MEDIA-Natl/Intn'-Misc
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Back in 1983, approximately 50 corporations controlled the vast majority of all news media in the United States. Today, ownership of the news media has been concentrated in the hands of just six incredibly powerful media corporations. These corporate behemoths control most of what we watch, hear and read every single day. They own television networks, cable channels, movie studios, newspapers, magazines, publishing houses, music labels and even many of our favorite websites.
Who Owns The Media? The 6 Monolithic Corporations That Control Almost Everything We Watch, Hear And Read
Appeared in the Toronto Star on October 6, 2012 as Ottawa's Web 2.0 Policy Needs Tweaking Given the enormous popularity of social media, establishing a foothold on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and other popular websites has become a top priority for most organizations. The same is true for the federal government, which last year released a lengthy policy document that established the rules for departmental engagement with "Web 2.0" sites and tools. The policy document encourages officials to use the sites "as an efficient and effective additional channel to interact with the public", noting that the Internet offers opportunities for public consultation, recruitment, collaboration, and the provision of government services. The government acknowledges that there are risks, however. These include potential misuse of government content or the possibility of negative perceptions associated with official use.
Govt removing web info
International-27Mar13
Canada's Competition Bureau has cleared BCE Inc.'s $3.38-billion takeover of Astral Media, but has attached conditions. Under the deal, BCE's Bell division would have to sell a number of Astral's pay and specialty channels, including Teletoon, The Family Channel and Disney XD, as well as a number of radio stations. Media company Corus Entertainment will purchase six of the TV stations and two radio stations for $400 million. The others will be sold in an auction process. Bell would be prohibited from imposing "restrictive bundling requirements" on providers seeking to carry The Movie Network – which includes HBO Canada – or Super Écran.
Competition Bureau approves BCE-Astral deal with conditions - Canada
Koch Industries' Clean Energy Assault Reaches Far And Wide | EarthTechling
A recent flood of Koch-supported think tanks, junk scientists and astroturf groups from inside and outside of Kansas are awaiting the outcome of a bill that could stall progress on the growth of clean energy in Kansas. States around the country, including Texas, Ohio, Missouri and North Carolina are poised to cut back on government support for clean energy jobs using model legislation from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). ALEC , which brings companies together with state lawmakers to forge a wish list of corporate state laws behind closed doors, is coordinating this year’s assault on state laws that require a gradual increase of electricity generated by clean energy sources. ALEC and a hoard of other Koch-funded interests operating under the umbrella of the State Policy Network have hit Kansas legislators hard with junk economic studies, junk science and a junk vision of more polluting energy in Kansas’ future.
Intn'l-26Mar13
Pauline Marois is urging voters to give her Parti Québécois a majority government in the Sept. 4 election, warning a coalition of Liberals and Coalition Avenir Quebec will cause social unrest. The PQ leader warned that unless she wins a majority, the student strike over tuition fee hikes will remain unsettled, mining companies will pay less royalties, there will be no new language law, and little improvement for daycare services or homecare for the elderly. Sovereignty would also have to take a backseat in the event of a PQ minority. “What we are saying is that in order to do this, it will take a Parti Québécois majority government,” Ms. Marois said.
Marois pushes for PQ majority, warns against Liberal-CAQ coalition
Obama spending binge never happened
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — Of all the falsehoods told about President Barack Obama, the biggest whopper is the one about his reckless spending spree. As would-be president Mitt Romney tells it: “I will lead us out of this debt and spending inferno.” Almost everyone believes that Obama has presided over a massive increase in federal spending, an “inferno” of spending that threatens our jobs, our businesses and our children’s future.Clinton urges America to 'renew Obama's contract' - Politics
Democrats turned Wednesday to a hero of the past, Bill Clinton, to boost the shaky re-election prospects of Barack Obama, with the popular former president from the prosperous 1990s assuring worried Americans that he feels "with all my heart" that Obama is steering the country to an economic recovery. Clinton, in a rousing address to a television audience of millions, conceded that many struggling in a slow-recovery economy don't yet feel improvement, but said circumstances are indeed getting better, "and if you'll renew the president's contract you will feel it." Clinton formally nominated Obama as the Democratic candidate in what is expected to be a tight race against Republican Mitt Romney.
Competitors try to block Bell Canada from buying Astral Media
Let’s assume that you’ve decided to become a television subscriber because you want to be able to watch the new season of Doctor Who , currently airing only on Space. So you phone your cable provider — Bell, for example — and ask if you can get this channel. No problem, they say, but because Space is considered a specialty channel, you will have to pay an extra $30 a month to get the package in which the science fiction programs are included. This package includes a bunch of other channels, such as Teletoon and Cosmopolitan TV, in which you have no interest.
Here at Maclean's, we appreciate the written word. And we appreciate you, the reader. We are always looking for ways to create a better user experience for you and wanted to try out a new functionality that provides you with a reading experience in which the words and fonts take centre stage. We believe you'll appreciate the clean, white layout as you read our feature articles. But we don't want to force it on you and it's completely optional.
Rick Mercer: Why I rant. And why you should too. - Canada
Party Central: Veteran CTV Hill reporter Smith tips his hats to Hillites, retires after more than three decades in biz March 20, 2013 The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright. The man of the hour, Roger Smith. Photo courtesy Jean-Marc Carisse.
National media's political coverage declining, resembling sports reporting
Peace Arch News - Cross-border commentary goes south
It all started when a Bellingham resident, frustrated at the lineups at the local Costco and the number of Canadians in those lineups, decided to vent online. The unnamed person was feeling frustrated about the rudeness of the “milk piranhas,” the less-than-affectionate phrase applied to Canadian Costco shoppers who can reduce chest-high pallets of inexpensive American milk to nothing in a matter of seconds. So on July 19, that person created a Facebook page, called “Bellingham Costco needs a special time just for Americans.” “Them Canadians can be rude,” the site description said. “The lines are crazy.Ecuador accused Britain on Wednesday of threatening to storm its London embassy to arrest Julian Assange after the U.K. issued a stern warning to the South American nation ahead of its decision on an asylum bid by the WikiLeaks founder. Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino said Britain had earlier in the day issued "a written threat that it could assault our embassy" if Assange is not handed over. Patino also said he would announce on Thursday morning whether Ecuador would grant the request of the secret-spilling former Australian hacker, who took refuge in Ecuador's embassy on June 19 to avoid extradition to Sweden. Assange faces questioning there for alleged sexual misconduct. As news broke of the warning, police were seen reinforcing Scotland Yard's presence outside the embassy in a tony London neighbourhood near the Harrods department store. In Quito, about 30 people yelling "England, what part don't you understand?
Britain warns Ecuador over Assange asylum - World
Julian Assange: Ecuador grants Wikileaks founder asylum
16 August 2012 Last updated at 21:04 GMT Julian Assange's Wikileaks website published leaked diplomatic cables Ecuador has granted asylum to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange two months after he took refuge in its London embassy while fighting extradition from the UK. It said his human rights might be violated if he is sent to Sweden to be questioned over sex assault claims.[Scroll to bottom for Dec 23, 2012 (and more recent) update.] Part 1 . Part 2 . Part 3 . Part 4 .
The Saga of Patrick Ross -- Part the Sixth: Denouement
At the beginning of this month a group of former General Motors (GM) workers stitched their lips shut and began a hunger strike in the Colombian capital, Bogota. They had already spent over a year outside the US embassy with no success in fighting against what they said was their unfair dismissal. The protestors say GM has fired more than 200 employees after they reported on-the-job injuries, including herniated discs, carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis, at the company's Colombian plant.