Global Media News

Russia's Gay Propaganda Law Affects the Gaming and Movie Industry

The LGBTQ community has been struggling for their independence and acceptance in Russia for a very long time. However, a bill that was passed on June 11th, 2013 and enforced on June 30th of that same year has only made it harder for the community. The law that was passed is called The Gay Propaganda Law, also known as "For the Purpose of Protecting Children from Information Advocating for a Denial of Traditional Family Values". According to  Rossiyng toskaya Gazeta, a Russian government based newspaper, Article 6.21 of the law states:

“Advocacy of non-traditional sexual relations among minors... expressed in the dissemination of information aimed at the formation of sub-adult non-traditional sexual attitudes…or… challenge guide interest in such relations…shall entail the imposition of an administrative fine on citizens in the amount of four thousand to five thousand rubles…"

The Gay Propaganda Law greatly impacts the LGBTQ community. One way it affects the LGBTQ community is through the online gaming industry. EA, also called Electronic Arts has been hit hard with this gay propaganda law in Russia. The Sims 4, a game created by EA, has been around for 20 years. The guidelines for this game is that people 12 years or older can purchase the game.However, because of this ban, Russians who are less than 18 years of age cannot purchase this game anymore. Why is this? According to TheConversation, “The argument here is that the gay couplings in The Sims 4 are harmful to children and equates the game with violent titles, such as series Grand Theft Auto or Call of Duty.” 

Another way in which the Gay Propaganda Law has affected the LGBTQ community is through the movie industry. Elton John, a musician, wrote the song “Rocketman”. The song was created into a movie and is based on Elton John’s life and how he became famous. In the movie, there are multiple homosexual scenes. Due to the law in Russia, the homosexual scenes have been cut out. This upset many Russians and Elton John especially. Elton John expresses his disappointment in an interview. This is what he had to say:

 

TV Rain: The Only Independent News Channel in a Kremlin-Controlled Media?

    In a country where media is heavily regulated by its government, there aren’t many independent media news outlets available to Russian citizens. The most common source of news for Russians is television, where the people are fed with Kremlin filtered news.

    In order to better understand Russian television, included in a Broadband TV News article are the total number of television channels in the country. "A total of 2,370 TV channels were identified as operating and accessible in Russia and/or having licenses to broadcast in the country, according to a new report of the European Audiovisual Observatory." 

    However, in an era of fake and state controlled news, one TV channel remains independent. Known as the "optimistic channel," TV Rain is a smaller scale news channel that touches on subjects the other major networks do not attempt to touch on. 

    “Nobody needs counter-propaganda,” said Mikhail Zygar, the editor-in-chief of the channel. “Our goal is not to fight anything, our goal is just to give people who don’t have real information the thing they don’t have.”

    An example of TV Rain's coverage can be seen in an article titled, “What games are behind Putin's decisions, the ‘swelling’ Sobyaninskaya Moscow, and the growing rebellion of migrants,” translated from TV Rain’s official website. This channel dives into criticisms about Putin and governments practices, which is practically unheard of in the region. TV Rain emphasizes content over form and is often described as looking like student run television. The channel is produced differently than other major news channels that broadcast from huge studios with live audiences.

    Natalia Sindeeva, founder and general director of TV Rain, has been praised for her work with the channel and “has twice won the ‘Russia’s media manager’ award for her work on radio (2004) and in television (2011).”

    In an article written by The Guardian, a British news outlet, it discusses the issues TV Rain faces when trying to interview government officials. One of the popular segments on the channel is Hard Day’s Night. Hosted by Tikhon Dzyadko, Hard Day’s Night is one of the only political round table interview shows in Russia. Dzyadko and other journalists discuss the nations pressing political issues. Less and less political officials have been appearing on the show due to the reputation of the independent news channel and potential backlash they would receive from their superiors.

    TV Rain came under fire when they posted an online survey on Twitter asking whether Leningrad should’ve been surrendered to the Nazis during WWII to save the lives taken during the siege. Since it is very uncommon and taboo to mention war efforts in Russia, almost every major cable provider country dropped TV Rain.

    In addition to being dropped by these TV providers, Russian parliament passed laws banning advertising on cable channels, causing more trouble for TV Rain.

    In order to earn revenue, the channel set up a subscription service for viewers starting at 1,000 roubles per year. The channel came up with the marketing slogan “There are 1,000 reasons not to believe in independent television, but just 1,000 roubles will get it for you.” Presently, the channel has 60,000 subscribers with costs of 4,800 roubles per year. Muscovites make up almost 40 percent of total subscribers.

    Despite frequent attempts to be shut down by the government and other far-right groups, TV Rain continues to broadcast “sensitive” news topics. For a short time, the channel got evicted from their studio in the Red October area of Moscow and had to be produced out of the co-owner’s apartment.

The Kremlin Uses Facebook Events Tool to Organize Anti-Immigration Rallies in the Western United States

    Russia is well known for its strong governmental regulations on media. Russian journalists risk their lives in attempting to expose any kind of corruption in sensitive topics including the nation's political dynamics. Russian media is constantly criticized by other countries with less regulated media systems. It is challenging to find any Russian media sources criticizing their own country because, "laws allow the authorities to block websites without explanation, require popular bloggers to register with the mass media regulator Roskomnadzor and demand that internet companies give the authorities access to users' information." Common punishment for not abiding by these rules is prison time. Recent attempts to shift political attitudes have shown the governments desire to not only persuade their own peoples perspectives, but that of other nations around the globe.

    The Kremlin, headed by Vladimir Putin, has recently attempted more fake news stories in efforts to persuade American political opinion. The Daily Beast discovered that the 2016 Facebook event "Citizens before refugees" (pictured on the left) was hosted by "SecuredBorders," a Russian backed U.S. anti-immigration community. The page followed by 133,000 members was soon taken down by the social media platform. Following the three hour long event planned to be hosted at the City Council Chambers, Breitbart, a far-right news network, posted a great number of stories bashing the refugee population of Twin Falls including “Twin Falls Rape Special Report: Why Are the Refugees Moving In?” This was a false story denied by Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs. Other Russian influenced pro-Trump outlets such as InfoWars and WorldNetDaily also published stories calling for action to change the areas legislation to deny refugee citizens.

    Earlier this week, it was revealed by Facebook that Russia used fake identities and thousands of ads, seen by 23-70 million people, in attempt to shape U.S. political views before and after the 2016 election. This is an example of how Russian lawmakers used social media to interfere in the political discourse of other countries. However, the government controlled Russian news media outlet Sputnik, “Russia has repeatedly denied accusations that it interfered in the vote.” 

    Several different U.S. media outlets detailed the January 2017 FBI intelligence report claiming that “Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the U.S. presidential election.” Russian news outlets Sputnik and RT are under fire for serving as a "platform for Kremlin messaging to Russian and international audiences." Both of these outlets operate on U.S. soil and could have some interference shown in the above Facebook events. This report also touches on the idea that new regulations need to be put in place for media propaganda used by Russia on other nations.

YouTube Deletes North Korea’s Propaganda Channel

Under the power of a dictator, all forms of news (newspapers, television and internet content) are filtered by the government. North Korea has been broadcasting some disturbing videos on YouTube. The nation has been running a propaganda channel, “Uriminzokkiri.” The channel gave the United States an insight on North Korea's leadership, military, and economy. 

After viewing the videos, YouTube, which is owned by Google, decided to shut down the account. The media outlet released a statement on why the channel was shut down. (h/t Rachel Leah of Salon) 

“This account has been terminated for violating YouTube’s community guidelines. The channel that routinely posted videos bragging of the country’s nuclear and missile programs and lauding its leader Kim Jong-un, often with colorful, animated images of American cities burning in nuclear fire.”

According to the Washington Post, one of the videos was titled “What will the cost be for Americans, who are losing sleep at night?” The Post detailed the captions in the video: “Since the North gave notice of its Guam attack plan, there has been a commotion at the White House, the Pentagon, on Guam, and on the political scene.”

The larger issue raised by YouTube was North Korea not following the community guidelines, which includes threats or hateful content in videos. While the North Korean YouTube channel was taken down, Uriminzokkiri is still active on Facebook and Twitter, along with their independent website. 

YouTube has blocked countries like China and Iran, along with North Korea. Afghanistan, Russia, and Syria are three of twenty countries that have been censored by YouTube.

After the North Korean YouTube channel was taken down, Curtis Melvin, who works with US-Korea Institute, was infuriated with YouTube's decision to take down the North Korean channel and questioned YouTube's decision. 

INFURIATING! @Google and @Youtube have pulled the Uriminzokkiri Youtube Channel AGAIN! What is the legal issue here? pic.twitter.com/beR8H6w3bC

— Curtis Melvin 커티스 멜빈 (@CurtisMelvin) September 12, 2017

Joshua Pollack, editor of The Nonproliferation Review, stated on Twitter that it's the worst time for the channel to be shut down. 

There has been tons of tension between the United States and North Korea since Donald Trump became the 45th President of the United States. The Trump administration has been warned by North Korea and were told keep “its eyes and ears open from now on” in one of their recent videos. North Korea doubled down by stating the "US should be beaten to death like a rabid dog” and should be “beaten to death like a rabid dog.

Trump stated that "Kim Jong Un made a very wise and well reasoned decision" when he chose not to fire missiles at Guam. Guam is a territory owned by the United States. Along with the statement made by the 45th President, Trump even threatened North Korea with “fire and fury.” 

North Korea owns a large amount of intercontinental ballistic missiles. The nation has carried out multiple nuclear tests, so it's important to analyze what's going on.  

“North Korea is a country with thermonuclear weapons sitting on ICBMs [intercontinental ballistic missiles] that can reach the United States. It is really important to understand them even if we don’t like them,” Jeffrey Lewis, an Arms control expert, told the Guardian. “That starts by analyzing their propaganda. Even though it’s tendentious, you can learn a lot about a country from the lies they tell.”

Lewis said the YouTube channels will help "analyze videos of missile launches and tours of factories, to better understand the regime’s nuclear capabilities."

At the end of the day, it may not completely be negative. While Uriminzokkiri was taken down from YouTube, there are three other ways to monitor North Korea's plans. As Curtis Melvin and Joshua Pollack mentioned, these websites are significant to the United States. With the United States going back-and-forth with North Korea, it's important to monitor Kim Jong Un and his nation.

British Journalist John Cantlie, Captive by ISIS, Appears in New Video

"A video grab from the YouTube film believed to show hostage John Cantlie walking round the Iraqi city of Mosul. Photograph: PA"   

     ISIS has released a new propaganda video featuring British journalist John Cantlie reporting on the conditions ISIS is working through on Aleppo in Syria.  The video seems to be propaganda to show that ISIS is still strong and well, despite the bombings and attacks made on their lands.  

"The photojournalist presents the documentary-style clip in English, claiming that “life in Mosul is business as usual” and that media reports suggesting the city is “depressed” and “living in fear” are “misleading”." (The Guardian) 

"Cantlie also shows a religious school and a court, where he explains that Islamic Sharia law "is 1,400 years old. And it is the rule of God, the rule of Allah. And therefore it cannot be changed." He cites, for example, that the punishment for robbery is having one's hand cut off."  (CNN) 

    British journalist, Cantlie has made several videos for ISIS while hostage, but this latest video leaves wide room for speculation on his life, calling this "the last of this series.  This gives people around the world an erie feeling and a reminder that Cantlie is still at risk of survival.  Many people have bashed Cantlie, claiming that he is a trader for making these ISIS videos, creating these propaganda videos to lure others from the West to join ISIS.  He has been held hostage for over two years by ISIS, becoming captive in November 2012.  Cantlie is dressed in casual civilian wear in the latest video, as to show he is just a ordinary citizen speaking of the every day activities he views around him.  Being hostage, Cantlie, strangely calm in the recent video series for ISIS, and is clearly under duress, doing all that he can to stay alive.  

"Cantlie refers to the latest video as "the last film in this series." He does not discuss his fate as a hostage, though he has previously commented on threats to his life. The videos he is forced to make are well liked in the jihadist community, considering that a number of accounts on social media have advocated for ISIS to keep Cantlie alive so he could continue creating the propaganda films."  (Newsweek) 

Pleas for Cantlie's freedom have been sent to ISIS by his family members.  

"His family have repeatedly called on Isis to set him free, with Cantlie's father Paul, 80, sending a message to Isis appealing for his son's freedom. He died shortly afterwards.

Jessica Cantlie, his sister, has previously appealed for “direct contact” with the extremist militants holding him."  (independent.ie)  

For those of you who are curious to watch the recently released video by ISIS with British Journalist Jogn Cantlie, you can check it out here, using the link.

If you would like more information or would like to help out by joining in demonstrations, there is a FaceBook page called "Free John Cantlie".

Ukraine's "Ministry of Truth" set to regulate it's country's media

    According to an article in The Guardian, " Ukraine has a new government ministry". Parliament came to a vote that would create a ministry of information policy. This move is the beginning of an information war against Russia. The decision to form this ministry of information was led by Yuriy Stets, who is the head of the information security department of the national guard. Ukraine is a Democratic state and the internet there is free, while the press is partly free. 

    According to Ukraine BBC profile, "Ukraine gained independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and has since veered between seeking closer integration with Western Europe and reconciliation with Russia, which supplies most of the country's energy". Basically Ukraine media is definitely liberal than Russia however they were trying to rebuild relations with Russia but issues within the media caused frictions between the two countries. 

    Russia and Ukraine have been waging a propaganda war against each other. Russia is highly censored and wants to control the media in Ukraine. In response to this war popular Russian TV show serials have been banned, in which Ukrainians approve. Also Ukraine did not welcome the idea that the government  should oversee the information sphere.

    Now this media war between Russia and Ukraine have gone on for a long time and Russia has had problems with other countries where the media is free. Even if Russia allows some media from other countries a lot of the media is restricted and it causes problems. Ukraine is strict when it comes to certain media but in no way will it ban or change the media to tailor to their citizens. Media is a powerful tool and if used in the right way can make a country like Ukraine great.

    

Banning Music in Mexico

    The musical genre of Narcocorridos uses sousaphones and accordions to provide a pleasant polka-like backdrop for lyrics that sensationalize the exploits of Mexican drug cartels. There has been a surge of violence against young narcocorridos singers in Mexico, resulting in many deaths and injuries. 

    There's a parallel between Narcocorridos and American Gangsta Rap, in that some say the music merely tells a story based off real life violence and crime while others say it feeds the very crime it sings about. As with all controversial music, there is an ongoing debate over whether or not the art promotes acts of gruesome violence or simply provides a narrative to illegal goings on. It's known that some corridos performers have actually accepted money from cartels to write about them, perhaps this is similar to paying for advertisement. Regardless, Mexican authorities have taken upon themselves to make Narcocorridos music illegal in certain parts of the country.

    This brings up obvious concerns of freedom of speech, but the immediate concern is to limit the distribution of the music. Promotion of the genre has been limited in Chihuaha, with any violators facing fines or jail time. Chihuahua is one of several states that is currently facing restrictions in Anti-Corrido legislation. Prohibition of free speech is a problem throughout the world, but this one seems to be in its own category. One of Mexico's biggest problems is drug-cartel-related-violence, and when shootings happen at concerts it's not just the performers whose lives re in danger. Maybe in this case, free speech can be too much of a good thing.

Iran angered of its portrayal in the media

Iran has been growing increasingly more and more angry towards the U.S and how they portray Iran in media and film. United Kingdom's Daily Mail is reporting that Iran plans to sue Hollywood over the unrealistic portrayal of its nation in the award winning movie Argo, featuring Ben Affleck. Argo is a movie produced in 2012 which takes CIA operative Tony Mendez, (played by Ben Affleck) and his men to Iran to rescue 6 U.S diplomats during the 1979 Iran hostage crisis.

Iran's is calling the scene in the movie where five hostages escape from Iran "CIA Propaganda." This is not the first time Iran has had a problem with a Hollywood movie. They are claiming many of the historical facts in the movie 300 are also distorted. Last month Iran officials claimed Argo to be a "pro CIA movie" with means of destroying Irans image to the world. Iran's television networks called it an advertisement for the CIA. 

According to The Sun Argo is banned in Iranian movie theaters. Even with it being banned citizens of Iran are still getting there hands on copies of the movie from bootleggers.

Mehndi Tondro, a specialist in anti Islamic and Iranian film said that 

    "We Iranians look stupid, backward and simple-minded in this movie."

    "Hollywood is not a normal industry - it’s a conspiracy by capitalism and Zionism. We need to come up with an answer to this and other films."

 

 

 

 

 

Scandal in the Chinese Communist Party

As of late Bo Xilai has come under alot of scrutiny. Bo Xilai is a former Chinese politician who held many top seats in the Chinese government but was removed from his position amongst heavy allegations. The allegations all started when Bo Xilai's wife was accused of murdering English businessman Neil Haywood in November 2011. The problem arose when Chongqing police chief Wang Lijun went to the US consulate with documents about their crime and other scandalous info and threatened to turn them in. Wang was then detained and sent to local authorities by Xilai's police force where he was interrogated and investigated.

This led to public outcry and eventually Bo Xilai was stripped from his position and now faces serious out-lashes from the government and public. The Chinese Communist Party has now begun a propaganda campaign to dehumanize him signifying the impact of this case for not only Xilai but the whole Chinese government itself. The situation is truly an ironic one as Xilai used to manipulate the media himself for personal gains now gets a taste of how dangerous the media in a controlled state can be. The country has asked for many of the news and media agencies in the country to show support for the state and to attack Xilai in an attempt to "unify" the country but this has been a difficult task as the country is divided on the issue. Many people in the country such as the pro-communist supporters are in favor of Xilai and have supported him extensively while many liberal or progressive figures in the country are opposed to Xilai and viewed him as a criminal. David Bandurski an editor for the Chinese Media Project in Hong Kong described the situation,

“We haven’t seen this kind of direct meddling with the media across the board in a long, long time...You can really sense the anxiety and the uneasiness.  They’re pushing so intently this message of unity and solidarity, and you know all is not well.”

The case is having an enormous impact on media in China and even some abroad.  According to BBC news a Chinese based website located in North Carolina has been hacked and shut down due to their extensive coverage on the story. The manager of the site has stated that Chinese security forces has shut down the website in an attempt to stop the coverage of the news spreading internationally. This alone signifies how interesting the case really is as China doesn't want any bad press overseas that can potentially be harmful for their government. 

Media in China is an extremely sensitive and private issue due to media in the country being state run and monitored. Certain media networks that are popular internationally, such as Google and Facebook, are banned in China due to fears of their "western" influence. However, many in the country turn a blind eye to the censorship due to the strong economic growth the country has been achieving over the past decade which has helped modernize the country and reduce poverty.

Here's the Wall Street Journal with some interesting coverage on the case