Los Angeles Times | Committee to Protect Journalists | Texas Observer | Wired
Escalating cartel violence in Mexico has led to bouts of self-censorship among journalists fearing reprisals, but few so prominently as Nuevo Laredo's El Mañana, which has decided to quit reporting on local cartel violence altogether.

The Los Angeles Times' Molly Hennessy-Fiske writes that since the paper's editor Roberto Mora Garcia was killed in 2004, there have been a number of attacks on the paper's journalists and offices, leading to the extreme measure.

Two years later, armed men shot up the Nuevo Laredo office, leaving a reporter paralyzed. Afterward, the paper installed bulletproof glass and fortified walls. (more...)

New York Times | Washington Post
The Chinese government blocked all access to The New York Times website from computers in the country Friday after the Times reported on the prime minister's family accumulating massive wealth.

The Times reported that Wen Jiabao's relatives have assets worth at least $2.7 billion, much of it hidden from public knowledge:

In many cases, the names of the relatives have been hidden behind layers of partnerships and investment vehicles involving friends, work colleagues and business partners. Untangling their financial holdings provides an unusually detailed look at how politically connected people have profited from being at the intersection of government and business as state influence and private wealth converge in China’s fast-growing economy.

(more...)

BusinessDay | News24 | Bizcommunity
The National Press Club of South Africa is asking the country's citizens to wear black on Tuesday to oppose a bill that the National Assembly is expected to vote on that day.

The South African Press Association explains what some critics call "the secrecy bill":

If the bill is passed the media will not be able to claim it acted in the public interest if it violated or was party to the violation of a law, or published classified information to substantiate a report on, for example, malpractice or corruption in government.

Violators could face up to 25 years in jail for some offenses. The problem, of course, is that the government decides what information can and can't be published. Critics have called the legislation the "secrecy bill" and claim the law is too broadly-written. (more...)

Twitter
Several updates from Twitter’s official public relations account @TwitterGlobalPR on Tuesday night corroborate earlier reports that the service is being blocked from use inside Egypt.

“We can confirm that Twitter was blocked in Egypt around 8am PT today. It

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