Barack Obama – Dr. Scott's Business Blog

Quoted – China’s iron grip even extends to the Internet – Pioneer Press

November 18, 2009 by Scott Testa 2 Comments

: Image by Shazari via Flickr

China is infamous for clamping down on dissent, not only physically — as it did in Tiananmen Square two decades ago — but also electronically.

“The Chinese have some of the strongest censorship in the world,” on the Internet as well as with print and television, said Scott Testa, a professor of business at Cabrini College in Philadelphia.

In the Information Age, stemming the flow of information isn’t easy.

President Barack Obama, visiting China this week, has called for Internet freedom in China as a human rights issue. Obama told Shanghai students Monday that information should be free.

According to the Washington Post, Obama was asked in a town-hall style meeting what he thought about the Chinese government blocking several Internet international sites, such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, and critical news sites. “I’ve always been a strong supporter of open Internet use,” Obama said.

In response, Chinese officials Tuesday defended their policies as protective to national interests.

China’s online content-control strategy is a massive monitoring operation to spot forbidden content inside the country’s borders as well such information coming from outside sources.

While it’s often called the “Great Firewall of China” — as if to suggest a massive electronic barrier that repels online speech — the reality is a bit more nuanced, experts say.

http://www.twincities.com/ci_13811823

Filed Under: facebook, google, social networking, traditional media Tagged With: Add new tag, Barack Obama, Cabrini College, China, facebook, Golden Shield Project, Scott Testa, Tiananmen Square, Washington Post, Youtube

Quoted – Fort Hood soldiers turn to social media – Fierce Government IT

November 15, 2009 by Scott Testa 4 Comments

: Image via Wikipedia

In the wake of the mass shooting that left 13 people dead and 30 wounded last week, soldiers and their families at Fort Hood turned to social networking to deal with the carnage that occurred in their backyard.

Social media gave people an opportunity to talk about what happened, and it allowed the military a chance to let people know that the base’s media relations office was answering questions as quickly as possible.

It comes at an ironic time because DoD has not decided whether to buy into the idea that social networking is a good way to communicate. Although the Pentagon has given the green light to some social media sites, it is still examining the potential threats and benefits associated with social networking for the military.

Scott Testa, a Cabrini College business professor with expertise in social media, told Federal Computer Week that it was natural to turn to social networking to communicate after the shotting attack. “You have a lot of people in the military that were raised on texting and now social media,” Testa said. “They’re not watching the network news; they’re getting all their news electronically.”

Quoted – Military uses social media to share info on Fort Hood shootings – Federal Computer Week (scotttesta.com)
Quoted – Federal Computer Week – Social Media and Defense Department (scotttesta.com)
Quoted – Grudgingly, young people finally flock to Twitter – Associated Press (scotttesta.com)
Quoted – Fort Hood soldiers turn to social media – Fierce Government IT (scotttesta.com)

Filed Under: social networking, Uncategorized Tagged With: Add new tag, Barack Obama, Business, Cabrini College, Fort Hood, Government, Mass media, Military, Military base, Pentagon, Professor, Social network, Social network service, United States, United States Department of Defense

Quoted Entrepreneur Mag – Obama SBA pick

May 10, 2009 by Scott Testa Leave a Comment

: Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Quoted Entrepreneur Mag – Obama SBA pick – http://www.entrepreneur.com/technology/bmighty/article199670.html

As marketing consultant Scott Testa says, “Venture capitalists by nature are risk takers, and it is an extremely competitive business. This administration may need to take some risks to help this very important component of the economy.”