Putin dissolves state news agency to make media ‘more effective’

Russian President Vladimir Putin unexpectedly dissolved a state news agency, RIA Novosti, along with its radio affiliate, Voice of Russia, on Monday. The move, according to RIA Novosti, “appears to point toward a tightening of state control in the already heavily regulated media sector.”

Tech giants in the U.S. team up to demand surveillance reform

Eight major U.S. tech companies including Apple, Facebook, Google, Twitter and Yahoo have joined together to form the Reform Government Surveillance group. They have also published an open letter to U.S. President Barack Obama and members of Congress – urging for the reform of laws regulation government surveillance of individuals.

Ampp3d explores new ways to go viral

Trinity Mirror launched its latest online journalism project, Ampp3d, this week. The venture looks to use the format of viral news sites like BuzzFeed and Gawker, but change the content with verified news that matters.

Reports indicate China has tightened restrictions on foreign reporters in 2013

According to the Foreign Correspondents Club of China, the country has heightened restrictions on foreign reporters during the past year.

News organisations protest White House photo restrictions

After being locked out of too many events, journalists are boycotting the use of official White House photos. Last month, 38 news outlets united in sending a letter to the Obama administration, protesting its treatment of photojournalists.

New subscription-based website aims to give tech news ‘a reboot’

Former Wall Street Journal reporter Jessica Lessin launched The Information last week, a subscription-based tech news website, which will cost readers $39 monthly, or $399 annually.

Media guidelines issued for Nelson Mandela’s funeral

Nelson Mandela will be given a state funeral on Sunday, 15 December – set to be among the largest of the past 100 years – and the government has put together a strict set of guidelines for the media.

Why the mega-stories matter

World Editors Forum Board member Andrew Nachison, co-founder of We Media, looks at the rise of integrated storytelling in this guest post, which was originally published on the We Media website.

How the media are covering Nelson Mandela’s death

Nelson Mandela’s face dominates front pages of the world’s newspapers today, after South Africa’s president Jacob Zuma announced the death of the great leader.

Upworthy’s most successful strategy ever

Yesterday, Upworthy published a blog post about why the company has soared to success after just over a year and a half online. What sets them apart, they believe, are their interesting and engaging headlines.