Global Pulse - Video Podcasts

Voice of Iran

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 07:00:00 GMT

(Global Pulse: June 26, 2009) A propaganda war is underway. Following the extraordinary presidential election, Iran's state-controlled media are aggressively promoting their own version of events. It is a very different story from the one being told in the Western media. SOURCES: FOX News, U.S; CBS, U.S; BBC, U.K; IRIB, Iran; Press TV, Iran; CCTV, China; RT, Russia

The BRIC & The SCO

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 07:00:00 GMT

(Global Pulse: June 19, 2009) The BRIC and the SCO -- ever heard of them? "The most dangerous institution the American people have never heard of" is the SCO, some have said -- and it just got more dangerous. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization played host to the world's top four economic dynamos -- Brazil, Russia, India and China, known as BRIC. The U.S. media, allergic to international conferences without Americans in attendance, continue to miss this important story.

Sources: CCTV, China; Russia Today, Russia; Al Jazeera English, Qatar; SIC Noticias, Portugal; Todo Noticias, Argentina

Iranian Election: Media Matters

Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:00:00 GMT

(Global Pulse: June 12, 2009) State TV gave President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad more airtime but Mir Hossein Mousavi was the favorite of the Internet. How the Iranian media covered the historic presidential election. SOURCES: IRIB, Iran; Press TV, Iran; BBC, U.K.; UPI.com, U.S.; Fox News, U.S.; Al Jazeera English, Qatar; Reporters Without Borders, France

North Korea: Nuclear Tantrums

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 07:00:00 GMT

(Global Pulse: June 4, 2009) North Korea plays the nuclear card again. Is Pyongyang dangerously out of control, or vying for attention from the U.S.? International condemnations turned to why, and the fingers pointed in one direction.

SOURCES: BBC, U.K; FCI, Japan; KBS, South Korea; RT, Russia; Al Jazeera English, Qatar

Cleaning Up Coal

Fri, 29 May 2009 07:00:00 GMT

(Global Pulse: May 29, 2009) Is there such a thing as clean coal? The industry wants you to think so. But clean doesn't mean non-polluting. The questions around coal's future as an energy source are part of a bigger debate over the earth's environmental future.

Sources: BBC, Great Britain; Al Jazeera, Qatar; CCTV, China; ABC, U.S.; CNN, U.S.; NBC, U.S.; Fox, U.S.; New York Times, U.S.; American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricty, U.S.; Alliance for Climate Protection, U.S.

Sri Lanka: Propaganda War

Thu, 21 May 2009 07:00:00 GMT

(Global Pulse: May 21, 2009) The long and bloody civil war in Sri Lanka began with rebellion and ended with mass civilian displacement and an unknown number of casualties. In the last days, the fog of war made it difficult to tell truth from propaganda - and the real losers are the innocent people caught in the crossfire.

SOURCES: IBN/CNN, India; CNN, U.S; ABC, Australia; SABC, South Africa; South Asia Newsline, India; Al Jazeera English, Qatar; BBC, U.K.

The Fall and Rise of Zuma

Fri, 15 May 2009 07:00:00 GMT

(Global Pulse: May 15, 2009) Media disdain one day, a new respect the next. Jacob Zuma's election as President of South Africa capped a remarkable political comeback. His savvy and charisma helped reverse a political downfall fueled by charges of corruption and fraud. Global media seemed willing to forgive and forget.

Sources: SABC, South Africa; TV 5 Afrique, France; BBC, Great Britain; Deutsche Welle, Germany; Al Jazeera, Qatar; KMTP, U.S.; Press TV, Iran

Pakistan: Women vs. Taliban

Fri, 08 May 2009 07:00:00 GMT

(Global Pulse: May 8, 2009) Women across Pakistan are galvanized to act by the threat of harsh Taliban-style Islamic law, recently instituted in parts of northwest Pakistan. Yet even among women in the region, the Taliban have defenders: for some, it's just political expediency; for others, it's a path to justice in a corrupt court system. But the curtailment of rights is unacceptable to a young generation of Pakistanis, who are taking to the streets. This episode includes a special Global Pulse Skype link to Islamabad to let them speak for themselves.

SOURCES: Samma TV, Pakistan; GEO TV, Pakistan; France 24, France; ABC News,U.S.; CNN, U.S.; BBC, U.K.; Al Jazeera English, Qatar.

Swine Flu: Fear, Blame and Conspiracy

Fri, 01 May 2009 07:00:00 GMT

(Global Pulse: May 1, 2009) Pity the pig. Add the swine flu to its already questionable reputation. The flu outbreak has spread fear and confusion around the world. Global media walked the fine line between hyping and helping. Caught in the middle of the rush to pin the blame: the pig. SOURCES: CCTV, China; Russia Today, Russia; SABC, South Africa; FCI, Japan; NHK, Japan; ABC News, U.S.; CNN, U.S.; France 24, France; Galavision, Mexico; ITN, U.K.

Politics and Torture

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:00:00 GMT

(Global Pulse: April 24, 2009) Obama declassifies Bush administration documents that detail and attempt to legalize what some have called "torture techniques." While the U.S media seem focused on the political ramifications, media worldwide present the brutality of torture and point the finger of blame directly at Bush.

SOURCES: FOX, CBS, ABC, CNN, The Daily Show, U.S; TV5, France; Press TV, Iran; TVN, Chile; Al Jazeera English, Qatar

Power and Prosperity: China's Stimulus Strategy

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 07:00:00 GMT

(Global Pulse: April 17, 2009) China sees two major challenges to its economic growth: rising unemployment and a deep investment in the U.S. dollar. Beijing's answer: spend and invest, and wheel and deal. In the process, China is crafting a recovery strategy that's spreading its interests around the world. Sources: CCTV, China; Al Jazeera English, Qatar; Russia Today, Russia; BBC, U.K.; Press TV, Iran; Todo Noticias, Argentina

North Korea: Where Truth Lies

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 07:00:00 GMT

(Global Pulse: April 9, 2009) Was it a missile test or a space launch? Did it fall into the sea or put a satellite into orbit? While most media sources agree that North Korea failed at testing a missile, the North Koreans insist they successfully launched a satellite. The North also launched a propaganda assault inside the country, including patriotic songs supposedly transmitted from orbit and 1950s-style "space age" imagery. SOURCES: Chosun Central Television, North Korea; KBS, South Korea; FCI, Japan; CCTV, China; NHK, Japan; ABC News, U.S.; Al Jazeera English, Qatar.

Global Meltdown: Human Fallout

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 07:00:00 GMT

(Global Pulse: March 19, 2009) As the waves of the financial meltdown pound banks and governments, the human cost is easily lost in the background. From layoffs to shattered dreams, the global crisis becomes a personal crisis. Do we really see how deeply it reaches into the global community?

Sources: Al Jazeera English, Qatar; CNN, U.S.; Deutsche Welle, Germany; South Asia Newsline, India; Russia Today, Russia; KBS, South Korea

Sudan and the ICC: Justice or Hypocrisy?

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 07:00:00 GMT

(Global Pulse: March 12, 2009) The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of Sudanese President al-Bashir. He is charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity for the crisis in Darfur. But al-Bashir and many in the Arab and African world remain defiant and refuse to recognize the court's decision. Most western media outlets immediately vilified al-Bashir, while Arab, African and Chinese media support the president and ask the question: if al-Bashir can be accused of these crimes, why not the leaders of Israel or the U.S?

SOURCES: ABC News, U.S.; NBC News, U.S.; BBC, U.K.; SABC, South Africa; TV5, France; CCTV, China; Al Jazeera English, Qatar; Sudan TV, Sudan; Press TV, Iran.

Mexico's Drug Wars

Thu, 05 Mar 2009 08:00:00 GMT

(Global Pulse: March 5, 2009) Beheadings, assassinations, gun battles on the street - Mexico is ground zero in the global war on drugs. U.S. media focuses on the spread of violence north of the border, as drug cartels spread fear and intimidation south of it. What will it take for Mexico to beat the drug lords?

Sources: Once Noticias, Mexico; TeleSur, Venezuela; TVE, Spain; Galavision, Mexico; Al Jazeera English, Qatar; NBC, U.S.; CNN, U.S.; Fox News, U.S.; BBC News Online, U.K.; Stratfor Global Intelligence, U.S.