Video footage of the execution

This week global media show The Listening Post looks at the media fallout from Saddam Hussein’s execution. The official state approved video was the image the Iraqi government wanted to leave us with of Saddam’s death, but it was leaked footage from a cellphone that gave us the real story.

 

And we hear what you think about the importance of citizen journalism telling the stories the mainstream media miss in our regular slot, Global Village Voices.

 

In Newsbytes we look at the other big media stories this week. The existence of Jamil Hussein, an Iraqi police captain and key AP source, was finally verified. US bloggers had claimed was a figment of AP’s anti-war imagination. But the Iraqi interior ministry confirmed he is a real person – and is currently under arrest for speaking to the media.

 

Veronica Pedrosa reporting in Myanmar

British tabloid publisher, News International, banned its own papers from running paparazzi pictures of Kate Middleton, Prince William’s girlfriend, as the palace prepared to take legal steps to protect her privacy.

 

And the last remaining tape of the death of Australia’s ‘crocodile hunter’ Steve Irwin was handed over to his wife for destruction putting an end to rumours of black market bids of up to a million dollars for the film.

 

Salal Khadr reports on formally Burma’s media in exile. Myanmar is fifth from bottom of the worldwide press freedom index compiled by Reporters Without Borders. But the release of 2 journalists from prison last week may signal changes in the military junta’s attitude to the press. However, five journalists remain behind bars.

 

So how do you report on a country when freedom of speech is an alien concept? A very small number of foreign news agencies including Al Jazeera have been allowed limited access to Myanmar. But much of the domestic media like Burmese publication based in Mae Sot, Thailand is on the outside looking and listening in. They are gathered along the Thai border which is as close as they can get to the real story for now.

 

And Gizbert catches up with a Washington newspaper that is broadcasting its editorial meetings on the web. But the pictures come with a warning – some viewers may find them well disappointing.

 

Finally our video of the week is a youtube posting of a 40 year old speech by JFK on freedom of the press updated with some contemporary images.

Send us your videos

If you have a video you would like us to see, click here to send it to us.

 

If you are unsure how to do a video blog here are some hints and tips for video blogging