Yet another 'colour' has been added to the multi-hued television channels backed by groups with certain political leanings. The new kid on the block is TV Mahadthai, a satellite television channel set up by Thailand's Ministry of Interior aimed at creating "a better understanding of the ministry's policies and activities, with special emphasis on "protecting the institution [of the monarchy]", according to an article published in the English-language daily 'Bangkok Post' on Feb. 5.

By Randy Kennedy — The New York Times*

In the middle of December two trailer trucks left New York City bound for Austin, Tex., packed with a precious and unusual cargo: the entire collection of pictures amassed over more than half a century by the Magnum photo cooperative, whose members have been among the world’s most distinguished photojournalists.

'Thai E-News: News about Thailand that you may not have read in the news' is the slogan of one of Thailand's leading political websites. It has only content and no web board. It is unabashedly 'red', but red with a strange smell. It posts critical points of view from all circles.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa does not seem inclined to be particularly magnanimous towards the media following his re-election by a handsome majority. If the watching world was looking for any positive signals in this regard what it got was the opposite, writes the editors at 'The Hoot' on Jan. 31.

By Antoaneta Bezlova*

LONDON, Feb. 2 (Asia Media Forum) – In the acrimonious row between Google and the Chinese government over who sets the rules of the Internet game, Beijing has made it increasingly clear that cyberspace is the new frontier where the battle for world dominance will be played out.

A new report by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) on press freedom in China highlights the battle by local censors to control media commentary on a wide range of topics throughout in 2009.

By Chan Ngon

HO CHI MINH CITY, Jan 28 (IPS) - This month’s trial of four pro-democracy activists in this major Vietnamese city has generated a flurry of online posts from concerned citizens seeking to express their sentiments against the country’s communist regime though knowing full well the risks involved.

BANGKOK, Jan. 23 (Asia Media Forum) - Public relations work, whether labeled 'traditional' or otherwise, is at a crossroads of an information highway that is lorded over by digital media, PR and communication professionals said at a forum here this week.

By Vannaphone Sitthirath

 Women appear in Lao media, but often as commercial tools. (Photo by Vannaphone Sitthirath)

VIENTIANE, Jan 22 (IPS) - Women’s empowerment may be a key policy of the Lao government, but this is far from obvious in this South-east Asian country’s newspapers and publications, many of which usually give more space to government pronouncements by male officials and pass on questionable stereotypes of women in their reportage.

Burmese media have been banned from publishing material covering political groups' preparations for the elections in March this year, while news of the elections themselves is allowed, reports Norway-based exiled media Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB).