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The author comments on attempts made by the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama to stifle journalists. The Obama administration has declared that its critics at Fox News Channel are not real journalists, and that Fox is not a legitimate news organization. A similar attempt was experienced by some student journalists in Cook County, Illinois who have come under fire from prosecutors who are not happy with their habit of turning up evidence that defendants have been wrongly convicted.

The article reports on the institution of new press laws in China which make it easier for foreign media to report within the country. These rules make permanent a relaxing of China's traditional press restrictions that had been put in place in the run-up to the 2008 summer Olympic games in Beijing. Still critics note that the liberalized rules do not apply to Chinese journalists who are not allowed to work as journalists for foreign media organizations and whose works are liable to censorship by the state.

The article reports on the clash of Chinese policemen with Hong Kong reporters who were trying to cover the chaotic last-minute sale of Olympics tickets in Beijing. Accordingly, the incident raises concerns on how the government will deal with an influx of journalists coming for the event which will be held in August 2008. The Hong Kong Journalists Associations condemned all the assailants for their wanton infringement of Press Freedom.

Reports on police investigations of journalists for breach of national security and anti-terrorist efforts in Germany.

Deals with the statement issued by the press freedom group called Reporters Without Borders regarding the conviction of local journalist Shi Tao by a Chinese court in 2005.

Reports that the once restricted White House pool reports from the few pool reporters who accompany the President on trips and observe personal behavior have been showing up on weblog sites. How this public scrutiny is changing the way the pool reporters record the events they witness; Journalists who used to have some fun and humor at the mundane job who are now finding their words being misinterpreted; How this turn of events can color a reporter's reputation for years.

Examines an evolution in White House briefings. How the once preserve of big-name reporters and networks has become a political stage where a growing number of activists and bloggers participate; Acceleration of the trend following C-SPAN broadcasts of the briefings in their entirety which has drawn more fringe journalists seeking to express their point of view; Belief of former Clinton press secretary, Joe Lockhart, that the changes have made the briefing more of a show than about information; How they gain access to the briefings; Consideration of new restraints by the White House.

Reports on the state of press freedom in Malaysia. Ruling of the Malaysian government on libel and defamation; Incarceration of Canadian journalist Murray Hiebert in Malaysia; Press litigation in the region.

Reports the effort of United States President Bill Clinton to have better relationship with the press after his impeachment trial. Issues that might derail the president's effort to revive his relations with the media; How the move of President Clinton not to have any contact with the media during his impeachment trial affected his image.

States that approximately 4,000 journalists will be present in Cuba to cover the Pope John Paul II visit to Cuba. Speculation on how American television will relate the event; How Cuba's media cover the visit.