Two new books bring the history of shortwave broadcasting and listening up to date. Both by Jerome S. Berg: Broadcasting on the Short Waves, 1945 to Today is "a detailed, year-by-year account of the shortwave bands in each year from 1945 to the present. It reviews what American listeners were hearing on the international and domestic shortwave bands, describes the arrivals and departures of stations, and recounts important shortwave events. The book also introduces readers to the several categories of broadcasters—international, domestic, religious, clandestine and pirate—and to private shortwave broadcasting in the United States." McFarland & Company, Publishers, website. Also: Listening on the Short Waves, 1945 to Today. "Written from the standpoint of the serious shortwave enthusiast, this book begins with an examination of the broader shortwave listening audience. It then presents in detail the histories of the major North American shortwave clubs and reviews the professional and listener-generated shortwave literature of the era. It also covers the DX programs and other listening fare to which shortwave listeners were most attracted and the QSL-cards they sought as confirmation of their reception." McFarland website. These continue the story from Jerry Berg's excellent On the Short Waves, 1923–1945, first published in 1999. See also www.ontheshortwaves.com. Posted: 12 Oct 2008 Permalink

Continental Electronics, manufacturer of shortwave tranmitters etc, changes hands. "Continental Electronics Corp., a maker of radio-frequency transmission equipment, has changed hands. The business, which has been based in South Dallas for all of its 62 years, was purchased for $24.5 million by Lone Star CRA Fund LP of Dallas. The seller was New York-based Veritas Capital. The privately held Continental manufactures radio-frequency transmitters used in high-definition radio broadcasting, AM and FM radio broadcasting and short-wave radio." Dallas Business Journal, 10 October 2008. Posted: 12 Oct 2008 Permalink

History of Hawaian radio station includes shortwave relays from Japan. "KZOO-AM 1210 turns 45 years old Saturday. It first signed on the air Oct. 18, 1963. The primarily Japanese-language station has outlived competitors by staying focused on its niche audience and being not just a touch-point, but a lifeline for the community it serves. ... KZOO has a long history of simulcasts with Japanese radio stations and it 'would rebroadcast short-wave pickups from Japan,' according to Brock Whaley, a broadcast historian who works in Honolulu radio. Live broadcasts from Japan included sumo tournaments via phone line." Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 12 October 2008. Posted: 12 Oct 2008 Permalink

Australian relayed shortwave news of WWII POWs. From boyhood memories of George Teale, Grenfell, NSW, Australia: "A lot of local young men were POWs through the early forties and I used to listen to Radio Japan on short wave. 'Tokyo Rose' broadcast the names and addresses of prisoners each night and my friend Tom and I would take them down and write to their relatives and pass the messages on. We found this very rewarding. Stamps cost 1 1/2d (a penny halfpenny) in those days and I think Tom and I found it a drain on our limited resources. Many times we received letters of thanks from appreciative relatives, who, until hearing from us, had not known of their loved ones still being alive. One day, to our great joy, I received an envelope containing fifty pounds worth of stamps – problem solved." Grenfeld Record, 10 October 2008. The famous New Zealand shortwave DXer Arthur Cushen provided a similar service during World War II. Posted: 12 Oct 2008 Permalink

Radio amateurs continue to defend their shortwave spectrum. American Radio Relay League CEO David Sumner "said that amateurs will soon have cause to celebrate: March 29, 2009 marks the date that high-powered international broadcasting stations will be removed from the heart of the 40 meter band. 'We are working with the broadcasters to make sure the change takes place as agreed at the 2003 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC),' Sumner said. 'While it's probably too much to expect 100 percent instant compliance, we know that the responsible broadcasters are preparing to move out of the 7100-7200 kHz segment -- doubling the size of the worldwide 40 meter band and making this popular band more useful than it's been in 70 years.'" ARRL also continues to oppose interference from broadband over power line (BPL) systems. ARRL, 11 October 2008. For decades, 7100 to 7200 kHz was allocated for broadcasting in the Eastern Hemisphere, but for amateur radio in the Western Hemisphere. Shortwave broadcast signals easily reached the United States, especially those of Radio Moscow spec ifically and illegally beamed to North America. International broadcasters in the Eastern Hemisphere and radio amateurs in the Western Hemisphere will continue to share, with resulting clashes, 7200 to 7300 kHz. Posted: 12 Oct 2008 Permalink

Essay on Cold War history includes RFE/RL history. Rich Cummings, former director of security for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, "joined the radio stations’ Munich headquarters just months before Carlos the Jackal, funded by the Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, bombed the building, and he recalled the early years of his tenure as deadly serious, with constant worries about infiltration by spies. He also reminded me that the stations themselves were a microcosm of the internal dynamics of the cold war: many of the various nationalities who worked there had almost as much dislike for one another as they did for communism. In one memorable event, two staffers who had been doing some hard drinking in the headquarters canteen let their nationalist passions escalate into a fight in which one man put his cigarette out on the other’s forehead. In retaliation, the branded man bit off his opponent’s finger. Cummings, who still lives in Germany, continues to delve into the history of the cold war. His book, Cold War Radio, is scheduled for publication next year." Henry Hamman, 11 October 2008. Posted: 12 Oct 2008 Permalink

Eisenhower Memorial will be next door to VOA. "The 4-acre site of Eisenhower Square is located across the street from the National Air and Space Museum. It is also adjacent to the U.S. Department of Education, Federal Aviation Administration and buildings that serve Voice of America and Health and Human Services." Abilene Refelctor-Chronicle, 12 October 2008. See also www.eisenhowermemorial.org. Posted: 12 Oct 2008 Permalink

VOA on FM in Freetown. "The Voice of America (VOA) is launching a new FM radio station in Freetown, Sierra Leone, allowing audiences in the West African country's capital to listen to a variety of news, talk, sports and music programs 24 hours a day. The shows are available on 102.4 FM... VOA's launch on Saturday includes a ceremony attended by media professionals, government representatives, members of the private sector, VOA fan clubs in Freetown and U.S. Embassy officials." VOA press release, 10 October 2008.
     Minister of Presidential Affairs Alpha Kanu at ceremony: "We have over thirty operating radio stations and counting, over sixty registered newspapers and counting. Indeed, for our small size and population, one can safely say that we are among the nations with the highest number of radio stations per capita in the world. Today, that number has increased by the addition of no less a service than the renowned Voice of America English to Africa service on FM, which is now joining the BBC world Service and Radio France International." The Patriotic Vanguard (Freetown), 11 October 2008. Posted: 12 Oct 2008 Permalink

Radio/TV Marti is a football in the Florida Congressional elections. "Joe Garcia, former executive director of the Cuban American National Foundation and Republican Rep. Mario Diaz Balart's election opponent, noted many aid-to-Cuba programs including Miami-based Radio and TV Marti have been the subject of critical reports and accused of mismanagement and political cronyism." Miami Herald, 10 October 2008.
     "In 1995, Diaz-Balart was arrested outside the White House while protesting President Bill Clinton's Cuba policy. Just a year after his 1992 election to Congress, he took retribution on a lawmaker who had cut Radio and TV Marti's budget. Diaz-Balart slashed millions more from a project in the Colorado lawmaker's district." Miami Herald, 12 October 2008.
     "For the first time, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, 53, seeking a ninth term in the U.S. House, and his brother Mario, 46, seeking a fourth, face serious challenges from a different kind of Cuban-American, two Democrats from far less illustrious families. ... Both say they would consider cutting money for the U.S. government's Marti TV broadcasts to Cuba, a pet project of Diaz-Balarts, if the station cannot figure out how to get around Cuban jamming or shed its reputation for biased programming." AP, 21 March 2008, via Joe Garcia for Congress website. Posted: 12 Oct 2008 Permalink

Attributing magical powers to public diplomacy -- and to old bureaucracies. "There is an alternative to the death, destruction, mistrust and misperceptions that our military actions have and continue to generate. There is a way to battle the lies and hatred of violent extremism that does not depend on F-16 fighters, nuclear aircraft carriers, M1 Abram tanks and most important, the sacrifice of brave American service men and women. It is called public diplomacy. Public diplomacy is best defined as the communication and presentation of America’s interests, culture and policies to foreign populations in a fashion that generates good will, respect and support. With the abolition of our government’s primary public diplomacy agency, the U.S. Information Agency, in 1999, public diplomacy has in essence become an afterthought." Joan Menard and Rick Rendon, The Herald News (Fall River, MA), 10 October 2008. With a budget of over $300 million, the State Department's public diplomacy section is hardly an "afterthought." The re-creation of USIA, or something like it, with not magically turn around the U.S. public diplomacy effort. And whatever we think of U.S. policies, many of them are unpopular abroad, and public diplomacy will not make them popular. Posted: 12 Oct 2008 Permalink

Uzbekistan: reporter for RFE/RL, VOA gets ten-year sentence. "An independent Uzbek journalist who worked for Western media outlets was sentenced to 10 years in prison on drug charges Friday, his lawyer said, in a case condemned by human rights groups. Solijon Abdurakhmanov, 58, was convicted of drug possession with intent to sell but claimed the case was fabricated as revenge for his reporting, which was often critical of the authorities, lawyer Rustam Tulaganov told AFP. ... Abdurakhmanov worked for Uznews.net, an independent Uzbek news website, as well as Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Voice of America and the Institute for War and Peace Reporting." AFP, 10 October 2008.
     "RFE/RL President Jeffrey Gedmin condemned Abdurahmonov's conviction, saying that 'The sentencing of Mr. Abdurahmonov on such spurious allegations is an outrage against due process.' Gedmin notes that the case is 'yet another example of the Uzbek government's drive to wipe out any vestige of free speech and independent criticism in that country.'" RFE/RL press release, 10 October 2008.
     "The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns today’s politicized imprisonment of independent journalist Salidzhon Abdurakhmanov and calls for his immediate and unconditional release." CPJ, 10 October 2008.
     Reporters sans frontières: “This sentence is disproportionate and unfair. Coming a week after the EU/Uzbekistan forum on liberalising the media and ahead of the EU’s decision about sanctions against Uzbekistan, it looks like provocation." RSF, 10 October 2008. Posted: 12 Oct 2008 Permalink

BBC's Carrie Gracie winner of BBC's Nick Clarke Award for interview with BBC's Alan Johnston. "A BBC World Service interview with kidnapped BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston has won an award for best broadcast interview of the year. Presenter Carrie Gracie was named as the winner of the Nick Clarke Award for her skilful questioning of the reporter who was held for four months in 2007." BBC News, 11 October 2008. See also BBC News press release, 26 September 2008. Posted: 12 Oct 2008 Permalink

CNN live from the new Abu Dhabi media zone. "CNN International is to start broadcasting live daily news programming from a brand new broadcast facility in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. This landmark move signals the global network's significantly expanded on-the-ground commitment to the Middle East and marks CNN's first regularly scheduled daily live show from the region. The development is part of ongoing plans for CNN's new broadcast and production centre set to open in the Abu Dhabi Media Zone* in early 2009. ... CNN's Abu Dhabi operation complements its ongoing presence in Dubai and will be a fourth international broadcast centre alongside the existing facilities in London, Hong Kong and Mexico City." CNN Worldwide press release, 12 October 2008.
     Abu Dhabi "has launched twofour54, a multibillion-dollar hub for content creation across all forms of media in the Middle East. ... The latest initiative, which is supported by the Abu Dhabi government, has already signed up market-leading global brands such as CNN, the BBC, Harper Collins, Random House, the Thomson Reuters Foundation as well as Rotana Films, one of the Middle East's leading film companies. ... Twofour54 -- the name refers to Abu Dhabi's Atlas co-ordinates -- launched Oct. 12 and will open at a temporary site in the emirate's Sheik Khalifa Park in early 2009. The project will eventually move into a permanent 200,000 square-meter (2,152.9 sq. ft.) waterfront site." Variety 12 October 2008. See also Abu Dhabi press release, 12 October 2008. Posted: 12 Oct 2008 Permalink

If there is a really stiff breeze, these leaflets could land in Oregon. "A US activist and North Korean defectors said they floated tens of thousands of leaflets into the hardline communist state yesterday in defiance of appeals from South Korea's government and companies. uzanne Scholte, president of the Defense Forum Foundation, and members of the Fighters for Free North Korea (FFNK) released 10 large balloons loaded with 100,000 leaflets from a fishing boat near the border in the Yellow Sea. ... 'The wind is now blowing to the north and I believe the leaflets will reach North Koreans.'" Macau Daily Times, 11 October 2008. Posted: 11 Oct 2008 Permalink

More films by National Geographic, with Abu Dhabi help. "National Geographic is entering a $100 million partnership with a media company owned by a Middle Eastern government. The deal is designed to at least double National Geographic's output of films for theatrical release. The arrangement with Abu Dhabi Media is intended to fuel a revolving fund that would produce half a billion dollars' worth of films over the next five years." Washington Post, 11 October 2008. Posted: 11 Oct 2008 Permalink

Al Arabiya is no longer master of its domain. "Al Arabiya's website remained down Saturday following an attack by hackers accusing the Dubai-based news channel of being pro-Sunni that shut down the channel's website shortly after midnight on Thursday. A warning message in Arabic and English was displayed that warned 'if attacks on Shiite websites continue, none of your websites will be safe.' ... Al Arabiya's servers were not hacked but the domain name company's system was hacked. Al Arabiya's website can currently be found at www.alarabiya.tv as administrators seek to get the main page back online at www.alarabiya.net." alarabiya.tv, 10 October 2008.
     "Gulf News has learned that Mohammad Al Mulla, Director of Dubai Media City, had sent a letter to Abdul Rahman Bin Rashid, head of the Al Arabiya channel, in June this year advising that the channel should take a neutral stand on political issues and sectarian friction. It has reportedly told the channel that the phrases and words it is using are seen as instigating sectarian strife between Arabs." Gulf News (Dubai), 10 October 2008. Posted: 11 Oct 2008 Permalink

Alhurra journalist was intended target in Iraq. "Iraqi authorities have unveiled a new hotline to protect journalists, but reporters in the world's most dangerous country still fear for their lives. Police say they have thwarted two attempts to assassinate journalists in two weeks since setting up the hotline with a journalists' rights group. One of the intended victims was Saad Qusay, a correspondent for the U.S.-funded Arabic-language TV channel al-Hurra in the southern city of Basra. The Interior Ministry says it captured a militia member who had threatened to kill him." Reuters, 8 October 2008 Posted: 10 Oct 2008 Permalink

Senator Brownback wants VOA, etc., to be "state-run." The text of S.3546, The Strategic Communications Act of 2008, introduced 23 September by Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), is now available. Excerpts: "Abolishment of Broadcasting Board of Governors- The United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 (22 U.S.C. 6201 et seq.) is repealed on the date that is 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act. ... There is established the National Center for Strategic Communication. ... The Center shall be headed by the Director of Strategic Communication, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. ... The primary missions of the Center are ... (6) to direct and coordinate foreign broadcasting by the United States Government."
     Even though the bill includes the traditional language that "United States international broadcasting shall include (1) news which is consistently reliable, authoritative, accurate, and comprehensive," meeting this requirement will be difficult in an agency whose director is appointed by the president. Furthermore, the preponderance of activities of the Center would have to do with the advocacy of U.S. policy.
     This is why Britain separates its international broadcasting and public diplomacy activities. It's also why the public broadcasting entity of virtually every industrialized democracy (including U.S. international broadcasting since 2004) is governed by a board and not directly by the government.
     The bill enshrines the existing structure of U.S. international broadcasting, mentioning specifically Voice of America, "surrogate broadcast programs," RFE/RL, RFA, the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, and (even though it no longer exists) Worldnet. Significantly, Alhurra, Radio Sawa, and Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN) Inc. are not mentioned.
     A main reason that U.S. international broadcasting has less audience than British international broadcasting, even though the former has a larger budget than the latter, is because the former consists of these entities that fragment scarce resources, compete with each other, and force audiences to tune to two stations to get a complete newscast. Fiscally conservative S.3546 is not. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 10 Oct 2008 Permalink

Yeah, well, maybe the CBC is "state-run," too. "In a report from Beijing Thursday, the state-run Voice of America news agency quoted a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying he hopes Washington will 'honour its obligations and fulfil its anti-terrorism commitment' by returning the 17 [Uighurs held at Guantánamo] to China." CBC News, 9 October 2008. Posted: 10 Oct 2008 Permalink

Did Zimbabwe's opposition take the liberty of agreeing to shut down VOA Studio 7? "President Mugabe is expected to meet MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai and Professor Arthur Mutambara of MDC to come up with guidelines for the negotiators in their consultations in the allocation of ministries. ... [Zanu-PF negotiator Cde Patrick] Cde Chinamasa called for a paradigm shift by all the three parties and wondered why pirate radio stations like Studio 7, Voice of America and Radio Africa were still operating as MDC-T mouthpieces 24 days after the signing of the agreement which called for their shutdown." The Herald (Harare), 10 October 2008. Posted: 10 Oct 2008 Permalink

So the U.S. Institute for Peace will become a uniformed service? Or maybe I should read this again. "The U.S. Army’s new 'how-to' manual on stability operations is a unique document that embraces joint effort as a reflection of the realities of a 21st-century world, a senior U.S. military officer said yesterday. ... The human element, or how to provide societal, political and economic stability for populations affected by conflict, should be a primary focus factor during stability operations, [Lt. Gen. William B.] Caldwell [IV] said. Elements of soft power, he said, include the diplomatic capabilities of the U.S. State Department, as well as the civil-economic expertise possessed by the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Institute for Peace, and other U.S. and international agencies." American Forces Press Service, 9 October 2009. Posted: 10 Oct 2008 Permalink

The dotted lines of democracy promotion. Kenneth Wollack at the meeting of the Advisory Committee on Democracy Promotion: "We could all make the case that [democracy promotion] does serve U.S. national interests and national security interests. But when we support people overseas in this engagement, it’s important for them to know we’re doing it because of them, not that we’re doing it because of us, and that they are not part of some American national security doctrine. If that is the message that is delivered overseas, then I think there is a danger over time of sort of severing that relationship of trust, so people on the ground will be seen as part of something foreign and part of something alien. So why I think this is very important, this relationship and enunciating this relationship in terms of implementing programs -- I think we have to ensure that these are dotted lines and not straight lines; that we are doing this because we believe in these causes and there are byproducts to this effort. And this is particularly important in light of the Pentagon’s growing role in the area of nation building and in the area of public diplomacy." Secretary Rice: "I agree completely." State Department, 8 October 2008. Posted: 10 Oct 2008 Permalink

Youth interaction, but not managed by the government. Jared Cohen, author of book Children of Jihad, "noted that new developments make it easier for American youth to interact with their counterparts outside the free world. Such interaction could be essential in a forum where Western governments can no longer air their messages as easily as they could through Cold War organizations like Radio Free Europe. Instead, the web provides the capability for millions of young Americans to become what Cohen called 'diplomats', showing young Iranians or Saudis what it means to live under freedom -- from the comfort of their keyboard. However, he was more hesitant to speculate on how the energies of America’s youth could be channeled in such a direction. He hinted that the subject might be discussed in a future book, but strongly indicated that he did not think such an undertaking could be effectively managed by the government." Matt Lewis, Townhall.com, 9 October 2008 Posted: 10 Oct 2008 Permalink

DW: more English at the expense of German? "The German Focus magazine reports about a draft of the Deutsche Welle plannings for the period from 2010 to 2013. The paper carries a remark by director Erik Bettermann himself that it is 'not to be released to a public outside DW' (Is this his way to cryptically say 'please send this to the press'?). This document states states that 'important audiences can be reached only by considerably increasing the amount of English-language offerings'. DW considers itself as a competitor of BBC World and Al Jazeera. A 'very strained financial situation' is said to make rationalization measures necessary, and most of these cost savings will be done at the expense of German-language services. Thus DW employees already founded an initiative called 'Pro Deutsche Welle' that calls these plans 'a good-bye to our audiences'. The Focus report also points out that DW is required by law to promote the German language. ... At least these excerpts do not cover the aspect of TV vs. radio. I suspect that radio could be especially affected." Kai Ludwig, DX Listening Digest, 9 October 2008. See also Focus, 5 October 2008. I can't find a Pro Deutsche Welle website yet. The initiative will need a website if it is to have impact. Posted: 10 Oct 2008 Permalink

Leadership restructuring at BBC that probably only BBC leadership would understand. A restructuring of BBC leadership includes "a new International Forum, ... chaired by the Director-General, will deal with matters relating to the BBC's global services, international business development and operational issues overseas, and will allow unprecedented co-ordination of the BBC's international activities. ... A new International Forum, chaired by the Director-General, will focus on the BBC's international presence, strategies, policies and brand management. The Forum's membership will include the Deputy Director-General, the CEO of BBC Worldwide and Director of Global News and the Director of Marketing, Communications and Audiences. This new strategic forum will meet quarterly, beginning later this year. ... BBC Global News includes BBC World Service, BBC World News, and the BBC's international facing online news services, and provides a focal point for viewers and listeners around the world. Together, these services attract a combined global weekly audience of over 233 million." BBC press release, 7 October 2008. Posted: 10 Oct 2008 Permalink

BBC Russian reprioritizes: less radio, more internet. "BBC World Service has announced changes which will further reinforce its Russian-language output. The main thrust of the reprioritised investment is placed on strengthening the website, bbcrussian.com, which has become the key method for delivery of all BBC content in Russian. The website is having a significant impact in Russia where it is easier to access than the BBC radio services, and where demand for online news is growing and becoming increasingly sophisticated. ... The BBC Russian radio also changes, with re-focusing of resources on peak listening times and with more investment in flagship news and current affairs programmes. ... The production of some short news bulletins, which were designed for Russian FM partners, will cease as the BBC no longer has these agreements." BBC World Service press release, 8 October 2008.
     "Unlike the Voice of America (VOA), which had eliminated radio broadcasts to Russia shortly before the Russian invasion of Georgia, the BBC has decided to continue producing Russian-language radio programs while also expanding its Internet and video production. ... FreeMediaOnline.org president Ted Lipien described the BBC plan as far more prudent and more realistic than the plan adopted in the U.S. by the Broadcasting Board of Governors for the Voice of America. Lipien said that unlike the BBC, the U.S. international broadcasting authority has made a strategic error that rewards Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, his close associates and other enemies of media freedom." Ted Lipien, Blogger News Network, 8 October 2008.
     KimAndrewElliott.com president Kim Andrew Elliott (I just promoted myself to "president") says that to emulate the BBC's new multimedia approach to Russian, with its enhanced news reporting, U.S. international broadcasting can no longer afford to have two Russian services, RFE/RL and VOA, fragmenting scarce resources, competing with each other, and forcing audiences to tune to two stations to get a complete newscast.
     BBC World Service has been frustrated by Russian government discouragement of foreign broadcast relays on Russian FM stations. It still has medium wave outlets in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Ekaterinburg, as well as shortwave covering all of European Russia. But those wavebands are less popular these days in Russia, while internet and mobile access is expanding. Hence, BBC Russian radio hours will likely be reduced in deference to expanded web and text output. This will work as long as the Russian government does not block unwelcome websites. Posted: 10 Oct 2008 Permalink

From the couch in the front yard, BBC covers the U.S. election. "The U.S. presidential campaign is being followed with great interest around the world. Reporters with BBC World Service Radio, World News America, Radio one and BBC news online are covering the campaign. The BBC team is traveling coast-to-coast taking the pulse of the electorate as we head into the November election. ... West Virginia is the 18th stop on the BBC tour." WOWK-TV (Charleston WV), 9 October 2008. See also BBC US08 election bus itinerary at BBCWS website.
     "A team from Al Jazeera, the news agency sometimes called the CNN of the Middle East, is considering a live Election Day broadcast from Phoebus [Virginia]." Daily Press (Newport News VA), 9 October 2008. "Al Jazeera English, the third-largest English language international news network, came to Eddie George's Grill 27 Tuesday. The network hosted a panel of Ohio State students, who watched and discussed the second debate between Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain." The Lantern, 9 October 2008.
     "As election day in the United States draws ever closer, CNN International invites audiences around the world to speak out on why this election matters to them." On "Worldview." CNN press release, 9 October 2008.
     "VoA once again canceled its Special English broadcast today, Oct. 3, 0130-0200 UT. Instead, a midsection of a fast-paced VP debate was carried on the usual Greenville frequencies of 6040 and 9820. Of course, the debate itself started at 0100. So it was picked up in Palin's mid-sentence right after a standard station's ID at 0130 (even though the carrier was up and running at least 20 min. earlier). No explanations of who's talking and what's the occasion were given. VoA finished its clandestine broadcast just as unexpectedly at 0200 by cutting Biden's response short." Sergei S., DX Listening Digest, 7 October 2008. Posted: 10 Oct 2008 Permalink

Al Jazeera English freelancers up for Peck Awards. "Dispatches from freelance broadcast journalists in Kenya, Somalia, Burma, Palestine and Afghanistan have made the shortlist for this year's Rory Peck Awards. The awards, which recognise the work of freelance foreign journalists in danger zones, will be announced at a ceremony in London on 13 November. In the news category, two pieces broadcast by Al Jazeera English are shortlisted. Clifford Derrick is nominated for a report from a notorious Kenyan slum in the height of the post-election chaos and Subina Shresthra is shortlisted for a piece about the survivors of the Burmese cyclone." Press Gazette, 9 October 2008. Posted: 10 Oct 2008 Permalink

Four companies get Pentagon contracts to deliver deliverables to Iraq (updated). "The Defense Department will pay private U.S. contractors in Iraq up to $300 million over the next three years to produce news stories, entertainment programs and public service advertisements for the Iraqi media in an effort to 'engage and inspire' the local population to support U.S. objectives and the Iraqi government. The new contracts -- awarded last week to four companies -- will expand and consolidate what the U.S. military calls 'information/psychological operations' in Iraq far into the future, even as violence appears to be abating and U.S. troops have begun drawing down. ... A lengthy list of 'deliverables' under the new contract proposal includes 'print columns, press statements, press releases, response-to-query, speeches and . . . opinion editorials'; radio broadcasts 'in excess of 300 news stories' monthly and 150 each on sports and economic themes; and 30- and 60-minute broadcast documentary and entertainment series. Contractors will also develop and maintain Web sites; assess news articles in the Iraqi, U.S. and international media; and determine ways to counter coverage deemed negative, according to the contract solicitation the government posted in May. Polls and focus groups will be used to monitor Iraqi attitudes under a separate three-year contract totaling up to $45 million. While U.S. law prohibits the use of government money to direct propaganda at U.S. audiences, the 'statement of work' included in the proposal, written by the U.S. Joint Contracting Command in Iraq, notes the need to 'communicate effectively with our strategic audiences (i.e. Iraqi, pan-Arabic, International, and U.S. audiences) to gain widespread acceptance of [U.S. and Iraqi government] core themes and messages.'" Karen De Young and Walter Pincus, Washington Post, 3 October 2008. This is in addition to the Radio Sawa and Alhurra transmitters and operations in Iraq, funded by BBG. See also Sadiq Green, digitaljournal.com, 5 October 2008.
     Update: "Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., on Thursday sent a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates asking him to suspend $300 million in contracts for civilians to produce pro-American news stories, entertainment programs and public service ads in Iraq until the Senate Armed Services Committee and the next administration review the contracts. ... 'At a time when this country is facing such a grave economic crisis, and at a time when the government of Iraq now shows at least a $79 billion surplus from recent oil revenues, in my view it makes little sense for the U.S. Department of Defense to be spending hundreds of millions of dollars to propagandize the Iraqi people.'" Government Executive, 9 October 2008. See also Army Times, 9 October 2008. Posted: 10 Oct 2008 Permalink

International Herald Tribune website will close. "The New York Times' Web site is getting more global, and IHT.com is going bye-bye. The Times told staff in an internal e-mail Tuesday that the paper's flagship Web site will soon become host to news from sister paper the International Herald Tribune and that the Tribune's site will be shuttered. ... The IHT site has long been an anachronism in an age where the flagship NYTimes.com was available anywhere in the world. ... So what happens to the print version of the IHT? That's the next question." Forbes, 7 October 2008. See also www.iht.com, while you can. Posted: 09 Oct 2008 Permalink

Worldspace: penny stock. "Beleaguered satellite operator Worldspace hit an all-time share-price low Oct 8, of just 52c, and giving the company a Market Capitalisation of $22.3m. This bad news was despite what might have been a good day for the broadcaster, helped by a report that Bharti Airtel, the new India DTH platform, is to take 10 of Worldspace’s radio channels as part of its 175 channel entertainment platform. Worldspace saw its shares tumble yesterday by 18.46% at one time, dropping from 74c to 53c. While Oct 8 was a volatile day on the world’s stock market, Worldspace’s 18% fall was exceptional." Rapid TV News, 8 October 2008. Closed at 60 cents on 9 October, per Worldspace website. If Worldspace fails as a satellite operator, perhaps it can still market its audio channels, which took some effort to develop, to cable and DTH systems around the world. Posted: 09 Oct 2008 Permalink

Even more shortwave as art. "For the eighth Curve Art commission, Mexico-born Canada-based artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer transforms The Curve into a huge interactive sculpture which allows the visitor to see the usually invisible radio frequencies that constantly surround us. Through the use of sophisticated computerised tracking devices the visitor’s position in the gallery determines the tuning and volume of 36 radios. On entering the space each participant’s shadow will be cast on the vast curving wall. The outline of the projected shadow determines the frequency tuned, while its size controls the volume. Effectively, the work turns the human body into an antenna able to tune into the radio spectrum of London. Signals can be picked up from FM, AM, short wave, television, DAB, weather and amateur, as well as sounds from such sources as radio astronomy and low earth orbit satellite. The sounds are emitted by speakers located around the gallery." artdaily.org, 9 October 2008. See previous post about shortwave as art. Posted: 09 Oct 2008 Permalink

VOA television initiatives to Africa and Pakistan. "The Voice of America (VOA) today launched In Focus, a 30-minute television program that provides Africans with the latest news and information about Africa and the world. ... VOA airs In Focus Monday-Friday, 1630 -1700 UTC/GMT on Intelsat 907 and New Skies 703 satellites, with repeat transmissions immediately following. TV Africa in Accra, Ghana, WBS in Kampala, Uganda and Citizen TV in Nairobi, Kenya will carry the program." VOA press release, 6 October 2008.
     "The Voice of America (VOA) and Pakistan Television Network (PTV) are teaming up to produce live coverage and interactive analyses of the U.S. presidential debates for millions of Urdu-speaking Pakistani viewers." VOA press release, 6 October 2008. Posted: 09 Oct 2008 Permalink

The Worldnet brand lives on in outdated fact sheets. "Apple River State Bank was featured on the PBS show 'Nightly Business Report' on Thursday, Oct. 2. ... NBR is seen on more than 250 PBS stations. The program also is seen abroad via the International Broadcasting Bureau's Worldnet Satellite Network and the Armed Forces Television and Satellite Network." Telegraph Herald (Dubuque), 8 October 2008. The reference to Worldnet came from this NBR fact sheet. It needs to be updated, because Worldnet, founded by USIA director Charles Z Wick in 1983, merged with VOA in May 2004. However, at voanews.com, click on the TV Schedule link and you are presented with a page from the Broadcasting Board of Governors website, with the heading IBB Satellite Coverage. No mention of VOA or VOA-TV anywhere. Ambiguity about the branding of VOA television is therefore not surprising. Posted: 09 Oct 2008 Permalink

Democracy is ... voting often for your favorite video (updated). The U.S. State Department's "The Democracy Video Challenge asks budding filmmakers, democracy advocates, and the general public to create video shorts that complete the phrase, 'Democracy is…' The winners will be selected by the online voting public." State Department, 10 September 2008. "Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs James K. Glassman will travel to the United Nations to participate in the launch of the Democracy Video Challenge and to highlight the UN’s first International Day of Democracy on Monday, September 15." State Department, 10 September 2008. The State Department might want to read about the BBC World Service's attempt to determine the world's most popular song by way of e-mail voting. The winner was the Irish anthem "A Nation Once Again" by the Wolfe Tones. See Sunday Mirror, 10 August 2003 and previous post.
     Update: "Hosting a youth-targeted video contest on YouTube is certainly not the first thing one would expect from the US government, or any State government for that matter, so this contest could be the opening of a new and updated chapter in public diplomacy." chiaramente, TakingITGlobal, 6 October 2008. Posted: 08 Oct 2008 Permalink

Public diplomacy and the theological can of worms. Suggested question in the "moral debate" of the U.S. presidential election: "What role does distorted religious conviction play in creating the dangers we face from terrorists? How can American public diplomacy address those convictions?" George Weigel, Newsweek, 6 October 2008. It would be problematic, obviously, if U.S. public diplomacy gets involved in the debate about what is "distorted" in a religion. On the other hand, it can less problematically inform audiences about the advantages of religious tolerance in American society. Posted: 08 Oct 2008 Permalink

Embassies as public diplomacy. "The announcement last week that the United States will relocate its London embassy from Grosvenor Square, in the heart of the British capital, to an out-of-the-way spot south of the River Thames may be good news for property developers, but should concern almost everyone else. The London move is the latest and most dramatic example of a worrying trend toward vastly scaling down American public diplomacy abroad, abandoning embassies that were once beacons of American culture and openness in favour of walled suburban fortresses. ... Bunkered and isolated embassies are hardly the best advertisement for Washington's role in the world, and will remain a lasting hangover of the George W. Bush's prickly attitude toward much of the planet long after he leaves the White House." Editorial, Globe and Mail, 6 October 2008. Posted: 08 Oct 2008 Permalink

On U.S. public television, it's Worldfocus versus BBC World News. "For 10 years, the BBC has largely had to itself the American market for television news that is not United States-centric, thanks to its distribution deal with public television and its cable network BBC America. That changed on Monday with the start of 'Worldfocus,' a half-hour nightly newscast being produced and distributed by the New York public broadcaster WLIW, Channel 21. ... In the New York metropolitan area, the half-hour BBC newscast will no longer be seen on WLIW and its sister station, WNET, Channel 13, where it occupied plum evening spots; the program garnered on average some 60,000 viewers per night on WLIW alone. Instead, viewers will find it on the less-viewed New Jersey Network, at 6:30 p.m., Eastern time. ... One area where the BBC hasn’t made any significant inroads is with its 24-hour cable news channel, BBC World News; the network is now carried in just three million homes in the United States, including the New York area by Cablevision and Verizon’s FiOS. 'I pitched my heart out to get it seen in more cities,' but that doesn’t seem to be attractive to cable operators at this point,' [BBC Worldwide America president Garth] Ancier said." New York Times, 7 October 2008.
     "This newscast is focused on international news and how it relates to Americans. ... We'll do 30 minutes of it every night and we do it in a way that's unlike the BBC, which says, here's all the international stuff, you figure out if it matters. We find all the international news that has a direct impact on Americans and we deliver it in a way that's written well, it's intelligent, it's interesting to watch. ... Perhaps the only other outlet that people can turn to [for foreign news] is the BBC, which is an excellent news organization. But I'll point out the first B in BBC is 'British,' and they have their own perspective of reporting and viewing the world." Broadcasting & Cable, 6 October 2008.
     "Al Jerome, president of KCET Los Angeles said Wednesday that the revamped BBC World News half-hour newscast it has just begun distributing in conjunction with the BBC has been cleared in all 30 of the top 30 markets, including 28 on the primary PBS affiliate in each. Only one noncom station in every market can carry 100% of its lineup, with other noncoms limited to no more than 25%. The show is cleared in 47 of the top 50 and 83 of the top 100." Broadcasting & Cable, 8 October 2008. See previous post about Worldfocus. Posted: 08 Oct 2008 Permalink

The broadcasting of baseball. Parents of White Sox rookie Alexei Ramirez follow their son's career from Cuba. "In communist Cuba, only tourist hotels and foreigners have access to cable and satellite television. In a baseball-mad country, however, many Cubans rely on illegal satellite hookups, U.S.-funded Radio Marti reports and telephone calls from family and friends abroad for sports information." Chicago Tribune, 5 October 2008.
     "I was with an Army unit in 1945 on remote Attu Island in the Aleutians, listening on short-wave radio the last time the Cubs made it to the World Series." John Wirtz, letter to Chicago Tribune, 8 October 2008. Posted: 08 Oct 2008 Permalink

RFI correspondent released from Niger jail. "Moussa Kaka, a prominent radio journalist in Niger, was released provisionally on Tuesday after one year in detention for allegedly undermining state security. ... Kaka, a correspondent for Radio France Internationale (RFI), was arrested in September 2007 over telephone calls he made to Tuareg rebels based in the north. ... Clad in a T-shirt emblazoned with the RFI logo, the journalist looked drawn and stressed and sounded angry." AFP, 7 October 2008. See also RFI, 7 October 2008. His release is welcomed by Reporters sans frontières, 7 October 2008 and Committee to Protect Journalists, 7 October 2008. Posted: 08 Oct 2008 Permalink

Legal action against Indian hotel involves France 24. "The Azamgarh police lodged an FIR [First Information Report] against a hotel owner for allegedly not providing information about foreign journalists who were there to interview families of those killed in Jamia encounter held in New Delhi recently. Two women journalists from France -- Lise Richard Thomas and Capucine Clair of news channel France 24 -- had put up at Hotel Gangotri in Azamgarh from October 1-4 during their stay in the city to interview family members of Bashir Ahmad and Mohammad Fakruddin who were killed in Jamia encounter by the Delhi police. 'We have not taken any action against any journalists whether Indian or foreigner, we have just slapped a case against the hotel owner as he has not given us the proper information of visiting foreign journalists.'" Zee News, 6 October 2008. Posted: 08 Oct 2008 Permalink

African pay TV service seeks content. "GTV, the pan African pay TV service ... is keen to acquire programmes to fill slots for its seven channels, G Prime, G Series, G Africa, G Sports 1, G Sports 2, G Xtra and G Star. ... In addition to its own channels, subscribers to GTV’s service can also watch international channels such as BBC World, Sky News, MTV Base, E!, Aljazeera; Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon among others." ScreenAfrica.com, 8 October 2008. Posted: 08 Oct 2008 Permalink

International channels to Greece via IPTV. "Greek telco Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) has revealed that it is undertaking a soft launch of its new IPTV service 'Conn-x' over its ADSL network to a 'limited number' of existing customers as part of ongoing trials." Twenty-one channels are mentioned, including Euronews, France 24 and Al Jazeera. ipTVnews, 8 October 2008. Posted: 08 Oct 2008 Permalink

Unconfirmed and probably bogus report: CNN plans Arabic channel. "'ON TV is a liberal channel that focuses on reviving the Egyptian identity and the values of citizenship, freedom, equality, modernization, rationality and expresses all these values through its slogan , "stay in the light",' Emad Gad, head of the channel told Daily News Egypt. ... Western countries entered the race this year after several Arabic-speaking western channels were launched like BBC Arabic, Russia today, France 24, Euro news, Israel 2 and Deutchwelle [Deutsche Welle] as well as El Horra [Alhurra] channel, which is funded by the American government. CNN also plans to launch an Arabic speaking channel next year." Daily News Egypt, 7 October 2008. I have not seen reports elsewhere about a CNN Arabic channel. The possibility was discussed by Asharq Alawsat, 6 March 2008, but with no commitment from CNN. CNN does have its CNN Arabic website. Posted: 08 Oct 2008 Permalink

CNN series on Poland to go with those ads for Poland. "This week CNN International is running a series of reports on Poland, focusing on politics, the economy and many other aspects of Polish life." Polskie Radio, 8 October 2008. Would this have anything to do with Poland's advertising campaign on CNN International? See previous post. Posted: 08 Oct 2008 Permalink

Beethovenfest downloadable from DW. "Musik (power music) was the central theme of the 2008 Beethovenfest Bonn, a festival held in September in Bonn, Germany. ... Deutsche Welle International Broadcasting is offering free podcasts of several festival concerts, including Kurt Masur conducting four Beethoven symphonies." El Paso Times, 5 October 2008. See also DW Beethovenfest podcast page.. Posted: 08 Oct 2008 Permalink

The challenge of directing questions to the appropriate bureaucrat (updated). "James Glassman, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, gave incomplete and misleading answers when asked Friday whether the elimination of vernacular broadcasts to Georgia, Russia, and India is going to hurt his 'war of ideas' effort. Speaking in Washington at a National Press Club luncheon on 'The New Age of Public Diplomacy,' Glassman seemed surprised and annoyed by the question." Ted Lipien, Blogger News Network, 4 October 2008. Maybe Mr. Glassman was annoyed because the question was directed to him, even though he is no longer CEO of U.S. international broadcasting. His authority over U.S. international broadcasting is now only one vote on the Broadcasting Board of Governors. Furthermore, the 'war of ideas' is a public diplomacy effort. To achieve the credibility necessary for success, U.S. international broadcasting must stick to reporting the news, and leave the 'war of ideas' stuff to public diplomacy.
     Update: Video of Glassman's speech at the National Press Club is now available at the C-Span Video Library. One passage from that speech: “U.S. international broadcasting, which is directed by an independent board that I used to chair and that, over the past eight years, has increased its weekly audience by 75 percent. Our mission since 1942 has been to broadcast in the vernacular – currently in 60 languages -- into countries that have limited freedom of the press, or none at all. For the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which runs this effort, 2008 has been a very good year. Our audience in Pakistan has doubled. We have done vital work in Burma and Tibet and Cuba and Georgia. Big gains have been achieved with our Voice of America television into Iran, where we broadcast seven hours a day, and we are effectively starting to shift our Russian strategy to the Internet. And just this week we started special programming into the camps of Darfur. Sadly, the Senate has not seen fit to approve a new slate of governors for the BBG: four Democrats and four Republicans. The BBG, America’s single largest public diplomacy program, operates today without a chairman and short by three governors. This state of affairs is extremely disappointing and harmful to the nation.” Posted: 08 Oct 2008 Permalink

NHK World TV to Europe via Astra. "Japan’s public broadcaster NHK says its NHK World TV English-language news channel is now available over Europe on Astra 1L as its first step toward region-wide coverage. ... By February next year the channel’s transmissions will be entirely in English. Makoto Harada, DG of NHK World TV said: 'Our launch on Astra 1L is our first step to provide opportunities for viewers in Europe to watch NHK World TV. We are hoping to offer a new eye for European viewers, to provide an alternative and unique perspective from Asia'." Rapid TV News, 5 October 2008. And will next February's all-English channel be the previously reported Japan International Broadcasting Inc.? Posted: 07 Oct 2008 Permalink

France 24 via DTH, IPTV, web TV, mobile TV. "France 24 has announced the signing of a number of new international broadcasting agreements. In the UK, its English version is now available to Freesat as well as Sky subscribers, while in Greece it made its debut, in both French and English versions, on the IPTV platform operated by OTE at the beginning of this month. France 24 is also now available on Viasat’s DTH platform in Ukraine, and in the Middle East its coverage has been extended to the DU IPTV operation in UAE. France 24 is also being offered by the web TV operations Zattoo, Livestation and Real.Com, as well as to mobile users in Swede (Viasat) and Portugal (Meo)." Broadband TV News, 7 October 2008. Posted: 07 Oct 2008 Permalink

Jalipo, portal for international channels, signs off. "ROK Entertainment has closed the over the top TV portal Jalipo after a period of uncertainty. ... 'We had high hopes for Jalipo when we acquired the business earlier this year, but it did not gain the traction we were expecting.' ... Jalipo launched its online marketplace in 2007 with a mix of live and on demand content. It ran a system of J Credits that were purchased to view content from channel partners including BBC Worldwide, Euronews, Al Jazeera English, Bloomberg, France 24, Rotana Europe, Deutsche Welle, Luxe, Mezzo and TeleSur." Broadband TV News, 7 October 2008. I.e., fee based, in contrast to livestation.com and livenewscameras.com, which are free. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 07 Oct 2008 Permalink

Livestation adds channels (four in Arabic) and facilitates interactivity. "Livestation has added seven new partner channels to its live, interactive online TV service: BBC Arabic, C-SPAN, Rusya Al Yaum (Russia Today Arabic), France 24 (Arabic), Euronews (German, French and Arabic). Livestation works together with its partner channels to explore the potential of live TV online by offering new interactive features, driving traffic back to the broadcasters' sites and examining viewer behaviour in order to respond positively to new interactive broadcasting opportunities." Livestation press release, 3 October 2008. Posted: 07 Oct 2008 Permalink

Shedding light on "Lights on Darfur" (updated). A new U.S. broadcast in Arabic to the Darfur region has been heard by shortwave listeners. The name seems to be "Lights on Darfur." It is not branded as VOA, which has not an Arabic service since Radio Sawa was created in 2002. Nor is it branded as Radio Sawa. The schedule is 0300-0330 UTC on 4960, 5995, 11635 kHz; 1800-1830 on 4960, 9650, 11635; 1900-1930 on 5880, 9650, 11635. Listeners have been noting Radio Sawa (not normally on shortwave) and Radio Free Iraq at some of the above times and frequencies, rather than the "Lights on Darfur" broadcast, perhaps due to switching problems. See DX Mix News and and posts by Kai Ludwig and Mauno Ritola, DX Listening Digest, 1 October 2008 and posts to the accompanying groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld, especially 31450 and 31425.
     Update: "Checking VOA to Darfur 19.00 UTC tonight, 6/10/08 I think I caught an ID but I have to say it's very tricky for my ears. It's one of two words: 1) Adl Darfur which means Justice of Darfur. 2) aql Darfur which means Mind on Darfur. I have to say I tried several times to make sure which one is the right one....but the way they pronounce it it's almost the same in Arabic..and of course thanks to the heavy QRM [unintended interference from other stations] and not so good reception." Egyptian listener posting to groups.yahoo.com/group/dxld, 6 October 2008.
     I have learned from someone who works for the broadcast that its name is Affia Darfur. This is a colloquial greeting in Sudan, so it probably could be translated as "Hi, Darfur." More precisely, "Affia" means "good health." Posted: 07 Oct 2008 Permalink

Russian opposition: don't reduce RFE/RL Russian. "Three leading figures of the Russian opposition are calling on Washington to reverse its decision to reduce Radio Liberty’s Russian-language broadcasts next year, lest Russian citizens, at a time when Moscow has established 'practically complete control' over domestic radio and television lose a vital source of 'objective information.'... And they dismiss as 'illogical' the BBG’s explanation that it will use the resources now being devoted to radio broadcasting for the station’s Russian-language website. 'Government censorship in Russia,' they note, 'affects mostly television and radio,' while 'the Internet is independent.' Moreover, they noted, most Russians do not have access to the Internet." Paul Goble, Window on Eurasia, 4 October 2008. So, if censorship in Russia affects mostly television and radio, this would make it difficult for RFE/RL to get access to Russian radio and television channels, thus forcing RFE/RL to make use of the internet to reach Russia. But, via the internet, RFE/RL competes with domestic Russian outlets that are still independent. Posted: 06 Oct 2008 Permalink

Fired, hired at France 24 (updated). "French international news channel France 24 has named Vincent Giret editorial director after Gregoire Deniau was fired from the post last week, France 24 said Thursday. Deniau's dismissal for alleged 'professional mistakes' according to France 24 execs sent shockwaves among France 24's journalists who protested the 'unfair' decision." Hollywood Reporter, 2 October 2008.
     Update: "In mid-September, editorial director Gregoire Deniau and editor-in-chief Bertrand Coq -- both award-winning journalists -- were dismissed within a day of each other to the shock of staffers. A France 24 press release cited Coq's inappropriate 'behavior toward team members.' The net claimed that Deniau had made professional mistakes. But many staffers remain unconvinced by these reasons. 'What people didn't buy was management saying that the two dismissals were unconnected,' says a midlevel news editor. Deniau and Coq 'were as close as I've ever seen two people get in a newsroom.'" Variety, 3 October 2008. Posted: 06 Oct 2008 Permalink

Political controversy at Radio Taiwan International. "The [Radio Taiwan International] chairman and four other colleagues on the 15-member board submitted their collective resignation in the wake of news reports that the KMT government, notably the Government Information Office, and KMT lawmakers had put intense pressure on Cheng and RTI management to change its news and programming management. ... According to Taiwan media and RTI contributors, GIO claimed that RTI was an agency for 'international broadcasting' and should 'uphold the image of the Republic of China' and should also not be 'too' critical of the Chinese Communist Party-ruled People's Republic of China, apparently in accordance with ROC president Ma Ying-jeou's] policy of promoting cross-strait 'reconciliation' and his unilateral call for a 'diplomatic truce' with Beijing." Editorial, Taiwan News, 3 October 2008. A-gu (阿牛) has also been following the story in his That's Impossible! Politics from Taiwan blog, 2 October 2008 and linked previous posts. See also RTI website. Posted: 05 Oct 2008 Permalink

BBC has no Japanese Service, but it has a Japanese reporter. "Mariko Oi has worked as the first Japanese reporter for BBC World News since last year. The 26-year-old Singapore-based journalist covers stories and conducts interviews concerning Asian economic issues. ... 'I'd been longing to work for the BBC since I was 16 years old,' Oi said." Daily Yomiuri, 4 October 2008. That would be the first Japanese reporter for BBC World News, the global English-language television news channel. BBC World Service had a Japanese Service until 1991, which no doubt had many Japanese reporters. Posted: 05 Oct 2008 Permalink

Al Jazeera making waves in Asia. In Burma, "more than ever, satellite TV and the Internet are making people aware of their government’s glacial pace of progress. One young woman told me that during last year’s uprisings, she was on the streets one day, shouting antigovernment slogans, and the next day stayed in, fearing a stray bullet, as she watched the blood-soaked crackdown live on Al Jazeera television." Daniel Pepper, New York Times, 4 October 2008.
     Bangladeshi workers were locked inside a partly-roofed fenced-up "cages" in Singapore. "News network Al Jazeera English broke the story last month after its correspondent, Mr Tony Birtley, visited the San's Marine office. ... Mr Birtley and his team filmed the workers in the fenced-up area as well as the encounter with the owners and subsequently posted their report on the Al Jazeera English YouTube channel. They also tried to enter the workers' dormitory but were stopped by a security guard. The guard confirmed there were 300 workers living there. ... The Manpower Ministry inspected the company's premises after Al Jazeera's report." Electric New Paper, 5 October 2008. Posted: 05 Oct 2008 Permalink

Turkish soap opera: sheikhs hate it, Arab women love it. In “Noor,” the popular Turkish series broadcast to Arab audiences via MBC, "the male protagonist, called Muhannad in the Arabic version, treats his wife as an equal and supports her career as a fashion designer. The show and the liberties it displayed prompted unusual condemnations from hard-line clerics throughout the Middle East, including Sheik Abdul Aziz al-Asheik, Saudi Arabia’s leading cleric, who instructed Muslims not to watch it. But the show appears to have been the single most popular television drama ever shown in the Arab world. The finale, broadcast on Aug. 30, drew 85 million viewers, according to surveys by the Middle East Broadcasting Corporation, the network that showed it. Of those, more than 51 million were women over 15, more than half the total number of adult women in the entire Arab world. Its handsome protagonist became a heartthrob, and his respectful treatment of his wife caused marital arguments and even divorces in several countries, according to reports in Arab newspapers. The success of 'Noor' was not just in its characters and themes, but also in its language. The show, which flopped when it was shown in Turkey, was dubbed for Arab audiences into colloquial Arabic, not the more formal version of the language spoken on news shows. This is rare in the Arab world, where most foreign shows are subtitled." Robert F. Worth, New York Times, 26 September 2008. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 05 Oct 2008 Permalink

"John Logie Baird never saw this one coming." "I have yet to meet anyone who has used mobile TV, or, indeed, ever heard it mentioned among any of my Facebook-using, BlackBerry-wielding, broadband-wired friends. At the moment, it appears to be little more than a niche service, albeit impressive, within the UAE. ... When the service was finally set up, it was impressive. There were only a few channels that appealed to me, but the ability to catch the latest news from Al Jazeera while stuck in a taxi in traffic definitely has its appeal. The picture resolution is poor, but – watching for one hour straight – the sound and picture streamed over the 3G network perfectly and without interruption. However, for mobile TV to be successful in the region, there needs to be more channels, and the set-up process must be more user-friendly. If mobile phone manufacturers and telecom operators ensure their products and services are compatible and mobile TV-ready, the service could, indeed, fly." Ben Flanagan, Emirates Business 24/7, 4 October 2008. Posted: 05 Oct 2008 Permalink

Wi-fi powered by the sun. A University of Sao Paulo project has developed self-contained solar powered internet access points, which network among themselves. BBCWS Digital Planet, 3 October 2008. And presumably connect, somewhere, to a broadband link to the internet. Could be used in conjunction with the 03b project -- see previous post. Posted: 05 Oct 2008 Permalink

"Third party networks" discussed at GWU's what's-its-name public diplomacy center. At the panel at the George Washington University, "Public Diplomacy and the War of Ideas," on 30 September, moderator Marc Lynch began by saying that GWU's Public Diplomacy Instutute "has currently been relaunched. Not yet formally named, we're going with the name Institute for Public Diplomacy and Global Communications for now. And this is actually our inaugural event."
     Among the subjects discussed: Michael Doran, deputy assistant secretary of defense for support to public diplomacy (pause for breath) on "empowering partners": "Agreed again that the U.S. government might not be the right messenger to contest al-Qaeda's interpretation of sharia, so needs to find ways to support the efforts of those in the Muslim world who want to do so. Again, he pointed to the bureaucratic problem: whose job is it in the government to partner with them? We're not set up, he argued, to create third party networks who might not necessarily support U.S. policy but whose efforts help American interests - i.e. Islamic conservatives who argue against al-Qaeda even as they promote conservative views that Americans don't like." From Marc's notes in his Abu Aardvark, 2 October 2008, with link to C-SPAN video. Posted: 04 Oct 2008 Permalink

The Listening Project: Americans get an earful. "America is an ambitious country. It's home to busy people living demanding, thriving lives. We all have our own ideals and opinions concerning, well, everything. But do we ever stop to wonder what other people think of those ideals and opinions? ... 'The Listening Project' follows a team of intrepid Americans across the world as they seek the answer to the aforementioned question. All in all, fourteen different countries are visited and hundreds of people are interviewed." The Navigator (Lake Land College, Mattoon, IL), 1 October 2008. See also The Listening Project website. Posted: 04 Oct 2008 Permalink

Voice of Nigeria expands its shortwave operation, with digital capability. "The Voice of Nigeria (VON) transmitting station in Abuja will be completed by the first quarter of 2009, according to Alhaji Abubakar Jijiwa, the station's Director-General. ... The Director-General said that on completion, the project would produce the first radio station with capability to broadcast in digital and analogue systems, within the Short Wave Bands. ... He explained that the new transmitters would expand the international coverage of the station, because it would be heard worldwide. 'The station has the capability of a rotating antenna that can target any country in the world when desired.'" Daily Triumph (Kano), 3 October 2008. Based on this VON news story. Presumably the digital system is DRM, although VON is not presently listed as a DRM Consortium member at any level. Posted: 04 Oct 2008 Permalink

African broadcasters discuss prospects for African content. The CEO of Capital Radio (Nairobi), Chris Kirubi, tells a recent conference of African broadcasters and filmmakers: "'We need to tell our own story. If not, India and America will tell our story'. As anyone familiar with African broadcasting knows, this aspiration is generally defeated by the very cheap cost of international programming rights. ... As perceptions of Africa change, it is drawing in new investment. Al Jazeera's Director Global Distribution told the conference that it was developing a news centre in Nairobi that would tell Africa's story from a 'global south' perspective and that by this month its English-language channel would be reaching 15 million households across the continent." Russell Southwood, Balancing Act, via allAfrica.com, 2 October 2008. This detailed analysis is recommended reading, as its shows how the African media environment is becoming more complex. Success for international broadcasters targeting Africa will no longer be so easy. Posted: 04 Oct 2008 Permalink

Thoughts about public diplomacy to the Middle East. "The war against global terrorism has been fought on three major fronts: military, economic and diplomatic. As military experts have noted, while the military can capture and kill terrorists, it is not equipped to win the struggle for minds and hearts. This, many today would argue, requires a public diplomacy that addresses the ideological dimensions of war: the war of ideas and the foreign policies created. Government agencies, think tanks, and the military - all of which in the past had ignored the relationship of religion to politics and international affairs - now have special units of experts, conferences, workshops, and curricula focusing on Islam and Muslim politics and culture. Government leaders and politicians use and abuse religion in domestic and international politics, too often talking about and for Muslims who have not been heard. Few are able to base their conclusions on datadriven analysis that reflects the voices of majorities of Muslims across the world - data that are vital in a campaign of programmes and policies to win hearts and minds." John Esposito and Dalia Mogahed, Gulf News (Dubai), 3 October 2008.
     "I left Egypt dispirited, pessimistic about the West's chances of influencing opinions in the Arab world. But the issue is too important for pessimism to prevail. The need for accurate information, for debate, for a marketplace of ideas in the Arab world is so great that the West must not be deterred from developing and implementing a massive, strategic public-diplomacy initiative in the Arab world." Mardo Soghom, senior market-media analyst for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Inc., via Payvand, 2 October 2008. I hope that Mr. Soghom doesn't think of RFE/RL as part of that "massive strategic public-diplomacy initiative," as RFE/RL's strength is in its news product. For public diplomacy, www.america.gov/ar/ is a more appropriate outlet.
     "If the war against jihadism is, at bottom, a contest between two very different ideas of the just society, what will you do to enhance our national capacity to make the case for civility, tolerance and religious freedom through our public diplomacy? Is broadcasting American pop culture into the Middle East the most effective way to illustrate our convictions about the good society? What should we be telling an Arab Islamic world, caught in a narrative of failure of its own making, about the goods that freedom brings? Or should we just drop the subject?" George Weigel, Tidings Online, 3 October 2008. Pop culture is one of the "goods that freedom brings." It also helps radio stations attract large audiences. The Radio Free stations specialize in telling target countries about the failures of their government's making. But too much of that can rub audiences the wrong way. That's why I think U.S. international broadcasting should be like British international broadcasting: one station, combining target country, world, and U.S. news. That would "smooth out" the content, leaving a less ruffled and more credulous audience. Posted: 04 Oct 2008 Permalink

Arab TV stations "influence how people are thinking about Americans." Russell Hopley, instructor of Arabic at Bowdoin College, previously taught English at Fez, Morocco. "Despite standing out, Hopley said that he didn't feel like an outsider then as much as now. 'There's more of a distance now than before. People are more suspicious, before they were more impressed [to meet an American who spoke Arabic],' he said. Hopley attributed the change in reception not only to current United States involvement in the Middle East, but also to the presentation of Americans by Arabic media. He commented that 15 or 20 years ago there were very few Arabic television stations but now there are many — including the well-known Al-Jazeera — and they 'influence how people are thinking about Americans.' Additionally, Hopley said that the recent influx of Americans studying Arabic causes residents of Middle Eastern and North African nations to be suspicious of American interests in the region." The Bowdoin Orient, 3 October 2008. Posted: 04 Oct 2008 Permalink

Al Jazeera English covers the VP debate from Scranton. "Our goal is to make the international audience aware of what's going on here in America." Scranton (PA) Times-Tribune, 3 October 2008. Thus competing with BBC World, CNN International, and VOA, all with similar goals. Posted: 04 Oct 2008 Permalink

New CNN International program will blog, Twitter, and talk about CNN. "Hello everyone and welcome to BackStory -- a new and exciting type of program for CNN International, and a new path for me personally. 'Backstory' is dynamic, fresh, personal look at how we get great stories. We hope you will be involved heavily in our program, in terms of content and in terms of feedback. We'll blog, we'll Twitter but we want your input too. The idea, as you'll see elsewhere on this site, is to bring you a perspective of the news, and the news business, that you don't see elsewhere. Added value if you like. We'll be giving more airtime to those who witness news events, showing you how we do things, give you context to news of the day and take you behind the headlines." Michael Holmes, CNN.com, 3 October 2008. WTSK? (What's the schedule, Kenneth?) The item does not say when the program will be broadcast, if indeed it will be broadcast via good old television. The not especially easy to find schedule for CNN International in Europe does not show any "Backstory," so maybe it is internet only. In that case, WTURLK? (What's the URL, Kenneth?) The item doesn't say that either. If you do watch/blog/Twitter "Backstory," you will have to find it first. Posted: 04 Oct 2008 Permalink

CNN adds third "operation" in India. "As part of CNN's international newsgathering expansion and content ownership strategy, the network today announced the opening of its third editorial operation in Mumbai, India, as well as the appointment of Mallika Kapur, currently a London-based reporter, as the network's Mumbai-based international correspondent effective immediately. ... The expansion into Mumbai, India's financial capital, will support current CNN newsgathering operations in New Delhi and Chennai to develop the network's coverage in India, which is a nuclear power with population of over a billion people." CNN press release, 1 October 2008. That's the third "operation" (I guess they don't like to call it a "bureau") in India, not the third in Mumbai. Posted: 03 Oct 2008 Permalink

Study: China eavesdrops on Skype users. "A study has shown that Skype users in China are being spied on, despite denials from the VoIP firm that this is the case. The Breaching Trust study by Nart Villeneuve at the University of Toronto shows that the authorities are continuously eavesdropping on Skype's Chinese service, TOM-Skype. ... The system scans for certain keywords in conversations, including 'democracy', 'Taiwan independence' and 'voice of America'. It also tracks specific user accounts of people under more rigorous surveillance." vnunet.com, 3 October 2008. Posted: 03 Oct 2008 Permalink

New project director for DRM consortium. "BBC India Business Development Manager Vineeta Dwivedi has been appointed as Project Director at Digital Radio Mondiale consortium (DRM) and would be resuming this responsibility from 1 November. ... As part of this new responsibility, Dwivedi would be leading the day to day management of the DRM consortium business and managing the activity of the DRM assistant and running effectively the DRM office. The task will also include implementing the DRM marketing and business strategy and effectively communicating the benefits of the technology to broadcasters, regulators, manufactures and others." Radioandmusic.com, 2 October 2008. See also DRM website. Posted: 03 Oct 2008 Permalink

A shortwave transmitting site that is not closing. "The BBC's Indian Ocean relay station is commemorating 20 years of transmissions from Grand Anse, Mahé, in the Seychelles. ... The BBC Indian Ocean relay station in the Seychelles broadcasts BBC World Service in a range of languages including the BBC's English-language output for Africa as well as programmes in Swahili, Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, Somali and French. ... Nigel Fry, Head, Transmission and Distribution, BBC World Service, says: 'The BBC Indian Ocean relay station constitutes the backbone of the BBC's shortwave broadcasts to East Africa. In many areas of the countries it covers, the shortwave broadcasts relayed by the station are the only way in which audiences can get BBC news and information.'" BBC World Service press release, 2 October 2008. Posted: 03 Oct 2008 Permalink

Three countries, one city, promote themselves. "The biggest advertising campaign to date presenting Poland kicked off on CNN television today. Two spots presenting Poland as a 'place to be' and a 'place to invest' aim at promoting this country as an attractive destination for tourists and businesspeople." Polskie Radio, 26 September 2008.
     Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs "will organize between 28th September – 9th October, a public diplomacy campaign in Italy, in order to prove that there are more things linking the Italians to the Romanians and less those that seem to separate them. The campaign takes place under the slogan 'Romania: un mondo da scoprire' ('Romania: a world to discover')." ISRIA, 2 October 2008.
     "Cambodia's recent 'Kingdom of Wonders' advertising campaign makes ecotourism one of the pillars of its campaign. Appearing on CNN International, advertisements feature ecotourism sites prominently, an attempt to show the world Cambodia has more to offer than just Angkor Wat." The Phnom Penh Post, 2 October 2008.
     "A new $2 million global marketing campaign to promote Miami-Dade County as a dynamic, world-class destination for business, vacation and meetings will be officially unveiled this afternoon at The Beacon Council's Annual Meeting. ... Television is being utilized in Europe and Latin America, with 'billboards' that lead into commercials on CNN International and CNN en Español." Miami-Dade Beacon Council press release, 2 October 2008. Posted: 03 Oct 2008 Permalink

Death of John H. Norris, founder of shortwave station WINB. Dr. John H. Norris was co-founder, with his father, of the Red Lion Broadcasting Company, Red Lion, Pennsylvania. Red Lion Broadcasting was famous for the Fairness Doctrine test case in the Supreme Court (1969). Norris also founded private shortwave station WINB in 1962. It was the first U.S. private shortwave station licensed after World War II. WINB's content consists mainly of brokered evangelical and conservative political programs. See York (PA) Daily Record, 1 October 2008 and obituary, ibid, 30 September 2008. See also WINB and WGCB-TV websites. Posted: 03 Oct 2008 Permalink

C-SPAN goes (more) international via Livestation. "US public affairs channel C-SPAN has become the tenth partner channel to join the Livestation web TV platform. The channel will be available to anyone outside of the United States. Although C-SPAN already offers a variety of streams on its own websites, the high-quality C-SPAN feed will give the channel greater prominence in this election year. ... Other Livestation partners include Al Jazeera, Bloomberg Television, Deutsche Welle TV and radio, Euronews, France 24, Russia Today, BBC World News and BBC World Service radio. The C-SPAN website describes the Livestation feed as a 'trial program'." Broadband TV News, 2 October 2008. I can't find reference to Livestation at www.c-span.org. Does Livestation provide a more "high quality" feed than from C-Span's own website? In any case, for those abroad who speak English, C-Span provides a comprehensive window on U.S. politics. Posted: 02 Oct 2008 Permalink

International channels via IPTV "for the major heats of the US Election." "The New Media Group’s IPTV platform World On-Demand is launching its World News Pack just in time for the major heats of the US Election. Increasingly a global event, the US presidential elections shall be presented by the World On-Demand to its IPTV subscribers in a new and unique way, from a variety of perspectives and points of view, in a way that only IPTV allows. ... World On-Demand is giving its subscribers BBC World News, FOX News, VOA, NDTV, Euronews, RTP, Deutsche Welle, Al Jazeera, Sky News, the Australia Network and more in a single package and inviting participation in alternate points of view." New Media Group press release, 2 October 2008. Posted: 02 Oct 2008 Permalink

Just next to the video of the guy dancing with a lampshade on his head. "BBC has launched six video news channels on video sharing site YouTube for its Global News service. The channels will feature clips in Russian, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic, Persian and Urdu and will add to the existing BBC World News Channel on YouTube." BBC World Service press release, 2 October 2008. Posted: 02 Oct 2008 Permalink

UK radio listener dislikes most chat, but: "Talk radio can be brilliant. Radio Four is often worth tuning into, then there is the BBC World Service, especially Outlook, which celebrates the weird and wonderful on this planet. The other night I couldn’t get to sleep, so tuned in. Who should be on but Sean Shannon, who’s just got into the Guinness Book of Records for being the fastest talker in the world, and he even recited Hamlet’s soliloquy to prove it, using around 12 words per second compared to an average of three. Now it’s not every day you hear that." Rosalind Gibb, News & Star (Carlisle), 2 October 2008. Posted: 02 Oct 2008 Permalink

New outlet for World Service in North Carolina. New public radio station WYQS in Asheville, North carolina, includes "programming from the BBC World Service." Asheville Citizen-Times, 2 October 2008. Posted: 02 Oct 2008 Permalink

International television developments in Colorado. "The nightly, half-hour Worldfocus debuts Monday (6:30 and 11:30) on KBDI-Channel 12, Colorado viewers will gain a broader perspective on international issues. KBDI President Wick Rowland said Worldfocus and KBDI's third digital channel, MHz Worldview, will make the public access channel a primary source for international news in Colorado. Hosted by Martin Savidge, formerly of CBS and CNN, it replaces BBC World News. Contributors will include ITN (Great Britain), NHK (Japan), TV Globo (Brazil), SABC (South Africa) and Asia News International." Rocky Mountain News, 1 October 2008. KBDI is a public television channel, not a "public access channel," which is usually on cable and grants airtime to just about anyone. See video of KBDI CEO explaining the change from BBC World News to Worldfocus at KBDI website. It seems that rival Rocky Mountain PBS now has the exclusive rights to BBC World News. See previous post about Worldfocus. Posted: 02 Oct 2008 Permalink

France 24 gets New York City outlet. "New York City's official television station is now offering a program with the international news channel France 24. The 30-minute, English-language program began broadcasting Wednesday on NYC TV, reaching 7.3 million households in the New York tristate region. The weekday program airs at 7 p.m. EST (2300 GMT), and contains 10 minutes of top news followed by 20 minutes of business and culture programs" AP, 1 October 2008. NYC TV is a cable channel in New York City and vicinity. See NYC TV website, where I don't yet see France 24 in the schedule. Posted: 02 Oct 2008 Permalink

Four VOA radio services prepare to sign off (updated). The VOA Serbian, Bosnian, Macedonian, and Hindi services will transmit their last radio broadcasts on 30 September. The services will continue via internet and/or television. VOA Hindi has a weekly report on India's Aaj Tak TV. VOA Serbian and Hindi have on shortwave until the end, while Bosnian and Macedonian were only via affiliates in their target countries, plus internet audio.
     VOA Russian radio already ended on 26 July, continuing as an internet-only service. VOA Georgian was slated to close down completely, via all media, on 30 September, but the Georgian-Russian conflict has given that service an indefinite stay.
     The Broadcasting Board of Governors reversed its decisions to eliminate VOA radio in Turkish, Croatian, and Greek.
     RFE/RL radio broadcasts continue in Russian, Georgian Serbian, Bosnian, and Macedonian.
     Update: I forgot to mention that VOA Ukrainian radio, slated to end 30 September, has been given a stay until the end of this year. Friends in Europe confirm that its shortwave frequencies are still on the air.
     "VOA also is discontinuing its 30-minute Russian weekly television program and will deliver text, audio, and video content to Russia's fast-growing Internet market. VOA will be accessible through digital devices, including mobile Internet devices, cell phones that receive text and multi-media messages, and MP3 players. VOA's Russian radio broadcasts ended in July 2008. The change in VOA Russian's program delivery reflects the crackdown on independent media and freedom of speech in Russia. Russian government pressure has forced almost all VOA local radio and television affiliates to drop VOA and other international broadcasts. Shortwave radio listenership also has continued to decline throughout the country, with fewer than 2% of Russians using this medium weekly." VOA press release, 29 September 2008. Posted: 01 Oct 2008 Permalink

BBG still trying to hire celebrity spokesperson? "Sources say that the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) tried to recruit John Cochran of NBC, then ABC News, as their high profile public relations guru. According to earlier reports, the BBG also tried to recruit Paula Zahn, who turned them down." Ted Lipien, Blogger News Network, 30 September 2008. Posted: 01 Oct 2008 Permalink

Losing a VOA job during the McCarthy years. "In 1945, hired by the United States Information Agency as a writer and editor on the Voice of America, [Helene Pleasants] was sent to India and then to China. She was young, she fell in love. Of course. Things didn’t work out exactly as she had hoped. Of course. Neither did her job at the Voice of America. In 1951, the United States Civil Service Commission notified Helene that 'information' had been received, accusing her of sympathy with Soviet Russia and Communism. Helene answered in writing: 'I do NOT admire Russia. . . . I am NOT in effect, or any other way, in agreement with the Communists.' This was true, as I well know, having known Helene, but it was to no avail. After a two-year battle to save her job, she was fired from the Voice of America. It was 1953, at the height of McCarthy’s power, the year the Rosenbergs were executed." Dorothy Gallagher, New York Times, 26 September 2008. Posted: 01 Oct 2008 Permalink

Chinese economist summoned after RFA interview. "The Chinese Human Rights Defenders revealed that economist, Qi Yanchen, who had already been imprisoned from 1999 to 2003, had been summoned by police after he criticised the authorities’ management of the [toxic milk] scandal in an interview with Radio Free Asia." Reporters sans frontières, 29 September 2008. "China's media still labor under tight control, despite promises to loosen up." Radio Free Asia, 1 October 2008. Posted: 01 Oct 2008 Permalink

Ben Franklin Award: honor or fruitcake? "The Benjamin Franklin Award for Public Diplomacy is the most prestigious honor that the U.S. Department of State can bestow on American citizens who are making outstanding international contributions to public diplomacy. Nominations for this second annual award will be accepted from October 1, 2008 through December 15, 2008. ... Benjamin Franklin Awards will be presented in four categories: individuals, corporations, academic institutions (schools, universities, etc), and not-for-profit organizations (non-governmental organizations, foundations, associations, etc.). Special emphasis will be given to activities and programs that provide hope and opportunity in education, culture, and information; empower, educate, and inspire key audiences such as women, students, and educators; and engage under-served communities and grassroots organizations." State Department, 29 September 2008.
     Are the Ben Franklin Awards really a good idea? If these organizations contribute to public diplomacy, it implies that everything they do is congruent with U.S. policy. On the flip side, many individuals, corporations, academic institutions, and not-for-profits, while happy to engage in activities abroad that speak well for the United States, will not want those activities associated with U.S. public diplomacy and therefore with U.S. foreign policy. This especially applies to universities, which must be academically independent. Posted: 01 Oct 2008 Permalink

U.S. soldiers, as if not busy enough, should also help Afghans bolster their own unique conceptions of open markets, transparent politics, and international engagement. In Afghanistan: "Public diplomacy must accomplish on an intellectual level what protection and good governance achieve at the elemental level. Soldiers and advisers do not need to engage in a "war of ideas." Rather, they must expose the insurgents' ideology of fear, violence, and repression -- an ideology that offers Afghans no hope for the future. Public diplomacy is the responsibility of every soldier and adviser working at the local level. They should use education and support to enable Afghans to bolster their own unique conceptions of open markets, transparent politics, and international engagement." F. Jordan Evert, Christian Science Monitor, 29 September 2008. Posted: 01 Oct 2008 Permalink

Blogger writes: CNN International is the CNN that bashes America. "I wish they would show CNN International in America. It would be good for everyone to see how our country is portrayed to the rest of the world. Let's just say if the despots who run Iran and Venezuela got together to create a television network to bash the U.S., CNN International would be it." Weathercaster Jay Trobec, KELO-TV, 29 September 2008. Posted: 01 Oct 2008 Permalink

Al Jazeera English: seeking success by not having a "home team." Is Al Jazeera English "a genuinely international station on a par with CNN and the BBC or do its roots in the Middle East -- the net's headquarters are in Qatar and it is funded by the Qatari government -- mean it is simply an English-language version of its sister Arabic channel? That question lies at the heart of the moves taking place at the net to see more ethnically diverse faces placed both on-screen and behind the camera. 'When you have over 40 nationalities working for you, it's important to reflect that diversity on-air and in leadership positions,' says [managing director Tony] Burman. 'The world is becoming more complicated and people are looking for a network that doesn't necessarily have a home team. The roots of CNN are still in Atlanta and the BBC, for all its professionalism, is still rooted in the British perspective. Our challenge is to make programs which have a real interest in understanding the world from a broad perspective.'" Ali Jaafra, Variety, 30 September 2008. Posted: 01 Oct 2008 Permalink

Welshman is Russia's best television news anchor. "Former HTV [ITV contractor for Wales] presenter Kevin Owen has become the first foreign national to be named Russia’s best news anchor. Owen, of Merthyr Tydfil, picked up the award on Thursday at the Kremlin Palace in Moscow, after beating competition from some of the country’s most established broadcasters. The 39-year-old moved to Russia in 2005 and became a presenter with 24-hour news channel, Russia Today." WalesOnline.co.uk, 1 October 2008. Posted: 01 Oct 2008 Permalink

BBC Worldwide hires ad sales VP, with a Channel 4 twist to the story. "BBC Worldwide has recruited Microsoft executive Chris Dobson to head up global ad sales. The move had been anticipated but has now been confirmed with Dobson taking the title executive vice president and general manager global ad sales for the BBC's commercial arm. He will oversee advertising activity across BBC Worldwide channels and online business together with BBC World News and joins on 6 October. The announcement comes only a few days after Ofcom made the suggestion that BBC Worldwide could be handed over to Channel 4 to plug the funding gap at the broadcaster as part of the regulator's review of Public Service Broadcasting obligations." mad.co.uk, 30 September 2008. With BBC Worldwide based largely on BBC content, or ads sold on BBC channels, how would a Channel 4 takeover work? Posted: 01 Oct 2008 Permalink

BBG DG in Kenya discusses media technologies. Mark Thompson, director general of the BBC, interviewed in Nairobi: "Thompson: The way people use media is changing. Once the BBC could reach millions of Kenyans just with short-wave radio. Both the KBC and BBC face the challenge of reaching out to new audiences and also using new technologies to get our content to audiences. Reporter: He said one of the biggest challenges to public broadcasters all over the world is how to sustain the independent opinions of editors and those of governments in power, a situation that makes it difficult to deny that the broadcasters are controlled by the government. Thompson: If you've got an emerging strong democracy with power- sharing and people from different perspectives having to work together, a strong, free media can play a very important part in strengthening democracy." Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, via BBC Monitoring, via redOrbit, 30 September 2008. Posted: 01 Oct 2008 Permalink

BBC: "Hindi audiences are crucial." In India: "BBC offers differentiation in content in both the SW and FM space. 'By doing the FM specific programmes, we are focusing on youth who are not used to listening to AM and for them FM is synonyms for radio. AM radio is traditional radio so the style is different and does a lot of speech radio. FM is mainly music, so we have to do what the market demands. For FM, we package small programmes where the style of programming and content differs from AM.' BBC is planning to explore options in all existing platforms of communication available, including FM, broadband, DTH channel distribution system, mobile phone and satellite radio. 'We have been thinking of launching mobile services, the plan has been to launch news services in audio format where people can dial and listen to BBC programmes.' ... 'BBC sees India as an important market. Hindi audiences are crucial because there are loyal listeners for our Hindi programmes.'" Radio and Music, 29 september 2008. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 30 Sep 2008 Permalink

Evidence of effectiveness: when security people scuffle with your crew. "The security team accompanying Sudan 2nd Vice President Ali Osman Taha in New York scuffled with television crew from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Arabic TV last week, a UN diplomat told Sudan Tribune today. The incident happened following an interview by BBC presenter Luqman Ahmed with Taha as he was leaving. An aide to Taha got into an argument with the BBC staff raising objections about his conduct during the interview." Sudan Tribune, 30 September 2008. Posted: 30 Sep 2008 Permalink

BBC World News MD departing, will "recharge batteries." "T