Gazette mailers on the road to unemployment

Reading about the lockout at the Montreal Gazette is like watching a replay of dozens of media labour disputes. Postmedia wants its mailing room employees to work for what it says is an industry pay rate. And while the paper agreed to a four day work week for pressman and other employees, the handful of unreconciled workers -- less than 30 it seems -- said no to five days. What's it about in the end? The feeling that just grips an observer is that these poor people can't win. The refusal to work for what appears to be a going rate seems like a pathway to unemployment.

CCTV critical in catching rioters

The following report is from the Times of India: One by one, rioters who ran amok on the streets of London and other cities are being arrested by police officials, who aided by CCTV images have come knocking on the doors, even as courts sat through the night to dispense justice expeditiously. More than 1,300 arrests have been made since the unrest began on Saturday, officials said. The arrests came as Prime Minister David Cameron declared in the House of Commons today, "We will track you down, we will find you, we will charge you, we will punish you. You will pay for what you have done". Among those who participated in the rioting is an 11-year-old girl in Nottingham, reflecting the fact that most of those responsible were in their teens or younger. Those arrested included youngsters who attend grammar schools or are employed. More than 100 arrest warrants were executed Thursday morning in London, police said.

British PM talks of curbs on social media

The British Prime Minister has warned of measures to control social media being used to co-ordinate mob action in the recent street riots. He also outlined new measures to assist police in gaining control during street violence. Meantime, it appears that increasingly rigorous action and larger police presence has forced at least a lull to three days of unbridled destruction and looting.

Where are the Planetguys?

We're going to flatter ourselves that at least a few people will be asking that question when they come across this new page. Well, the Planet Guys live on. But from now on they will be masquerading as the original authors of this media blog, Peter Rehak and Ted Stuebing. The Planet Guys was a spin off name from the original blog, The Daily Planet. That blog was run by Rehak and Stuebing at the Humber School of Media Studies. It began in 1998. Our fresh look permits a wider blog with more room for pictures and story length. We hope you continue to visit.

"Gloria Steinem in her own words"

This story about the forthcoming documentary on Gloria Steinem is worth a read. The documentary looks good. ZAP2it.com

Here is a quote from it:

"The excellent documentary has footage of President Richard Nixon grumbling about her, George Burns coming on to her and the protests. It covers the story she did under cover as a Playboy bunny. She 'learned what it was like to be on a meat hook,' she says in the film. 'I regretted for many years I did it because it made me unserious.'"