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SEOUL, South Korea When a South Korean ferry sank with hundreds trapped inside last month, the whole world knew about it. But in North Korea, there was utter silence about the collapse of a 23-story apartment building for five days, until state media issued a rare apology.

The North is not a black hole for information. More than 2 million people have cellphones. Hundreds of foreigners live in Pyongyang, the showcase capital where the collapse occurred a week ago Tuesday. A handful of international news bureaus, including The Associated Press, operate there, and the city sees a steady procession of visiting tourists, academics and diplomats.

But with no Internet for most citizens, a local press that operates as the government's propaganda wing and a security apparatus that severely curbs foreigners and citizens alike, if North Koreans get news about something, it is almost always because the nation's leader, Kim Jong Un, wants them to get it.

Kim may not have meant for his people to know anything about the collapse at first. Three days after it happened, a North Korean state-run newspaper carried a photo of the beaming leader watching a soccer match. The date shown on a telephone screen beside Kim was a day after the collapse, said a South Korean official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak to media about the matter.

Chang Yong Seok, an analyst at Seoul National University, said North Korea may have publicized the building collapse because news likely was spreading among citizens in Pyongyang via domestic cellphone service.

In any case, the delay in reporting gave North Korea's propaganda mavens more time to spin the narrative with a grieving Kim, who one official told state media "sat up all night, feeling painful after being told about the accident."

The state-run Korean Central News Agency said there were casualties but released no specifics on deaths or injuries. Most of the few details to emerge things that people in democracies likely would consider newsworthy have come from South Korean officials, who said they believe many people died because nearly 100 families likely had moved into the building, even while it was under construction.

"As with everything in North Korea, this is all about establishing Kim Jong Un's legitimacy," said John Delury, a specialist on North Korea and China at Yonsei University in Seoul. "Even when a building collapses, they're thinking about how to use it to consolidate his power."

Andrei Lankov, a North Korea expert at Kookmin University in South Korea, said the North continues to exert an iron grip on information.

Citizens have few contacts with foreigners; local media would never report something the government didn't want seen; and foreign reporters' movements often are limited.

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North Korea building collapse is a study in news media control

Norwalk, CT (PRWEB) May 20, 2014

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ABOUT FOLIO: Folio: is a multichannel resource for the magazine and online media industry. Our primary mission is to use print, digital media and events to help media companies solve business challenges. Our audience includes publishing professionals from all sectors of the magazine industry, including those in b-to-b, consumer, association, and city and regional. For more information, visit http://www.foliomag.com.

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Social Media Tactics, Media Technologies and Strategies for Growth Focus of Folio: Growth Summit & Social Media ...

By FOSTER KLUG Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - When a South Korean ferry sank with hundreds trapped inside last month, the whole world knew about it. But in North Korea, there was utter silence about the collapse of a 23-story apartment building for five days, until state media issued a rare apology.

The North is not a black hole for information. More than 2 million people have cellphones. Hundreds of foreigners live in Pyongyang, the showcase capital where the collapse occurred a week ago Tuesday. A handful of international news bureaus, including The Associated Press, operate there, and the city sees a steady procession of visiting tourists, academics and diplomats.

But with no Internet for most citizens, a local press that operates as the government's propaganda wing and a security apparatus that severely curbs foreigners and citizens alike, if North Koreans get news about something, it is almost always because the nation's young leader, Kim Jong Un, wants them to get it.

Kim may not have meant for his people to know anything about the collapse at first. Three days after it happened, a North Korean state-run newspaper carried a photo of the beaming leader watching a soccer match. The date shown on a screen display of a telephone beside Kim was a day after the collapse, according to a South Korean official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak to media about the matter.

Chang Yong Seok, an analyst at Seoul National University, said North Korea may have finally publicized the building collapse because news was likely spreading among citizens in Pyongyang via the domestic cellphone service.

In any case, the delay in reporting gave North Korea's propaganda mavens more time to spin the narrative in a way that glorified the ruling Kim family.

The North Korean story highlighted a grieving Kim Jong Un, who one official told state media "sat up all night, feeling painful after being told about the accident."

The state-run Korean Central News Agency said there were casualties but released no specifics on deaths or injuries. Most of the few details to emerge - things that people in democracies would likely consider newsworthy - have come from South Korean officials, who said they believe many people died because nearly 100 families had likely moved into the building, even while it was under construction.

The North Korean report includes apologies from five officials who accepted responsibility for the collapse. It is in keeping with a consistent propaganda message framed to show Kim as a man of the people with no patience for his officials' failures. Kim's late father and predecessor, Kim Jong Il, was seen as more aloof than his son.

Link:
N. Korea building collapse study in media control - NBC40.net

By FOSTER KLUG Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - When a South Korean ferry sank with hundreds trapped inside last month, the whole world knew about it. But in North Korea, there was utter silence about the collapse of a 23-story apartment building for five days, until state media issued a rare apology.

The North is not a black hole for information. More than 2 million people have cellphones. Hundreds of foreigners live in Pyongyang, the showcase capital where the collapse occurred a week ago Tuesday. A handful of international news bureaus, including The Associated Press, operate there, and the city sees a steady procession of visiting tourists, academics and diplomats.

But with no Internet for most citizens, a local press that operates as the government's propaganda wing and a security apparatus that severely curbs foreigners and citizens alike, if North Koreans get news about something, it is almost always because the nation's young leader, Kim Jong Un, wants them to get it.

Kim may not have meant for his people to know anything about the collapse at first. Three days after it happened, a North Korean state-run newspaper carried a photo of the beaming leader watching a soccer match. The date shown on a screen display of a telephone beside Kim was a day after the collapse, according to a South Korean official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak to media about the matter.

Chang Yong Seok, an analyst at Seoul National University, said North Korea may have finally publicized the building collapse because news was likely spreading among citizens in Pyongyang via the domestic cellphone service.

In any case, the delay in reporting gave North Korea's propaganda mavens more time to spin the narrative in a way that glorified the ruling Kim family.

The North Korean story highlighted a grieving Kim Jong Un, who one official told state media "sat up all night, feeling painful after being told about the accident."

The state-run Korean Central News Agency said there were casualties but released no specifics on deaths or injuries. Most of the few details to emerge - things that people in democracies would likely consider newsworthy - have come from South Korean officials, who said they believe many people died because nearly 100 families had likely moved into the building, even while it was under construction.

The North Korean report includes apologies from five officials who accepted responsibility for the collapse. It is in keeping with a consistent propaganda message framed to show Kim as a man of the people with no patience for his officials' failures. Kim's late father and predecessor, Kim Jong Il, was seen as more aloof than his son.

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N. Korea building collapse study in media control - Quincy Herald-Whig | Illinois & Missouri News, Sports

May 19, 2014 MEDIA RELEASE

Nassella tussock control get on to it early

A dwindling pool of contractors controlling the invasive Nassella tussock is causing concern for landowners and Environment Canterbury.

Farmers whose properties have the pest are urged to plan ahead and book contractors early to avoid a spring bottleneck. A significant number of landowners engage contractors to control Nassella tussock each year, especially in North Canterbury. Environment Canterbury Commissioner David Bedford says landowners should consider moving Nassella tussock control operations to autumn or winter. This helps spread the load for contractors and landowners who face their busiest time on the farm in spring, Mr Bedford said.

Canterburys Regional Pest Management Strategy requires land occupiers to eliminate Nassella tussock plants annually to prevent seeding.

Nassella tussock can currently be found on more than 1300 properties. Most land occupiers must complete control work by 30 September with a smaller number having until the end of October.

Nassella tussock has the potential to spread to about half the Canterbury region if controls are not maintained, causing loss of pasture production and increased control costs.

Farmers must ensure Nassella tussock plants are controlled early to prevent seeding in November and a potential economic impact on the farming community in future years, Mr Bedford said. After 75 years of hard work to reduce the density of Nassella tussock and bring plant numbers down to a manageable level, it is important to build on this investment by organising the control programme in good time.

For information on Nassella tussock and other pests, go to http://www.ecan.govt.nz/pests.

For a list of contractors, contact Environment Canterbury Customer Services on 0800 324 636 (0800 EC INFO).

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Nassella tussock control get on to it early