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1/26/2014 -- SERCO, Censorship, and the US Corporation (part 1) -- Freedom Frequency
All about SERCO .. http://chrissysumer.com/2014/01/sercos-web-2/ This show covering the topics of SERCO, Weather Modification, Censorship, The Act of 1871,an...
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1/26/2014 -- SERCO, Censorship, and the US Corporation (part 1) -- Freedom Frequency - Video
Tributes are pouring in for the late folksinger and activist Pete Seeger, who died Monday at age 94. But for students of television, one of the most significant Seeger-related memories was his performance of the Vietnam War protest song, "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy," on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour," in the 1960s.
The episode seemed to encapsulate much of the turbulence of the 1960s. First, there was the unexpectedness of the comedy singing duo the Smothers Brothers evolving into politically minded figures, the longer their show -- which debuted in 1967 -- stayed on the air. It's a sign of the times then that Tommy and Dick Smothers, who had first found fame by singing tunes about falling in a vat of chocolate and arguing about which one their mother liked best, became embroiled in censorship battles over edgy content with CBS, which aired the series.
As the jokes became more counter-cultural and anti-establishment (as they said in those days), the clashes between the network and the show's hosts and writers increased.
When Seeger -- who had long been absent from television because of being blacklisted for his political activities -- appeared in a 1967 episode of "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour," he performed "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy." CBS objected to the lyrics (with its pointed barb at President Lyndon Johnson -- "the big fool says to push on.") Seeger's performance was cut from the show for broadcast.
The Smothers Brothers didn't stay quiet about the move, which smacked to them of censorship. After a public airing of their differences with CBS, Seeger returned and performed the song in an episode that was broadcast in 1968.
But this proved to be one of the many battles over content that led to CBS abruptly cancelling "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" -- despite its good ratings -- in 1969, and replacing it with "Hee Haw." Subsequent Smothers Brothers shows on other networks never met with the same success as "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour."
Here's a video of Seeger performing "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy."
Read more from the original source:
Pete Seeger and the Smothers Brothers censorship fight: TV Talk
Washington (dpa) - Press coverage of human rights abuses and other issues in Russia ahead of the Sochi Olympics has been stifled by Russian authorities, an international journalism rights group warned Tuesday.
The Committee to Protect Journalists released a report on alleged obstruction by authorities and self-censorship by Russian journalists amid fears of retaliation.
Issues such as the exploitation of migrant workers involved in construction at the Games, corruption, environmental damages and the eviction of local residents have not been covered extensively in Russian news media, CPJ said.
Instead, local media have been censored by Sochi and Russian officials or have chosen to ignore the issues for fear of censorship and other repercussions, the report said.
State media have published propaganda against activists who speak about their concerns, while local human rights advocates had been intimidated for their efforts to publicize violations, CPJ found in the report titled Media Suffer Winter Chill in Coverage of Sochi Olympics.
International journalists had also suffered harassment, but there was an upside in that international coverage had prompted more coverage within Russia, CPJ said.
The group called on the International Olympic Committee to clearly and unequivocally condemn press freedom violations and hold host countries responsible if they fail to uphold international standards of press freedom.
Moscow should repeal laws that limit press freedom; not pass any other such laws; cease media censorship; allow free, independent and unobstructive coverage of Sochi; investigate press freedom violations; cease propaganda against victims of human rights abuses; issue visas to international journalists critical of the Kremlin; and halt the collection of data about journalists including their telephone and internet data, CPJ said.
Olympic corporate sponsors and journalists themselves should also speak out on press freedom issues, it said.
See the article here:
Journalist group warns of censorship of Sochi games
BEIJING The government is intensifying efforts to control foreign media coverage of China, blocking websites, harassing reporters trying to cover trials of activists in Beijing and thwarting efforts by The New York Times to station new journalists on the mainland.
The government under President Xi Jinping has taken an increasingly hard line on controlling information within the country as its traditional means of doing so come under threat from social media and mobile Internet messaging services.
Although foreign media reports are aimed mostly at audiences outside China, the moves against international journalists reflect both wariness of their reports seeping into the domestic audience and sensitivity about the country's reputation abroad. This is especially so following reports in recent years about the wealth accumulated by relatives of top Communist Party leaders.
"International coverage is no longer simply damaging to China's international image," said David Bandurski, a researcher with the University of Hong Kong's China Media Project. "It's also damaging to China's domestic image of the ruling party."
China last week blocked access on the mainland to the websites of several European and North American news outlets that participated in or carried reports of an investigation that showed the relatives of China's president and other business and political leaders were linked to offshore tax havens.
In the past week, police and plainclothes security officers harassed reporters in Beijing who staked out courthouses where grassroots activists of the New Citizens movement were on trial, pushing them away from the buildings and confiscating press cards.
In addition to such rough treatment, foreign reporters working in China also generally deal with official intimidation of interviewees as well as bars on going to Tibet or troubled parts of ethnic minority regions.
In recent years, however, the government has added a new form of pressure, press freedom groups say, by delaying or denying journalism visas for organizations whose coverage it dislikes. China says it handles the foreign media according to its laws.
Austin Ramzy, a reporter who left Time magazine to work for the Times last April, is set to leave China on Thursday because authorities have not approved his application for a resident journalist visa.
Ramzy will be the second Times reporter in 13 months to leave the mainland over visa issues after Chris Buckley, a reporter who joined the Times' China team in 2012, similarly departed for Hong Kong at the end of that year. The Times' designated China bureau chief Philip Pan has been waiting for a journalist visa since early 2012.
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Foreign reporters harassed, NY Times faces visa woes as China ups efforts to control media
Washington, DC (PRWEB) January 28, 2014
With the help of award-winning DC web design and development firm, Blue Water Media, the American Lung Association has launched an updated microsite that grades state and federal tobacco control policies. Built in the Convio content management system, http://www.stateoftobaccocontrol.org/ is a comprehensive review of smoke-free air laws, cigarette taxes, tobacco prevention funding and smoking cessation coverage in each state. The report also grades the federal government on FDA regulation of tobacco products, federal cessation coverage, federal cigarette taxes and the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control providing detailed analysis of tobacco regulations and controls at state and federal levels.
The new site boasts an engaging and user-focused visitor experience. An interactive U.S. map on the homepage allows users to track and review tobacco control policies in their own states. Iconography featuring strong calls-to-action lead visitors to view federal and state tobacco control grades, learn more about U.S. tobacco use, and Spread the Word about tobacco-related news and health concerns. Additionally, a featured State of Tobacco Control report clarifies whether or not tobacco control laws adequately protect citizens from the health toll of tobacco use.
To enable the American Lung Association to easily update the site as needed, Blue Water Media deployed a customized solution to their existing content management system, Convio. This allows them to maintain the site on an ongoing basis, ensuring the most relevant and up-to-date tobacco control information is always available to users.
About the American Lung Association Now in its second century, the American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the American Lung Association is Fighting for Air through research, education and advocacy. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit http://www.lung.org.
About Blue Water Media Blue Water Media, is an award-winning information technology, web design, and interactive marketing agency based in Washington, D.C., with offices in New York and San Francisco. The firm provides Government, business, and non-profit clients with full lifecycle support for digital initiatives including custom web & software development, commercial and government website design, digital marketing, hosting, 508 compliance and ongoing site maintenance. Leveraging cutting edge web design techniques, flexible open source software applications, emerging technologies, and integrated marketing campaigns, Blue Water Media offers a turnkey approach to attaining online success. For more information, please visit: http://www.bluewatermedia.com/
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Blue Water Media Creates New American Lung Association Microsite to Grade the State of Tobacco Control Nationwide