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Maybe CNN Should Rename Itself The Cable Feature Network? --- Philip Stone April 2, 2009
One of the major reasons for watching cable news is that one should be able to switch on and get a news fix within a reasonably short time. But that’s no longer guaranteed with CNN.

Taking easyJet out of Russia --- Michael Hedges August 11, 2008
News Corporation is beating a hasty retreat from the Russian market, says Kommersant. It’s outdoor advertising arm, News Outdoor Group, may have found a buyer for the Russian business. The usually credible Moscow business daily suggested (August 8) JCDecaux is the only bidder remaining, and at a substantially marked-down price.

In Switzerland, Pay For Broadband, Own A Mobile Phone That Receives TV Then Pay A TV License Fee, Too --- Philip M. Stone July 15, 2008
Switzerland already has one of the world’s highest, if not the highest, TV and radio annual license fee – a total of 462 Swiss Francs ($454, €285, £228) divided into quarterly payments -- and about 95% of households pay the TV fee and 90% pay the radio fee, the money going to support the country’s public broadcasting system (TV is allowed advertising revenues in addition, radio is not). But are there those who slip through the net by using something other than a TV or radio? The regulators think so.

The millstone around Russia --- Michael Hedges June 23, 2008
Belarus, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan – all on Russia’s edge – are pushing media repression to new lows. With all broadcasting and most print media firmly under State control, the Web is the current target. Dictators on Russia’s borders perplex even Russian media.

Russian advertising is big, bold and creative --- Michael Hedges April 15, 2008
It’s routine now to report another multi € million deal or year of double digit growth for Russia’s advertising business. And, too, there are the legendary Moscow billboards (almost) the size of football fields. Russia is a big country, something all Russians feel, and its’ advertising creatives reflect it all.

Thin threads link journalists’ murders --- Michael Hedges March 22, 2008
Two prominent television figures died by brutal force, hours apart. Both were murdered shortly after their names appeared on a blacklist. The message is clear: don’t make enemies.

Public broadcasters calmed as Ministers translate M. Sarkozy --- Michael Hedges January 10, 2008
Anytime a national leader suggests changes in any institution some people get very nervous. So it was earlier in the week as new French President Nicolas Sarkozy commented on French broadcasting. Share prices for commercial TV channels and advertising companies rose as public broadcasters eyed the window ledges.

Strange Bedfellows And New Business Models For Marketing The Media --- Philip Stone November 21, 2007
City AM is a free business newspaper with a near 100,000 daily circulation to the main financial centers in London. So how come it had a cover-wrap on Monday promoting the business coverage of the Times of London?

Ministers ‘save’ TV5 Monde --- Michael Hedges November 10, 2007
TV5 Monde partners have checked French government efforts to consolidate its international broadcasting. Swiss, Belgians and Canadians want the French-language television channel to remain a partnership and not become ‘the voice of France.’

Money and politics mix as Moscow radio station dumps BBC --- Michael Hedges August 18, 2007
Moscow station Bolshoye Radio informed the BBC and stopped broadcasting BBC Russian immediately. For the BBC, its last FM re-broadcaster in Russia is gone. For international broadcasters it is another footnote to a changing world.

New US Broadcasting Chief Knows His Way Around a Newsroom --- Michael Hedges June 25, 2007
James K. Glassman became Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the agency supervising US government international broadcasting. Answering questions via email this weekend, he offered a candid and optimistic appraisal of the agency and its mission.

From Russia on YouTube --- Michael Hedges June 11, 2007
Russia’s new international TV channel Russia Today has discovered Web 2.0. Faced with a distribution challenge, YouTube provides a solution.

The Kremlin Wants You To Know There Is More To Mother Russia Than Contract Killings of Bankers and Journalists --- Philip M. Stone - October 19, 2006
Via the official Rossliskaya Gazeta, the Kremlin has decided to invest several million rubles for a monthly insert, Trendlines Russia.

The Murder of Journalist Anna Politkovskaya, Terrible As It Is, May Just Be That Defining Event That Brings More Press Freedom Back To Russia --- Philip Stone October 9, 2006
There has basically been a one-sided civil war going on in Russia between gangsters, politicians, Chechens, and maybe some oligarchs, too, versus the media. Current score since Vladimir Putin came to power: Journalists dead, contract-style 13 – those found guilty 0.

Murder of a Writer --- Michael Hedges October 9, 2006
Anya was strong and brave at a time when weakness and fear keeps many from asking the hard questions. It was Russia that she loved. She cried for Russia as she wrote devastatingly critical work about what she said is resurgent Stalinism. She wrote about Chechnya, sparing no side her sharp words.

RFE/RL and VOA in Russian Sights --- Michael Hedges July 10, 2006
International broadcasters are increasingly backed against a wall when it comes to finding easy broadcast licenses for the taking. Governments can prevent access to distribution or, at the very least, make life very uncomfortable for local media affiliates. The enduring rule of media and politics is that no government takes criticism easily, particularly from foreigners.

A Trip To Modern Russia Shows A Former Foreign Correspondent In The Soviet Union How Life Has Changed --- Philip M. Stone June 11, 2006
It was a beautiful Sunday morning. The modern art artists had all of their paintings out along the railings and on the sidewalk next to the park. Diplomats with their wives and kids strolled through the exhibition, talking and joking with the artists. And then came the city street cleaning water trucks. Welcome to the Soviet Union, 1974

Russian Freedom Of The Press Has Come A Long Way Since Soviet Times -- And the Country Needs To Be Given Credit For That -- But Its Political Leaders Still Haven’t Grown That Thick Skin They Need To Govern In A Truly Democratic Society --- Philip M. Stone June 11, 2006
Until the very last minute the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) admitted some of its membership objected to its annual meeting that concluded last week from being held in Moscow. It was right to go there, and it took a very gutsy WAN to tell President Putin inside his own Kremlin Palace in front of the world that he and his government needed to do more to ensure true press freedom. As good an example of free speech as one could demonstrate.

New Newspaper Publisher Mikhail Gorbachev: “There Is No Going Back To The Past. Of That I Am Sure” --- Philip Stone in Moscow June 7, 2006
One sure way of telling who the heroes are is to see how many people adoringly crowd around a speaker after he has given an audience an hour of his time. Based on the reception Mikhail Gorbachev received from the Russian and foreign media after a speech and a Q and A Wednesday it’s fairly obvious that the last President of the Soviet Union is indeed a hero in Mother Russia today.

From Vladimir Putin On Down Russian Officials Have Been Assuring the World Newspaper Congress There Is Plenty of Freedom of the Press In Russia. It’s Just That It Is Press Freedom Russian Style --- Philip M. Stone in Moscow June 6, 2006
Within the confines of the Kremlin itself, in front of some 1700 editors and publishers from 110 countries Vladimir Putin sat motionless as he was told there was 'widespread skepticism, both inside and outside your country, about whether there exists any real willingness to see the media become a financially-strong, influential and independent participant in Russian society today.'

France vs Google. France vs Microsoft. France vs CNN. Now, it’s France vs Apple. Just More of the Same, Right? --- Michael Hedges - March 27, 2006
Maybe not! Keeping to their strong tradition of dismissing the French, the Anglo-American media missed the point. Interoperability may test business models but it’s great for consumers.

FTM in Amsterdam --- Philip M. Stone November 14, 2005
News Xchange is holding its annual television meeting in Amsterdam Nov.10-11 and FTM is covering all the sessions. There’s enough going on for those interested in business trends, new technology, and journalistic developments.

BBC Returns to Arabic TV, Vacates Eastern Europe --- Michael Hedges November 3, 2005
When the BBC World Service announced plans for an Arabic language television channel there was no doubt it would succeed. The Beeb has been there before. And without that episode a dozen years ago, troubled though it was, neither Al-Jazeera nor Al-Arabiya would exist today.

With the Three Top Newspaper Categories for Recapturing Readers Being Local, Local, and Local How Come More Foreign Bureaus Aren’t Being Closed Down? Many are Beyond Their Final Payment Due Date --- Philip M. Stone October 12, 2005

Adding up the Audience, from A (Afghanistan) to Z (Zimbabwe) --- Michael Hedges September 15, 2005

“Bad Guy” Interview Throws US ABC TV Network in Hot Water --- Michael Hedges August 4, 2005

EC Says Rights Are in the Hand of the Holder --- Michael Hedges July 13, 2005

More Easy Pickings in Russian Media --- Michael Hedges July 4, 2005

French International News Channel Cleared to Go by EC. “Russia Today” Set to Go, Too. --- Michael Hedges June 13, 2005
Governments looking to spin television news to their liking are setting up satellite channels. And they are avoiding their own international broadcasting agencies.

Bubble, Bubble, Toil And Social Media --- Michael Hedges September 30, 2021 Follow on Twitter
Troublesome is an apt description of social media platforms. They are big, popular, rich and powerful. How to reign them in? Or should they be reigned in? These are the questions that try mens' souls.

Digital Football And The Virtual Free-For-All --- Michael Hedges November 22, 2017 Follow on Twitter
Fake news, investigators far and wide have concluded, is a big problem. Government leaders, generally, agree. Solutions they have proposed are, unfortunately, so analogue. This video game has pivoted to algorithms.

Taking It To A New Level, Air Required, Hot Preferred --- Michael Hedges November 6, 2017 Follow on Twitter
Those who reign supreme in the digital realm see things differently. It is the lofty perch, the money, the power, not to forget pizza on demand. Clear air is everywhere, turbulence under control. They eat what they want. Betting on that bubble bursting is a fools game.

Irritable Proprietor Boots Obnoxious Employee: World Keeps Turning --- Michael Hedges May 1, 2023 Follow on Twitter
Tales of mean and nasty bosses are common in the popular media. Over time there have been really mean ones. Nasty, too. They are impetuous, rude, crude and just plain dreadful. They micromanage. And, they fire people. Some collect bonuses for these behaviors, reinforcing the legends.

The Hubris Of The Meteorically Risen --- Michael Hedges January 5, 2015 Follow on Twitter
The meteoric rise of media executives always attracts considerable attention, adding to the enduring narrative of success in this highly visible arena. Big ideas, working hard or having the right connections most often illustrates the careers of these winners. That light is also visible, however briefly, when media stars fall back to earth.

Back In The USSR – You Don’t Know How Lucky You Are --- Michael Hedges October 19, 2009 Follow on Twitter
A bit of restructuring at two of Russia’s television channels looks to some like the cloud of Soviet times descending. All things Russian appear mysterious, not the least being its media. When times are tough, the tough make plans.

Billionaire Exits High Risk Media --- Michael Hedges December 2, 2013 Follow on Twitter
Consolidation is a matter of course. In market economies, tough times force companies to expand cash-flow by acquisition. Better times encourage new entrants and new ideas. But where the media sector is viewed through a different prism consolidation is simply a matter of control.

A Clue to Solving That Disinformation Problem: Punishment --- Michael Hedges March 14, 2022 - Follow on Twitter
Just about everybody understands disinformation: they know it when they see it. This is not an especially rigorous analysis. But, after too many years of its assault on all of us, disinformation - conscious and deliberate acts of deception - should be more easily repulsed. It is not. Too many really like it.

Everybody Has An Idea, Money Harder To Find --- Michael Hedges Jaunary 20, 2015 - Follow on Twitter
The digital playing field for news media has levelled considerably. Technology, in all its glory, is readily available to all. It just takes money. The hands required to produce newscasts, features and such are, too, readily available for the right price. Ideas, of course, are cheap.

Want To Get Your Message Across? Simple, Start Your Own 24-Hour Cable News Channel --- Philip M. Stone July 7, 2010 Follow on Twitter
What do you do if you’re a nation that doesn’t think the world’s 24-hour English language global news networks are giving you a fair shake? Simple, you start your own English news channel. All you need is money and that’s what governments print so, no problem even in these days of counting pennies.

If You Hear Something, Look In The Opposite Direction --- Michael Hedges June 11, 2019 - Follow on Twitter
Consumers of business and financial news are very demanding of their media sources. Business, of course, thrives on information. Some of this is arcane, business language what it is, and some trivial, adoring interviews with business leaders a staple. But, generally, business and financial press steers clear of fabrication. They also prefer not to mention corruption.

Change Only Frightens Voters Conditioned To Fear --- Michael Hedges April 9, 2018 - Follow on Twitter
Media watchers toil diligently to bring malfeasance to light. Journalism sometimes leads, sometimes follows. Correction often follows that spotlight, where democratic values and the rule of law are respected. Elections are the antidote. Authoritarians have a different prescription.

Tragedy And Madness In Time Of War --- Michael Hedges April 29, 2022 - Follow on Twitter
The Russian Federation's war on Ukraine is bloody and terrifying. People benefitting from free, independent news media are hearing the stories and seeing pictures in realtime. Others are mollified by a different reality.

Little Green Men Not Available, Bring In The News Anchors --- Michael Hedges September 14, 2020 - Follow on Twitter
'Nothing is really real unless it happens on television,' said the late Pulitzer laureate historian Daniel Boorstin. We have lived this notion for decades. Television is reality. Alas, reality is not television. 'Why, sometimes I've believed six impossible things before breakfast,' said Alice. We remain at television's mercy.

Dictators Like Friendly Faces Not Fearless Reporting --- Michael Hedges August 14, 2021 - Follow on Twitter
It is entirely too frequent that national authorities of a certain persuasion find foreign reporters and news outlets quite unwelcome. National sovereignty being what it is, said rulers are free to limit who can and cannot perform tasks of employment within their borders. This includes reporters, camera crews, editors and producers. There are tacit agreements allowing news outlets to perform their functions, usually bound to truth and fairness. In some countries, those relationships are quickly falling apart.

On A Clear Day, You Can See Fake News Forever --- Michael Hedges May 30, 2017 - Follow on Twitter
Fake news peddlers have had a long and prosperous run. Popping out all over the web like adolescent acne and spread unhindered by social media they have appropriated digital magic for disruption or more nefarious purposes. Leaders in the enlightened world, including real news publishers, have hesitated, mostly, bringing them to heel, press and speech freedoms still important. Then came a few rather significant elections.

Television News: Form And Content --- Michael Hedges November 29, 2010 Follow on Twitter
Television news is like fruitcake; looks good, cooks debate the best recipes and nobody really likes it. Endlessly, mercilessly critics skewer both. There’s too much sugar, not enough booze and the nuts rise to the top.

Reporters Never Forget And Always Get The Last Word --- Michael Hedges March 7, 2022 - Follow on Twitter
Reliable, important news agencies and outlets began removing themselves last week from the Russian Federation. By the weekend, the sprinkle had become a deluge. The exits were explained by almost all as necessary to avoid the siege of laws threatening the flow of information. Through the history of journalism attempts to thwart the collection and dissemination of needed information have, eventually, failed. This is no different.

No Reason To Look Forward, Yesterday Was Perfect --- Michael Hedges May 9, 2022 - Follow on Twitter
Authoritarian regimes are not very creative. All situations are viewed exactly the same. Brute force is the solution to every problem. Criticism is annoying and unwanted. And, yes, 1235 is the role model year.

Ignore What You've Always Heard: No News Is No News --- Michael Hedges July 28, 2014 - Follow on Twitter
Conflict zones always pose extreme conditions for news gathering. International conventions aside, warring parties view journalists as in the way, at best, or partisans to be contained. Conflict coverage is and always will be in high demand. Proliferating news channels, neutral or not, send crews with cameras to scour through the rubble. Unsurprisingly, everybody gets a bit aggressive.

Truth Is Not Hostile, Beware --- Michael Hedges November 28, 2016 - Follow on Twitter
Truth is truth. The earth is round and orbits the sun. A few people hold a divergent point of view, which is wholly respected when argued with reason, however flawed. And those opinions are now readily accessible, thanks, in part, to the digital dividend. Truth has become paralyzed by disruption feeding on fears and insecurities.