As part of the ongoing drive by Roh’s administration to control the media, the current administration has begun a new system of briefing reporters and controlling their access to government offices and employees. Only registered reporters with electronic passes will be allowed into briefing rooms. Though this would hardly stop government employees from talking to the press, it is part of an ongoing trend in controlling what is reported, in conjunction with new laws allegedly designed to regulate new media such as DMB broadcasting, which can be used to filter what is seen and heard through the newer media channels.
The current slate of presidential contenders has come out against the new system, declaring it to be a violation of people’s right to know what is going on in their government.
Such constant and sly attempts at packaging media control as market regulation or as simply being an improved system of news coverage is a bad omen for the future, where the reporting that covers the government’s activities reads more like a pro-government source rather than an independent source of information, IMHO.
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“The government pledged to relay briefings via videolink so reporters need not visit government agencies to gather news, and to put an e-briefing system in place whereby a spokesman would answer questions via the Internet.”
Can’t stand the heat, throw the reporters out of the kitchen?
Could be cost cutting. Those gifts to reporters can be expensive.
Filter Hamnika?
Cone of Silence . . .
This is a modern democracy….Just like a penis, only smaller…
Me thinks the Roh Administration’s picked up a few pointers from the Bush Administration…
“I’m sorry you’re having trouble. I’m sorry you’re having trouble.”
I’m having trouble deciding which side I have less sympathy for — the Rohcialist regime or the ROK press corps.
Ah, Netizen Kim, you just couldn’t resist getting in an anti-US dig, could you? Even if it meant resorting to a complete non sequitur…
We all know that Roh Moo Hyun isn’t all that crazy about the three conservative newspapers that pretty much dominate the Korean media. But, if he muzzles the Big Three and leave the others alone, he will be accused of picking on them. So now we have the latest bright idea, which will enable the government to “control” the Big Three while avoiding allegations that he is picking on the conservative newspapers.
How many days are left until he leaves the Blue House?
Rob, you really need to have a clock ticking down the hours and minutes left until then. I’m sure that would be quite a picker-upper for most of us if we saw it in the morning. Heck, it might even cure depression for some of us.
R.Elgin, did you make that photo of Roh in the phone booth? It’s awesome.
Michael, this is a photo of Agent 86 (Don Addams) as he is about to enter Control headquarters, from the famous American TV show, “Get Smart”. The head is courtesy of Photoshop.
I snickered as I put it together; it is too appropriate.
Well done. “Missed it by that much.” Kind of sums up the Roh legacy.
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