Today’s MediaWireWorld roundup of journalism news from outside the U.S. Send tips to Kristen Hare: khare@poynter.org
Ukraine
A crew with RT was denied entry in Ukraine on Tuesday, RT reported. The crew was there to cover Ukrainian presidential elections on May 25, but they were turned away at the border.
“At the border control they immediately took our passports. An hour later, we – one by one – were invited to a special room for an interview,” (correspondent Anna Knishenko) Knishenko said on the phone. The interview has already become a routine for everyone arriving in Borispol airport.
She said three border control officials were asking them the purpose of their visit and the amount of money the journalists had with them and whether they have ever visited Ukraine before. Knishenko said she was also asked her personal opinion about the situation with Crimea – which joined Russia following the March 16 referendum – and, also about RT channel.
Also on Tuesday, Ukrainian National Guard detained RT correspondent Graham Phillips, RT reported. Phillips, (who is a British blogger; BuzzFeed’s Max Seddon wrote more about him Tuesday,) was detained in Eastern Ukraine and may be moved to Kiev.
There’s also a Twitter campaign, RT reports, #SaveOurGuys, calling for the release of reporters held in Ukraine.
#SaveOurGuys pic.twitter.com/qZosNxc7hb
— MFA Russia (@mfa_russia) May 20, 2014
Meanwhile, during the past weekend, reporters were also detained in Crimea by local militia supportive of Russia and by FSB, Russian security service, Committee to Protect Journalists reported Monday.
Pakistan
On Tuesday, members of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority announced they’d be taking the country’s biggest station, Geo TV, off the air. Then, the group changed its mind because only three of the 12 members were present, Jon Boone reported Tuesday in The Guardian.
The channel’s troubles began when it aired explosive allegations that the country’s top spy agency, the Inter Services Intelligence directorate (ISI) had attempted to kill star Geo journalist Hamid Mir as he was driving through Karachi in April.
The company has been at the heart of a roiling controversy that has engulfed the country’s media and political class ever since.
Thailand
After martial law was declared in Thailand on Tuesday, the military shut down 10 TV stations, Reporters Without Borders reported, “and ordered them to stop broadcasting to prevent ‘distorted’ reports.”
According to Reporters Without Borders’ correspondent, soldiers have taken up position around all TV stations, including those that are not being censored, in order to ensure the regular transmission of military communiqués.
Brazil
In a plot twist from Tribuna Impressa, in Araraquara, Brazil, it looks like at least one cat maybe be leaving the internet for print (front page courtesy the Newseum).
