"Blogger arrests reach record high..
Blogger arrests reach record high
Currently, blogging arrests are at a record high, the BBC reports. 64 bloggers have been detained from mostly China, Egypt and Iran since 2003 according to a University of Washington annual report. In 2006-2007, the number of arrested bloggers tripled to 36.
Blogging has a "political importance", since issues include exposure of corruption, human rights violations, "suppression of protests", criticism of public policies and questioning political entities. Arrests tend to multiply during times of "political uncertainty" such as during elections.
The Bloggers Glossary
If you think there is a term missing just let me know and I will update the glossary.
Chris Kelty: The Cultural Significance of Free Software
Anthropologist Christopher Kelty is visiting Harvard from Rice, discussing his book “Two Bits: The Cultural Significance of Free Software” at the Berkman Center today. The book is an ethnography and “analytic history” of free softare, focusing on the cultural importance of the free software movement. He’s interested, in particular, in the ways that free software has “modulated” and informed other sectors, like citizen journalism.
How we read online, and how to write knowing that
According to Michael Agger from Slate, online reading is slower and users are more likely to lose interest faster.The most effective text online is bulleted, in a list, occasionally bold, has informative subheads and contains no puns. Aggers refers to Jakob Nielsen's theories, labeling humans as "informavores" who look for "an information scent" on a site.
Tactic: Surui takes back the land with Google Earth
Description: The Amazon Rainforest is one of the world’s last remaining rainforests and comprises the most biodiversity on Earth. However, this is being threatened by man-made deforestation. According to the Amazon Rainforest Deforestation News, during the last five months of 2007, more than 3,200 sq. kilometers (an area equivalent to the size of the state of Rhode Island) was deforested during a time when deforestation would normally drop. But, Amazon residents are demanding to take back the land through technology.
Tools Being Used:Google Earth
Tactic: Iranian Blog Declaration Against Filtering
Description: Iran has always been a land of filtering, but in recent months pressure on sites and blogs has increased. Recently, about 100 bloggers signed a declaration that condemns filtering and call for freedom of speech. They also asked the end of filtering. The declaration says that freedom of media has become more restricted than before. In recent weeks, several blogs and sites, especially the ones that write about political and social issues, have been filtered [blocked]. Several women’s blogs that are filtered too. At the same time, pro-government blogs and sites continue their activity and enjoy freedom. The declaration also notes that filtering and censorship are against the Declaration of Universal Human Rights.
Organizer: The blog Boyehkhak published[fa] the declaration and other bloggers supported it and signed it.
8 efficient and visual ways to present your online news
A great post that will be of interest to all visual editors: 10000words.net recaps eight original and graphically enticing ways to present and organize information (click here to view all graphic representations):Guide to Facebook Sports
Sports fans are some of the most avid users of social networks. They use sites to connect with fellow fans, share favorite sports moments with friends and participate in games that challenge the minds of the most fanatical sports hobbyists. After playing the one of the Facebook basketball games earlier today, I realized that there wasn’t a thorough guide to the best sports applications and most active sports pages on Facebook. As such, I’ve worked to create the following guide.
AP's Fair Use Challenge
David Ardia of the Citizen Media Law Project hits all the points in his blogpost, "Associated Press Sends DMCA Takedown to Drudge Retort, Backpedals, and Now Seeks to Define Fair Use for Bloggers."
AP Tries to Play with Bloggers, Fails Utterly
Others have said this better already, but the Associated Press is on a fool’s errand with its new program in which it aims to charge others — including some bloggers — for making what is blatantly fair use of AP stories. (See the wire’s (unintentionally hilarious) rate details.)
