worldwide press freedom index. Canada is fifth, just a tick behind the four countries tied for first. Otherwise it’s the usual suspects – the industrial democracies, you might say. Costa Rica and Slovenia are both interesting entries in the top 15, and Benin comes in 6th, tied with the UK.

provides more examples of routine practice in journalism that goes contrary to the assertion that journalists don’t get freebies from companies they cover. Note that I’m not suggesting that it’s inherantely evil or corrupt or anything. There are fine lines here that are difficult to discern. I think the discussion itself is of great value.

on the net, most have gone totally commercial or folded. Mindjack, on the other hand, has survived and thrived while remaining true to its high-quality low-hype focus. Mindjack, the brainchild of Donald Melanson (and for which I wrote some articles a couple of years ago) was relaunched the other day. Go take a peek!

I’m happy that I’m not the only one. On the other, I’m ashamed because, well, it’s a little ridiculous. My feelings about the demise of Lingua Franca and Arts and Letters Daily are not far from those expressed by Caterina the other day at caterina.net: “And so it happens that we are depressed that both Lingua Franca and the Arts and Letters Daily have gone under, because they were our own personal musk; with them goes the seduction strategies of eggheads everywhere. ‘Dear Lingua Franca, thank you for helping us get laid…’ Snf.”

Even better, though, is that I no longer require strategies for attracting new people with whom I will share such base urges, having been safely put out to pasture with my one true love.

on Trust-based Advertising, yesterday. I don’t think this is the answer for all situations (there is no such thing as one answer like that), but it is interesting.