According to Associated Press reports, China?s communist authorities have launched a widespread campaign aimed at silencing the country?s most vocal and critical bloggers and freelance writers. Micro-blogging sites have started to flourish in China over the past year, with many local companies taking a page from western giants, like Twitter and Wordpress. But one of China?s largest micro-blogging platforms is inaccessible, apparently due to ?maintenance? work. Bloggers affiliated with two of the other largest sites in China have also experienced mysterious technical problems over the past week and what appears to be state censorship.<br /> Pu Zhiqiang, a prominent lawyer and blogger told Western journalists that he was unable to post his latest blog entry, as his blog simply refused to open, while Xu Zhiyong?another legal consultant?also found himself incapable of accessing his blog. The legal expert realized this morning that his blog had been shut down, along with the entire micro-blogging platform operated by Sohu Incorporated.<br /> The Associated Press reported that Chinese authorities have shut down at least 61 blogs over the past few months. Major western social media sites, including Twitter and Facebook, are still banned in China, as authorities fear that this might lead to social unrest among the more than 420 million Chinese citizens who use the internet on a regular basis.<br /> While authorities seem intent on cracking down on bloggers and freelancers with critical opinion, the government has now embraced blogging and social media for its own propaganda purposes. The country?s main communist newspaper, the People?s Daily, now uses micro-blogging to stay in touch with its readers, while Beijing?s police force will launch its own blog later this year.

The Government of Canada is set to enact a series of changes to the country?s copyright legislation, which would make it easier for teachers to reproduce the work of freelancers and other writers without paying any royalties. The Writers? Union of Canada, a national organization dedicated to representing the interests of freelancers, as well as fiction writers, is calling on the government to reconsider the terms of this legislation. The current law ensures that educators at most Canadian schools, colleges and universities pay approximately 10 cents per page whenever they copy material. These funds are then sent to an organization called Access Copyright, which divides the total among the country?s publishers. If the new law comes into force, freelancers will no longer be entitled to these royalties for their articles and other publications.<br /> The Writer?s Union, as well as columnists at major publications such as the Toronto Star, have been strong and vocal critics of changes to the country?s copyright legislation. What the government refers to as ?fair dealing? is likened to tenants moving into the rooms of a house and refusing to pay rent. Some freelancers at the Writers? Union have compared it to expropriation.<br /> Freelancers point out that the average income of freelance writers in Canada now stands at $15,000 per year, which means that it is very difficult to rely only on writing for one?s total income. In contrast, many of the beneficiaries of the new copyright legislation make far more. Freelance columnist and novelist David Lewis Stein pointed out that both teachers and professors make far more comfortable salaries. Many experienced teachers earn $60,000, while tenured professors make $130,000 per year at over a dozen Canadian universities.

Research released this week suggests that the number of employees who use social media websites like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube or blogging platforms during work has increased by significant proportions. According to Trend Micro?s study, nearly one quarter (24%) of all employees in the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany and Japan use social media websites at the workplace on a regular basis. This represents a marked increase from just two years ago, when this proportion stood at 19%. The rise in social media usage, however, proved most significant in Germany, where the number of employees turning to Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and blogging increased by 10% over just two years.</p> <p>A total of 1,600 employees were interviewed for the study, but Trend Micro?s researchers are not yet certain if this change means that more companies are using social media as part of their business model, or simply as part of their operations. There does, however, seem to be a real difference between employees who use laptops at work and those who rely on desktop computers. Laptop users are more likely to turn to social media sites?32% of them indicated that they visit these portals on a regular basis. The survey suggests that employees working for large companies in Britain and Germany are the most likely to use social media sites at the workplace, while in the United States, this is more common among those affiliated with small to medium-sized businesses. Some specialists suggest that this marked rise in social networking at the work place has less to do with procrastination and much more with the fact that a growing number of companies are incorporating social media in their marketing strategies.

Britain?s high commissioner in Lebanon has learned that a seemingly innocent, candid blog post can have serious ramifications, after she found herself in hot water with local Lebanese authorities, as well as with Britain?s government. British ambassador Frances Guy posted a blog entry on a meeting she had with the Shiite cleric Mohammed Hussein Fadlallah, not long before his death. Guy was impressed by Fadlallah?s modern, liberal views on a range of social issues, particularly that of women?s rights and she wrote in glowing terms on her blog about the cleric being a ?true man of religion? and that many would leave his presence ?feeling a better person.? What Guy did not take into account when writing a positive review of Fadlallah?s influence and role as a cleric was the fact that he was a fierce critic of both Israel and the United States, and had even supported acts of terrorism and suicide bombings against Israelis.<br /> Britain?s Foreign Office was quick to point out that Guy?s views did not represent those of the country?s government. The high commissioner was forced to retract her statements and her ominous blog entry was removed. She later issued an apology on her blog and added that she regretted any offence that she may have caused, in an article entitled ?The Problems of Diplomatic Blogging.?<br /> According to the AFP Press Agency, the British diplomat was not the only one to find herself in hot water over Fadlallah. A journalist associated with CNN was forced to resign after tweeting about how much she admired the cleric and how she felt that he was one of ?Hezbollah?s giants.?

A freelance writer who published a shocking piece of investigative journalism on American General Stanley McChrystal and his less than charitable thoughts on President Barack Obama has been offered a lucrative book deal, only weeks after publishing the story. Until just three weeks ago, Michael Hastings was an almost entirely unknown freelance working on a project for Rolling Stone magazine, but he earned himself an international reputation after publishing a story on McChystal, the war in Afghanistan and deep tensions between the American army and the White House.</p>

PepsiCo, one of the world?s most widely recognized soft drink brands, has been allowed to launch a blog about good nutrition and healthy eating habits on ScienceBlogs, a site that serves as a forum for biology, chemistry and other science enthusiasts. The decision led to a storm of controversy for the successful blogging platform and headlines in some of the most prominent newspapers, including The Guardian. Staff from PepsiCo will reportedly begin posting regular blog posts on a site entitled Food Frontiers later this month, with one Guardian journalist wondering whether the manufacturer of sugary soft drinks will also provide its take on dental health issues.</p> <p>Evan Lerner, ScienceBlogs? editor, defended his firm?s decision to let soft drink makers provide nutrition tips and added that Pepsi will post blog entries on the company?s latest efforts to maintain ?rigorous, science-based nutrition standards.? Lerner defined the agreement with Pepsi as a partnership and he added that some of the topics covered in the blog would touch on PepsiCo?s strategies at aimed limiting the company?s negative impact on the environment. For example, Pepsi bloggers will explain how they attempt to avoid the wasteful use of water, as well as provide more environmentally-friendly packaging and decrease energy consumption. Both blog readers and bloggers affiliated with ScienceBlogs have been deeply critical of the company?s decision to bring on board Pepsi staff. Some believe that it is unethical to turn a blog into what many feel will be blatant advertising for a major multinational corporation, while others add that turning to a manufacturer of sugary pop is entirely inappropriate when writing a blog on nutrition.

Two freelance writers from Poland have been banned from entering China, according to a report in The Guardian. Konrad Godlewski is not only a freelancer, but widely seen as one of the top experts on Chinese society and politics in Poland, while experienced freelance writer Maria Kruczkowska has also written widely on topics related to the region. But both journalists were denied entry by Chinese authorities and the only reason they were given when turned away at the border was that their names appeared on a blacklist. Godlewski had planned to write an article on the talks between China and the European Union in Chengdu, but now it appears as though he will no longer be able to offer first-hand reporting and analysis on Chinese politics. Godlewski noted that China?s decision to blacklist him is a ?tragedy? from a career perspective, as he had hoped to turn freelance assignments into a full-time job as a correspondent based in Beijing.</p> <p>Although China gave no reason for the ban, Godlewski suggested that his involvement as a translator in an interview with the Dalai Lama likely explains why he was blacklisted. Kruczkowska, on the other hand, already had prior experience with China?s blacklists; she fell out of disfavour with Chinese authorities after having published an article that was critical of the country just before the 2008 Olympics.</p> <p>Piotr Stasinski, affiliated with the International Press Institute, expressed surprise at the blacklisting of freelance journalists from Europe, especially at a time when China desperately seeks to improve its rapport with the EU.

Steffani Cameron, a prominent blogger based in Canada, is helping to organise a mental health camp at the University of British Columbia later this week, where participants can learn how to use social media as a way to help deal with depression, anxiety disorders and others forms of mental illness. Cameron believes that the anonymity offered by many social media websites, particularly Twitter, provides people suffering alone from mental illness an opportunity to find a forum and realize that many more people have experienced the same health issues at one point in their lives. According to recent statistics, one fifth of Canadians are likely to experience mental illness, yet only one third of them will ever actually see a doctor or acknowledge their condition.</p> <p>Cameron believes that this has a lot to do with the stigma that is still attached to mental illness; while it is common to see Facebook users post status updates about how they are suffering from a cold, a headache, or a broken arm, relatively few use it as a forum to share their struggle with depression or anxiety. Yet Cameron found a great deal of peace when she used her blog to discuss the difficulties of dealing with depression. As an avid blogger, Cameron soon realized that many of her readers could relate to what she wrote in her blog and they appreciated her candid, honest approach to mental health issues.</p> <p>Twitter or blogging both provide anonymity, yet also a way to connect with others who have been in the same situation. Cameron pointed out that an added benefit of social media is that it permits people to ?think out loud? on the internet, and can help move someone suffering from depression or anxiety from denial to actually seeking help and treatment.

Two bloggers imprisoned in Azerbaijan found an important ally yesterday. American Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited the Central Asian nation and used a stop in Baku to address the issue of freedom of press and how two bloggers were jailed for no other reason but because they criticised their government. Clinton noted that both President Barack Obama and the Department of State had received a large number of letters from Azerbaijanis who support the imprisoned bloggers, asking the leaders of the United States to put pressure on Azerbaijan?s government and secure their release from prison.</p> <p>The two bloggers remain unnamed, but the White House found out about their imprisonment on charges of ?hooliganism? last November. Both bloggers used their websites to post video parodies of Azerbaijani government leaders and this move landed them in jail for two years. Clinton pointed out that social media and blogs both play a key role in twenty-first century democracies, while also noting that freedom of the press must be extended to all online publications. According to Clinton, twenty-first century democracy is not only about regular elections, but also ?about the way new technologies and social media can help democratic dialogue flourish.?</p> <p>Clinton noted that following the imprisonment of the two bloggers, Azerbaijan had to understand that it still had much work to do before the country could truly be seen as a fully free, settled democracy. The American secretary of state told bloggers and journalists that she brought up the issue of online freedom and blogs during her meetings with Azerbaijani leaders in Baku.

Belgium?s newspapers are full of rumours and speculation that the country?s gaffe-prone Prime Minister may have used the world?s largest micro-blogging site to send a cryptic flirt in the form of a tweet. Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme was on a state visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo, when he sent a tweet to his followers in which he suggested that he had met someone who he wanted to get to know a lot better. In slightly unclear, convoluted English, Leterme tweeted: ?Want to learn to know you. You too?? The prime minister?s office must have realized quickly</p>