22 January, 2008

Censors tackle nudes

That's the headline of a (U.S.) National Public Radio report on censorship in Dubai. Here's a link to the blurb and the audio.

As usual for American public radio, there are great sound effects. They went to the censorship office to get sounds of offensive pages being ripped out, sensitive stories being cut, and touchy images being retouched with a fat black marker.

2 comments:

hut said...

This has got to be the best job in Dubai!

Where can I apply at Jashanmal's?

B.D. said...

I think NPR's reporting is quite admirable, especially considering the alternatives. This sort of story is just like one of those exposes on a vanishing species. Sure, there's censorship here as part of the traditional ethic. But you have to say "we've come a long way, baby."

The sort of thing they describe, as follows, used to be a daily affair, whereas now it rarely makes the news. As we all know, stories about traffic and salacious crime reports out of Dubai are used to divert attention from more politically sensitive issues.

The once common newsfare, now rare:

The local newspaper and TV stations in the UAE have traditionally offered a daily dose of rosy reports, highlighting the daily schedules of the country's rulers and their economic and political achievements.

Post a Comment

NOTE: By making a post/comment on this blog you agree that you are solely responsible for its content and that you are up to date on the laws of the country you are posting from and that your post/comment abides by them.

To read the rules click here

If you would like to post content on this blog click here