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NewSat admitted it had chosen to ignore damning findings in a report about its governance.

NewSat lost nearly a third of its total market capitalisation on Monday with shareholders dumping the stock as the company responded to Fairfax Media reports over the weekend, that revealed evidence of poor governance practices and out-of-control spending at the satellite communications company, with a statement that admitted the board chose to disregard an internal report that made these findings.

Fairfax Media has reported excerpts from a damning critique of NewSat by former BHP Billiton finance vice-president, Brendan Rudd, whowas brought in as a consultant to review the company's operations last year by two of its then high-profile independent directors, former St Kilda Football Club president Andrew Plympton and Australia Post deputy chairman Brendan Fleiter.

Mr Rudd's review, which was provided to NewSat's biggest lender, the US Ex-Im Bank, identified numerous $10,000 dinners, a "complete lack of control" on expenditure related to overseas travel, and raised questions about executive salaries and benefits.

In a statement released to the Australian Securities Exchange on Monday, signed by NewSat chief executive Adrian Ballintine and chief financial offficer Linda Dillion, the company admitted it had chosen to ignore Mr Rudd's damning findings.

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"The views of Mr Rudd were considered by the NewSat board of directors in the second half of 2014. Certain matters reported in the Fairfax media as being the subject of the views of Mr Rudd were found to be without foundation," the statement read.

NewSat's statement to shareholders on Monday also responded to reports that one of its major clients, TrustComm, has served it with a civil suit in a Virginia court in the US seeking $10 million, saying that this was "incorrect", as the suit had been "filed" rather than "served". The NewSat statement dismissed TrustComm's action as a "negotiating tactic".

NewSat, which declined to respond to questions last week, said it "regards the Fairfax Media reporting as irresponsible and is considering its legal options".

Shares in NewSat dropped 30 per cent to 10.5 on Monday. It was the busiest trading day in the stock in more than a year.

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Shareholders abandon ship as NewSat plummets 30 per cent

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Australian rapper Iggy Azalea announced on Twitter Wednesday she is "taking some time away from social media" to be happy.

The 24-year-old star wrote in a series of tweets she would hand over control of her social media accounts to her management team because the "hatred and pettiness" she sees online is making her "become an angry person" that she does not wish to be.

Azalea began her rant by recounting she had just returned form "a great vacation" to find that social media users had been criticizing pictures taken by paparazzi during her break.

The rapper said she will continue to post on her accounts sporadically and sign "IA" when she does.

Azalea will kick off her Great Escape Tour through North America alongside Nick Jonas in the spring.

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Iggy Azalea quits social media over online 'hatred and pettiness'

NEW YORK CITY , N.Y., Feb. 10 (UPI) -- The Twitter accounts belonging to three news organizations, including Newsweek, were hacked by "Cyber Caliphate," a group claiming to have a connection to the Islamic State terrorist group.

The group hijacked the Newsweek's account about 10:45 a.m. Tuesday and posted a series of tweets, including a threat to first lady Michelle Obama and her family. The FBI is investigating. The International Business Times, the Latin Times and a subsidiary Newsweek Tumblr account were also hacked. Newsweek, the IBT and the Latin Times share a parent company.

"We can confirm that Newsweek's Twitter account was hacked this morning, and have since regained control of the account," Newsweek managing editor Kira Bindrim said. "We apologize to our readers for anything offensive that might have been sent from our account during that period, and are working to strengthen our newsroom security measures going forward."

During the hack, the profile picture and banner were replaced with an image of a masked man and the message "Je suIS IS." Newsweek regained control of the site after about 15 minutes.

Cyber Caliphate is said to be also responsible for hacking the Twitter accounts for the United States Central Command and pop star Taylor Swift last year.

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Newsweek, other media Twitter accounts hacked by IS-affiliated group

part1b: The Spectacular Achievements of Media Control
This is part 1 of a "3-part" article that "undertook a course of intellectual self-defense" in magnifying a speech by Noam Chomsky known as "Media Control". ...

By: dares2speakTV

Read the rest here:
part1b: The Spectacular Achievements of Media Control - Video

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.-- We've been sharing some courageous conversations with you this past week on race relations here in Springfield in the aftermath of Ferguson.

Many have been on social media outlets like Facebook, twitter and Instagram but with weighty topics like Ferguson and race relations, is social media the best way to carry on a courageous conversation?

We wanted you to share some Springfield voices that have concerns about social media and whether it hurts or helps.

Ferguson was handled in such a way with the media that it went everywhere...with the internet, Facebook, said Springfield NAACP President Cheryl Clay.

I think what happens with social media in my estimation has not contributed to the civility necessary for the kinds of in-depth discussion that have to happen in this hundreds of years long discussion we've had in America. You don't deal with it in Tweets, you don't deal with it in slogans. You deal with it eyeball to eyeball and social media allows anonymity, social media allows cynicism, snarkiness, to rule the day, it becomes an art form and subsequently. It raises consciousness but it doesn't contribute to what is really necessary, said Byron Klaus of the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary.

Things spin out of control very quickly with inaccurate, incomplete information or just flat out bogus information people trying to fan the flames of something like that, said Police Chief Paul Williams.

You don't have all the facts, nobody has all the facts yet, let's not say anything until we get all the facts and then if we identify issues that are problematic, let's be willing to address every one of those issues, said Wes Pratt of the Springfield NAACP Criminal Justice Committee.

Were not getting at the issues as much as we should we're kinda face with how do you get a hold of this greased pig and really wrestle with it when you really want to but if there's no big issue you don't want to start a fight in order to have an issue, said Dorsey Levell of the Council of Churches.

It's easier to cast, throw stones as opposed to engage in those conversations and do your research and it doesn't take a whole lot because it's right there at your finger tips, said Pratt

Chief Paul Williams said, But please do not keep parroting that 20 years ago thing, that 50 year ago thing because it doesn't do anybody any good. That's not having open, honest dialogue that's regurgitating, dredging up stuff we can't have an effect on its good form a historical perspective to know where we came from but let's work on today and the future and how we want to be and not keep talking about how it was in the past.

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Courageous Conversations: Social Media