The 30 most research-intensive higher education institutions will benefit from the newly announced funding. The minister expects that academic journals with the highest impact, such as Nature, will eventually conform to the new business model. He sees the move to open access as inevitable. (The Guardian)

Outrage over India cartoonist arrest

The arrest of an anti-corruption cartoonist in India on charges of sedition has sparked criticism. Aseem Trivedi was held in the city of Mumbai over the weekend for his cartoons allegedly mocking the Indian constitution. He was also charged with insulting the national flag and remanded in police custody until 16 September. The cartoonist has been participating in the anti-corruption movement led by campaigner Anna Hazare. India's media and prominent citizens have condemned Mr Trivedi's arrest, calling it a "wrongful act". If proved, a sedition charge can invite a three-year prison term in India. The micro-blogging site Twitter was also full of messages criticising Mr Trivedi's arrest. Police held him acting on a complaint by a Mumbai-based lawyer who said his cartoons were anti-India. Earlier this year, a website carrying Mr Trivedi's anti-corruption cartoons was banned by the police in Mumbai, reports say. In April, Indian police arrested a professor in Calcutta for allegedly posting on the internet cartoons ridiculing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He was later released. (BBC News)

Journalismfund.eu: Call for applications open

Do you have an idea for a European story? Do you have an idea for a story that goes across borders? Then maybe Journalismfund.eu can help you with a research grant. Journalismfund.eu supports journalistic research of stories with relevance for a European audience. Journalismfund.eu wants to further cross-border reporting, where journalists cooperate across borders. This allows them to pool knowledge and time for research. Due to the different languages and media traditions they are not direct competitors, on the contrary. By addressing each their target group they publish the common story to a much wider target group and can obtain stronger impact. Applications can only be submitted via the online application form by September 24th at 9 am. This round of applications is funded by a grant to the tune of € 20.000 by the Open Society Foundations. (Journalismfunds.eu)

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