Freedom of Speech The right to voice one’s opinion in any way we please, whether verbally, in writing or both. We have the right to be heard and the right to listen, or not, without agreeing with what the person has said. Many countries, and subsequently citizens, do not have this right. Lennox, L Your freedom of speech.

The Case In 2000 and 2001 the Shenyang-based engineer Wang Xiaoning anonymously posted writings calling for democratic reform and an end to China’s single-party rule on a Yahoo online discussion group. Chinese authorities arrested him in 2002 after the US internet company’s Hong Kong subsidiary provided information to the government that was used to identify him. Wang was convicted on subversion charges in September 2003 and sentenced to 10 years in prison.Wang Xiaoningconvicted In 2007 the families of Wang Xiaoning and Shi Tao, a Chinese journalist who was also convicted after Yahoo helped identify him to authorities, filed a lawsuit against the company in a federal court in San Francisco. The lawsuit cited US human rights laws including the Alien Torts Statute and the Torture Victim Protection Act. At a hearing at the US house committee on foreign affairs, US Representative Tom Lantos told Yahoo CEO Jerry Yang to apologise to the detainees’ families and said of the internet giant, “morally you are pygmies”. Yang publicly apologised in court and the lawsuit was settled a week later. On 31 August 2012 Wang was released from prison after serving his full sentence. Shi Tao remained in prison.lawsuit Alien Torts StatuteTorture Victim Protection Actsaid

Your opinion What is your opinion of this case study in terms of: - Wang Xiaoning and Shi Tao - Yahoo - Chinese government - International laws What question/s would you ask the engineer and the journalist as well as the Chinese government? Do you know of a similar situation? Elaborate.

Who decides what, when, how and …. WHY

In the Media FCC – Federal Communications Commission (USA) - Profanity, Nudity, Themes, Violence Australian Classification Board - Themes, Violence, Sex, Language, Drug Use, Nudity National Media Council (UAE) - Hard to find information but anything that would offend the culture, ruling family and religion.

How media is judged…. Social constraints influence the classification and subsequent censorship, in some countries, of media products. Social constraints generally refer to instances when people feel that they have to do or not do certain things because of the manner in which others perceive such actions. What social constraints do we currently live with?

Task Create a set of classifiable elements for your newly owned television network or production company. Justify your choices based on social constraints you agree with.

Pairs 1. Outline the benefits and disadvantages of censorship in terms of the media (min 300 words or 1 min verbally). 2. Choose a side for (benefits) or against (disadvantages) 3. Formulate a 3 point argument complete with reason, research and examples to justify your argument. 4. Present the opinions to the class tomorrow.