Weekly News Roundup (May 12)
By: Brittany Green
Top Stories this Week
Mélanie Joly’s Net neutrality stance could spell trouble in Quebec; The day Francophones feel their media has been quietly anglicized by Ottawa’s inaction will be a day of reckoning, new essay posits (CRTC) http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/why-canadas-net-neutrality-stance-places-consumers-in-control/article34867805/
Joly’s position on net neutrality and CanCon regulations threaten the francophone cultural identity, her role as an MP, and her party. Criticized for implementing ‘soft policy’, Quebecor’s worry about the future of their media identity and culture.
Saskatchewan premier criticized for using private email to do government work (Privacy Canada) http://globalnews.ca/news/3445253/saskatchewan-premier-criticized-for-using-private-email-to-do-government-work/
Premier Brad Wall is accused by the opposition of using a private email to communicate about government business. According to Wall, nothing of a ‘sensitive’ nature was stated in the alleged emails, and the server they were sent on was ‘secure’.
Pepe croaks: Cartoonist kills off frog turned hate symbol (Defamation Canada) http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/cartoonist-kills-off-pepe-the-frog-after-turned-into-hate-symbol-1.4105948
Popular comic author Matt Furie has killed off his character Pepe from his comic book, “The Boys Club” (2006). During the US presidential election, Pepe’s image became an internet sensation when internet trolls used the character’s images for anti-sematic memes.
Top International News
UN officials urge India to lift social media ban in Kashmir (Freedom of Expression International) https://www.voanews.com/a/india-social-medias-ban-kashmir/3847713.html
The UN urged India officials on April 27th to life a social media band in Kashmir. The UN stated that the band had a “disproportionate impact on the fundamental rights of everyone in Kashmir” and has the “character of collective punishments”.
Mexico names new prosecutor for crimes against journalists (Freedom of Expression International) http://www.metronews.ca/news/world/2017/05/10/mexico-names-new-prosecutor-for-crimes-against-journalists.html
Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office named a new head of its divisions for Crimes Against Freedom of Expression, Ricardo Sanchez. The announcement comes a week after a delegation by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists met in Mexico City with President Enrique Pena Nieto and top government officials. During the encounter the CPJ voiced concern about what it called prosecutors’ “poor record” on investigating crimes against journalists, most of which go unpunished.
Norman Mailer paramour loses defamation suit over biography (Defamation International) http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/books/norman-mailer-paramour-loses-defamation-suit-over-biography-421901743.html
A Pennsylvania woman who says she had an eight-year affair with author Norman Mailer has lost a defamation lawsuit over a Mailer biography that describes their relationship as “strictly sexual.”A judge dismissed ex-supermodel Carole Mallory’s lawsuit after finding she offered no evidence that biographer J. Michael Lennon or his publisher acted with malice.