Today's Date: Thursday, 28 August 2008  
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The Olympics run from August 8-24; journalists brace for China's interference in reporting the news.

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Journalists arrive in the newly restored Qianmen Street, July 31. (Photos: Zhang Yu)

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Journalists gather around an official, July 31.

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Web sites were blocked at the press center in the Olympic Village. Here, journalists are given information packets.

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The main press center of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing in late July. (Photo: Xinhua)

Features
The Creeping Caucasus Catatrophe
Written by Thomas Goltz   
Saturday, 23 August 2008

nf_russia_tank_sm.jpgRussian troops and tanks may have completed (at least partially) their pull-out from Georgian territory seized during its August 8 blitz of this tiny post-Soviet country, but that should be little reason for friends of Georgia to celebrate, as the real (if creeping) catastrophe has just begun.

 
South Ossetia as Bait
Written by Thomas Goltz   
Tuesday, 19 August 2008

nf_goltz_photo_sm.jpgWhy South Ossetia? The blighted territory was mere 'bait,' which would result in the catching of the 'fish,' which is the much more valuable piece of post-Soviet real-estate of Abkhazia (or possibly, Georgia itself, sans Misha Saakshivili). To understand why and how the Russians could use either of these entities requires a little bit of background information.

 
CFR World News Analysis
China's Olympic Moment

Friday, 22 August 2008
The Beijing Olympics have displayed Chinese pride and prowess in staging a world-class event, while leaving a residue of disquiet about the...
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Is Brain Drain Good for Africa?

Thursday, 21 August 2008
Development experts have long lamented the negative effects of brain drain on Africa. Some economists now argue the benefits outweigh the...
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A Morphing al-Qaeda

Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Analysts are studying whether al-Qaeda in Iraq, severely diminished over five years of war, is moving its war against the West to...
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by CFR.org

nf_beijing_logo_sm.jpgWeb 2.0 Olympics?
Not So Fast

Written by Rebecca A. Fannin  
Saturday, 23 August 2008
The Beijing Games were billed as the world's first web 2.0 Olympics -- the time when social networking over the Internet and video streaming would shine as they reflected China's glory of hosting this grand event. But I found it not so. OPC member Rebecca Fannin is blogging in Beijing; catch updates here and on www.silicondragon.blogspot.com.

China Is a Press Freedom Focal Point
Written by Kevin McDermott  
Thursday, 21 August 2008
In the run up to the Olympics this year the committee naturally made a commitment to keeping a special eye on China, which is the world's largest jailer of journalists.

RELATED NEWS
> Press Repression Rises in China | August 1
> OPC Press Freedom Letter to China | July 28
> Olympic Coverage Threatened | June 1
> Dateline: Let the Games Begin | April 24

TOOLS FOR COVERING THE GAMES
pdf World Press Freedom: Vetted Firms for Legal Assistance at the Games 63.81 Kb | August 1
> HRW: Guide to Covering the Olympics | June 30

Press Freedom
Three Regions Are the Focal Point for Press Freedom in 2007-08


article thumbnail In the run up to the Olympics this year the committee naturally made a commitment to keeping a special eye on China, which is the world's largest jailer of journalists.
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OPC Spotlights Precarious Situation of Guatemalan Journalists


article thumbnail Urgently, we call attention to reports of threats and harassment aimed at two journalists, Danilo López, correspondent of Prensa Libre in Suchitepéquez and Oscar Perdomo,...
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OPC Urges Aggressive Defense of Serbia Journalists


article thumbnail We write to express our satisfaction that two persons have been arrested in connection with the recent attack on journalists by a mob demonstrating against the arrest of Radon Karadzic.
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China July 28, 2008


article thumbnail We write to add our voice in protesting China's continuing abuses of press freedom and freedom of expression. In particular, we hear continuing reports from journalists attempting to cover the...
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News
Notes to God

Saturday, 23 August 2008
OPC member Jack Casserly brightened the Internet in August when he and his wife, Joy,...
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ICFJ: Iran 360

Thursday, 21 August 2008
The International Center for Journalists has released a report Iran 360˚:...
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4 Journalists Killed in Georgia

Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Four newsmen have been killed during the fighting in Georgia, the International News...
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Upcoming Events
Iwo Jima by Larry Smith
September 10, 2008
This OPC Book Night will include a panel discussion with battle veteran Fred Haynes, retired AP correspondent Hal Buell and Larry Smith, the author...

Passionate Pilgrimages
September 16, 2008
OPC Book Night has a double header in September with Elizabeth Sharland's latest book, Passionate Pilgrimages: From Chopin to Coward. The book is a...

Society of Environmental Journalist
October 15, 2008 - October 18, 2008
SEJ will have its 18th annual conference in Roanoke, Virginia, October 15 to 19. Highlights this year will include: Virginia Governor Tim Kaine and...


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