US Judge rules on Difference Between Blogger and Journalist

A ruling by a federal judge in Oregon could shape future definitions of those considered journalists and those who aren't in the United States. 

The US district judge found a Montana blogger was not protected by shield laws for journalists, because she was not employed by a mainstream publication, nor did she make an effort to be unbiased or have any credentials.

She was ordered to pay $2.5 million in damages to a lawyer for calling him a thief and a thug.

Makes $30,000 for some journalism school bona fides look better.

Read the AP's full story.

Wikileaks and the Spy Files

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange prepares to present Spy Files, an examination of the global surveillance industry

Wikileaks says Big Brother is watching and has been for quite some time. Today Julian Assange announced the organization's release of more than 280 files detailing the activities of an international surveillance industry.

"Who here has an iphone? Who here has a Blackberry? Who here uses Gmail? Well you're all screwed," he told journalists and students at a press conference. "The reality is intelligence contractors are selling, right now, mass surveillance systems for all those products."

Heard around Tottenham

A local councillor predicts a thriving cultural scene, especially in hip hop music, will revive the borough regardless of how much assistance the government provides the area.

For their part, however, Tottenham traders fret that if money from the Riot (Damages) Act doesn't arrive soon, they'll go out of business.

A young musician says the success of rappers from around London, like Chipmunk in the north and Tinie Tempah in the south, has forced all aspiring artists to raise their game.

Occupy London Updates

Plenty of movement on London's Occupy front today.

The Evening Standard says drug use overfloweth at the St. Paul's Camp

@OCCUPYLSX tweets that students have occupied 53 Gordon Square in Bloomsbury

Ian Johnston at msnbc.com runs a great story about two financial experts sharing gifts and ideas with protesters at St. Paul's.

And a London judge sets Dec. 19 as the date for the cathedral campers' eviction hearings

A peek at Occupy LSX 'Bank of Ideas'

Occupy London's new location, just east of Finsbury Square, has a different feel than the park and St Paul's Cathedral.

Protesters from London's Occupy movement claimed a third site on Friday when they settled into a disused UBS building near Finsbury Square.

The occupiers declared squatter's rights, saying they plan to remain at the'Bank of Ideas' legally, but reports have the Swiss banking giant moving to evict.

The end of Occupy?

After a crackdown in the US, is the Occupy Movement (as we know it) on its last legs? photo by Benjamin Gunn

City of London officials restarted legal action against Occupy London after a two week break. They say an eviction will likely take several weeks and police will not forcibly remove protesters.

'I Love Tottenham' Tales: VIP Sports

VIP Sports' Bulent Huseyin stands outside his recently reopened storefront in Tottenham.

 

The final installment in our series of Tottenham businesses striving to recover from London's August riots. 

VIP Sports

 

The owner of a Tottenham sporting goods shop looks at CCTV footage of the empty street outside. “If I never saw the seconds ticking I would think the camera is frozen,” says Bulent Huseyin, who runs VIP Sports.

The shop raised its damaged shutters and reopened for business this week, three months after a neighborhood protest erupted into rioting. Huseyin expects it will take six months for his customers, mostly young men from the impoverished area, to return in force. But just opening the doors is a start.  

'I Love Tottenham' Tales: 2XL Recruitment

Boards surround the burned shell of 2XL's longtime offices on Tottenham High Road

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Photo by Alan Stanton.

Part four in our series examining Tottenham businesses riot recovery efforts.

2XL Recruitment

Somebody will foot a very large bill for London’s August riot. Wednesday’s Evening Standard estimated that tab could rise to £370 million, 300 of which would go to businesses damaged during the four days of violence.

Tottenham recruiting and training center 2XL is one of those firms waiting for compensation from the Riot (Damages) Act, the 1886 law that says impacted areas’ police funds must cover riot costs.

With the Metropolitan Police concerned about potentially massive deficits, however, no payment plan has been created and negotiations are ongoing. That’s a problem, says 2XL director Angela Hall.

A Tour of Finsbury Square's 'Occupy' Camp

After St Paul's decision to halt the eviction of 'occupy' demonstrators (for now), we take a look at pictures and the latest news from the Finsbury Square camp.

'I love Tottenham' Tales: Pride of Tottenham

Video by BhamUrbanNewsUK

Part three in our series on Tottenham businesses and the riot recovery effort. 

Part III: Pride of Tottenham

The owner of Pride of Tottenham--a pub on the High Road--hasn't had much good news since Aug. 6, when he estimates rioters caused more than £70,000 of damage.

There was one good day of business, says Niche Mufwankolo, when Tottenham Hotspur played arch-rival Arsenal. Other than that the place, like the street itself, has been remarkably dead. 

Now there are reports Haringey Council will exempt those hardest hit by the riots from nearly eight months of the business rates they pay in order to operate.

"I think it might be something very big," Mufwankolo said. "But I haven't heard about it from them yet."

Finsbury Square Site Nears 'Saturation Point:' Occupy Press Team

'Occupy' organizers say the camp at Finsbury Square will soon reach its limits if it hasn't already.

An organizer at the 'Occupy' protest in Finsbury Square said the site is nearly full.

"We're almost at the saturation point," said Paul, 33, a member of the camp's shelter and security teams, who was laid off from his data analysis job in May. "That's why we're frantically moving things around."

'I Love Tottenham' Tales: Paradise Gems

Paradise Gems owner Steve Moore says Tottenham High Road "just seems quieter" since the riots

A second installment in our ongoing tale of businesses in Tottenham fighting to recover from the riots. 

Part II: Paradise Gems

On the morning of 7 Aug. jeweler Steve Moore walked to his workplace of the last 21 years on Tottenham High Road. The rubble was still smoking. After a night of rioting, Paradise Gems was gone, its safes buried, decades-worth of moulds destroyed.

Moore estimates he lost more than any individual trader in the borough--but, he says, don’t believe the destruction made him want to pack up and leave.

Haringey Council Press Release: Tottenham Business Rate Relief

Haringey Council  PR 4226    25/10/2011    [For Immediate Release]

Riot-hit firms offered a business rate reduction

In a huge boost to riot-hit firms Haringey Council is offering hundreds of traders a reduction on their business rates to help them cope with lost trade and damage.

Occupy Mongolia? Man from the Land of Genghis Khan Gets in on 'Occupy' Movement

Friend sent me a short article about a Mongolian official joining the 'Occupy' movement. 'Occupy Sukhabaatar Square' in Ulan Bator just might be next.

'I Love Tottenham' Tales: The Eye Pod

A banner from the 'I Love Tottenham' Campaign'

Everyone in the North London neighborhood of Tottenham agrees life has not returned to normal. But the riots that erupted in the area this August impacted businesses differently.

This week and next we’ll look at interviews with five area entrepreneurs from the past week, as they battle to recover from changes and damage to the borough.

Part I: The Eye Pod

In some ways the Eye Pod was lucky. John Se, who co-owns the Tottenham eye-ware store, says the business sustained only minor damage to a sign and shutters when looters took over the High Street on 6 Aug.

But he and his business partner are still worried about the future. Along with street traffic, sales fell after the riot and haven’t recovered. If they don’t improve, the shop will close.

“Of course we’re worried,” Se said. “It’s not really showing signs of going back to normal.”

Occupy London Spreads to Finsbury Square

Occupy London expanded to a second site at Finsbury Square in the city center a spokeswoman for the movement said.

The activists set up about 30 tents at the new site around 5 pm today during a ‘tour of corporate greed’ around the London, according to Occupy London facebook-page creator Kai Wargalla.

“Everyone was surprised” she said, “including the police.”

The protests, which started at and around St. Paul’s Cathedral on 15 Oct., are entering their second week.

St. Paul’s closed its doors citing safety concerns related to the protests.

Video: Assange's speech at Occupy London

Sitting behind someone isn't the greatest way to record their speech, but here's one angle of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange as he addresses demonstrators at Occupy London on Oct 15.

Occupy London Images

Photos of the Occupy London protest coupled with some digressions.

Julian Assange at Occupy London: in Photos

Wikileaks creator Julian Assange addressed a crowd of demonstrators from the steps of St. Paul's.

How to Avoid Being Arrested in a Protest Zone

A spokeswoman at the London Police media office offered some cautionary advice for journalists who want to stay out of trouble at tomorrow's Occupy London demonstration.

"If you're asked to leave somewhere and you don't do so," she said, "you might find yourself in a tough situation."

Occupy London Eclipses 12,000 Facebook-Follower Mark

Occupy London supporters speak at the 'Block the Bridge' demonstration last weekend.

The Occupy London movement tallied its 12,000th facebook follower today, with the number saying they will march on the London Stock Exchange this weekend approaching 5,000.

Video - Socialist Choir Sings in Support of NHS

A final image from the weekend's Block the Bridge protests courtesy of the Strawberry Thieves.



Anybody have recommendations for good, student-friendly (ie cheap/free) video editing software?

Block the Bridge, Block the Bill in Pictures

Images from the 09/10/11 UK Uncut demonstration on Westminster Bridge against proposed changes to the NHS.

Branding Occupy London

Even revolutionaries fret over new media. The challenge facing the dozen activists preparing for Occupy the London Stock Exchange--next weekend's Occupy Wall Street-style event--was whether to use the group's twitter handle (#Occupylsx) or website (Occupylsx.org) on banners.

Occupy Wall Street-Style Protests Set for UK

Activists unveil an 'Occupy London' banner at a recent gathering in Hackney.

MSNBC article about British activists preparing to Occupy London a la Occupy Wall Street.

Violence Overshadows Tottenham Riot Recovery in Local Media

The Tottenham Journal led with this headline, "Butcher killed with own knife," in the 6 October edition. Local crimes, primarily a series of stabbings, captured media attention during the last few weeks, while riot recovery efforts didn't get much press.

Source: Mongolian President Set for London Visit

Mongolian President Ts. Elbegdorj (right) meets a German delegation in 2010. Photo by Bundeswehr-Fotos Wir.Dienen.Deutschland

Mongolian President Ts. Elbegdorj will head to Britain in two weeks to discuss "cooperation between the two countries" (read: mining investment) with Prime Minister David Cameron, according to a Mongolian contact.

Gaurdian's 'Hackney Heroine' Profile

Very interesting profile in the Guardian on Hackney resident Pauline Pearce, who stood up to looters during the London riots. She traveled to Tuesday's conservative party conference in Manchester to hear and exchange views with Tory politicians.

Sounds like she held her own, but man, did she let people have it during the riots. Seeing her on youtube inspired plenty of people, me included.

Riot Facts from Tottenham

Selected facts from the "Tottenham Disturbances Information Sheet" in bullet form below, couretsy of the Haringey Council. (Last updated Sept. 19).

Some Funds, Little Hope --Tottenham Recovery Update

Riot relief money is getting to Tottenham High Street businesses, but some say the impact isn't enough. 

Pride of Tottenham pub owner Niche Mufwankolo claims about £4,000 in government aid has been transferred into his bank account. 

'Front Lines and Deadlines'

Finished Front Lines and Deadlines, a book compiled by John Owen and Heather Purdey, two instructors on the City University International Journalism MA. Eye opening and sobering in terms of the risks and challenges facing reporters around the globe, but a fascinating read. 14 chapters, each one by a different, accomplished journalist.
Great for those interested in being a foreign correspondent. 

Notes on the (world wide) network

Seocond online journalism lecture at City University yesterday. The message: "Respect to you" if you entered this program expecting to work for a newspaper (excepting local weeklies). Translation: good luck, idiot. I hope nobody read my application closely.

Online Dating Fraud hits 200k in UK

Article for msnbc.com about research suggesting tens-of-thousands of online romance scams go unreported in Britain.

More fromTottenham Riot Recovery Meeting

Additional material from Wednesday evening’s Tottenham Traders Partnership meeting:

It was much less contentious than many of the community's recent gatherings, said TTP chair Moaz Nanjurwany. He opened the meeting by acknowledging the difficulty of “what we’ve been through in the last few weeks.”

Tottenham Traders and Politicos Talk Recovery

Tottenham officials promised effective aide before listening to local business owners demand greater post-riot relief at a Tottenham Traders Partnership meeting last night.

Few proprietors said they received initial funds from insurers or government agencies, while several of the nearly 90 people in attendance claimed they continue waiting for assistance of any kind. Foremost on many minds were pending council tax fees.

Project #1: Tottenham Riot Recovery

Businesses in Tottenham are still waiting for economic relief promised by local and citywide government agencies, seven weeks after the London riots began there. Earlier in September I spoke to Tottenham pub owner Niche Mufwankolo, who said, despite assurances that help is on the way, he has yet to receive the first £1. 

"People think that we are back to normal, but we are not back," he said. "We are sinking."

During a brief conversation yesterday afternoon he said the situation had not changed. This project's goal is to find out if recovery assistance is being delayed, and if so, why.

I've written previously about the neighborhood's reaction to the riot's for msnbc.com.

More to follow.

Saying No to Nodaphobia

Until today I suffered from nodaphopia – fear of networks. If I used facebook or twitter or sat in a church or ate a family meal before, it was only because I hadn’t thought carefully about what any of those things really are.

I’m a student in the International Journalism MA program at City University. Today marked the start of our third week, but the first of online curriculum. Within two hours, the lecturer, Paul Bradshaw, and a producer for Sky News, Neal Mann, convinced me that the internet and social media will drive all future news reporting and almost everything else.

Reasons why this development seems bad: 1) I always liked privacy. 2) The amount of information and connectivity made available by technology is overwhelming.

I interned a summer at one of the last US newspapers to literally cut and paste stories with X-Acto knives and glue for layout. It took forever, and I loved it.

Now I can’t help but feel we’re headed into some Sleeper-esque world, where, as an Italian classmate suggested, journalists will only make love on their backs because they must constantly watch twitter feeds on their futuristic ceiling screens.

From there, it’s a short step to microchips in the brain. But as much as I may want to throw Nikes in the internet’s machinery or clog its fiber optic tubes with rubber cement, there’s no point.

Like any technology, this vast network of people and collection of programs should probably be viewed as tools—ones that can help journalists do their jobs better.

That’s what I will try to do this year: use these tools to find, investigate, and report stories.

I’ll chronicle that effort and the course of the journalism MA in this blog, alongside some self promoting.