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Sources HotLink

June 30, 2015

Welcome to this issue of Sources Hotlink. Propaganda, the suppression of free speech and campaigns against whistleblowers are global problems. Propaganda occurs in North America just as it happens everywhere else. This week, we focus on violations closer to home. American whistleblowers, western mainstream “news” propaganda outlets and how the people are fighting back from within the system. Our items of the week feature a website, book and topic focused on the theme of censorship. For our marketing enthusiasts, we include a book on upholding media relations along with guides to building effective internet and social media marketing campaigns.

Sources has been connecting journalists with newsmakers since 1977. To find experts, spokespersons, and story ideas on thousands of topics, please browse the Subject Index or use the Search. For help in reaching the media and the public with your story and your views, use Sources’ media relations tools.To become a member, use this form.

You're invited to contribute to this newsletter. If you know of news or resources you'd like to share, please get in touch via mailroom@sources.com or 416-964-5735. We hope this issue interests and informs you. This issue of The Sources HotLink is available on the Sources website. We'll also be posting content from it on the Sources Facebook page, And you can follow us on Twitter. If you'd rather not receive this newsletter, click Unsubscribe. If you'd like to have it sent to a different email address, use this link to Subscribe.

Media and Journalism news and analysis

Featured Articles on Sources.com

The Sunday Times’ Snowden Story is Journalism at its Worst — and Filled with Falsehoods

Are political reporters actually journalists or are they simply the government’s megaphone? The line differentiating the two are becoming blurrier by the day. As quality standards diminish, self-serving mentalities push mainstream media into quoting anonymous government officials rather than critically analyzing what these officials are saying. The effect? Mainstream media has not only become the spokesperson of the government, but also its propaganda machine. This is not a difficult claim to prove; just look at Sunday Times’ report on Snowden. Read more

Related Subjects in the Sources Subject Index
News Bias - Media Bias

How Jeffrey Sterling Took on the CIA — and Lost Everything: The Whistleblower's Tale

This is a story of a man who was beaten down and stood up just to be beaten back down again. A story about a black CIA agent faced with racial discrimination, who sought retribution and was fired for it. A story of a man who left the city to lead a quiet and successful life; only to have it turned upside-down because he dared to show the world what the agency really is. Read more

Related Subjects in the Sources Subject Index
Whistleblowers - Discrimination in the Workplace

Police Shootings, Helicopter Crashes and Bystanders With Cameras: Weighing the Rights of ‘Accidental Journalists’

'Accidental journalists' are everyday people who report on issues of public interest; most notably on the abuse of power. Accidental journalists are people who take it upon themselves to expose truths so that others can act on them. They are people like Feidin Santana, who filmed Officer Slager execute a man in cold blood and people like Ramsey Orta, who sleeps in a prison cell for publishing the police-authorized asphyxiation of Eric Garner. Thier role is selfless and we must protect them. Their work is invaluable and we must preserve it. Read more

Related Subjects in the Sources Subject Index
Police Brutality - Impunity

Concocting a Crime-Ageddon to Promote Police Power

Manhattan is overrun with criminals and nobody is safe! -- Or that’s what a certain tabloid would have you believe. The New York Post has been making a push for the ‘Stop and Frisk’ policy which will give local police more power than they have ever had before. Unfortunately for them, any reader with a critical eye will realize that their case is built on quicksand. Their framing of statistics is so misleading, it’s borderline lying. Manhattan, in fact, is safer than it has ever been before. The ‘Stop and Frisk’ tactic has no influence on crime rates. Read more

Related Subjects in the Sources Subject Index
Journalism Ethics- Media Bias

Recent News Releases


Hunger-Striking Friends of Man Who Died in Immigration Custody Speak Out

June 19 – One week after the death of a 39 year old, Abdurahman Ibrahim Hassan who was held under indefinite detention by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), immigrants imprisoned without trial or charges along with their families, and friends are refusing food today inside and outside of the Central East Correctional prison. Detainees in Toronto East Detention Centre will be joining them. The one-day fast is to commemorate the death of their friend, and to demand an end to immigration detention. Read more

Another journalist burnt to death in India

June 22 – The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Indian Journalists Union (IJU) strongly condemn the brutal murder of a journalist in Madhya Pradesh on June 19. The killing is the second burning death of a journalist in India in less than 10 days. Read more


Secretive contract reveals Ontario and Border Services jointly responsible for detention injustice

June 24 – The End Immigration Detention Network is releasing a secretive contract between the Ontario and Federal government which shows joint responsibility for immigration detention violations. Ontario has denied the existence of this agreement on multiple occasions, and it has not been released in previous requests under the Access to Information and Privacy Act. Read more

Getting Publicity:

Connecting journalists and news makers

Public Relations on the Internet

With the rising internet accessibility, marketers must embrace the new technology or fall behind. But how does one start an internet marketing campaign when there are so many factors to consider? Is it more important to manage the visibility of positive reviews or the visibility of your business’s website? Is it better to push more information out about your company or open communication lines for your consumers? Read more

Related Subjects in the Sources Subject Index
Marketing - Public Relations

Advice and Tips for Nonprofits on Social Media

When you run an organization, you must adapt to change or fall into the sidelines. With the rising popularity of social media networks like Facebook and Twitter, it’s time to incorporate social media into your digital marketing arsenal. This might be a breeze for tech-savvy professionals, not all of us are so lucky. Some of us will need a little help to catch up with modern marketing techniques and this guide will show you the ropes for building an effective social media campaign. Read more

Related Subjects in the Sources Subject Index
Social Media - Non-Profit Marketing

Topic of the Week: Censorship

When we say "censorship", the first thing that comes to mind is government censorship of free speech. We think this because government censorship is an intensely covered topic in the media. However, censorship does not only come from the government. Censorship is not simply a tool the the government uses to prevent transparency. Censorship is used by questionable corporations who threaten reporters with slander. Censorship is used by media themselves; whose editors deny the publication of items which are do not generate sufficient revenue. Learn more

Website of the Week: Media Lens

For the last 14 years, Media Lens has been a critic of mainstream newspapers and broadcasters. The propaganda system in which these institutions operate seek only to serve elite interests at the cost of human and animal suffering and environmental breakdown. Check them out

Book of the Week: Media Relations: The Bonner Communications Series

By Allan Bonner

Eight seconds. It's the average length of time devoted to a spokesperson's remarks during a television news item. Are you prepared to make the best of it? Do you know where to begin? Start by accepting the fact that the media moves faster than you do, so be prepared. Always.This is the message of Allan Bonner's brilliant new book, Media Relations. In it he coaches the reader on attaining utmost media preparedness or, as he describes it, having SOCKOs: Strategic Overriding Communications and Knowledge Objectives. Read more

Related Subjects in the Sources Subject Index
Mass Media - Media Relations Training

Film of the Week: War on Whistleblowers: Free Press and the National Security State

During his election campaigns, Obama promised to bring the most transparent administration in U.S. history. Cynics can rejoice in the fact that the Obama administration has indicted more people for breaking government secrecy than all the previous administrations combined. This is the story of four whistleblowers who who traded their careers and life normalcy for slander, danger, legal prosecution and an opportunity to expose the crimes of the US government. Free to watch here

Related Subjects in the Sources Subject Index
Whistleblowers - National Security

Quote of the Week

Sources Calendar

International Day of Cooperatives
Date: Jul 5/2015

On the first Saturday of July, The United Nations recognizes worldwide cooperative initatives and highlight their contributions towards solving major problems that the U.N. faces.


5th International Conference on Environmental Pollution and Remediation
Date: Jul 15/2015
Location: Barcelona, Spain

ICEPR'15 brings together Canadian and International environmental scientists, engineers and technology experts to create an environment conductive to making advancements in environmental research.

Nelson Mandela International Day
Date: Jul 18/2015

On Nelson Mandela's birthday, the world devotes 67 minutes of their day to helping others; 67 minutes for the 67 years Mandela spent helping humanity.

Parliamentary Names & Numbers

Parliamentary Names & Numbers gives you instant access to up-to-date contact information for Members of Parliament, Senators, Provincial & Territorial Legislators, Federal & Provincial Ministries, Ministerial, Caucus & Critic Responsibilities and Federal Agencies & Crown Corporations

This handy guide to the complete Canadian political scene is yours for only $75.00/yr + GST/HST. Subscriptions include online access to Parliamentary Names & Numbers for one year (January 1 to December 31, or July 1 to June 30.) Subscribe online or call 416-964-5735.

Media Names & Numbers

Media Names & Numbers is the one-stop print- and Web-based directory of Canada's media, with listings for all print and broadcast media. You can access information for more than 6,000 publications and stations, with essential contact details including names of editors and producers, phone and fax numbers, mailing addresses, E-mails, Web sites, and information about editorial scope, circulation and audience size, languages, subscription prices, and much more.

Your subscription includes access to the online version of Media Names & Numbers. Now you can get all this for only $109.95 +GST/HST. ( online subscription January 1 to December 31).Subscribe online or call 416-964-5735.

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