Social media and politics

For a while now I have been listening to the BBC World Service in the morning. It's been giving me a different perspective on blogging and social media and its relevance for the world, especially with recent world events bringing services like YouTube and Twitter in the limelight.
When you've had enough of local bickering between bloggers and journalists have a read at how social media helps and makes a difference in conflict areas
- Social media in Iran
- Iranians use video to tell stories
- Iran and the use of media

also a very decent analysis of why blogging is what it is here

[oh, and to journalists: have a read to learn how good reporting and interesting stories are made]

free media

Romania has a third free newspaper, and a second one distributed in public transportation areas [others are Compact and Curentul]
RinG is owned by a "media trust" with powerful political affiliations (although not currently sporting any other titles in their portfolio) and will be a tabloid in both format and content. It is meant to attack head on Compact and, indirectly, Libertatea and Cancan/Click.

I guess if it manages to provide the same "quality" of tabloid content as Libertatea, what with it being free and all, it will be an instant hit. Trash at no cost is a winning proposition.