From a discussion conducted online, Feb. 16, 2000, on the state of broadcasting in Latin America. Joseph Straubhaar: One of our questions for discussion today is, has the import of international programming into Latin America affected what's being produced locally? How? Conversely, has local production affected the import of international programming …

Columbia University's prestigious Middle East Institute, with an assist from Columbia's equally prestigious School of Journalism, was the host to a curious but stimulating conference that was as ambiguous in its apparent direction as it was ambiguous in title: "Opening the Channels: Columbia Forum on Television and Society in the …

In 1995 censorship of the domestic press in Qatar was formally lifted. Since then, the press has been essentially free. Liberating the press from governmental interference, and permitting freedom of speech and public opinion through the media, especially radio and TV, have paved the road for a healthy civil society. …

Accelerating changes throughout the Middle East compel us to envision the possible transformations that may take place in the future in this region. These possibilities include changes in areas such as electoral politics, democracy, professional associations, civil society, human rights, pluralism, accountability, privatization and others--truly sweeping changes that could have …

MUMBAI, INDIA Global media magnate Rupert Murdoch celebrated his birthday on March 11 in Bangalore, India (after a gap of several years due to a court case blocking his entry) and "gifted" Star TV India with about $200 million worth of potential investment. He also announced plans to launch two …

DUBAI, UAE -- CabSat 2000, the 6th annual Dubai cable, satellite and broadcast show (Feb. 29-Mar. 2), generated plenty of fresh business as well as hard news from the region's broadcasters. Local hardware distributors all had smiling faces, largely from the much higher margins generated by digital receiver sales compared …

The move to regularize the growing globalized Indian television and cable industry has been churning around the heavily populated and diverse subcontinent of India since l997, when the Broadcast Bill was first introduced. This bill seeks to establish an autonomous broadcasting authority for facilitating and regulating broadcasting services in India, …

Today it is becoming difficult to differentiate distinct national markets from larger regional and global transmission flows. Satellite coverages are increasingly linking emerging markets with those of other global regions. This interdependence should become even more pronounced as demand for Internet-related applications continues its steep growth. While local regulatory, cultural and …

CAIRO, Nov. 1 (Aswat Masriya) - Journalist Ahmed Naje who is on trial for publishing an article containing "obscene sexual content" told Aswat Masriya on Sunday that the decision does not surprise him given the permanent "hostility" that prosecutors display towards the press.  Naje and the editor-in-chief of weekly literary magazine Akhbar …