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Media blackout: Wikis




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Media blackout refers to the censorship of news related to a certain topic, for any number of reasons. A media blackout may be voluntary, or may in some countries be enforced by the government or state. The latter case is controversial, as some regard it as a human rights violation and repression of free speech. Press blackout is a similar phrase, but refers specifically to printed media.



Some examples of media blackout would include the media bans of southern Japan during the droppings of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki,[1] the lack of independent media correspondence from Iraq during the Persian Gulf War,[2] and the media blackouts in totalitarian states like China that frequently take place when embarrassing events transpire.[3]

The most commonly known version of a media blackout is the voluntary or legally enforceable (depending on jurisdiction) reporting convention which holds that the name of a rape or sexual assault victim (the accuser) is not to be published without that person's consent.

A media blackout was used during the 2005 New York City transit strike to allow for more effective contract negotiation between the two sides of the dispute.[4] Most typically, the more freedom of the press that any particular country has, and the more sensational the story, the more likely it is that at least one news organization will ignore the "blackout" and run the story.

The 2008 abduction of Canadian journalist Mellissa Fung was given a media blackout out to assure her safe return. All media sources obliged making the Canadian public unaware of the fate of Fung.



In football


See also


  1. ^ Matsubara, Hiroshi (2001-05-08) Prejudice haunts atomic bomb survivors, Retrieved on 02 December 2008
  7. ^ Duncan Mansfield, "Critics say news media ignoring Knoxville couple slaying", Associated Press in The Florida Times-Union, May 17, 2007.
  8. ^ Is political correctness to blame for lack of coverage over horrific black-on-white killings in America's Deep South?, The Daily Mail, October 16, 2009
  9. ^ Lawrence, Amy (2006-05-28). "Italians kick up a stink". The Guardian.,,1784745,00.html. Retrieved 2007-04-25.  
  10. ^ Williams, Richard (2004-09-10). "The silent right of militant millionaires". The Guardian.,1563,1301339,00.html. Retrieved 2007-04-25.  

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