DW preferrs RSF to its critic

In last year's DWblog awards, I objected to an award sponsored and also dictated by Reports Sans Frontier on many grounds. Most important of which was the fact that unlike other jury members, RSF has a clear political agenda to demonise countries who happen to be those disliked by the United States, like Iran, China, Cuba and since last year apparently Russia. (I have written before about RSF's agenda before: here, here and here)

Long story short, I sensed that the DW-Online's staff and managers didn't like the challenge I posed against RSF and I decided not to accept their invitation this year, if RSF is still involved -- and I guess I even raised that with some of the DW staff.

Now I just saw on their website that the jury members for 2007 awards are announced and RSF's Julien Pain, who is a great guy but works for a terrible organisation, is on the jury again.

It is unfortunate that Deutche Welle has allowed RSF again to use its jury's and its own credibility for RSF's clear political agenda. But I don't think there is anything I could do now.

Masih Alinejad has replaced with me as the jury member for Iranian blogs, and even though I have never met her, I have followed her work and I think she's a great choice. I wish her success and I hope this year, in my absence, the jury sessions would not be too boring. :)

I also have to confess that I feel I am gradually getting isolated since I stopped looking at Iran and myself from the stereotypical Western point of view. It feels great, especially now, after being kicked out by my hosting company.

In last year's DW blog awards (The Best of the Blogs or The BOBs), I objected to an award sponsored and also dictated by Reports Sans Frontier on many grounds. Most important of which was the fact that unlike other jury members, RSF has a clear political agenda to demonise countries who happen to be those disliked by the United States, like Iran, China, Cuba and since last year apparently Russia. (I have written before about RSF's agenda before: here, here and here)

Long story short, I sensed that the DW-Online's staff and managers didn't like the challenge I posed against RSF and I decided not to accept their invitation this year, if RSF is still involved -- and I guess I even raised that with some of the DW staff.

Now I just saw on their website that the jury members for 2007 awards are announced and RSF's Julien Pain, who is a great guy but works for a terrible organisation, is on the jury again.

It is unfortunate that Deutche Welle has allowed RSF again to use its jury's and its own credibility for RSF's clear political agenda. But I don't think there is anything I could do now.

Masih Alinejad has replaced with me as the jury member for Iranian blogs, and even though I have never met her, I have followed her work and I think she's a great choice. I wish her success and I hope this year, in my absence, the jury sessions would not be too boring. :)

I also have to confess that I feel I am gradually getting isolated since I stopped looking at Iran and myself from the stereotypical Western point of view. It feels great, especially now, after being kicked out by my hosting company.