First silence, then censorship.

## First silence, then censorship. *March 31st, 2009* **Update:** As it turns out, both of my posts are still listed as being under review and it likely was removed from my control panel at that point in time. *Within minutes of posting [this](https://current.com/items/89934860/first_silence_then_censorship.htm) and a companion video on Current.com, it was flagged with this message: **This item is under review, so it has been temporarily hidden**. So I am posting it here for everyone to read.* Late Monday evening I posted a plea for Current TV to publicly address the fact that two of their reporters are to stand trial in North Korea where they have been detained for two weeks. By Tuesday morning my entry had been flagged by Current and was inaccessible to the public, but was still viewable from my own profile. The video is now gone from even my control panel. No letter saying that I had violated terms of service, no e-mail even confirming that they had removed the post. Just gone. Poof. As if it never happened at all. As if Winston Smith personally had erased it from history. I’m sure it happens in China every day. It is the sort of thing that happens in — North Korea. but when its happening at a US news outlet. Without any acknowledgment that the post had been excised from the system, I get scared and so should you. If former Vice President Al Gore’s cable outlet is not only willing to purport some false reality where everything is business-as-usual — despite the jailing of two of their reporters — but also to silence any efforts by its community to discuss this frightening, but news worthy, event, then Current might as well set up shop in North Korea where journalism and the suppression of information go hand in hand. **My original post the Current wiped out** It’s been more than a week since two Current employees were detained by the North Korean government while allegedly filming from the Chinese border, and yet current.com has no mention of their situation. Today the news media reported that both journalists will face trial for illegal entry into the country and still no response from Current. I understand why there may have been an effort to downplay the incident in the hopes that it would bring back the safe return of your reporters, but it hasn’t and it doesn’t seem like there’s any real reason to pretend it isn’t happening. And yet, a quick visit to Current.com display’s no indication about what’s going on. Please Current, show some backbone and make a public stand for your incarcerated reporters. It is your duty as a news outlet to report on this issue, but it is also your duty as their employers to stand in solidarity and offer your support. Thanks. Josh Entry Filed under: [Uncategorized](https://joshwolf.net/blog/?cat=1)