Syrian Newspaper No Longer Published

The Light Holder newspaper is no longer published in Syria, according to this story in the New York Times. [Access to the article requires free registration at the New York Times website for a short time and then it becomes available only in the archive.] According to the report, the publisher, Ali Firzat, says he was unable to find a timely printer for his newspaper after publishing a cartoon interpreted to be critical of Saddam Hussein.

Basque Newspaper Closure Extended by Spain and Protested by Reporters Sans Frontieres

A Spanish judge, according to the French organizatoin Reporters Sans Frontieres(RSF), has extended (21 July 2003) the closure of the Basque-language newspaper Euskaldunon Egunkaria for six additional months. This is the RSF report.

New Italian Law Brings Resignation of Public Broadcasting Chief

The chairman of RAI Television, the state-owned Italian public broadcasting network, has announced her resignation because of a new law that allows Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi to increase his control of Italian media. Lucia Annunziata, who chairs the RAI board, will resign as soon as the Berlusconi government enacts promised changes in Italian law, including the abolition of the board before the end of February 2004. Associated Press report.

Tunisian "cyber" Dissident

This is a 17 July 2003 update, in French, on the case of Zouhair Yahyaoui, who is appealing, so far unsuccessfully, his conviction (in 2002) and imprisonment for two years for disseminating "false" information and "fraudulent" use of an internet connection. Reporters Sans Frontieres, author of this report and located in Paris, is asking for a Presidential pardon.

French Journalism School Saved from Bankruptcy

The highly-regarded Centre de formation et de perfectionnement des journalistes (CFPJ) - French journalism school in Paris - has been "purchased" in a French bankrputcy court for the sum of 200,000 Euros. This article (in French) from Le Figaro newspaper (18 July 2003) reports what happened. The acquiring company is Formation Enterprise (EFE). More information about that company (also in French) is available here.

World Association of Newspapers Plans Conference in Monaco for November, 2003

The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) is organizing a conference on new idea and trends in newspapers for 27-28 November 2003 in Monaco. The association promises 15 different newspaper presentations drawn from the Meditterranean and other regions of the world, with "over" 200 newspaper executives participating. Full details are available here.

Italian Journalist Provided Document to US Embassy on Iraq and African Uranium

According to this report from the Associated Press, the Italian daily, Corriere della Sera, has published an interview with a Panorama (newsweekly) correspondent who says that she provided documents to the US embassy prior to President Bush's 2003 State of the Union address. The documents appear to have been proven to be forgeries.

The MMC will look at issues such as:

+ How often do journalists in MMC countries provide documents to other governments? To their own governments? On what basis?

Fine Imposed on French Internet Service

The European Union has fined Wanadoo for predatory pricing of its high speed internet service. This article from the Independent provides more information.

Online Publishers Association Europe

This is new website of the Online Publishers Association Europe, whose creation was announced in March 2003. Note that a large number of the initial members are from Mediterranean basin countries.

Committee to Protect Journalists Protests Press Freedom Restrictions in Morocco

Here is the text of a letter dated 16 July 2003 sent to King Mohanned VI, protesting a number of alleged press freedom violations in Morocco. The letter is signed by the Executive Director of the Committee to Protect Journalists in New York.

European Spam

The European Union is holding a press conference today to discuss the new anti-spam law that will take effect in October, as the International Herald Tribune reports today. Because of the global reach of the Internet, there is considerable concern that this legislation will only reduce the amount of unrequested commerical e-mail if the rest of the world cooperates in similar fashion.

The MMC will look at the ways in which "spam" has developed from and directed to addressed in the Mediterranean basin:

+ Is this affecting media operations? How?

+ What legislation has been enacted or is under consideration in the other Mediterranean countries?

Lebanon Cable Television

A court has fined 41 people a total of $317,000 (USD?) for unlawfully retransmitting satellite television programming via cable. This is the first judgment of its kind in Lebanon, according the Daily Star, and the full text of the court opinion will be published in Lebanese newspapers.

Israeli Television

Debate continues in Israel over the future of Channel 10.

Internet Service Providers

A report (10 Jul 2003) from the firm IDC (a market analysis firm) says that Internet Service Providers in North Africa and the Middle East receive only 49% of revenues from the provision of their services, with 51% going to the local telecommunications companies. IDC finds that there are nearly one milion internet access connections in area covered by the report (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, and Tunisia).

Institut Theseus

Among the organizations participating in the initial development of the MMC is the Institut Theseus in Sophia Antipolis, France. Major elements of the MMC activities are expected to be based at Theseus. Working closely with MMC will be Ahmet Aykac, the Theseus director.

Weblogs

One of the issues that the MMC will address is the role of "weblogs" of "blogs" around the Mediterranean basin.

We will ask these questions:

+ Are existing media making use of blogs? If so, how?

+ To what extent are blogs developing independent of existing media? What role are the playing?

+ From the standpoint of people accessing these blogs, what are the benefits being derived?

+ Are any blogs generating revenue?

Introducing the Mediterranean Media Center (MMC)

The Mediterranean basin is blessed with much sun and many media. The Mediterranean Media Center(MMC), for the first time, will provide a means by which the many different media in all of the countries bordering on the Medterranen can interact to improve their success.

The MMC is in formation and will be located in Nice, France, a central location permitting access to all countries in the basin.

There will be a planning meeting in September 2003 out of which may come plans for the first activities of the center.

In the meantime, anyone interested may contact Terry Maguire at tmaguire@newspaper.com or in Nice at [33] (0)4.93.89.45.14.