War by social media: Islamic State’s propaganda is growing online

An excellent story by the Globe's Omar El Akkad about the Islamists' use of social media to spread their propaganda.

"It is a testament to the propaganda prowess of the world’s most infamous new terrorist organization that, in April of this year, the U.S. State Department created a Twitter account specifically to dissuade young men from running off to fight for the Islamic State (IS).
"The account, called 'Think Again Turn Away,' is nominally aimed at condemning all terrorist groups, but has focused its efforts almost exclusively at IS (previously known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL). However, with just 5,000 or so followers, the State Department’s account has only a tiny fraction of the following of IS-related accounts on Twitter. Indeed, almost every item the U.S. government account posts is usually inundated with antagonistic replies from IS supporters.
the whole story

Susan Bonner new host of World at Six

Susan Bonner

CBC News has announced that veteran CBC News journalist Susan Bonner will be the new host of the World at Six, CBC News’ flagship nightly radio program. Susan takes over the anchor chair on Tuesday, September 2.
“Susan’s been at the front lines of major stories over the course of her career, and she’ll bring that depth of experience and innate curiosity to her role leading the World at Six,” said Jennifer McGuire, general manager and editor in chief, CBC News.

Missing journalist Steve Pettibone found dead

Steve Pettibone

A body found in a field in eastern Ontario is that of a journalist who went missing earlier this week, police confirmed Wednesday.
Belleville, Ont., police Det. Jeremy Ashley said the body of Steve Pettibone, 39, was discovered not far from his abandoned vehicle, the Canadian Press reports.
Police do not suspect foul play in his death.

                 
Pettibone's car was found in a rural area outside Brockville, Ont., on Tuesday night, prompting an extensive search involving ATVs, a canine unit and a police helicopter that led to the discovery of the body.
Ashley said Pettibone's family has been notified and that an autopsy will be conducted Thursday in Ottawa.
Pettibone was last seen at 7:30 a.m. on Monday when he left his home in Belleville to go to work at the Brockville Recorder and Times, where he was the sports editor.

Mark Medley, NatPost books editor, jumps to Globe

Mark Medley

Mark Medley, a veteran of the National Post, has joined the Globe and Mail as books editor, various twitter feeds report. It appears to be part of a continuing shakeup under the Globe's new editor, David Walmsley.

Hunt for identity of masked killer who beheaded journalist James Foley

James Foley

UK intelligence agencies are seeking the identity of the masked man with an English accent who was filmed beheading US journalist James Foley in Syria, the Irish Times and British media report.

British prime minister David Cameron yesterday abandoned his family holiday to return to Downing Street for talks with foreign secretary Philip Hammond and intelligence and military officers.

The apparent involvement of a British citizen follows his recent warnings that the UK must help to defeat Islamic State because of the security threat it poses to the UK.

US authorities yesterday confirmed the authenticity of the video, which shows Mr Foley in an orange jumpsuit, kneeling before his throat is cut. His severed head is shown dumped on his body before the killer warns another kidnapped journalist, Steven Sotloff, will be executed next.

The militant who appeared in video, who called himself John and is believed to be from London, was identified by one of his former hostages as the ringleader of three British jihadists thought to be the main guards of foreign nationals in Raqqa, a stronghold of Islamic State rebels

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