Pressure on independent media companies comes in many forms. Some is quick and direct, while some is slow and subtle. In this newsletter, we report on two MDLF clients that have recently been subjected to intimidation of very different kinds.

Independent online journal Malaysiakini.com is being sued for defamation by a senior politician for a series of articles alleging corruption. While in Senegal, the authorities took a more direct approach: more than 50 armed police officers raided the offices of Avenir Communication, publisher of Le Quotidien, as it held a press conference to launch a radio station.

On a happier note, we are pleased to report that executives of two other MDLF clients – Trevor Ncube of Mail & Guardian and Yuri Purgin of Altapress – have recently received prestigious awards for their work.

Malaysiakini fights ‘muzzling’ lawsuit

Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud is suing Malaysiakini.com for defamation after it reported allegations that he and his family had received kickbacks.

Not content with simply seeking damages, the Chief Minister has demanded exemplary and aggravated damages from the online news site. Rejecting the claim, Malaysiakini says it will not be intimidated. Read more here.

Senegal radio station to launch after police raid

Le Quotidien has a reputation for being one of Senegal’s most independent and incisive dailies. Unfortunately, being well-known for good reporting isn’t always a good thing.

In May, armed police raided Le Quotidien’s offices as it was on the point of launching a new radio station, with officials seizing radio equipment and slapping a closure order on the newly-born station. But six weeks later, officials had a change of heart and Premiere FM was given full permission to launch. Read the full story here.

Double honours

Trevor Ncube, chief executive of Mail & Guardian in South Africa, won the 2007 International Publishers Association Freedom Prize for his support of free expression and his courage as publisher. “Despite repeated threats of violence and attempts to strip him of his Zimbabwean citizenship, Trevor Ncube’s newspapers have persistently continued to expose corruption and human rights abuses in Zimbabwe,” the citation said.

Meanwhile, Yuri Purgin, General Director of Altapress in Russia, was named as Russian Media Manager of the Year for his ‘Contribution to the development of the media industry’, in particular Altapress' work in introducing newspaper reading to schools.

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