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Power and politics terminate local broadcaster --- Michael Hedges November 2, 2008
“Scandal” shouted the media after the denial of a successful local broadcaster’s concession. But popularity and a sustainable business model may have turned the government against them. We’ve said it before; all politicians seek to control all media.

The millstone around Russia --- Michael Hedges June 23, 2008
Belarus, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan – all on Russia’s edge – are pushing media repression to new lows. With all broadcasting and most print media firmly under State control, the Web is the current target. Dictators on Russia’s borders perplex even Russian media.

‘Your mother wears combat boots’ and other slanders --- Michael Hedges April 27, 2008
The Russian State Duma sharpened legal language on slander and libel to include ‘damaging honor and dignity,’ the consequence for media outlets being an even closer watch on what they say or print or face being closed. Defamation laws continue to discourage dissent, criticism and other forms of free speech. But, then, not everybody believes free speech and free press are good things.

Slovak legislators hold EU Treaty hostage over media law --- Michael Hedges January 31, 2008
Center-right political parties are threatening to block Slovak ratification of the EU reform treaty unless Prime Minister Robert Fico withdraws a controversial draft media law. Since taking power in 2006 PM Fico has engaged in a war over media and press reforms. He has consistently criticized the existence of any press criticism.

Vote for me and I’ll set you free --- Michael Hedges - November 19, 2007
Election campaigns are always newsmakers. Politicians, political parties and their messages become the stuff of media for weeks, and in some cases months. Political advertising augments what time and space they can get for free. Two recent studies, one from Russia and one from the US, show it is all very irritating.

Get out the vote campaign worked, moans politician --- Michael Hedges October 29, 2007
Campaigns by public television to encourage election voting characterize civic responsibility. Democratic participation in elections is a good thing. Encouraging that participation is also a good thing.

Post-conflict media training expensive and ‘naïve’ --- Michael Hedges October 18, 2007
Immediately after the 1995 Dayton Peace Accords ending military and para-military action in Bosnia and Herzegovina Europe and the US rushed in the media specialists. ‘Hate radio’ may not have been invented in Bosnia but through years of conflict it flourished and, against all best efforts, pieces remain today. The international community’s intention was to use media for the good of that devastated civil society. With that end in mind, but hardly in sight, money poured in for equipment, from transmitters to printing presses, and for training.

Serbian media changes little, faces long transition --- Michael Hedges September 24, 2007
The media situation in Serbia hasn’t changed much. 'We are seven years in this (transition) period in Serbia and we can say that we are half way through,' said OSCE Head of Mission in Serbia Hans Ola Urstad in a recent interview. 'A lot more has to be done and it will be done,'

There’s something about Kazakhstan --- Michael Hedges September 6, 2007
Russian/Swedish television giant CTC Media reached into Kazakhstan for its latest venture. The investment, said company CEO Alexander Rodnyansky, is 'an attractive opportunity.'

News radio stations targeted by media law --- Michael Hedges - August 6, 2007
Private sector broadcasters venturing into news content often find themselves targets. Most prefer programming lots of music without any talk bordering on the controversial to avoid government wrath. The new Greek media law provides yet another example of State control.

At This Holiday Time : Remember The Little Ones --- Michael Hedges December 21, 2006
A country’s “best” radio station is taken off the air. The West protests. The government shrugs. The story repeats.

No More Free Radio/TV In Azerbaijan --- Michael Hedges November 27, 2006
After smoldering for weeks, the Azeri government finally acted on its displeasure with television and radio broadcaster ANS. News accounts show a revolting picture of police surrounding the stations’ as authorities moved in to shut them down.

Faith-healers in Budapest to Save MTV --- Michael Hedges November 6, 2006
With Hungarian public television clinging to life by a thread, public broadcasting support groups hold an “extraordinary” séance.

Medvedev Tells The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) the Ongoing Dialogue With The Kremlin Over Russian Press Freedom Is Positive For It Would Never Have Been Possible Under The Soviet Era --- Philip Stone June 7, 2006
On the Monday President Vladimir Putin gave rather short shrift to The World Association of Newspapers campaign for more press freedom in the Russian Federation, and the next day the Kremlin rolled out Putin’s first deputy prime minister who said pretty much the same thing, but at least he did it with a smile.

“Bad Guy” Interview Throws US ABC TV Network in Hot Water --- Michael Hedges August 4, 2005

Confidence Crumbles in Serb Broadcast Council --- Michael Hedges November 8, 2004
Created more than two years ago the agency meant to overhaul Serbia’s broadcast media remains mired in politics left over from the Milosevic era.

Public Broadcasters and Balkan Ghosts --- Michael Hedges October 1, 2004

That Natural Attraction Of Money To Media --- Michael Hedges October 1, 2014 Follow on Twitter
The media world attracts the most interesting people, often quite colorful, sometimes rather dark. Where that dark-side takes hold, cleansing is a long process accomplished by repeated hand-washing, hampered by hand-wringing. There is merit in feeling clean, more, perhaps than being clean.

Another Big Media Company Sours On Eastern Europe --- Michael Hedges June 30, 2010 Follow on Twitter
For media companies, foreign development carries risk and reward. Expansion opportunities beyond home borders advance on business models well-honed by experience. The best plans, though, can be laid to waste by changing local politics.

Tensions Rise On Press Regulation Plans --- Michael Hedges May 2, 2013, 2012 Follow on Twitter
Newspaper publishers have long presented themselves as guardians of truth and freedom. In truth, they are in the business of selling newspapers, whether by investigating the wicked or titillating on page three. Politicians see a better world when the news media chases UFOs rather than them or their friends. The public, sadly, is often quiet.

Beware, Crusading Newspapers: Punishment Comes --- Michael Hedges September 25, 2017 Follow on Twitter
The closing of a newspaper does not attract much attention these days. Economics are unforgiving, we've learned. And no media platform can escape. There are other pressures, equally powerful, ready to crush.

From The Right Track To Off The Rails --- Michael Hedges January 21, 2013 Follow on Twitter
Media diversity can be a lonely concept, particularly for minority cultures and languages. Using the law of the land to encourage a diverse media landscape is only effective to a point. Other concepts can intrude: money and power. The risk is a cultural deflation.

They Were Wrong About ACTA --- Michael Hedges February 20, 2012 - Follow on Twitter
Street protests in several cities over recent days generated more than headlines anti-piracy advocates never expected. The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), a multi-lateral treaty to protect 'copyright protected works' through a new global enforcement mechanism, is just short of ratification. Activists mounted a campaign to derail, at most, or disrupt, at least and it may have succeeded.

Politicians And Media Owners Trade Shoes, No Perfect Fit --- Michael Hedges September 4, 2017 - Follow on Twitter
Elections bring out the best and worst in news media. The klieg light shines on all parties and their candidates. All is fair, except when it's not. Alternative media - otherwise known as fake news - relies not on gathering and reporting but rather on twists, turns and other distortion. Some voters are attracted to the noise, loudness prevailing. Others suffer the torment of ill-fitting shoes.

That Populist Reflex Meant To Chill Elections --- Michael Hedges February 10, 2020 - Follow on Twitter
Secrets are the stock-in-trade of many endeavors, some can't live without them. Non-disclosure agreements were invented to prevent people from sharing what they know. People paying attention in the normal course of a day adsorb details and, too, secrets. This is not about intellectual property. It's about true-crime.

What Is What And When It's Not --- Michael Hedges April 10, 2015 - Follow on Twitter
Propaganda is meant to sow discontent. Censorship is meant to stifle debate. Both are meant to harm. In the idealistic realm of free speech and free expression values arguing what is or what is not propaganda and censorship only raises intellectual resistance to justice. Patience resolves many things, not this.

Consternation Befits The Independent Regulator --- Michael Hedges July 6, 2015 - Follow on Twitter
There's a reason politicians need to be kept a safe distance from media regulators. Actually, there are several. Tempted as they are by everything, politicians like rules administered conveniently. Interests must be served. And so many politicians reward themselves for electoral success with a hammer, terms in office spent searching for a nail.

Rules Are Made to Be Interpreted --- Michael Hedges March 14, 2011 - Follow on Twitter
Media policies, in theory, exist to help things work smoothly. Think how difficult broadcasting would be with spectrum rules. They can, in reality, be heavy handed or, even, under-handed. Unlike the laws of physics, sometimes its best to just try again.

More Silly Media Tricks --- Michael Hedges December 23, 2011 - Follow on Twitter
Media watchers can wail and moan all day and all night. Once a political strongman decides to slam the door on independent media there’s little anyone can do. It’s 'regrettable.'

Media Rules Ever Changing, Out of Focus --- Michael Hedges November 2, 2010 - Follow on Twitter
Digital media’s rise has profoundly affected radio, television and newspapers. There have been so many new things to learn. Politicians seem slower than most. But they’re getting the idea.

Creative Regulation Undoes Broadcast Licensing --- Michael Hedges July 9, 2012 - Follow on Twitter
Broadcasters often view media regulators as slightly less interesting than accountants. Always quoting the rulebook does not make good cocktail conversation. But these oracles of law and order can have a creative side… in a manner of speaking.

Easy Steps To Killing A Media Market --- Michael Hedges June 28, 2011 - Follow on Twitter
The perfect storm cliché falls powerfully short in describing the havoc to befall the media sector in recent years. As digital media took its place in the sun economic malaise brought turbulance. Crony capitalism and poor public policy replaced crony statism and weak public policy. Riding out this storm is infinitely difficult.

The Poetic Justice Of Good Elections --- Michael Hedges August 24, 2020 - Follow on Twitter
Free and fair elections are coveted by those invested in democratic principles. For others, not so much. News media plays an enormous role, usually beneficial but not always. New media - social and such - is challenging the old order. Fortunately, a select group of independent organizations take on job of pointing out the successes and shortcomings.

Reform Bogged Down, Experts Called --- Michael Hedges August 7, 2014 Follow on Twitter
Forming a new public broadcasting system from old State institutions is never as simple as passing a law and changing the letterhead. All European public broadcasters have, in their own way, made that transition. But time entrenches all institutions and change is never easy.

The Future Is At Hand – State Broadcasting Returns --- Michael Hedges May 30, 2016 Follow on Twitter
Public broadcasters working under constrained independence, administrative and financial, risk default to State broadcasting. Those separated barely a generation from dogmatic control face stiff resistance to new and open practice. Authorities always prefer a pliant mouthpiece.

Journalist Murderer Only Meant To Frighten --- Michael Hedges January 30, 2013 - Follow on Twitter
Measuring media freedom is a subjective art. Freedom for one represses another, say critics. Indisputable, though, is death. Where media workers die for their work, mysteriously ordered, we learn that freedom isn't free.

All The World Is Fragile, Including Truth --- Michael Hedges May 3, 2020 - Follow on Twitter
Fragility is the issue. Many are feeling it. It is widely recognized, often discussed. Every institution is affected in some way. What people know and how they know it is perhaps the most fragile.

News Outlets Prepare For Wild Election Harvest --- Michael Hedges August 5, 2020 - Follow on Twitter
Elections always get attention; from those in power, those seeking such and news outlets assigned to the observational task. All elections are, thus, consequential. As such, candidates and their surrogates craft important messages to persuade and, maybe, excite the electorate. In more recent times those messages have turned to raising anxieties and uncertainties. Hope battles fear, over and over.

Unease At Shameful Targeting Of Media Workers --- Michael Hedges December 6, 2013 - Follow on Twitter
Nothing shines the light better than pictures. Those who carry cameras into the places that need to be seen are the most vulnerable of all media workers. Their load is enormous, the job increasingly precarious. The bad guys target them.

For Press Freedom There Is Only One Tune --- Michael Hedges March 21, 2013 - Follow on Twitter
As a legal concept press freedom is meant to enshrine a separation between those who deliver news to the public and those who might impose limits. The purpose is to mind the principle of an informed public enabling democracy. Though inscribed in the grand conventions on human rights, not everybody agrees on the purpose.

The Vanquished Could Become The Winners --- Michael Hedges June 25, 2018 - Follow on Twitter
Social media has turned everything, literally, on its ear. Its loyal followers continue to use the convenience, ubiquity and power. Traditional media, despite conventional conjecture, is far from spent. Political campaigners have many messaging options.

Election Campaign Antics Cross Borders, For What It's Worth --- Michael Hedges October 17, 2016 - Follow on Twitter
That the news media rides on the coat-tails of startling headlines and sound bites is far from a revelation. Social media throws little snippets of color onto a revolving pallet, often revolting. Managing all this, for one purpose or another, occupies the most sacred of democratic processes, elections. Facts are transient, spin normal. To deny, disclaim, has become high art.

Media In High Contrast, Very Black And White, No Grain Or Gain --- Michael Hedges April 25, 2016 - Follow on Twitter
Armed only with their digital devices, pens long ago disappearing, media workers seem less equipped to fend off the onslaught of paranoia, polarization and propaganda. Complicit authorities keep inventing new and creative ways to sideline even basic news, lest the public know too much. Where media freedom is respected, however, folks seem to get along quite well, even happier. Perhaps that's the point.

High Tension And Evil Thoughts --- Michael Hedges March 21, 2014 - Follow on Twitter
Among adults disagreements are settled, typically, through dialogue. Governments employ talented diplomats to nudge adversaries with nuance. Failing that, there’s always war. And information wars have a particular ugliness.

Intimidating Reporters Yields Results For Autocrats --- Michael Hedges March 4, 2019 - Follow on Twitter
The sun rarely sets on a part of the world where reporters and editors escape threats and intimidation. And rarely a day passes when another transgression is reported. Authoritarian dictators, crime bosses and wannabes in both ranks take some pride, it seems, in putting news media under their thumbs. It never ends.