Win for Press Freedom & Social Networking as Bid to Gag the Guardian Dropped

An encouraging win for press freedom overnight as lawyers representing the oil trading firm Trafigura, embroiled in a controversy over the dumping of toxic waste in Ivory Coast, dropped a bid to enforce the terms of a "super injunction" that would have prevented the Guardian newspaper (UK) from reporting the details of a question asked in parliament, referring to Trafigura, by MP Paul Farrelly.

The legal proceedings became fruitless after a torrent of citizen journalists used Twitter and other outlets to publish the content online ahead of the hearing. The episode shines a light on the use of so-called "super injunctions" which seek to keep all details surrounding a matter, including the existence of an injunction itself, secret. Some good commentary in all the UK nationals today flagging the obvious perils.

Take a look at the Guardian's account here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/oct/13/trafigura-drops-gag-guardian-oil

Daily Telegraph (UK) Reaps Circulation Windfall from MP Expenses Scandal

The UK's Daily Telegraph newspaper has been reaping a circulation windfall after first publishing details of the expenses rorts of British Members of Parliament (MPs) on 8 May 2009.  This article in the Gurdian's media section details how the Telegraph's sales have been boosted an average of 60,000 copies per day (7% of their April 2009 average daily circulation of 817,692), as the embarrasing details of MP's expense claims have been laid bare day by day.  The Daily Telegraph's scoop has prompted a raft  of similar parliamentary expenses probes by newspapers around the world, no doubt in search of their own circulation bump - not that the fourth estate shouldn't be rewarded for "keeping them honest". Although the Telegraph's scoop came courtesy of a whistleblower (most likely paid), it's nice to know that a big, public interest story can still cause a rush on news stands - editors of struggling papers take note ...

Can the New Amazon Kindle DX Save Newspapers?

Is today's announcement by Amazon of the release of its new "big screen" (9.7", RRP $489) Kindle DX e-book reader a digital lifeline for the ailing newspaper industry?  The fact that Amazon's launch partner event for the new DX was the New York Times certainly indicates a degree of optimism by newspaper publishers.  The new, larger screen should definitely be better at displaying content rich e-papers than the more diminutive original Kindle.  PC World magazine is more skeptical however - "Why Kindle DX Won't Save Newspapers".  What do you think?