MEDIA MARKET DATA - World Association of Newspapers

Vucinic believes the fratricidal conflict in the former Yugoslavia helped draw attention to theneed to support independent and diverse outlets in similar environments. MDLF has helpedB-92, and more than 50 other outlets in 17 countries, including a Siberian newspaper, a radiostation in Indonesia, Noseweek in South Africa or the newspaper El Periodico in Guatemala.Entertainement stations are ruled out, serious news and information is in. New loans of about11 million dollars this year are planned in Bolivia, Colombia, the Balkans, Russia, Ukraine,Senegal, Angola and Mozambique. The investment fund also bridges a gap for both sides.AFP; May 14, 2006Censorship / Self-CensorshipChinaA group of veteran Chinese communists from the party's old guard have issued a jointstatement to lambast the current generation of leaders for excessive media censorship.Reacting to a recent decision to close down a popular investigative supplement of a majornewspaper, they warned of unrest if some measure of free expression was not permitted. "Ifyou don't dare to let people speak... you will sow the seeds of disaster," the statement said. "Itis bound to trigger collective resistance and set off turbulence." The statement, posted onEpoch Times, a US-based newspaper and website often voicing dissident views, carried 13signatures. Several of them were by well-known ex-officials, including Li Rui, chairmanMao Zedong's former secretary, and Zhu Houze, previously the nation's top propagandaofficial. The actions that sparked the statement was last month's closure of Bingdian, or"Freezing Point," a supplement of the mass-circulation China Youth Daily that had gainedrespect for its investigative reporting. The supplement was accused of "breaching newspropaganda discipline" after an article challenged the official view of foreign occupation ofChina in the late 19th century. "History shows that only in totalitarian systems do you needmedia controls," the statement said. "This is in the mistaken belief that you can forever keepthe public in the dark." The statement questioned the role of the government's existingpropaganda apparatus. "One has to ask the question: The publicity organs do not protect themedia and do not guarantee the freedom of speech. So what are they good for?" According tothe New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, China was the world's leading jailer ofjournalists in 2005 for the seventh consecutive year, with 32 imprisoned -- of which 15 wereInternet writers. AFP; February 15, 2006Media / Press LawsKuwaitKuwait's parliament passed a new press law banning the imprisonment of journalists withouta final court ruling and allowing new newspapers to publish for the first time in threedecades. All 53 MPs present at a session of the house, including cabinet ministers,voted in favor of the legislation, which was described by lawmakers as a key reform measure.Kuwaiti governments have since the mid-1970s imposed a total ban on issuing licenses fornew newspapers, and journalists could hitherto be jailed while under investigation for analleged offense. Information Minister Anas al-Rasheed described the approval of the law asa "major achievement" and hoped it will contribute to widening press freedom in the oil-richGulf emirate. The new law, which replaces the existing legislation issued in 1961, willbecome effective only after the government issues its bylaws in six months, the minister toldreporters in parliament. The reformist legislation bans the closure of newspapers without afinal court verdict and allows citizens whose applications for newspaper licenses are rejectedto sue the government. AFP; March 6, 200665