China's free press, free speech -- Big Al style

Reporters Without Borders is using the Olympics torch relay to protest China's repressive treatment of journalists: throwing them into prison, just for telling the truth. So, with non-profit Freedom Forum's Newseum holding its grand opening today, I thought it would be inspiring (hah!) to re-visit 84-year-old Founder Al Neuharth's indignant response to those who dared criticize China earlier:

"Fact is, no host country has ever done more to ensure hospitality, comfort and safety for visiting athletes and fans."

And visiting journalists? Way to earn that $425,545, Big Al!

Plus, speaking of prisons! It turns out, Freedom Forum CEO Charles "Ka-ching" Overby (left) is a director at for-profit prison chain Corrections Corporation of America; Muckety, a really cool news blog, reported that yesterday. I've now unearthed more details after reviewing Corrections Corp.'s regulatory filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Overby has been a director since December 2001, although I can't find anything about that on his official Freedom Forum bio page. Based in Nashville, Tenn., Corrections paid him $165,000 in director's fees and stock awards in 2006, the most recent shareholder's proxy report shows. That's in addition to the $443,705 in salary and benefits Overby got as Freedom Forum CEO that year, along with an $83,248 expense account, the non-profit foundation's most recent public tax return shows.

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[Photo: Freedom Forum]