WikiLeaks and the media
A look at the commotion caused by the latest leak and how this one differs from the rest.
This week on the Listening Post, we look at the commotion caused by Wikileaks’ latest leak and we analyse how this leak differs from the rest. We also have a report on Rupert Murdoch’s decision to charge for Times Online content.
The release of over ninety thousand documents by the whistle blowing website Wikileaks’ is being compared to the legendary Pentagon Papers. Some say the story demonstrates an effective collaboration between old and new media.
We shed light on what role the three media outlets – The Guardian, The New York Times and Der Spiegel – played in releasing this story. We spoke to Nick Davies, The Guardian’s special correspondent whose own collaboration with Wikileaks’ founder, Julian Assange, led to this unique new and old media collaboration.
From their very inception, paywalls have been the subject of much debate. For most news organisations their websites are an expense which gets funded by their advertising revenue. The majority of newspapers are still looking for a profitable online business strategy. Due to the ubiquitous and competitive nature of the news industry, it is hard for companies to change their model and start charging for online content.
However, now that Rupert Murdoch with his media empire, is leading the charge that could all change. The question the Listening Post’s Jason Mojica asks is, if he is successful, will the others follow?
Media laws
Next, this week’s Newsbytes: a coalition of US news outlets has demanded that the Pentagon revise its rules for reporting on Guantanamo Bay. Also, Iraq’s supreme judicial court has announced controversial plans to create a new court whose sole function would be to try media cases.
Plus, the European Commission has ruled that Rupert Murdoch’s Sky Italia can now apply for one of Italy’s digital terrestrial frequencies, a move strongly opposed by Sylvio Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister. And finally, BP can never seem to get it right! A blogger has exposed that the petroleum giant photoshoped pictures to try and make themselves look busy.
This week’s web video of the week has created a pretty big buzz on youtube. Russell Arch, is a director/writer/animator who lives in LA. He has posted an animated clip of a call from one frustrated user of Apple’s new iPhone 4. Watch it here.
We all know how difficult it can be to get through to a call centre, but we reckon this caller had no problem. We hope you enjoy the show.
This episode of The Listening Post can be seen from Friday, July 30, at the following times GMT: Friday: 1230; Saturday: 1030, 2230; Sunday: 1930; Tuesday: 0630; Wednesday: 0030, 1430; Thursday: 0530.