Malaysian cabinet gets serious with news site joke

Via New Strait Times: This time, no joke. The Malaysian cabinet has asked the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry to enforce the Multimedia and Communications Act of 1998 against the Web site, Malaysiakini, for their practical joke of Apr. 1. The news site published a story claiming that three ministers and a chief minister were being investigated for corruption. An explanatory article ran three minutes later, but the powers that be had already been irked. “You cannot just relay news which is not accurate,” said minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz. “It is irresponsible and tantamount to slandering the Government.”

Boeing to facilitate Internet access on board aircrafts

Via Sify.com: Online news has really taken off with its audience, quite literally. Now passengers aboard one of nine global airlines that use Boeing aircrafts may be able to access the Internet for news and other information via the Connexion in-cabin service. The company has roaming agreements signed with 11 leading telecom and wireless service providers, allowing passengers to use their existing user name and password for service access and receive a single consolidated bill through their existing service provider. The availability of Internet access seems to be vital in improving the future of airlines. “Nearly 85 per cent of passengers surveyed recently indicated that availability of high-speed Internet access will affect their future choice of airlines,” said Kala Iyer of Connexion. The move might take instant delivery of news via the Internet to a whole new dimension with even people 40,000 feet in air able to access information as quickly as those on ground.

University introduces e-learning for journalists

Via AScribe: After 18 months of design and development and 2000 experimental users, News University launched a Web site formulated to help journalists improve their skills. The site is to be the answer to the urgent need for more training for journalists, after a study revealed that eight out of 10 journalists are inadequately equipped with basic skills. Course topics range from basic reporting and writing skills such as interviewing and lead writing to visual journalism and lessons for newsroom managers. The site is managed by a team from The Poynter Institute. “E-learning is new. But because of the wonder of the World Wide Web, we all can watch it unfold together,” said Eric Newton, Knight Foundation’s director of Journalism Initiatives. “NewsU is a place where journalists and teachers will get to try new ways of learning and teaching.”