Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya equipment seized in Yemen (updated).

"Yemeni authorities have seized the transmission gear of Arab satellite news channels over their coverage of deadly unrest in the south of the country. 'The SNG (satellite news gathering) equipment used by the Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya channels without being declared to the information ministry has been seized,' the ministry said late on Thursday. ... Such equipment 'should not serve to provoke trouble and amplify events in such a way as to harm public order, as has been the case with Al-Jazeera,' a ministry spokesman said. He said Al-Jazeera had broadcast 'archive footage, presenting it as new, which amounts to fraud and an encouragement for elements intent on sabotage and separatism,' he charged." Middle East Online, 12 March 2010.
     "Al Jazeera said Yemeni security forces had stormed its office in Sanaa on Thursday evening after being warned over its coverage of a southern secessionist movement on which the government recently launched a major crackdown. ... Al Arabiya also reported that some of its broadcasting equipment had been confiscated by police on Thursday. Its bureau chief was questioned for two hours but then released, Nasser al-Sarami, head of media at Al Arabiya told Reuters." Reuters, 12 March 2010.
     "An official source in Ministry of Information has said that the satellite broadcasting equipments (SNG) of Al Jazeera and Al Arabia satellite channels were not authorized by the ministry. The source told Saba that the two devices have not been confiscated but they would be returned where they came from. ... He denied any arbitrary or offensive practices accompanied the reservation process, unlike what has been promoted by Al-Jazeera." SABA Yemen News Agency, 12 March 2010.
     Update: "A Yemeni official resource confirmed that President Ali Abdullah Salih has decided to return the transmission devices belonging to al-Jazeera and al-Arabiya channels. Authorities seized the transmission devices one week ago. ... 'The two unlicensed transmission devices were confiscated under government direction,' clarified a spokesman from the Information Ministry. Moreover, he insisted on that there should not be any transmission devices that enable programs or events that harm the tranquility of Yemeni homes. Al-Jazeera and al-Arabiya channels criticized the government-launched campaign against them. 'This is a blackout of the facts,' said Hamoud Munasar, the Director of al-Arabiya channels." Iscander al-Mamari, Yemen Observer, 20 March 2010.
     "The Yemeni government should not remove equipment from journalists just because they do not like what they are broadcasting; it is flagrant censorship." David Dodge, director, International Press Institute, 15 March 2010. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 21 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Al Jazeera English goes to North Platte "to portray America and Americans to people overseas."

"Bake sales have always been a popular way for groups to raise money for a project or charitable cause. So when Jeanie Gilbert decided to bake 100 cakes to raise money for the Rape and Domestic Abuse Program in North Platte, she never thought what she was doing was all that unusual. But soon, her fundraising efforts will be shared with an international audience. On Wednesday, a television crew from the Al Jazeera Network came to North Platte to interview Gilbert as part of a series on how the economy has affected domestic violence programs at a time when the demand for these services is on the rise. ... Rob Reynolds, who is the network's senior correspondent in Washington, D.C., said Al Jazeera English is not simply a translation of the Arabic news channel. They currently have offices in Washington, D.C., and New York and are hoping to expand to other parts of the United States. 'I see my job as trying to portray America and Americans to people overseas, many of whom may have very different ideas about what goes on this country,' Reynolds said." John Lindenberger, North Platte (NE) Telegraph, 19 March 2010. Posted: 21 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

US nonprofit Layalina Productions begins second season of Arabic-language On The Road In America.

"Layalina Productions, Inc., an American non-profit, announced today that the second season of its hit reality series, Ala al Tariq fi Amrika (On The Road In America) will premiere tomorrow on MBC1, the leading pan-Arab free-to-air satellite network. The second season of On The Road features the exploits of a young and diverse Arab cast on a forty day odyssey across the United States. ... The series focuses on Arab and American attitudes toward each other as seen through the eyes of the Arab visitors and the Americans whom they encounter in their journeys. Ultimately the series highlights the differences and similarities between the two cultures and facilitates a deeper understanding of each." Layalina press release, 18 March 2010. See also www.layalina.tv.
     Also at Layalina.tv: "The Ever-Expanding Global
Electronic Town Meeting: Challenges ahead for U.S. international broadcasting." Excerpt: "Coordinate real-time program planning, newsgathering, information sharing, and distribution systems among the networks. The broadcast entities may insist on preserving their brand names and newsgathering systems. But might not more coordination and sharing of content among them be the daily norm, rather than the rare exception? All five networks have highly qualified CEOs capable of exchanging content to create a news service unmatched in scope and reach while reducing costs." Alan L. Heil Jr., former deputy director of VOA Layalina Productions Perspectives, 2 February 2010. Posted: 21 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Appearances on Alhurra in the news.

"Today, I was given an opportunity that reminded me of why I got into blogging in the first place: I was invited to appear as a film pundit for none other than AlHurra TV. For those of you who haven’t heard of AlHurra—you philistine—it’s an Arab-language satellite station based in Washington, and broadcast across the Middle East. I was on discuss why movies about the American war effort in Iraq have failed to resonate with audiences. ... Things began disastrously when my hosts Enji and Ahmed said 'Julian Sancton from the Vanity Fair, welcome,' and I answered, 'Welcome!' After my heart stopped pounding—this was AlHurra!—I answered that there is no fundamental reason that films about the war in Iraq can’t do well." Julian Sancton, Vanity Fair, 17 March 2010.
     "Late yesterday afternoon, I participated in an hour long Alhurra discussion program with three other Middle East specialists... . During one of my times at bat during the interesting show, I suggested that Israel's continued settlement expansion was directly helping Iran and enhancing its pretensions and goals in the region." Steve Clemons, TPMCafé, 16 March 2010. See also Justin Elliott, TPMCafé, 19 March 2010. Posted: 21 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Good move by RFE/RL, says State IG.

"Despite the challenges of relocating a news organization that broadcasts around-the-clock to 20 countries in 28 languages, a new report says RFE/RL's move into its new Prague headquarters last year was 'exceptionally smooth, efficient and cost effective.' According to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at the U.S. State Department and Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), 'Close coordination and communication between the [State Department], RFE/RL, and the contractor...resulted in a striking building that is very efficiently configured.' ... 'Many employees felt an initial hesitancy towards the move and the new building, but as they moved in and got settled, it gave way to mostly enthusiastic acceptance due primarily to the consistent flow of communication throughout the project,' according to the report." RFE/RL press release, 19 March 2010.
     "The new building, located in Prague 10's Strašnice neighborhood, was developed by Orco Property Group to RFE/RL's strict specifications, which, according to lead architect Vincent Marani, were 'the size of two phone books.' RFE/RL, funded by the U.S. Congress, will pay $5.4 million annually to lease the building... . The rent will go up to $6.1 million in the fourth year of the 15-year lease." Johanna Breen, Prague Post, 29 July 2009. Posted: 21 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Library of Congress opens exhibit of letters to Radio Free Afghanistan (updated again).

"The Library of Congress has launched a new exhibit in Washington, D.C. showcasing some of the thousands of handwritten scrolls and letters sent by listeners to Radio Azadi, RFE/RL's popular Afghan radio station. Librarian of Congress Dr. James Billington calls Voices from Afghanistan 'a window through which can be seen the society, culture, and concerns of the Afghan people.' [Link to online, interactive tour of the letters] ... Since it began broadcasting in 2001, Radio Azadi has received nearly 15,000 pieces of 'fan mail" from merchants, clerics, farmers, university students, and schoolchildren across Afghanistan. RFE/RL is presenting these letters as a gift to the permanent collection of the Library of Congress's African and Middle Eastern Division." RFE/RL press release, 24 February 2010.
     The letters "are remarkably elaborate -- filled with drawings, decorations, floral motifs, stickers, anything that can gussy up a piece of paper -- for letters directed to something as remote and bureaucratic as a radio station, but they give a powerful sense of the immediacy of radio's role in Afghan daily life." Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 11 March 2010.
     "While listeners tune-in to Radio Azadi as a conventional source of news and entertainment, it has also become a forum for people to air their grievances or petition for assistance in a country where government response comes slow, if at all. 'People live in remote places, the government is clearly not formed in such a way that people can get instant feedback from their representatives,' explains [RFE/RL spokesman Ari] Goldberg, 'so this radio station is really one of the few avenues to have their voices heard.'" PBS Newshour, 9 March, via RFE/RL, 10 March 2010.
     Update: "It's been nearly a month since RFE/RL's "Voices from Afghanistan" exhibit opened at the Library of Congress, and Kim Curry, who led the effort to put it together, is pleased with the results. 'This exhibit is unique in that we assembled it in less than three months,' she said, citing Librarian of Congress James Billington's enthusiasm for the project as the reason for the short timetable." Abby Holekamp, Off Mic blog, RFE/RL, 18 March 2010. Posted: 21 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Azerbaijani MPs line up to criticize RFE/RL.

"An Azerbaijani MP has criticized coverage of the Karabakh conflict by Radio Liberty and called on international media to report on the conflict. Azerbaijani media, including 1news.az, a while ago commented that Radio Azadlig, the Azerbaijani service of Radio Liberty, is too politically committed on Karabakh, while Radio Liberty's Armenian service actively protects the interests of the Armenian state on the issue. ... [Zahid Oruj] said that protection of the Azerbaijani position by media such as Radio Liberty, the BBC and Voice of America would open more opportunities for Azerbaijan." News.az, 16 March 2010.
     "Ruling party MP Aydin Mirzazade has criticized Radio Liberty's Azerbaijani service. 'Unfortunately, cosmopolitanism is becoming more obvious in the activity of Radio Liberty. Instead of giving an objective assessment of events in the country, the editorial board has in fact turned into an opposition mouthpiece.' ... The BBC, Radio Liberty and Voice of America have been off air in Azerbaijan since 1 January 2009, when new regulations banning foreign broadcasters came into force. Azerbaijani media, including 1news.az, have commented that Radio Liberty's Armenian service actively protects the interests of the Armenian state on the issue, while the Azerbaijani service fails to do so." News.az, 17 March 2010.
     "MP Rabiyyat Aslanova has added her voice to the recent outburst of criticism of Radio Liberty's Azerbaijani service. 'The Azerbaijani service of Radio Liberty hardly covers events in the country and when it does, it sees everything negatively. For example, if we look at the work of the Russian, Armenian or Georgian services of Radio Liberty, we won't hear as much dirt or unfounded information about the authorities of their country as we can see in the work of the Azerbaijani service.'" News.az, 18 March 2010. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 21 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Protests against the closure of RFE/RL rebroadcasts in Kyrgyzstan.

"Several dozen activists and opposition politicians rallied in the capital of Kyrgyzstan on Monday in protest against what they say are government efforts to block the broadcast of U.S.-funded radio and television programs. ... Radio Azattyk has been unavailable across most of Kyrgyzstan since Wednesday after several of the station's local partners revoked their rebroadcasting deals. 'Our partners, which relay our radio transmissions, say they have come under pressure and been threatened with having their license revoked, so they unilaterally broke their contracts with us,' said Radio Azattyk reporter Bektash Shamshiyev. ... 'Radio Azattyk is the only radio station that informs the public about what is really happening in the country,' said Ak-Shumkar opposition party leader Temir Sariyev." Leila Saralayeva, Canadian Press, 15 March 2010.
     "'Press freedom violations seem to be increasing in frequency and intensity,' Reporters Without Borders said. 'By harassing independent and opposition media and allowing those responsible for physical attacks on journalists to go unpunished, the authorities are assuming a decisive share of the blame for the extremely worrying deterioration in the situation.'" Reporters sans frontières, 17 March 2010.
     "U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), and Co-Chairman Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) today called on the government of Kyrgyzstan to allow independent media and opposition to freely express their views following a crackdown on several media outlets and efforts to prevent public protests. 'I am deeply concerned about the deteriorating media situation in Kyrgyzstan, highlighted by the government’s stoppage of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty broadcasts,' said Chairman Cardin. 'The effective blocking of information from RFE/RL affiliates and barring of access to several independent news websites underscore a disturbing trend to hinder free expression and free flow of information in Kyrgyzstan over the past year.'" Commission on Security & Cooperation in Europe press release, 17 March 2010. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 20 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Reports: Google search engine will leave China; 20% of Chinese internet users know about firewall circumvention.

"Google will tomorrow set out plans to close down its Chinese search engine after refusing to comply with China’s strict censorship laws. The company is expected to announce the closure of google.cn by as early as April 10 after the Chinese government refused to acquiesce to demands that it stop self-censorship of the site. It is understood that Google will continue to operate other services in the country and will maintain its research and development operations." Rupert Neate, The Telegraph, 20 March 2010.
     "'Just two years ago, only 5% of Chinese internet users knew that the government censored the internet,' [Isaac Mao, one of China's first bloggers] says. Roughly 20% of Chinese internet users now understand what 'Fan Qiang' ('circumventing the firewall') means, and they also have a strong determination to do so. 'But today, information flows faster and faster and people try to use different tools to spread information between social networks.' 'There are a minority of users who can use technology to bypass censorship. No more than one or two percent. More users - about 18% - have become second-hand information consumers from those savvy users.' 'So roughly 20% of Chinese internet users now understand what "Fan Qiang" ("circumventing the firewall") means, and they also have a strong determination to do so.'" Weiliang Nie, BBC News, 19 March 2010.
     "The U.S. government is making free speech in cyber space a key part of American foreign policy in a fresh bid to reach out to Internet users around the world. Experts say the push not only highlights the growing influence of the Internet and its power to pressure even the most tightly controlled governments, but it also seeks to shed light on the link between economic growth and Internet freedoms." William Ide, VOA News, 18 March 2010. Posted: 20 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

President Obama speaks to Iran in Nowruz video.

"President Obama sends an important message to those celebrating the Persian holiday of Nowruz, and in particular to the people and government of Iran. With Persian subtitles." The White House, 20 March 2010. Also at the top of VOA Persian News Network, Radio Farda, and the Persian version of America.gov.
     "Like everything this year, however, Nowruz will be different for all Iranians, both inside and outside of the country. I, for one, will be following the news intently as I cook the traditional fish and dill rice dinner to celebrate, knowing that this year's celebration may very well be tainted by the suffering of my people half-a-world away. I expect it will be hard not to burn the rice or forget the saffron, as I will undoubtedly be consumed by Twitter, Facebook and BBC Persian radio." Melody Moezzi, Huffington Post, 18 March 2010. Posted: 20 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

It's simple: broadcast "loads of information embarrassing to Iran's leaders."

"[S]anctions will not be enough. We also need to focus public diplomacy on Irans human rights abuses. The regime is already quite unpopular at home. That weakness should be exploited. The U.S. should ramp up exposure of the regimes corruption, abuses and aid to terrorists, and make sure that information is broadcast widely among the Iranian people. ... Surely, our intelligence services have loads of information embarrassing to Irans [sic] leaders: Where they keep their foreign bank accounts, how lavishly they spend on mansions and villas inside and outside Iran, etc. Such information should be released to expose the mullahs hypocrisy and corruption." Kim R. Holmes, Washington Times, 18 March 2010. Here is the disconnect: Washington pundits see international broadcasting as part of public diplomacy, where the broadcaster "ramps up" policy-supporting content at the direction of the administration. The audience, on the other hand, uses international broadcasting as a source more comprehensive, reliable, and credible than the news they get from their state-controlled domestic media. Success in international broadcasting involves following the agenda of the audience, not of the pundits. To Iran, this will include news unfavorable to the regime, but not to the point of being the all-bad-news-about-Iran-all-the-time station. Posted: 20 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Activists want more access in Iran to US internet hardware.

"At a time when the Obama administration is pressing for harsher sanctions against Iran for its nuclear program, democracy advocates in Iran have been celebrating the recent decision by the United States to lift sanctions on various online services, which they say only helped Tehran to suppress the opposition. But it is still a long way from the activists’ goal of lifting all restrictions on trade in Internet services, which opposition leaders say is vital to maintaining the open communications that have underpinned the protests that erupted last summer after the disputed presidential election. ... The opposition tried to fight back with software designed to circumvent the restrictions, but that became a losing battle after Internet service was slowed. Opposition leaders say they would like to have access to Internet hardware — any products made by Cisco Systems, for example, are subject to sanctions — and high-speed satellite Internet service, which experts say is generally harder to jam than broadcasts. That service is available from the American company Hughes Global Services, in Europe and the Middle East, and could be used by Iranians. But Payam Herischi, senior director at Hughes, said that the company was reluctant to allow its satellites to provide service to Iran until sanctions are lifted." Nazila Fathi, New York Times, 18 March 2010. Satellite internet is an interesting, if expensive and probably jammable, solution.
     "[T]he Iranian regime has too much control over the internet infrastructure. While private companies sell internet service, they are banned from providing service of faster than 128 kb/s for residential accounts, making it virtually impossible for Iranians to view many online contents and internet simulcasts of Farsi TV channels that are run outside of the country, such as BBC Persian and Voice of America. And the Iranian regime has also blocked access to thousands of websites from inside Iran, including The Huffington Post. But the new lift of internet sanctions can allow American companies to think about ways to send high-speed wifi internet signals into Iran. Should that happen, it can free the Iranians from having to access internet through Iranian companies, allowing them to pick up the signal via wireless devices and accessing uncensored content at a high speed. While this may sound a trivial advantage to Americans, it will have a significant impact on Iranians' ability to freely access information and organize." Sam Sedaei, Huffington Post, 16 March 2010. Posted: 20 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Eutelsat and European foreign ministers issue statements about Iranian satellite jamming.

Eutelsat wishes to give the following clarification regarding the transmission via its satellites of BBC Persian, Deutsche Welle and Voice of America in Persian, which are the target of repeated and deliberate jamming operations: 1. Eutelsat continually carries out technical operations aiming to preserve transmission of BBC Persian and Voice of America via its HOT BIRDTM 8 satellite. Both channels have been transmitted via this satellite without disruption or jamming since the beginning of March; 2. When jamming first began, Eutelsat decided to duplicate the BBC Persian and Voice of America channels on other satellites within its fleet that are more resistant to jamming from Iran. Today, BBC Persian and Voice of America are also transmitted via the W3A satellite in addition to HOT BIRDTM 8; 3. Several complaints have been lodged by Eutelsat over the last 10 months with the relevant French and international telecommunications regulatory authorities to denounce these deliberate jamming operations." Eutelsat press release, 17 March 2010.
     "'Iran has been regularly jamming the broadcasting by satellite of a number of foreign televisions and radio stations ... since December 2009, a repetition of its practice in the run up to the disputed elections earlier that year,' French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle wrote to the European Union's new foreign-policy chief, Baroness Catherine Ashton, in a previously unreported letter obtained by The Cable. 'The objective was clearly to prevent the people of Iran from freely exercising their right to information.' The three powers want the EU not only to pen a declaration condemning the practice, but also to figure out how to un-jam the satellites and perhaps even stop the export of technologies that Iran can use for censorship purposes." Josh Rogin, The Cable, Foreign Policy, 17 March 2010.
     "The draft EU statement that reporters obtained in Brussels Friday does not list any potential retaliatory action against Iran's jamming. However, European news reports suggest two possible tactics: a ban on exports to Iran of equipment that enables Tehran to intercept e-mail and mobile telephone transmissions, or a decision to block Iranian broadcasts relayed by the Eutelsat communications satellite, which has been a target of the jamming." VOA News, 19 March 2010.
     "The French daily Le Figaro reported that potential sanctions could include stopping companies such as Germany's Siemens or Finland's Nokia from delivering technologies to Tehran that allow the interception of cellphone and e-mail conversations. On Tuesday, Iranian lawyer and Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi blasted Nokia Siemens Networks, a subsidiary of Siemens and Nokia, saying the company supplied Iran with software used to suppress dissent in the Islamic Republic. ... Another suggestion is to boot Iranian programs from Eutelsat, the leading French satellite operator which is said to have been specifically affected by the Iranian jamming. Eutelsat carries more than 70 foreign radio and TV programs, including some from the Iranian government. 'Another measure of retaliation would be to request that Eutelsat blocks in response to the interference of Iran in international channels, IRIB's programs (Iranian state television), which it oversees the distribution of in Europe' a diplomat familiar with the matter told Le Figaro. Iran's Arabic-language channel, Al-Alam, and the English-language Press TV, would be affected, Le Figaro's report said. The jamming violates the principles of the International Union of Telecommunications, to which Iran is a party." Alexandra Sandels, Babylong & Beyond blog, Los Angeles Times, 18 March 2010.
     "Iran began jamming foreign satellite transmissions in December 2009 and escalated it ahead of the anniversary of the 1979 revolution on Feb. 11 when nearly 70 foreign radio and television programmes transmitted via Eutelsat were interrupted." Reuters, 19 March 2010. See previous posts on 13 March and 19 February 2010. Posted: 20 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

State Department issues statement against Ethiopian jamming of VOA Amharic.

"The United States opposes Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles’ decision to jam Voice of America’s Amharic Service and condemns his comparison of their programming to Radio Mille Collines of Rwanda. Comparing a respected and professional news service to a group that called for genocide in Rwanda is a baseless and inflammatory accusation that seeks only to deflect attention away from the core issue. The Prime Minister may disagree with news carried in Voice of America’s Amharic Service broadcasts; however, a decision to jam VOA broadcasts contradicts the Government of Ethiopia’s frequent public commitments to freedom of the press. We note that the Ethiopian Constitution states that all citizens have the right to freedom of expression 'without any interference' and that this right shall include freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds, 'regardless of frontiers.' The Constitution further notes that freedom of the press shall specifically include 'prohibition of any form of censorship.' We look to the Government of Ethiopia to abide by its constitution." Gordon Duguid, Acting Department Spokesman, State Department, 19 March 2010.
     "Zenawi’s statements [on 18 March] were the first acknowledgment of government interference with VOA broadcasts, which are beamed by satellite from Washington and received in Ethiopia via short-wave radio. Just two weeks earlier, Shemelis Kemal, a government spokesman, told CPJ that any suggestion of government involvement in the interference was an 'absolute sham.' He said such practices were unconstitutional.' Committee to Protect Journalists, 19 March 2010.
     "[T]he timing of a recent story on VOA about the alleged jamming of the Amharic Services of Voice of America and of Germany’s Deutsche Welle, appears equally deliberate. To be fair the story does quote a denial from the spokesperson of the Government Communications Office, and it does also make clear that the VOA transmissions in Afan Oromo and Tigrinya which are broadcast on the same frequencies before and after the Amharic transmissions are heard normally. Nevertheless, the timing of the story, and the fact that VOA chose to raise the issue publicly rather than with the Government Communications Office directly, does suggest the intention was to have a political effect." Walta Information Center (Addis Ababa), 13 March 2010. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 20 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Cambodian listens to RFA and VOA for "trustworthy news."

"Radio station: I also like listening to breaking news on Radio Free Asia and Voice of America, which I think are trustworthy news outlets for people. I firmly believe that if people spend some time listening to news on radio and television, it would really help them improve their understanding of real society, and they will become responsible citizens." From "5 Cool things with Chrann Chamroeun," The Phnom Penh Post, 17 March 2010. Posted: 20 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Pakistani Senate committee "chagrined" by good VOA, BBC reception.

"The Senate’s standing committee for information and Broadcasting has stressed upon its relevant ministry to ensure that PEMRA’s code of conduct was carried out, and also wanted to ban controversial programs of VOA (Voice of America) and Indian movies. The meeting of the committee was convened by chairman senator Haji Ghulam Ali on Monday [15 March] in Parliament House took notice of illegal appointments in PTV and Radio Pakistan. ... The members of the committee were also chagrined of the fact that BBC, VOA and Indian broadcasts were easily accessible to all Pakistan, with special reference to the NWFP zone; while Radio Pakistan’s broadcasts in these areas were specifically weak." Agencies via Regional Times (Karachi), 16 March 2010. Posted: 20 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

VOA's influence on musicians is not limited to jazz.

"Sila Matungi’s dream of becoming a celebrity musician began as a youngster growing up in the mountains of Kenya. Chasing after his dream, he found himself in the Bay Area with his band, Sila and the Afrofunk Experience. ... SF Station: Will you tell me a little about where you grew up? Sila Matungi: I grew up in a town called Machakos. I grew up in the mountains, listening to Voice of America with tunes from James Brown, Bob Marley, Kool and The Gang, and Jimi Hendrix. I was hooked to music. Growing up listening to that music was very helpful. Because of the struggles of growing up in a village, all I had was my grandmother and music." David Johnson-Igra, SF Station, 18 March 2010. Posted: 20 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

How VOA altered a Polish pianist's interpretation of Chopin.

"The Acadiana Symphony Orchestra treated us to a jazz pianist named Adam Makowicz. The Polish native grew up playing the music of his fellow countrymen, such as Chopin. What made Makowicz so different came about thanks to the 1950's and '60s U.S. State Department radio station Voice of America, where the young pianist first heard musicians like Art Tatum. The station played the Soviet prohibited musical style unique to the U.S. called jazz. After Makowicz first heard jazz, he could never play the music of Chopin in the grand style by which he was usually interpreted." Ray Blum, The Advertiser (Lafayette, LA), 12 March 2010. VOA was not a "U.S. State Department" station after 1953, though as part of USIA, close to it. Posted: 19 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

BBC Global News staff told "we need to become more global"; management reorganized.

"Senior management roles will be cut as part of an extensive management restructure within the BBC's Global News division, Journalism.co.uk has learned. Nine senior management posts will close as part of the changes, which will create a saving of £600,000. The standalone post of director of BBC World Service and the positions of BBC Global News' controller Future Media, Technology & Distribution and head of governance and public affairs will be closed. The two roles of director of BBC World News and director BBC World Service English will also close as part of the restructure, while the three roles of director digital content BBC World News, commercial director BBC World News and controller strategy business and development for BBC Global News will also be cut. Four new roles assuming some of these responsibilities will be created within Global News, which is responsible for the BBC's World Service output, and as such there will be a net loss of five jobs." Laura Oliver, journalism.co.uk, 17 March 2010. See also paidContent:UK, 17 March 2010.
     "Horrocks told staff: 'We need to become more global. And we need to make these sorts of tough decisions about the way we organise ourselves as one team, working together, in a way that really benefits our global audience.' He added: 'Research shows that the audience talks about BBC rather than BBC World Service, BBC World News or BBC News. Our audiences seek distinctive multimedia content from us that gives them a unique insight into their changing. No other news organisation has such a commanding global presence as us. We can exploit that globalness even better on behalf of our audiences.'" John Plunkett, The Guardian, 17 March 2010. Posted: 19 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Death of BBC World Service world music DJ Charlie Gillett.

"BBC World Service DJ Charlie Gillett - the man who helped coin the term 'world music' - has died after a long illness at the age of 68. ... 'His postbag was one of the biggest, most affectionate and diverse in Bush House, which confirmed his special place in listener's lives. He was a very special broadcaster and he will be sorely missed.' And this weekend there is a chance to hear Charlie at his best: a programme from 2009 focusing on music inspired by mountains; tracks from three continents, subtly but clearly linked through the unique prism of his musicality and experience." BBC World Service, 18 March 2010. After several other BBC and UK radio jobs, he was host of BBCWS "World of Music" from 1999 to an unspecified date. I can't find information at the BBCWS website about the time of this weekend's tribute program. Update: Dragan Lekic found the times: 20 March at 2332 UTC, 21 March at 1432, and 22 March at 0332. See BBCWS Charlie Gillett's World Of Music web page. Posted: 19 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Is the BBC's global tweet-in "the future of news"?

"The BBC is hosting a 'six hour snapshot of a global conversation as it unfolds' today, simultaneously translating Web2.0rhea contributions into several languages including Chinese, Arabic and Persian. Producer Mark Sandell told us there would be as few barriers to topics as he could get away with. Sandell produces World Have Your Say, a weekly participation show on BBC World Service. The event will be filmed and recorded. Other languages for the massively parallel Tweet-in are Indonesian, Spanish and Portuguese. It's part of the BBC's no-expenses-spared Superpower season. ... Mark seemed very enthusiastic. We felt quite the party-poopers asking whether he thought that the BBC, which is in a unique position to tell us stuff we didn't know, was copping out of its duties by hosting what was in effect a giant bulletin board? How about, um... telling us something new? Was this the future of news, then? 'I'm not disagreeing with that,' said Sandell. 'I wouldn't dream of turning World Service into 24 hours of World Have Your Say ... the two go hand in glove.'" Andrew Orlowski, The Register, 18 March 2010.
     "Direct, real-time communication among politicians and the public through social media platforms is reshaping democracy and the news media, but questions remain about how the fabric of society might change as a result, argued a panel at an event hosted by the BBC on Tuesday evening at Westminster. ... The panel was chaired by Peter Horrocks, director of BBC global news, and included Pooneh Ghoddoosi, a presenter with BBC’s Persian service and Peter Barron, director of communications for Google in north and central Europe. BBC is producing a series about the Internet titled 'Superpower'." Julie Mollins, Reuters, 17 March 2010. Posted: 19 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Ethiopian ambassador seconds Geldof complaint about BBC World Service report (updated).

"The row between Bob Geldof and the BBC escalated into a diplomatic dispute yesterday as the Ethiopian ambassador called for an apology from the World Service after it reported claims that aid money meant for famine victims had been spent on weapons. Peter Horrocks, director of the World Service, has said he fully supports the report, which featured one former Ethiopian rebel saying 95% of the money that flowed into famine-hit Tigray in 1985 was spent by the TPLF militia on guns. ... Now ambassador Berhanu Kebede has told the Observer that he expects a full apology from the BBC, which has 'destroyed its credibility in Africa'." Tracy McVeigh, The Observer, 14 March 2010.
     Bob Geldof "has called for everyone involved to be sacked, including the reporters, the producers and the head of the BBC World Service, Peter Horrocks. He probably wants you sacked too, if you heard the report." Ron Liddle, The Sunday Times, 14 March 2010.
     "The BBC stands by its story. But they can’t both be right." Richard Dowden, Daily Mail, 15 March 2010.
     Update: "[T]he BBC report was not specifically about Band Aid. Nor does it discredit the World Service to report on international aid deliveries during the Ethiopian crisis of the 1980s. The real issue is about the way humanitarian assistance to victims of war and famine was – and still is – manipulated by all sides, whether rebel or government." Edward Girardet, Comment is Free, The Guardian, 18 March 2010.
     "Ethiopia's honorary consul in Australia, Graham Romanes ... ran Community Aid Abroad's East Africa operations at the time I went in to Tigray. Asked about the BBC's figures now, he says 'they just don't add up. The aid groups - particularly Christian Aid - at the time monitored this question very closely and they found nothing like this.' I think Bob Geldof is overconfident when he says that there's not a shred of evidence of a single cent going astray. But between him and the BBC, his is the lesser exaggeration." Mark Colvin, presenter of ABC Radio's current affairs program PM, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 17 March 2010.
     "Today, for the first time, the Band Aid man on the ground in Ethiopia speaks out exclusively to The Daily Mail, saying he believes it is possible that up to 20 per cent of donor's money went to fund the rebels." Zoe Brennan, Daily Mail, 20 March 2010.
     "As ever, Geldof’s latest reaction has been long on outrage and short on analysis. Precisely the sort of muddle-headed thinking that ensures well-intentioned do-gooders like him get taken to the cleaners by dodgy African regimes and despots, who can spot an opportunity a mile off. To be fair to Geldof, admittedly the BBC’s programme was largely based on the claims of two former rebel commanders said to have political axes to grind. This however in no way justifies Geldof’s claims that the BBC simply had it in for him and Band Aid or failed in its journalistic role." Editorial, Daily Mail, 18 March 2010. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 19 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

PM Meles Zanawi says Ethiopia has been "testing jamming equipment" against VOA.

"Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi says he is prepared to order jamming of VOA broadcasts in Amharic, the country's main official language. Mr. Meles compared VOA Amharic to the hate media that incited the Rwanda genocide. The Ethiopian leader denies having authorized the interference VOA Amharic listeners have been experiencing since February 22. But speaking to reporters Thursday, he acknowledged ordering preparations for jamming, and said as soon as the equipment is working properly, he would give the go ahead. ... The prime minister compared VOA's Amharic Service to Radio Mille Collines, which broadcast hate messages blamed for inciting the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. ... Voice of America Director Danforth Austin issued a statement Thursday saying, 'any comparison of VOA programming to the genocidal broadcasts of Rwanda's Radio Mille Collines is incorrect and unfortunate.' He added, 'the VOA deplores jamming as a form of media censorship wherever it may occur.'" Peter Heinlein, VOA News, 18 March 2010.
     "Ethiopia has admitted it is jamming the Voice of America's (VOA) broadcasts in Amharic, accusing the radio station of engaging in 'destabilising propaganda'. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said Ethiopia had been testing jamming equipment, although there had been no formal decision to bloc [sic] the US station. ... 'We have for some time now been trying to beef up our capacity to deal with this, including... jamming,' Mr Meles said on Thursday." BBC News, 19 March 2010.
     See previous post about same subject, with audio examples of the jamming. New 9700 kHz has been added to the five other VOA Amharic frequencies, per this schedule. More frequencies and transmitter locations would be helpful. Posted: 19 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Is Worldspace close to "a frozen death more than 22,000 miles above the earth"?

"Bankrupt satellite radio operator WorldSpace Inc said on Tuesday that its lender Liberty Satellite Radio has terminated transaction negotiations between the two companies. Liberty Satellite Radio, a unit of media mogul John Malone's Liberty Media Corp (LINTA.O), was widely expected to seek a strategic alliance between WorldSpace and Sirius XM Satellite Radio (SIRI.O), the New York-based company in which it owns a significant stake. WorldSpace did not give any details of what the transaction negotiations were about. A Liberty Media spokeswoman declined to comment." Reuters, 16 March 2010.
     "WorldSpace, a bankrupt satellite radio company, is running so low on funds that it is preparing to send its satellites to a premature death. The Silver Spring company has been in Chapter 11 since October 2008 and announced this week that negotiations with a lender and prospective buyer had fallen apart. 'WorldSpace is planning for a potential de-commissioning of its satellites and reviewing its strategic alternatives in light of the termination of negotiations,' the company said in a news release. ... WorldSpace's 'dire cash position' has left it 'no choice but to prepare to remove immediately the Satellites from orbit to prevent damage to both the Satellites and equipment in orbit owned and operated by others,' WorldSpace said in an emergency court filing. The procedure would involve steering the WorldSpace satellites into a higher orbit, out of the way of others, said Tobias Nassif, vice president of satellite operations and engineering at Intelsat, which would assist WorldSpace. The satellites' propellant would be dumped and their batteries would be disconnected, leaving them to a frozen death more than 22,000 miles above the earth." David S. Kilzenrath, 18 March 2010.
     "WorldSpace, in a filing to the Delaware Bankruptcy Court on March 16, said that Liberty Satellite Radio on March 12 had 'abruptly and without explanation terminated its negotiations with [WorldSpace]'. ... 'Liberty has not provided [WorldSpace] with any guidance on protecting or disposing of Liberty’s collateral [the orbiting satellites] despite the Debtors’ repeated requests.' ... What a mess! We cannot begin to speculate as to what’s gone wrong this time." Chris Forrester, Rapid TV News, 17 March 2010.
     "Maybe someone else will step up to give WorldSpace a hand. Hopefully it will be someone with either a short memory or the ability to grasp the nuances of programming language-specific content across many different territories at ridiculous price points." Rick Aristotle Munarriz, The Motley Fool, 17 March 2010. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 18 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corp returns to shortwave and medium wave after blackout.

"The Solomon is back on-air after the Solomon Islands Electricity Authority (SIEA) restored electricity following a long power blackout at its Henderson transmitter. General Manager, Cornelius Rathamana, said he was pleased that the people of Solomon Islands were again able to hear broadcasts from both 1035 AM and 5020 Shortwave." Solomon Star, 18 March 2010. Posted: 18 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Radio Sweden will drop shortwave, medium wave, and three immigrant language services.

"Radio Sweden will terminate its medium and short wave broadcasts this October 31st in favour of web services – with Swedish Radio management stating that is the best use of resources and in line with international trends. The English-language service is to continue on the web and on national broadcasts. The Russian output will be available on the web as is the German now. ... Among the immigrant languages, Albanian, Assyrian-Syriac and Bosnian-Serbian-Croatian are to be terminated on the same date. Meanwhile, Arabic and Somali – the largest immigrant language groups here at present – are to be boosted. The same applies to Romani – one of Sweden’s five official minority languages. The Persian service is to include even Dari spoken by the rapidly increasing number of Afghan refugees coming to Sweden. Kurdish broadcasts remain unchanged." Radio Sweden, 16 March 2010. Posted: 18 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Survey: State-owned Zimbabwe Television not competing well with international media.

"Despite being the latest target of attacks and ridicule by Zanu PF, exiled media outlets have become the reliable sources of news after the closure of vibrant independent newspapers by the previous Robert Mugabe government, a media survey by the Zimbabwe All Media Products Survey (ZAMPS) has revealed. According to the poll held in the country’s urban areas, there was a growing interest by Zimbabweans to listen to such channels as the Radio Voice of the People (Radio VOP) Voice of America (VOA)’s Studio 7 and British Broadcasting Cooperation (BBC) in the wake of biased coverage from the state controlled Zimbabwe Television. ZAMPS, a leading market observer, which surveyed a sample of 2,000 consumers in each town, said ZTV’s viewer ship rankings had drastically dropped down in the face of competition from free-to-air channels." Radio Voice of the People, 14 March 2010. "Free to air" is usually a term associated with satellite television, which is another source of outside information (and entertainment) for Zimbabweans. Posted: 18 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Bad news leaks from North Korea, and Free Radio North Korea leaks it back.

"Despite being vacuum-packed by the Kim dictatorship and sealed off behind a once-solid technological firewall, North Korea is increasingly leaking bad news – and much of it is coming from [Free Radio North Korea]. Run by defector Kim Seong-Min, the small shortwave station has an apparently simple mission: to bring democracy to one of the world’s most paranoid, secretive nations. ... Today, much of the funding for the broadcaster comes from Japanese activists and the US state department – at no cost to its independence, he insists. 'I’m asked about interference a lot, but it’s not an issue. There has been just one clash. We ran a programme carrying testimony by defectors who spoke of their treatment – being beaten by guards at the Chinese border and so on. One defector said he was going to shoot Kim Jong-il. The Americans told us to delete that programme or they wouldn’t pay.'" David McNeill, Irish Times, 15 March 2010. Does the funding come from the State Department, or from another US entity such as the National Endowment for Democracy? And does the US funding entity preview the content, or just ask for objectionable content to be deleted from the website post hoc? Regarding transmission, the various exile stations beaming into North Korea have never had access to transmitters located in South Korea, so they lease time on shortwave transmitters located outside the Korean Peninsula. Because more North Koreans have access to modified medium wave radios than to shortwave radios, a medium wave transmitter in South Korea would be helpful. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 18 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Cycle 24 brings back shortwave propagation (if not shortwave broadcasters).

"Just as El Nino can significantly affect the Earth's weather patterns, the solar cycle can greatly influence radio propagation. What is the solar cycle? It is a roughly 11-year cycle of sunspot activity that peaks midway through each go-round. In the most basic terms, more sunspots equal better propagation, and more activity on the bands. We are currently in the beginning of cycle 24. Each cycle has been numbered since the cycle was first observed by scientists. So far, '24' has been slow to get busy, and ham-radio operators and shortwave listeners have been looking forward to better conditions for the last few years. ... The new cycle might also rekindle the radio spark for some of our colleagues who have gone quiet lately, and should make life on shortwave interesting for those in listen-only mode, once solar flare activity heats up in earnest." Lee Syracuse, Syracuse.com, 14 March 2010. Posted: 18 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

TV Martí: novelas instead of newscasts? (updated)

"In addition to increasing purposeful people-to-people and family-to-family interaction, which is essential to the overall effort, we must demand of the U.S. government the immediate and effective restructuring of two of our strongest vehicles for helping Cubans to promote change on the island: Radio and Television Martí (Office of Cuba Broadcasting, OCB) and the U.S. Agency for International Development's Cuba Democracy Program. Rather than focusing on the mission of effectively transmitting news and information to the Cuban people and hiring qualified personnel able to utilize modern technology and messaging, OCB's decision-making has been ruled by nepotism and political cronyism the past several years. As a result, Radio and Television Martí are failing to meet their mandate of providing objective news and information to the Cuban people. OCB has virtually eliminated programs that incorporated the participation of Cuban dissidents and has done away with full television newscasts, opting to transmit novelas. Apparently Spanish-language soap operas hold transformative powers we don't know about." Francisco "Pepe" Hernandez, Miami Herald, 25 February 2010. This may have to do with planned budget cuts and layoffs at TV Martí.
     Update: "As a citizen of a free country, Hernández is entitled to his critical opinions, but such opinions must be based on facts, which is the essence of our struggle for liberty. ... [A] falsehood is to proclaim that Televisión Martí has canceled its newscasts. All our programs carry news of interest to Cuba, at half-hour intervals, in a manner that increases the audience's access. Televisión Martí also offers three half-hour programs: Cuba al Día, Nuestra América and Washington al Día, each carrying news and views on the island's happenings. ... We now employ four broadcast platforms: The Direct TV satellite (Channel 8); the Hispasat Spanish satellite; the ``Aero Martí'' aircraft, which flies over the Florida Keys transmitting simultaneously in VHF (Channel 13) and UHF (Channel 20); and our digital webpage martinoticias.com, available to those Cubans with secret Internet access that's banned by the government. This has been a difficult year for the budget of Radio and TV Martí. It is distressing that certain influential Cubans, with access to the U.S. Congress, kept silent and did not join the efforts of those who fought to prevent the drastic $7-million budget cutback slammed on the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB)." Pedro Roig is the director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (parent entity of Radio/TV Martí), Miami Herald, 3 March 2010. Posted: 17 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

The BBC in Kabul and the challenge of finding the truth.

"Not many aspects of [Afghanistan] country remind me of home. I am therefore bemused when the stream of Dari pouring from the taxi’s radio gives way to the familiar BBC News countdown music. BBC Afghanistan is a major broadcaster here, its Pashto and Persian (Dari, more or less) services popular across the country. Daud Qarizadah, head of the BBC Persian Television bureau in Kabul, tells me how the operation is the BBC’s largest outside of London, employing dozens of journalists and technicians. He shows me the television and radio studios, full of the latest equipment shipped from Britain. I ask Daud what his biggest challenge is. Security? 'No, the BBC is very good at protecting its staff,' he says. 'By far our biggest challenge is finding the truth. The foreign forces do not tell you the truth, the Taliban obviously do not tell you the truth. Even some rural villagers have an agenda.' Nevertheless, his efforts seem to be paying off. 'It’s the only news source we trust,' is a refrain I hear from Afghans of all stripes." “AfPak” diary, The Economist online, 10 March 2010. Posted: 17 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Maneuvering for the Australian international television contract.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation managing director Mark "Scott's most vaulting ambition? To establish an international news service to rival the BBC and CNN and advance what he calls Australia's 'soft diplomacy' around the globe. Some cynics in the commercial media have dubbed his ambitions Messianic, and his package, 'Mark's plan to take over the world'. ... Scott argued that the ABC should be funded 'to become the dominant regional provider of news, information and English-language learning material' and warned against China, in particular, as a rival for influence in the Asia-Pacific region. (This, as the ABC negotiates with China for 'landing rights' for ABC telecasts into the country.)" Karen Kissane, The Age (Melbourne), 13 March 2010.
     "Sky News has fired another shot in its battle with the ABC over the right to broadcast Australia's international diplomatic television service by launching the Australian Parliament program into North America. Sky chief executive Angelos Frangopoulos will today announce the Australian Public Affairs Channel -- a not-for-profit channel funded by pay-TV operators Foxtel and Austar, and produced by Sky -- has launched Australian Parliament on the C-SPAN public affairs channel in the US and CPAC in Canada. The launch comes at a critical time for Mr Frangopoulos, who has criticised the ABC's plans for a 24-hour news service and is competing with the public broadcaster for the Department of Foreign Affairs contract to deliver the Australia Network diplomatic service. ... The federal government told the ABC and Sky in January that it would invite each to effectively pitch for the $94.2 million Australia Network contract." James Chessell, The Australian, 15 March 2010. See previous post about same subject.
     Whoever holds the contract, Australian international television will have a better chance of success if it jettisons terms like "soft diplomacy" and "diplomatic service." Posted: 17 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

BBC World News, with its "global perspective," does not aim to be India's hometown station.

"Asserting that it does not aim to compete with the local television channels in the country, BBC has said India is an important market for the British broadcaster. ... 'We don't aim to compete with the local stations, instead we try and offer something different - we broadcast news from a global perspective,' BBC World News' Commercial Director Colin Lawrence told PTI." Press Trust of India, 14 March 2010. Yes, but BBC World News programs with an Asian or Indian focus include Asia Today, Asia Business Report, India Business Report, Impact Asia, and The Hub with Nik Gowing. Posted: 17 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Watching BBC Arabic TV because "it has the characteristics of the mother institution."

Liliane Landor, head of the BBC World Service's Middle East Region, interviewed about the BBC Arabic television channel: "BBC is well known because it is British, the Arabic Service is known to employ Arabs, and hence it is not CNN, Al-Hurrah [Alhurra], or French F4 [presumably France 24]; everybody knows the unbiased policy and course of the BBC. Recently, I visited Lebanon, and I did not hear from anyone that he watches the Arabic Service because it is British; it is an Arabic channel that is interested in Arab affairs, but it has the characteristics of the mother institution, namely it is unbiased, and it calls things by their names. At the editorial meetings, we spend most of our time in considering the issue of terminology. This is an important issue, which I place among my priorities, as it preoccupies me; for instance, it is not allowed to call those who fall victims in Palestine 'martyrs.'" Jocelyne Elia, Asharq Al-Awsat, 14 March 2010. Don't Alhurra and France 24 also employ Arabs? Posted: 16 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

RFE/RL loses its radio and television outlets in Kyrgyzstan (updated: BBC, too, maybe).

"Radio Free Europe's popular Kyrgyz television and radio programs have been off the air in the capital city of Bishkek since Wednesday, shortly after affiliate managers reported that they had been pressured by Kyrgyz officials. RFE/RL's Bishkek television affiliate station 'Echo of Manas' was warned by Kyrgyz authorities that they would face difficulties in renewing their broadcast license if they continued to air the Kyrgyz Service's widely viewed 'Inconvenient Questions' and 'Azattyk Plus' programs. Radio affiliates in Bishkek and the northern city of Naryn have also stopped carrying Kyrgyz Service programming. ... The broadcasting of RFE/RL programs was halted just days before expected rallies and protests marking the fifth anniversary of the country's so-called Tulip Revolution." RFE/RL press release, 12 March 2010. Not mentioned in the press release is that RFE/RL Kyrgyz remains available via shortwave: 1200-1230 UTC on 9465 and 13755 kHz, 1500-1530 UTC on 7480 and 11790.
     Update: "The BBC's local-language service in Kyrgyzstan experienced an unexplained interruption today, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported, sparking concerns the U.K.-funded broadcaster might share the fate of other media outlets suffering setbacks there. One of three BBC broadcasts was unavailable today, although its 9:00 p.m. program was back on the air." RFE/RL, 15 March 2010. Posted: 16 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Thirty arrested in Iran for allegedly operating "networks of the US cyber war."

"Thirty people from anti-Iran groups including the Mujahedin-e Khalq Organization (MKO) that were found to operate 'important organized networks of the US cyber war' have been arrested by the Iranian general prosecutor office, according to the state news agency IRNA. The IRNA report claimed that during former US President George W Bush's time in power, a 'cyber war' plan was set up to destablise Iran. One of the main projects dubbed the Iran Proxy received $50 million in funding from the CIA and was used to bypass the state's internet filtering system. The objectives of Iran Proxy included '....getting access to Iran's information banks, penetration and sabotage in Iran's internet sites, fight against filtering in the country, creating security for internet users, creating a secure telephone and data communication ground for making interviews with Radio Farda, Radio Zamaneh, Voice of America and other western media'." Vineetha Menon, ITP.net (Dubai), 14 March 2010.
     Ten "most important missions" of the alleged network include "issuing false news." Hamsayeh.net, 13 March 2010.
     "The Iranians claimed further that the cells were financed by the U.S. International Broadcasting Bureau and by the State Department, which had allocated $50 million to their activity." Sepahnews.ir (Iran), 13 March 2010 via MEMRI Blog, 14 March 2010. Posted: 16 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Internet freedom in the news, with references to international broadcasting.

"The information battle was so much simpler in the Cold War. U.S. government broadcasting services Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty brought news to people behind the Iron Curtain, playing a key role in undermining communism. Everyone in the West understood the value of this broadcasting, even with the costs of getting around jamming by repressive governments. We're all just beginning to understand the importance of the modern-day version of Radio Liberty—the Web and services available online. It's time to get serious about protecting the freedom of servers." Editorial, Wall Street Journal, 15 March 2010. Anti-blocking software will help, but the internet remains vulnerable because it is conveyed through landlines (or cell towers) in the target country. The advantage of RFE and RL's (and unmentioned VOA's and BBC's) shortwave is that it dropped in to the target country wirelessly (and still does, to some countries).
     "Google is tired of whitewashing its results in China, and trying to provide balance from the outside is a noble pursuit. Attempting to counter internal propaganda is reminiscent of Radio Free Europe and -- more recently -- Radio Marti fueled by Cubans in exile. The rub for Big G is that renegade broadcasters don't have profit as an incentive. Google is going to score some serious style points with human-rights activists worldwide, but it's not going to pad its pockets." Rick Aristotle Munarriz, The Motley Fool, 15 March 2010.
     "The first anti-censorship software developed inside China, the Xi Xiang project, has recently been released online to penetrate the regime-sponsored Internet surveillance tools, the Great Firewall of China (GFW). ... ... After studying the software, Dong Xiaoxing, a computer network expert, told Radio Free Asia that the Xi Xiang tools take advantage of the RST [reset] packets that are ignored by the GFW. Dong believes the blocking and anti-blocking war will be ongoing, and the software will be widely spread in the Chinese Internet communities." Epoch Times, 14 March 2010.
     "On March 24, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) will hold an event to mark the public launch of the U.S. Senate Caucus on Global Internet Freedom, which will provide bipartisan leadership and serve as a resource in the Washington policy community on this important issue. The event will feature remarks from caucus co-chairs Senators Ted Kaufman (D-DE) [former BBG member] and Sam Brownback (R-KS), in addition to other Senate caucus members and a panel of experts." CNAS website. Posted: 16 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Social media fundamental to democracy, or vice versa?

"Evan Williams, one of the founders of Twitter, has given a lengthy interview to the BBC World Service, in which he claims that social media is fundamental to the spread of democracy. Or should that be the other way around? ... The company is trying to improve SMS coverage in India and Haiti, but Williams admits there is nothing he can do about his site's being blocked by the Chinese authorities. 'My hope is that eventually the open exchange of information will prevail in most regions, but we don't have any specific plans in China or other areas where we're blocked.'" Addy Dugdale, Fast Company, 12 March 2010. Podcast here. See also BBCWS The Interview web page. Posted: 16 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Reporters sans frontières lists 12 nations as "Enemies of the Internet."

"The 'Enemies of the Internet' list drawn up again this year by Reporters Without Borders presents the worst violators of freedom of expression on the Net: Saudi Arabia, Burma, China, North Korea, Cuba, Egypt, Iran, Uzbekistan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam." Reporters sans frontières, 12 March 2010, and links.
     "'The censorship by the [Chinese] communist government now affects almost all foreign Web sites. If you don't actually have a Chinese Web address, then you're likely to be entirely blocked so no one in China can access the site,' said Adrienne Woltersdorf, head of the Chinese department at Deutsche Welle. Access to Deutsche Welle's websites is strongly affected by the country's censorship. Other international broadcasters like the BBC, Voice of America and Radio Free Asia have the same problem. Not only is critical news being blocked out, but competition on the media market is also significantly affected." Jan Bruck, Deutsche Welle, 12 March 2010. Posted: 16 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

New satellite television enforcement campaign in Beijing.

"The Beijing Municipal Tourism Bureau issued a notice Tuesday, saying that a special campaign concerning the overseas radio and TV channels at Beijing star-rated hotels will be carried out in March. ... According to the regulations released by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT) last month, 31 overseas satellite TV channels are available for hotels with 3-stars or above that target overseas visitors. These channels include CNN International, HBO, Discovery, Channel [V] and others. A similar large-scale campaign was conducted in Beijing last August ahead of the 60th National Day Celebration. According to a report by the Beijing Evening News, over 300 devices were confiscated, and about 40 shops selling such devices were shut down. However, an increasing number of Beijing residents still risk installing such devices in order to enjoy more programs from foreign channels, which means that it has become a booming business. ... [O]verseas satellite TV channels can only be installed at three types of locations. They are: high-level educational, scientific and research institutes, star-rated hotels and office buildings or apartments geared especially towards overseas nationals or people from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. ... A British citizen who requested anonymity said the regulations are ridiculous, as foreigners in Beijing live in different residential compounds. He said he lives in a medium sized community where those who have the devices are nearly all Chinese nationals." Yang Jie, Global Times (Beijing), 11 March 2010. If the campaign is aimed at hotels, is the goal to make sure the hotels are making available only the 31 authorized channels? Posted: 16 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

ICANN CEO calls for more internet access in Africa.

"A U.S.-based organization that promotes the use of the Internet is urging leaders in east Africa to make the Internet accessible and affordable to all of their citizens. ... The Chief Executive Officer of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) says by expanding the reach and affordability of the Internet, African countries can vastly help improve the economic future of the people on the continent. Speaking at an ICANN-hosted Internet conference in Nairobi Monday, CEO Rod Beckstrom noted that Africa, which has 15 percent of the world's population, is home to less than seven percent of Internet users worldwide. ... According to the figures provided by African Internet providers, Internet usage in east Africa is wildly uneven. For example, more than 10 percent of the 41 million people living in Sudan use the Internet on a regular basis. But less than one-half of one percent of Ethiopia's 85 million people has access." Alisha Ryu, VOA News, 8 March 2010. Posted: 15 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

CNBC creating a regional hub in Bahrain.

"CNBC ... will create a regional editorial hub in Bahrain to cover the Middle East. The facility is expected to be operational in the second quarter of the year. The hub will coordinate and produce business and financial newsgathering from the Middle East, with a studio and production facility linked to CNBC’s global network. CNBC is in the process of recruiting an on-air presenter, reporters and production staff in the region. ... The hub will contribute to CNBC’s pan-regional programme Capital Connection, which will become tri-anchored live from London, Bahrain and Singapore, four days a week." Press release via Al Bawaba, 14 March 2010. Posted: 15 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

CNN International: "global beast" that is "personality-led."

"CNN may be a firmly established American news outlet, but its sister channel CNN International is emerging from the shadows as a truly global beast. The channel has undergone a radical change over the past two years, and with access to 230 million households and hotel rooms worldwide, it is one media outlet PR professionals should not overlook. ... Ketchum's head of strategic media Richard Griffiths says ...: 'In the past, a breaking news story meant editors instantly flicked back to domestic CNN in Atlanta. That now seems to be changing and the attempt to be more global buys CNN more credibility with international brands.' ... Griffiths, a former BBC World journalist, advises PROs to recognise the difference between the BBC and CNN International's approach to stories. 'CNN International is much more personality-led.'" Kate Magee, PR Week UK, 12 March 2010.
     "CNN [the US version] has lost more than 40% of its primetime audience, and 35% of its total day audience... . Anecdotally, I have heard that several former CNN viewers have switched over to CNN International because they find that network much more satisfying when it comes to hard news." Reeses Schonfeld, Huffington Post, 9 March 2010.
     "CNN International will cease broadcasting in analogue on the Astra position at 19.2 degrees East on March 31. The channel will remain available as a free-to-air service in digital." Robert Briel, Broadband TV News, 15 March 2010. Posted: 15 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Heritage ideas to combat Russian anti-Americanism include budget increase, new bureaucracy (updated).

"The Kremlin is using anti-Americanism as a strategic tool for pursuing domestic and foreign policy goals. Through media controlled or owned by the state, the Russian government is deliberately spreading poisonous anti-U.S. propaganda at home and abroad, blaming many of Russia's problems on the West, particularly the United States. The partial success of this policy exposes a number of serious failures in U.S. public diplomacy, which has been in decline since the end of the Cold War. To counter Russian information warfare and to consolidate democracy and freedom in Eastern and Central Europe, the U.S. needs to reinvigorate its public diplomacy efforts, using both traditional TV and radio broadcasting and new media to reach the peoples of the former Soviet satellites and post-Soviet states." Abstract from "Russian Anti-Americanism: A Priority Target for U.S. Public Diplomacy," Ariel Cohen and Helle C. Dale, Heritage Foundation, 24 February 2010. This is a detailed paper (with several footnotes) about an important subject. See my comments on this separate page.
     Sergei S. in Moscow writes: "I'm all for academic and culture exchange. But when it comes to mass media the authors seem to overestimate the power of propaganda (incl. 'public diplomacy') and underestimate the attraction of non-ideological, truth-seeking reporting. The paper says that 'RT regularly features Kremlin-supported commentators.' As RT's occasional viewer I know that it draws on a diverse pool of experts and personalities, incl. Dr. Ariel Cohen himself. This is one of his latest appearances on RT: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbBoT7qfRvs."
     Update: "Russian Anti-Americanism: A Priority Target for U.S. Public Diplomacy" will take place 23 March at 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Heritage Foundation's Lehrman Auditorium in Washington. Speakers are Daniel Kimmage (senior fellow), Svetlana Babaeva (RIA Novosti), and Ariel Cohen (senior research fellow), with Helle Dale as host. Heritage announcement. Posted: 15 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Expansion of Russian radio to India could involve up to 12 languages from "Soviet times."

"Russia is ready to expand radio broadcasting to India in local languages, Russia’s prime minister Vladimir Putin stated during his video link with India. 'I’m glad that India is interested in what is going on in Russia and the features of the Voice of Russia are popular', Vladimir Putin said answering one of the questions. The Voice of Russia radio is broadcasting to South Asia in Hindi and Urdu but used to broadcast in all Indian languages during the Soviet times. 'It’s sad that now broadcasting to India is only in two languages. Russia’s government has to work in this direction', Putin said." Voice of Russia, 12 March 2010.
     Putin, during same video conference: "However, there are also positive trends: broadcasting is expanding thanks to the use of modern means of communication. It is expanding through the use of cutting-edge technology and due to the move to broadcasting in other languages that are indigenous to your country. For example, the MTS company uses new technology to transmit information from Russia in real time and broadcast television pictures to mobile phones. I think one should take advantage of this. ... But that is not enough, of course. Efforts must be made at government level and we will think about it." ISRIA, 13 March 2010.
     Voice of Russia now broadcasts to South Asia in Hindi, Urdu, and English. For languages during "Soviet times," I referred to my 1970 World Radio TV Handbook. Back then, Radio Moscow transmissions to South Asia also included Assamese, Bengali, Gujrathi [Gujarati], Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sinhalese, Tamil, and Telugu.
     If Voice of Russia does add languages to India, Ideally it would want them placed on FM stations in India. But because news is not allowed on non-AIR FM stations, the content would be limited to "infotainment" fare, such as now placed by BBC World Service. For news from VOR in those languages, Indian listeners would have to use shortwave or the internet. Posted: 14 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Bob Geldof complains about BBC World Service report (update: and calls for BBCWS director et al to be fired).

"Bob Geldof and the Band Aid trust are to report the BBC to the broadcasting regulator Ofcom over a World Service report that millions of pounds raised for famine victims in Ethiopia in 1985 were actually spent on weapons. A group of Britain's most respected agencies – including Oxfam, the Red Cross, Unicef, Christian Aid and Save the Children – are joining Band Aid in writing an official complaint to the chairman of the BBC Trust, Sir Michael Lyons. They are to complain of the 'false and dangerously misleading impression' created by a report by the BBC World Service's Africa editor, Martin Plaut, which alleged that 95 per cent of the $100m in aid which went to the northern province of Tigray in 1985 had been diverted for military use by the rebel forces which held the area." Paul Vallely, The Independent, 6 March 2010.
     Update: "The real story of this sorry saga is the intense systemic failure of the World Service, that cherry on the cake of the BBC's reputation. It's a rotten old cherry these days. And I am as bereft as a jilted lover. Of all the taxes I pay, I pay only one gladly – my licence fee. I am Mr World Service. I have done ads promoting the BBC, I have written and spoken in its defence, it is indeed the BBC who started me and others on this African journey; I believe it must, at all costs, be retained very similar to what it is now, albeit cutting away the deadwood and slack. ... Martin Plaut, Andrew Whitehead [editor, news and current affairs] and Peter Horrocks [director of World Service] should be fired. There should be an immediate investigation into what went wrong; steps should be taken to rectify the identified faults; and the World Service must work very, very hard to re-establish its glorious trust and hard-won reputation as the world broadcaster of excellence." Bob Geldof, Comment is Free, The Guardian, 9 March 2010.
     "A BBC spokesman said the World Service would continue to defend its report. 'This was a well-researched programme and the BBC stands by its journalism,' he said. 'We are happy to repeat that there is no suggestion that any relief agency was complicit in any diversion of funds'. However, a senior BBC source told the Guardian that there was concern about the amount of criticism that 'a relatively obscure documentary [which] didn't even mention Band Aid' had attracted." Sam Jones and James Robinson, The Guardian, 9 March 2010.
     "The Independent asked for an interview with Mr Whitehead but a BBC spokesman said: 'Sorry, we won't be able to accommodate your request.'" Paul Vallely, The Independent, 10 March 2010.
     "Plaut is a first-class journalist. He hasn't just come to this. He was actually there on the frontlines in Tigray, with his wife, a nurse, in 1984, as the famine was brewing." Rageh Omaar, Comment is Free, The Guardian, 8 March 2010. Posted: 14 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Some Americans use international channels as antidote to scandals, opinion on US cable channels.

Online discussion between Washington Post media writer Paul Farhi and readers: "Q: When CNN started it was meant to be a TV version of all-news radio stations or like the evening news all day long, meaning you watched it for a half hour and found out quite a bit about what was going on in the world. Now, all the cable news stations show is missing people, scandals, or opinion shows; even CNN Headline News is a mere shell of itself. Now, if I really want to know what is going on the world, I have to watch BBC News World or France 24, or EuroNews, or even Al Jazeera English. Luckily in the Washingon area, we can get those last three because they are on WNVC-Channel 30. ... A: CNN (and the other news channels) discovered long ago that talk ABOUT the news (or about certain news stories, particularly politics) beats covering the news. Shocking revelation: The domestic news networks are primarily concerned about maximizing their audiences, not covering the news. ... Q: I think if you want to actually see the news you have to get beyond the 'big' networks. Watch BBC World. Or even CNN International. One of the things I really love about FiOS is the access to better news sources. And they carry most of the MHz networks which are devoted to foreign news services like France 24, NHK World, Al Jazeera English, etc. A: Yes, good news sources all. Unfortunately, not many people watch any of those sources." Washington Post, 9 March 2010.
     "I use the BBC, because they give me exactly what I want: news. Unfortunately for the American network news agencies, which truly have an unlimited amount of resources, this process of actually providing quality news has become lost. ... On a daily basis, I try to watch the One-Minute World News on the BBC’s news website. Guess what the anchor does at the beginning? He or she does not say her name, rather the anchor simply says 'Hello, here are the latest headlines from BBC World News.' There is no bias and no personalization. Isn’t that the kind of news we all should be able to consume?" Adam Troxtell, The East Texan, 11 March 2010.
     "Starting April 26, 2010, BBC AMERICA will broadcast via a dual feed, making all programming times uniform for viewers on both coasts. This exciting development comes just as BBC AMERICA increases its availability to more than 67 million households." BBC America press release, 11 March 2010. Posted: 14 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

BBC World Service will "make a contribution" to FCO budget adjustment caused by declining pound.

"The Foreign Office has asked the Treasury for an 'urgent' cash injection to help fill a nearly £135 million budget shortfall as the value of the pound slumps, it was revealed today. ... [Foreign Secertary David] Miliband told MPs last month that he had negotiated a package with Chancellor Alistair Darling to 'manage the impact on the purchasing power of its budget' caused by the changes in the value of sterling. The agreement included an additional £25 million from asset sales to be recycled into the FCO budget, £35 million from Treasury reserves and £15 million in 'end-of-year flexibility'. The British Council and BBC World Service, which between them account for more than 20% of the £2.1 billion annual Foreign Office budget, would also 'make a contribution' alongside other cost savings, Mr Miliband said." James Tapsfield, Press Association, 9 March 2010. Posted: 14 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Deutsche Welle (which is not a newspaper) partnerships in South Africa, Bangladesh, Afghanistan.

"Community television station Cape Town TV (CTV) has formed a programme partnership with German international satellite broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW-TV), an international news and current affairs channel. The channel will provide viewers with a variety of programmes in English, ranging from news and current affairs, magazine programmes from Germany, Europe and global society to Bundesliga (Kick off), which presents the latest happenings from the German soccer league during the season." Bizcommunity.com, 12 March 2010.
     "Thanks to a new partnership agreement with Bangladesh Betar (BB), Deutsche Welle’s Bengali radio service will be broadcast by Bengali’s public broadcaster in the future. ... Following this agreement, Bangladesh Betar will broadcast DW programming between 8:00 am and 8:30 am as well as 8:00 pm and 8:30 pm using six transmitters in Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, Khulna, Rajshahi and Rangpur. ... In addition, the two partners agreed to extend a successful training program for journalists with DW-AKADEMIE." DW press release, 9 March 2010.
     "The Afghan radio station ARIANA FM started broadcasting Deutsche Welle’s radionovela 'Learning by Ear' on Friday, March 5, 2010. Germany’s international broadcaster has planned 50 episodes – each 15 minutes long – in the two national languages Dari and Pashtu. The radio dramas have been made with young listeners in mind. ... The project, supported financially by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany, sheds light on topics like political education, health, the advancement of women and girls, drugs and their consequences and tolerance and understanding." DW press release, 10 March 2010.
     Deutsche Welle is often described by other news organizations as a newspaper, e.g.: "Reiner Kind, a researcher at the GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences, told the Deutsche Welle newspaper, 'No one has so far successfully proved that earthquakes on one side of a plate are linked with earthquakes on the other side of the plate.'" Global Times (Beijing), 10 March 2010. Occasionally, DW is described correctly: "European Union officials warned against U.S. protectionism on Tuesday and said the decision could have negative consequences for future defense deals between Europe and the U.S., according to Deutsche Welle, Germany's international broadcasting station." Roxana Tiron, The Hill, 9 March 2010. Posted: 14 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Perhaps it is China that should evolve.

"Zhao Qizheng, spokesman for the Third Session of the Eleventh CPPCC, implied that Google should continue its previous policy of self-censorship. He said that 'Darwin's theory of evolution teaches us that what is first and foremost in the evolution of species is adaptation to the environment, not the environment adapting to species,' according to an Oriental Post report." Yiran Feng, Epoch Times, 11 March 2010. Posted: 14 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Azerbaijani bloggers jailed for showing a donkey giving a press conference.

"An Azerbaijani court on Wednesday rejected an appeal by two bloggers jailed after satirizing the government with an Internet video that showed a donkey giving a press conference, their lawyer said. ... The two bloggers, Adnan Hajizade and Emin Milli, were arrested and jailed on hooliganism charges last year shortly after posting the video, which lampooned ex-Soviet Azerbaijan's docile press and statements by government officials. Hajizade, 26, was jailed for two years and Milli, 30, for two-and-a-half years." Emil Guliyev, AFP, 11 March 2010.
     "In the past few days in Azerbaijan, some users have complained that many sites, including Yahoo Mail, Gmail and Facebook, were inaccessible. In a region such as the Caucasus where the Internet is less than reliable at the best of times, such things can happen. However, because the problems also included users having problems accessing the web site of Radio Free Europe's Azeri service, some automatically assumed it was a government block." Onnik Krikorian, GlobalVoices, 10 March 2010. Posted: 14 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

News Corp plans for Arab content spark discussion, speculation.

"Rupert Murdoch's News Corp has ambitions to produce Arab content to serve 335 million people in the region and abroad, helped by its partnership with Saudi-based media group Rotana. ... 'To be frank, Rotana does not really need our financing. We are partnering with Rotana for something more ambitious: to tap into Arab talent and ultimately produce original Arab content for market both here and abroad,' Murdoch told the conference." Georgina Prodhan, Reuters, 9 March 2010.
     Chairman and chief executive of the News Corporation, Rupert Murdoch, is calling on Arab countries to stop putting restrictions on their media. His comments were made at a high-profile summit currently taking place in the United Arab Emirates that aims to portray the country as a tolerant, cultural hub. But critics say government crackdowns on freedom of expression are increasing. ... "'Markets that look to distort their media end up promoting the very panic and distrust that they had hoped to control,' said Murdoch. 'Certainly, each nation and culture has a right to insist that the people they allow into their countries to do business respect their national values and traditions. This is best administered, however, with a gentle touch.'" Phillip Walter Wellman, VOA News, 10 March 2010.
     "Talk about waving a red flag: before giving his keynote address to audience in Abu Dhabi and saying there should be less media censorship in the country, Rupert Murdoch announced that News Corp, the owners of Fox News, would be opening an office in Abu Dhabi in April." Scott Shuey, Gulf News (Dubai), 11 March 2010.
     "The 'moving' of some of Murdoch’s television satellite channels from Hong Kong to Abu Dhabi is neither an innocent decision nor an economic one. It is the result of a series of restrictions set in place by the legislative bodies in China, which always showed reservations and objections to what was being broadcast by Murdoch's network. It considered some content a threat to China’s national security and forced Murdoch to accept some interference in the content that was aired. This explains why he has now chosen a more flexible and less harsh environment to serve as a new starting point without any nuisances or significant competition. His next step will be to Arabize the content of his programs and I do not mean by dubbing films and soaps into different Arabic dialects. I think his main concern will be news and documentaries, as 'this is where the real game is,' said one observer in his analysis of Murdoch’s move. The Muslim experience with Fox News, The Wall Street Journal and The Times emphasises that they are not objective mediums and they have their own method and ideology that they are keen to spread. And today, they are right on our doorstep!" Hussein Shobokshi, Asharq Alawsat, 13 March 2010. There has been speculation about an Arabic Fox News channel to compete with Al Jazeera, but no announced plans by News Corp. Posted: 14 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Al Jazeera covered the Iraqi election with the help of YouTube and Flipcams.

"Millions of Iraqis turned out to cast their ballots across the country on Sunday, choosing from more than 6,000 candidates from 86 political groups looking to gain seats in the 325-member assembly. ... For this crucial event in Iraq's history, Al Jazeera partnered with YouTube to hear directly from the Iraqi people using Flipcams distributed across the country." Omar Chatriwala, The Middle East Blog, aljazeera.net, 8 March 2010.
     "While internet in the home is by no means ubiquitous in Iraq, ... many Iraqis took to uploading YouTube videos during the last conflict. The Iraqi government also launched its own channel on the site last year." Laura Oliver, journalism.co.uk, 9 March 2010. Posted: 14 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Vice President Biden interviewed by Al Jazeera during West Bank visit.

"[S]peaking to Al Jazeera in the occupied West Bank, Biden said: 'The Palestinians and the Israelis had just agreed to begin proximity talks, hopefully leading to an agreement, a final agreement.'" Al Jazeera English, 11 March 2010. Video: Al Jazeera English, 12 March 2010. Posted: 14 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Public Diplomacy 2.0: dubbed documentaries by directive?

"The United States needs to do more: providing moral and educational support for the green movement in Iran by publicizing what worked in Ukraine or Georgia; dubbing into Farsi documentaries on the fall of Ceausescu, Milosevic, and Pinochet; the transitions in South Africa and Poland; and the achievements of the U.S. civil rights movement." From James K. Glassman, "How to Win the War of Ideas," Foreign Policy, 10 March 2010. Jim Glassman's essay is mainly a renewed argument for his Public Diplomacy 2.0 concept. The only reference to international broadcasting is about the dubbed documentaries. Presumably, Iranian domestic television will not put these on the air. This leaves VOA Persian News Network TV. It's important that PNN is not directed to use these documentaries, but is offered them for consideration. It's likely that PNN can use them. However, if all the documentaries in the series happen to correspond with U.S. foreign policy or public diplomacy objectives, Iranian audiences may no longer see PNN as the go-to source for an comprehensive and balanced portrayal of events present and past, and thus go-away.
     "The U.S. public diplomacy strategy should highlight the Iranian regime's violations of human rights. ... Elements of such a public diplomacy strategy should include: ... ▪Increased broadcasting by Radio Farda and support for independent Iranian broadcasters outside the country so Iranians can hear about activities censored by the government; ... and ▪Educating Iranians about the necessity of reforming the Iranian constitution to give genuine representative democracy a chance and do away with the office of Supreme Leader." James Phillips, Helle Dale and Janice Smith, Heritage Foundation, 11 March 2010. Radio Farda is already 24 hours a day. "Increased broadcasting" would result in Radio Farda Program One and Radio Farda Program Two. Those two would compete not only with each other, but also with VOA Persian News Network (usually, curiously, not mentioned in Heritage missives even though it has a larger audience than Radio Farda), which has eight hours per day of television and five hours of radio. Posted: 14 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

A review of Jeffrey Herf's Nazi Propaganda for the Arab World.

"Although Jeffrey Herf's book mostly chronicles German radio broadcasts to the Arab world during the Second World War, it also covers German propaganda directed at Turkey and Iran, as well as Italian propaganda to the Arabs. ... Nazi propaganda, narrowly focused as it was on anti-imperialism and anti-Zionism, was repetitive. Since Herf's book follows the content of the broadcasts quite closely, it too is repetitive. The facts he has dug up do no credit to the propagandists or their Arab collaborators. But there were very few of the latter and there was no great jihadist uprising against the British or even any significant acts of sabotage. " Reviewed by Robert Irwin, The Independent, 12 March 2010. See also Yale University Press re Nazi Propaganda for the Arab World. Posted: 13 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

"Whatever Happened to Shortwave Radio?"

"It is easy to blame the Internet and international satellite television for the decline in shortwave radio listenership. But shortwave was in trouble before these new media took hold, said Larry Magne. He is publisher of Passport to World Band Radio, the annual shortwave radio tuning guide that thrived for 25 years but suspended publication in 2009. ... Magne said he believes it was the BBC World Service that speeded shortwave’s decline in North America. In 2001, then-BBC World Service Director Mark Byford decided that local AM/FM rebroadcasting, satellite radio and the emerging Internet made it possible to stop shortwave broadcasts to North America. ... For all its transmission expense and audio problems, analog shortwave radio has one clear advantage over the Internet and domestic radio/TV: It cannot be easily blocked — even when states try to disrupt its signals using jamming transmitters. Webcasts can be filtered or blocked through IP geolocation techniques that block access to sites based upon the IP address of the site or the user. Access to local radio transmitters can be withdrawn by officials. For example, Radio Azadliq, the RFE/RL service for Azerbaijan, along with VOA and the BBC World Service, was forced off local FM and medium-wave frequencies at year-end 2008 after its often critical coverage of that year’s elections." James Careless, Radio World, 8 March 2010. Recommended reading. A good review of the arguments for and against the continued use of shortwave in international broadcasting. Posted: 13 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

An essay on shortwave, the "unregulated Wild West of broadcasting."

"Imagine was a communications medium that spanned virtually the entire globe and was virtually impossible to censor. Now imagine that, unlike the internet, it couldn’t be switched-off by the powers that be and didn’t require expensive equipment or monthly subscription fees to access. ... It’s called short wave radio. ... Short wave isn’t like other forms of radio, either technically or in terms of its content. For a start, it’s an unregulated Wild West of broadcasting where signals clash and merge, the loudest voice often blasting in over the one you were trying to listen to. It is also able to blanket vast swaths of the entire globe with a single signal. Even relatively low-powered signals are easily able to reach across national boundaries. ... Today the short wave bands are home to all manner of weirdness: religious broadcasters like the infamous Brother Stair, who was convicted of assault and battery, preaching hellfire and asking for money – God really does have a hard time balancing the books – and American far-right nutjobs selling gold on the basis that the world economy is about to collapse altogether. ... Bizarre signals still emanate from regimes such as North Korea and even the Voice of America continues to have trouble figuring out whether it’s a journalistic or government entreprise, but most political stations are much more sophisticated." Jason Walsh, forth magazine (Dublin), 6 March 2010. An interesting and detailed essay. Some of the conclusions by the author and his interviewees would be refuted by audience research data, if that information should ever find its way into the public domain. Posted: 13 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

The homeless, serial killer, and indie rock band segments of the shortwave audience.

"Vendors of the Week Tammie and Wesley Clark ease the struggles of homelessness by engaging in activities they enjoy. They listen at night to a shortwave radio that broadcasts from all over the world. The other night they were listening to Radio Beijing." Jane Austin, Real Change (Seattle), 10 March 2010. I hope they noticed that the station is now called China Radio International.
     Serial killer Peter Woodcock "died Friday – his 71st birthday – at the Oak Ridge division of the Penetanguishene Mental Health Centre. The facility was his home for most of his 53 years in custody. ... In his later years, he was a frail-looking man who followed Toronto news closely, listened to short-wave radio broadcasts, and made a quiet life for himself behind the barred doors and double locks of the Penetang institution." Mark Bourrie, Toronto Star, 9 March 2010.
     "The Besnard Lakes' frontman Jace Lasek believes 'the truth is out there,' just like X-Files character Fox Mulder. He's also convinced it's accessible by what many of us would consider archaic means: shortwave radio. For several decades, intelligence organizations around the world have been making use of shortwave transmissions to communicate with their spies abroad, on a platform known as number stations." Scott Bryson, CHARTattack, 10 March 2010. Posted: 13 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Another government-inefficiency-to-fight-censorship bill.

"A top US senator introduced legislation Thursday aimed at boosting US-based Radio Free Asia (RFA), citing disappointment at the pace of democratic reforms in key target countries. 'Certain governments still believe in blocking uncensored news from their citizens,' Senator Richard Lugar, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement. On the eve of the 14th anniversary of RFA's creation, Lugar unveiled a bill that would provide long-term budget authority for RFA, rather than obliging lawmakers to take up the matter annually. ... 'Permanent legal authority for Radio Free Asia would send a strong signal that the US supports freedom of the press across the globe,' said Lugar." AFP, 11 March 2010.
     "Governments routinely jam AM transmissions and hack into RFA’s websites and servers." Senator Lugar press release, 11 March 2010. "AM" as in amplitude modulation, the mode used on both shortwave and medium wave? Or the common American term for the medium wave band? RFA transmits mostly on shortwave, and it is mostly the shortwave transmissions that are jammed.
     Long-term authority for RFA would mean long-term division of scarce transmitting, newsgathering, and talent resources between RFA and VOA. And because the two stations often cover the same news, it would also mean long-term duplication of effort in a time when the US government should be finding savings and efficiencies.
     I am not saying RFA should go away in order to give VOA broadcasters more job security. I am saying that the two stations should merge, combining their strengths in order to compete more effectively in an increasingly competitive Asian media environment. Posted: 13 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Senators revisit NSC involvement in VOA/BBC/DW statement on Iranian satellite jamming.

"Three senior Republican senators are demanding answers to questions raised by an exclusive report in The Cable that revealed the involvement of the National Security Council in the Broadcasting Board of Governor's actions regarding Iran. [See previous post.] In the Feb. 18 story, which was also reprinted in the Washington Post, we reported that the NSC had been involved in negotiating the wording of a statement on Iranian media censorship that was eventually issued by the Voice of America, a subsidiary of the BBG, as well as the British Broadcasting Company and Deutsche Welle. ... Sens. Jon Kyl, R-AZ, Sam Brownback, R-KS, and Tom Coburn, R-OK sent a letter Tuesday to BBG President [sic, he's executive director] demanding a full accounting of the actions of the NSC and the State Department in dealing with the BBG before it eventually issued the statement, which criticized Iran for its jamming of international satellites. 'If true, these actions constitute serious violations of U.S law, policy, and tradition related to the editorial independence of the taxpayer-funded Broadcasting Board of Governors.' ... The senators demanded that Trimble identify the specific individuals who were involved in the statement, state whether anyone at State raised concerns about possible violation of the editorial 'firewall' between the administration and the BBG, and detail all of the BBG's activities related to Iran since last June's election. Several BBG nominees are pending confirmation in the Senate, the letter noted. An NSC official, speaking to The Cable on background basis, admitted that the NSC held a series of interagency meetings on the issue after the BBG asked the council for advice and defended the interaction as 'appropriate.' 'The BBG approached the NSC for guidance regarding a specific request from BBC and Deutsche Welle to issue a joint statement with VOA,' the official said. 'The NSC then worked with State and BBG to review the content of such a statement to ensure it was both factually accurate and legally sound; the NSC endorsed the issuance of a joint statement, and a strong statement was indeed issued.'" Josh Rogin, The Cable, Foreign Policy, 10 March 2010. Note that the content in question is a press release (issued by BBC and DW, but never by VOA), not an actual VOA news report. NSC kibitzing in the latter would be a far more serious matter. And it's interesting that Senator Coburn is now concerned about the firewall. He was writing a different prescription back in 2008: see previous posts on 14 April (and accompanying commentary), 9 May, and 16 May 2008. Posted: 13 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

VOA launches radio reports, website, in English, to cover Sudan's election.

"The Voice of America (VOA) has launched special broadcasts to Sudan and created a content-rich website on elections more than a month before Sudanese are to vote in the country’s first free presidential contest since 1986. ... VOA’s 'Sudan Elections in Focus' website http://www.voanews.com/sudan contains stories about the candidates, analysis and commentary by bloggers, details about election preparedness and logistics. Every Friday in March, VOA will air a 10-minute special report on the English-to-Africa stream. Programs examine the candidates, their platforms, electoral preparedness, and the ongoing conflicts over land and resources in Africa’s largest country. It can be heard at 1645 UTC and 1845 UTC on VOA shortwave frequencies 6080 and 15580. Starting in April, the Sudan special report will air every day." VOA press release, 10 March 2010. Any similar efforts by the Arabic-language Radio Sawa and Alhurra? Posted: 13 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

A composer's interpretation of Gertrude Stein's account of what VOA sounded like in France during World War II.

"Heiner Goebbels is a well-known European avant-garde composer whose ... 'Song of Wars I Have Seen,' a stunning hour-long chamber work ... is based on texts of Gertrude Stein (written in 1943, published in 1945). Stein’s inherently musical poetry is made up of sounds and rhythms as much as it is syntax and semantics. The poems document women’s experience of war, sitting at home, rather than out on the battlefield. Because of rationing, the women use honey instead of sugar; they listen to BBC and Voice of America on the radio; they hear the threatening sound of airplanes overhead." Maria Coldwell, Crosscut.com (Seattle), 8 March 2010. Posted: 13 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Nominee for Architect of the Capitol has VOA background, and has VOA proximity.

"The man who has helmed the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) agency on a temporary basis since 2007 is a step closer to becoming its permanent leader. On February 24, President Obama officially nominated Stephen Ayers, AIA, for the position. ... Ayers, 47, a former Air Force captain who helped the military rebuild Voice of America radio stations in Greece, Albania, and Germany early in his career, said he was honored to be nominated." C.J. Hughes, Architectural Record, 10 March 2010. VOA, or actually International Broadcasting Bureau, has relays stations in Germany, and had one until recently in Greece. I'm not aware of any such IBB/VOA facility in Albania. The Architect of the Capitol is responsible for grounds which extend to just one block from the VOA headquarters. Posted: 12 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

VOA reporter at receiving end of French FM's "outburst" (updated).

"The reporter who on Tuesday found himself at the receiving end of an offensive outburst by French FM Bernard Kouchner has commented on the incident. 'I had no intention to provoke Mr. Kouchner, I was just doing my job professionally,' Voice of America's Budimir Ničić told Tanjug news agency. Ničić's question about the Kosovo organ trafficking case, put to Kouchner in the Serb enclave of Gracanica on Wednesday, saw the French minister's visit go downhill. 'I asked Kouchner, noting that many families of the kidnapped accuse him of having taken part in the organ trade, what his answer to this was, and what his position on the so-called Yellow House was. He then asked me whether I'm sick and insane,' Ničić recounted. The reporter stressed that he was 'hurt and offended' by Kouchner's reaction. In Belgrade on Tuesday, the Independent Association of Journalists of Serbia (NUNS) condemned Kouchner's behavior." B92 (Belgrade), 3 March 2010.
     Update: "The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), strongly condemns the manner in which French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner behaved towards Budimir Nicic, a Voice of America reporter, in the Kosovo town of Gracanica." SEEMO press release, 10 March 2010. See also Washington Post, 10 March 2010.
     From a reader in Europe: "At least he wasn't working for RFI or France 24 where several journalists were sacked by Mrs. Kouchner a.k.a. Christine Ockrent [GM of France 24 parent Audiovisuel Exterieur de la France and wife of Kouchner] for having fallen foul of Mr K. Ulysse Gosset, a renowned senior journalist - former Washington correspondent for French TV - interviewed Kouchner on France 24 in July 2008. The latter became very agitated (perfectly normal behaviour for him) after a film showing him carrying bags of rice from a ship to a beach in Somalia in the mid 1990s was shown during the programme and after he was asked a couple of questions he didn't like. When the programme ended he told Gosset: 'goodbye Mr Gosset, and good luck!' Four months later Gosset's contract was not renewed. The reason his programme had too few viewers. Another journalist (with RFI) who had written a book (in 1993) critical of Kouchner's tenure in Kosovo... was sacked from RFI in 2008, another one was sacked for 'serious professional fault' (he had interviewed Bashar Al Assad without telling his managers in advance... and the interview was broadcast on TV5 before being broadcast on RFI, both supposed to work at the time for the AEF...). Other cases too. The common thread between these: their boss was C. Ockrent." Posted: 12 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

The Voice of America Walking Club doesn't walk anywhere near VOA headquarters.

"The newly established Voice of America Walking Club invites people of all ages and fitness levels to join the group on their walks. Walks begin at 9 a.m. on every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning, weather permitting. Meet at the VOA Ronald Reagan Lodge breezeway." Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 March 2010. At the Voice of America Park near Mason, Ohio, site of the old VOA Bethany shortwave transmitting station.
     "The bait and tackle shop at the Voice of America Park in West Chester Township opens for the season March 20. ... The 2010 fish stocking begins March 20 with 200 pounds of Rainbow Trout that will be added to the 35-acre lake at the park." Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 March 2010. Posted: 12 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

VOA Amharic is jammed, thoroughly.

"International shortwave radio monitors have confirmed that VOA broadcasts in the Amharic language are being jammed. Amharic is the main official language and the language of commerce in Ethiopia. VOA representatives in Ethiopia have been received complaints from listeners about noise drowning out its Amharic Service broadcasts. People trying to tune in can hear occasional snippets of the VOA broadcast covered by a loud crackle. The static began February 22 on all five VOA shortwave frequencies aimed at East Africa in the 25 and 31-meter shortwave bands. The other foreign broadcast heard in Ethiopia, the German government's Deutsche Welle Amharic language program, also reports experiencing some interference, in the past few days. Monitors say VOA transmissions in two other Ethiopian languages, Afan Oromo and Tigrinya, are being heard normally." Peter Heinlein, VOA News, 4 March 2010.
     "In media interviews today, government spokesman Shimelis Kemal denied any government involvement. 'This is absolutely a sham,' he told CPJ, adding that 'the Ethiopian government does not support the policy of restricting foreign broadcasting services in the country. Such practices are prohibited in our constitution.'" Committee to Protect Journalists, 4 March 2010.
     "'VOA deplores jamming and any other form of censorship of the media,' Danforth Austin, director of the U.S. government-owned news service, said in a statement read to Bloomberg News by spokesman David Borgida. The broadcaster hasn’t been able to identify the source of the interference, Borgida said." Jason McLure, Bloomberg, 4 March 2010.
     "As usual, spokesperson of the government dismissed it as a baseless allegation. He added, 'Ethiopia has a constitution which outlaws any act by any official organ to restrict the dissemination of broadcast material from abroad.' This continuing practice has also been confirmed by shortwave radio monitors (so says VOA)), further discrediting government credibility." Genet Mersha, nazret.com, 7 March 2010.
     Listen to these samples via the IBB RMS receiver in Addis Ababa on 10 March: 1) VOA Amharic mostly in the clear at 1817 UTC on 11905 kHz, but 2) mostly covered by jamming on theat frequency by 1844. Also at 1844: 3) covered on 11675, 4) getting through a bit on 9860, 5) some background audio on 9485, and 6) covered on 9320. It seems the jammers are winning. (The only VOA Amharic transmission is at 1800-1900 UTC.) To combat jamming, the best remedy is to transmit on as many frequencies as possible, from as many azimuths as possible. The closure of the IBB relay stations in Morocco and Greece has not been helpful in this regard. Transmitters for lease will have to be found. Posted: 11 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

A new Strategic Communication and Public Diplomacy Caucus, and a curious assertion about "curious assertions."

"Winning a war of ideas is an endeavor in which America has traditionally been quite successful. During the Cold War, the United States passed ground-breaking strategic communication legislation like the Smith-Mundt Act, established the U.S. Information Agency, created Voice of America and Radio Free Europe, and undertook other measures to fight communism and totalitarianism abroad. These measures, along with containment and President Reagan’s defense spending, helped bring down the Soviet Union in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Today, we are a world away from the fall of the Berlin Wall, especially when it comes to communication. This is largely a result of the widespread adoption of cellular technology, the proliferation of broadcast, and the advent of the Internet. Initiatives that once served U.S. interests abroad may now hinder them. For example, language in the Smith-Mundt Act ties the hands of U.S. strategic communicators to counter online jihadists. Some on-air contributors to Radio Farda and Radio Liberty are prone to curious assertions that many Americans may be surprised to hear from taxpayer-funded 'pro-American' radio. Now is the time to explore and spread creative strategic communication ideas and to revisit existing legislation. To help reinvigorate the discussion, I have introduced H.R. 489 a bill to improve how America directly communicates with people across the world. This bill would establish an independent 'Center for Strategic Communication' that would coordinate America’s message across our government. It would provide research on attitudes and media trends in foreign countries and build expertise on how we can better communicate around the world. There is no one right answer to winning the war of ideas, and any solution requires bipartisan consensus. A solid first step is establishing the Strategic Communication and Public Diplomacy Caucus in the House of Representatives, which I have done with Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA)." Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), The Foundry blog, Heritage Foundation, 4 March 2010. Specifics, please. What "language in the Smith-Mundt Act"? What "curious assertions" on Radio Farda and Radio Liberty? If US international broadcasting is "coordinated" by the new Center for Strategic Communication bureaucracy, audiences will tune to the BBC for news that is, as it should be, uncoordinated. And what is "strategic communication," other than an excuse for the Defense Department to get involved in public diplomacy? Have a nice caucus. Posted: 11 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

One year anniversary for Alhurra flagship news program Al Youm.

"Alhurra, the Arabic-language television network, celebrates the one-year anniversary of its flagship program Al Youm (Arabic for Today) on Monday, March 8, 2010. Al Youm, which has been heralded for broadcasting simultaneously from five countries in three continents, brings together all areas of the Middle East (the Gulf, North Africa and the Levant) and the U.S." MBN press release via Broadcasting Board of Governors, 4 March 2010.
     "Alhurra Television and Radio Sawa will have comprehensive coverage of the historic Iraqi national parliamentary elections on Sunday, March 7, 2010. Both networks will have more than 35 correspondents throughout the country providing wide-ranging coverage of the election that will help determine the future of the country, as it faces the challenges of democracy and establishing a civil society, in an unstable security situation." MBN press release via Broadcasting Board of Governors, 8 March 2010. Posted: 11 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

State's public diplomacy employees should be, by now, expert users of the coffee pot.

"Speaking of the State Department, the inspector general's report on the agency's public affairs operation found serious problems with morale, staffing, communication and leadership in the 175-person bureau. ... [T]he public diplomacy office seems to be somewhat overstaffed. One employee, the report found, works about 90 minutes a day. Another 'employee cited a three-page memorandum that the office director issued to all staff on the proper use of the office coffee pot,' according to the report, first obtained by the Associated Press's Matt Lee." Al Kamen, Washington Post, 5 March 2010. I think the people who are writing and translating content at www.america.gov are busy enough.
     "The report's most damaging findings involve the Office of Broadcast Services, which produces and distributes audio and video content to worldwide media outlets. That office, it said, is beset by severe morale problems and hostility between employees and managers. It said several employees expressed concern 'that violence in the workplace could result because of the high levels of workplace animosity and tension.' The report called for the current director of the office to be replaced." Matt Lee, AP, 25 February 2010. The State Department's Office of Broadcast Services distributes public diplomacy content and is not to be confused with the news organizations under the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
     The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held the hearing "The Future of Public Diplomacy" on 11 March. Only Ted Kaufman (D-DE) (chairman) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) attended. Witnesses were previous undersecretaries of public diplomacy Evelyn S. Lieberman, Karen P. Hughes, and James K. Glassman, and present undersecretary Judith A. McHale. Testimony and video at the committee website. Even though its really a BBG matter, there was much discussion of international broadcasting. A major theme in the discussion was the urgency to confirm the new members of the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
     The Office of the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs has prepared the report "Public Diplomacy: Strengthening U.S. Engagement with the World: A strategic approach for the 21st century." Access via Matt Armstrong, MountainRunner.us, 9 March 2010. "It is a stunning disappointment." Philip Seib, Huffington Post, 8 March 2010. The report, appropriately, makes no mention of international broadcasting.
     "[T]he State Department will create a new position of deputy assistant secretary for international media support, who will report to the assistant secretary for public affairs, P.J. Crowley. Six additional deputy assistant secretary positions will be added to each of the department's so-called regional bureaus, which cover Europe, Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America. 'These officers will be responsible for ensuring that a public-diplomacy perspective is incorporated as part of senior policy deliberations and for coordinating all our public-diplomacy initiatives throughout their respective regions,' Ms. McHale said. 'We are taking steps to ensure that our policies and programs are informed upfront by a clear understanding of attitudes and opinions of foreign publics,' she said." Nicholas Kralev, Washington Times, 11 March 2010. Posted: 11 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

"Britain should have either a proper World Service TV channel ... or none."

"In the television age, it's no good for the BBC to rest on the laurels of World Service radio. It's equally hard to understand why the Foreign Office, which funds World Service radio via a grant-in-aid and recently had the BBC add Farsi TV for Iran, thinks that everyone else should make do with the travesty that is BBC World. Britain should have either a proper World Service TV channel, to be the face and voice of Britain abroad, or none. The hybrid BBC World should be stripped of its faux BBC brand and sent out into cold hard commercial reality. The just-departed director of the BBC's Global News division, Richard Sambrook, told me that Parliament would not fund a World Service TV channel and that a commercial station was better than none. I don't agree – and neither should the Government. If the BBC made the sort of cuts to the domestic services that it could, there would be funds enough to produce a BBC World we would be proud of." Mary Dejevsky, The Independent, 5 March 2010. The channel is now called BBC World News. It is successful enough to be considered one of the big three global English-language news channels (CNN International and Al Jazeera are the other two). While BBC World News is, in theory, self-funding as a commercial channel, Parliament has funded BBC World Service television on Arabic and Persian. World Service has not received (or shifted) funding to move into television in other languages, to the benefit of VOA, which has begun television broadcasts in Indonesian, Pashto, Dari, Urdu, Albanian, Ukrainian, and other languages. Posted: 11 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

BBC World Service poll: Most people believe internet access is "a fundamental right."

"Almost four in five people around the world believe that access to the internet is a fundamental right, a poll for the BBC World Service suggests. The survey - of more than 27,000 adults across 26 countries - found strong support for net access on both sides of the digital divide. ... Web users questioned in South Korea and Nigeria felt strongly that governments should never be involved in regulation of the internet. However, a majority of those in China and the many European countries disagreed." BBC News, 8 March 2010. See also BBC World Service press release, 7 March 2010.
     "Speaking in her annual Commonwealth Day message the Queen has warned internet use has become an 'unaffordable option' for a lot of citizens. ... [Her message] warned many people in the Commonwealth aren’t able to get hooked up to broadband because they simply can’t afford it." BroadbandGenie, 8 March 2010. Posted: 11 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Shortwave at sea.

"Seth Stevenson has a book coming out this spring about his six-month journey around the world - all by land and sea. ... Q. What are some uncommon things you brought along that proved vital? A. A little shortwave radio was a delightful companion on lonely nights in the middle of oceans. We tuned in news from everywhere on the globe - and felt incredibly far away from it all." David Abel, Boston Globe, 7 March 2010. Posted: 11 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

The internet's equivalent of pirate radio.

"Doug French has an interesting opinion on the the matter, 'While totalitarian governments seek to stifle the human spirit and initiative, there are always brave souls who either pierce or work around the walls that governments erect. For instance, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, highlighted by Jeffrey Tucker’s recent blog post, works on behalf of your rights in the digital world and has created Tor, making it possible for people to browse the Internet without being detected by government busybodies. Tor depends upon volunteer servers to provide proxy routes to shield thousands of users a day from detection.' ... This heroic struggle in the digital world is reminiscent of the fights over the radio waves in the mid-1960s depicted by the recent movie Pirate Radio (a pared-down version of the British theatrical release The Boat That Rocked)." The Quincy Cove, 6 March 2010. The headline of this piece is "Is the Web 2.0 Community the Next Pirate Radio?" However, it's not Web 2.0 (nowhere mentioned in article itself) that is providing the pirate-radio-like workarounds, but software and applications such as Tor that specifically deal with net blockage and censorship. Posted: 11 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Al Jazeera "outshines CNN International," riles southern Yemen governors.

Qatar's Crown Prince Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani "funded with $137 million the creation of Al Jazeera (the Peninsula), a no-holds-barred radical Arab voice that sent shock waves through conservative ruling families that kept their media on the straight and narrow. Today, Al Jazeera's English service, available in Washington on Channel 275, with its globe-girdling bureaus, twitter feeds and YouTube channel, outshines CNN International. ... Last week, Al Jazeera's one-on-one interview in English with Ahmad Chalabi made the former neocon icon (who produced disinformation on weapons of mass destruction designed to maneuver the U.S. into invading Iraq in 2003) squirm under the barrage. ... Al Jazeera's interviewer left no doubt that Mr. Chalabi, a Shia and frequent traveler to Tehran, is now Iran's man and that his goal is to become prime minister." Arnaud de Borchgrave, Washington Times, 7 March 2010.
     "The local authorities of the south provinces of Abyan, Lahj and Dalei have demanded the Cabinet to quickly close the Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel's office in Yemen, the state-run 26sep.net has reported. The governors of the three provinces noted, in their letters sent to the cabinet, that the channel has lost its credibility and neutrality and breached the media professional ethics and rules by broadcasting false and offensive news and reports targeting Yemen and its national unity." SABA Yemen News Agency, 8 March 2010. "Unfortunately, Al Jazeera channel has been creating doubtful questions among the Yemeni people and viewers of the channel, via promoting such fabrications to viewers, which are inflated and exaggerated." Yemen Post, 7 March 2010. Posted: 11 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Radio Australia begins annual search for Pacific music talent.

"Today Radio Australia announced the launch of Pacific Break for 2010. Now in its third year, Radio Australia’s Pacific Break – the search for the best original, unsigned musical talent of the Pacific – has proven immensely popular with Pacific audiences and impressed at this year’s Association of International Broadcasters (AIB) Media Awards in London, winning the international award for 'Most Creative Marketing Strategy'." Australian Broadcasting Corporation press release, 4 March 2010.
     "Entry to the Competition is open to residents of any Pacific island nation who do not have a recording contract with any record company." From entry form via Radio Australia Pacific Break website. I could not find a specific list of eligible Pacific island countries. Would Taiwan qualify? Guam? Tahiti? Posted: 10 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

International Radio Serbia marks 74th anniversary, "formed six years before the VOA."

"International Radio Serbia is marking its 74th anniversary. On that occasion, a ceremony was held today, attended by many eminent persons, embassy and media rerpesentatives, former and present employees of this radio, the only short-wave radio station in the country. Director Milorad Vujovic spoke about the significance of the radio and future plans. This radio was formed six years before the VOA. It started broadcasting programmes on March 8, 1936, in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. It is broadcasting programmes in all parts of the world, in 12 languages: Serbian (for the diaspora), English, French, German, Russian, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, Greek, Albanian, Hungarian and Chinese." International Radio Serbia, 5 March 2010. Posted: 10 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Iranian documentary will "challenge" BBC Persian TV.

"The Iranian production company Sima Films will be making a documentary on BBC with a focus on the Persian service of BBC television. The 90-minute documentary primarily spotlights BBC Persian TV programming to review Britain’s diplomatic objectives in Iran. The screenplay was written by the Iranian researcher Majid Tafreshi who resides in the Britain. ... 'We will also conduct interviews with some people who previously worked for BBC but now are critical of this media organization,' he added." Tehran Times, 6 March 2010. Posted: 10 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Azerbaijani claims RFE/RL biased on Karabakh.

Interview with Jeyhun Osmanli, chairman of the Ireli public union in Azerbaijan: "[T]he website of Radio Liberty has not said a single word about events held to commemorate Khojaly [massacre in 1992]. How can this be understood? As no order from the sponsor? Or does Khojaly not feature on the list of issues that must be covered in Azerbaijan? Unfortunately, Radio Liberty takes a biased position on Karabakh." Also mention of Euronews. News.az, 5 March 2010. Posted: 10 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Press TV reports that Press TV is popular in Afganistan.

"Press TV, Iran's English-language news network, available through broadcasts and the Internet, has been reported to be a very popular news source among the people and even journalists of Afghanistan. According to local reports, when Press TV became available on cable in Kabul and various provinces, Afghan officials and ordinary citizens welcomed the international network as an alternative, more credible news source. The country's media regularly consults Press TV's website to access daily news that are more in tune with the public preference, say media officials. Meanwhile, Afghan President Hamid Karzai is reported to have told a private gathering he tunes in to Press TV's news reports and that he finds them more reliable and enlightening than other English language sources." Press TV, 8 March 2010. Press TV is in English and has no Pashto and/or Dari output. Posted: 10 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Tweets from the U.S. Forces in Afghanistan.

"Who exactly is the intended audience of the U.S. military's tweeting efforts? They're all in English." And other discussion of the U.S. Forces in Afghanistan Twitter account (USforA). Rahim Kanani, Huffington Post, 6 March 2010. This Twitter account seems to be one of many Defense Department outreaches to the US public. With very low internet penetration in Afghanistan, tweeting in Pashto might have limited impact. The RFE/RL (Radio Azadi) Pashto web page shows that podcasts and and RSS feed are available. The RSS feed could be made available at a Twitter feed. Posted: 10 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

China shuts down Twitter emulators.

"Two popular microblogging platforms in China have permanently shut down after being closed for several months, according to company managers. Jiwai.de and fanfou.com were the two earliest online providers of Twitter-style services in China. ... Analysts pointed to ethnic riots in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, starting July 5 last year as the cause of the suppression." Xin Yu, Radio Free Asia, 2 March 2010.
     "One Beijing-based blogger, known online by the nickname Zhang Shuji, said China's Internet police regularly patrol micro-blogging services like Twitter. ... 'The Web police just make a back-up copy of all the chats. Then, if they get a subpoena, they just print it off for evidence that the person concerned was expressing opinions tantamount to incitement.'" Xin Yu, Qiao Long, and Hai Nan, RFA, 8 March 2010. Posted: 10 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

VOD deal brings Burning Roses to bouquets in Europe.

"GlobeCast’s newly launched Content Acquisition and Distribution division has signed a VOD distribution deal with ZN Animation, one of China’s biggest animation producers, as well as general and popular entertainment content fromShanghai Media Group’s subsidiary, WingsMedia. Under the deal, GlobeCast – the content management and delivery company and division of France Telecom, will help this top-notch content reach VOD viewers on DTH and pay-TV bouquets throughout Europe. ... ZN Animation’s popular programmes include Chinese animation hits such as RUBI, an educational and entertaining pre-school program, and Zheng He’s Voyages to the West Seas... . WingsMedia is a wholly owned subsidiary of China’s one of the biggest media groups, Shanghai Media Group (SMG). Among its hit shows are talkshow ChenChen All Star and hugely popular dramas such as Love Affairs and Burning Roses." GlobeCast press release, 25 February 2010. Posted: 10 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Risky radio listening in Somalia.

"Last year Somalia's Radio Warsan was a pro-government station that vilified al-Qaida-linked insurgents. Today it is in the hands of the rebels as they battle the U.N.-backed government on the ground with guns and on the nation's airwaves with pro-jihad messages. As the propaganda war intensifies in the battered Horn of Africa nation, the government is using a newly modernized radio station to get its own message across to more Somalis, and the U.N. is financing a new radio station. When Somalis tune in to the government station in insurgent-controlled territory, they tend to do so in secret to avoid being punished by the al-Shabab rebels, who routinely execute suspected government collaborators." Malkhadir M. Muhumed, AP, 2 March 2010. Posted: 10 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Death of a North Dakota RFE supporter.

"Floyd Boutrous, a Bismarck-area businessman who became a member of the board of Radio Free Europe and was known as a tireless constitutional advocate, has died at age 93. ... He served on the board of Radio Free Europe, which beamed western broadcasts to communist countries that made up the Iron Curtain, and delivered an address on Radio Free Europe in Berlin. He visited Soviet-controlled East Germany in 1954, as well as the American, French and British sectors of the split country." Bismarck (North Dakota) Tribune, 2 March 2010. Mr. Boutrous was actually North Dakota state chairman of RFE fundraising entity Crusade for Freedom. This from Richard Cummings forthcoming 'Crusade for Freedom': Rallying Americans Behind Cold War Broadcasting, 1950-1960: "General Alfred M. Gruenther, Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe, visited Bismarck, North Dakota, on February 22, 1955, and was honored at a dinner in his honor at the Apple Creek Country Club. General Gruenther had flown directly from Paris to speak before the North Dakota State legislature. Invited North Dakota Crusade directors and officers, sponsored by Crusade for Freedom state chairman Floyd Boutrous, attended the dinner; entertainment was provided by two former Miss North Dakota's." Posted: 10 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Learning English with Michael Jackson Radio; shortwave in the (1954) language lab.

"Listen to Online English FM Radio Stations with Online English Radio Utility on your Desktop Computer. Listen to Pop, Rock, Ambient, Electronic and much more with Online English Radio. Online English Radio has all the Hit English FM Radio Stations. Listen to the King Of the POP Michael Jackson Radio in Online English Radio which plays all time Hots of Michael Jackson 24×7. ... Listen 70’s, 80’s, 90’s Pop music Online Live from various Countries like UK, USA, and other Countries in the World. Listen easily the FM Radio Music broadcasting from various Countries right on your desktop Computer." Literacy News, 2 March 2010. From freeware developer (apparently in India) murgee.com, which also has World Radio and Hindi Radio utilities that aggregate available streams. In the meantime, Literacy News may want to consider a unit on capitalization.
     At the Rosary College Language Lab in 1954: "Each student in the lab had her own set of earphones to access any of five languages. She could listen to recordings in the language or monitor short-wave radio broadcasts." Chicago Sun-Times, 4 March 1954 via John R. Schmidt, Chicago Now, 3 March 2010. Rosary College in River Forest, Illinois, is now Dominican University, which appears to have majors only in French, Italian, and Spanish. Posted: 10 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

BBC World News on your Tata.

"India’s leading Mobile TV content provider Apalya technology announced its partnership with BBC World News. The BBC World News channel will now be available on Tata Photon TV Service across India." Telecom Talk, 4 March 2010. See also Photon TV channels. Posted: 10 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

For interesting television, "we can always rely on the Brits."

"[W]hen we run out of ideas or interesting shows we can always rely on the Brits. Since the inception of television, the British have shipped across the pond some of the most engaging television to grace our screens. ... While many British-made television shows find their homes on U.S. cable networks and public television stations, the major networks tend to shy away from airing these shows in their original form, opting instead to recreate them as in-house productions. ... Outside of the major networks, cable channels have embraced original imported shows. BBC America, the cable/satellite channel launched in 1998 to exclusively air British-made content is one such channel. In its early years, the channel’s content revolved around reruns of Cash in the Attic and the daily BBC World News reports. However, the influx of many critically-acclaimed shows gave BBC America a much-needed makeover and has garnered some of the highest ratings on cable and satellite television in the past five years." Jason Stives, Daily Targum (Rutgers University), 3 March 2010. Posted: 10 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

China Radio International learns that Galveston radio is not Houston radio.

"China Radio International bought 'a pig in a poke' when it leased a Galveston radio station in January that network officials mistakenly believed broadcast to the Houston market, according to a former China Radio International employee. 'It was the dumbest thing they could have ever done,' said Mark Shorey, a consultant at CRI headquarters in Beijing before his resignation last month . 'CRI believes that they are broadcasting in Houston and continue to announce this fact on the air and on their Web site.' ... George Lee, whose Electric Theater Radio Hour was taken off the air to make room for CRI, said that if a listener is driving from Galveston toward Houston, the signal will usually start to fade near Santa Fe. 'It's a small market station, and it was never intended from the day it was built to broadcast to Houston,' Lee said. 'On some nights, if all the planets are in alignment and the weather conditions are just right, you may be able to pick it up in Houston.'" Harvey Rice, Houston Chronicle, 3 March 2010. I can't find a reference to Houston at the CRI website. Perhaps since deleted? See previous post about same subject. Posted: 09 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

The Mouse goes to Indonesia.

"Disney-ABC International Television (DAIT) Asia Pacific has signed a multi-year agreement with PT Media Nusantara Citra Tbk (MNC), Indonesia’s largest integrated media company, to distribute the best of Disney animation, pre-school programs, live action series and original movies over MNC’s leading national television broadcast networks across Indonesia. ... RCTI, Indonesia’s first and leading private free-to-air channel, will start broadcasting a 90-minute, weekly pre-school animation block – titled ‘Disney Clubhouse’ – from March 6, 2010. Disney Clubhouse will be a learning-based programming block featuring original series such as Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einstein's and My Friends Tigger & Pooh." Press release via asiamediajournal.com, 4 March 2010. Posted: 09 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

France 24 suspended in Côte d'Ivoire (updated: suspension lifted).

"Broadcasts by French TV channel France 24 have been suspended in Ivory Coast for 'unprofessional treatment of the news' and political events in the country, the regulatory board announced Monday. The National Council for Audiovisual Communication (CNCA) has taken 'a precautionary measure' cutting off broadcasts by the channel 'while waiting for a discussion by the council,' its president Franck Anderson Kouassi told AFP. 'The decision taken on Friday comes into effect this Monday,' he said, adding that the measure was a consequence of France 24's coverage of 'political news' in Ivory Coast, without giving further details. Tension has increased in the divided west African country since President Laurent Gbagbo on February 12 dissolved both the national unity government and the Independent Electoral Commission." AFP, 22 February 2010.
     "'The management of our channel regrets the Ivorian authorities’ decision and hopes that, at its Wednesday meeting, the West African state’s broadcast regulator will review this decision, which to us seems unjustified,' France 24 said in a statement." France 24, 22 February 2010.
     "The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned... ." CPJ, 24 February 2010. "Reporters Without Borders is extremely concerned... ." Reporters sans frontières, 23 February 2010.
     Update: "Ivory Coast has lifted the suspension it placed last month on satellite TV news channel France 24, the West African country's National Council for Audiovisual Communication said on Wednesday." Reuters, 3 March 2010. “This satisfactory outcome ends a week in which Ivorians were deprived of a major international news source.” Reporters sans frontières, 4 March 2010. Posted: 09 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

DW-TV and France 24 authorized for distribution on Russian cable.

"The legalisation of foreign channels for distribution on Russian cable networks is gathering momentum. AKTR reports that Roskomnadzor, the federal body responsible for licensing channels, has approved the distribution of MCM Top, Mezzo Classic-Jazz, DW-TV, MGM Networks and France 24. ... National Geographic, Fox Life, Fox Crime and Travel Channel are to be registered as mass media channels." Chris Dziadul, Broadband TV News, 4 March 2010. Neither DW-TV nor France 24 have Russian-language content. Posted: 08 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

More skepticism about H.R. 2278.

"A new US bill aimed at taming the foreign media perceived as hostile to American interests is expected to continue to lean on the tradition set by Woodrow Wilson and which has been dutifully followed by eager beavers elsewhere. There are of course different ways of dealing with a channel like Al Jazeera for example. One is to not allow it to broadcast in a country by legal or bureaucratic fiat, as happens to be the case in India. The other way is to bomb the supposedly recalcitrant broadcasters as happens in the Middle East. In Pakistan journalists can be killed or made to ‘disappear’. In India, in the tradition of Creel, they are co-opted. Some of the provisions of the US bill that purports to curb 'anti-American incitement to violence in the Middle East' have set off alarm bells in the Arab world. The bill pleads gratuitously that though freedom of the press and freedom of expression are the foundations of free and prosperous societies worldwide, 'with the freedom of the press and freedom of expression comes the responsibility to repudiate purveyors of incitement to violence'." Jawed Naqvi, Dawn (Karachi), 4 March 2010.
     "Perhaps instead of going after Arab TV, Congress should enact new laws to create a more competitive market for comprehensive news in America." Jalal Ghazi, New America Media, 4 March 2010. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 08 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Removal of Russian-language channel from Eutelsat results in a one-way flow of satellite TV (updated again).

"The last victim of Moscow's censors and their western friends is called Perviy Kavkazskiy (First-Caucasian). This young Russian-language television station was, until the end of January, freely available to people living in Russian-speaking areas. Now, Eutelsat – the leading European satellite provider based in Paris – has taken the channel off the air and refuses to implement the contract negotiated with the TV. It seems the Russian company Intersputnik made Eutelsat an offer it couldn't refuse on 15 January, holding out the possibility of millions of dollars in business with the media holdings of Russian gas giant Gazprom on the condition that Eutelsat stop doing business with First-Caucasian. Eutelsat capitulated and sent a disastrous message to the world: no Russian-language television that is not controlled by the Kremlin will be allowed to be aired in the Russian Federation. Even if it is based abroad. Even if it has a contract with a European satellite provider. The English-language satellite channel, Russia Today, funded and controlled by the Russian government, did not face such problems with European satellites." Garry Kasparov [the chess grandmaster] , Comment is Free, The Guardian, 23 February 2010
     "Was Europe’s leading TV satellite operator, Eutelsat, censoring again in violation of article 3 of the convention under which it was created when it recently refused to carry the Georgian public TV station Pervyi Kakvazkyi on its W7 satellite? That is the question that a French court will begin to address on 22 March. ... Another case concerns the BBC’s Farsi-language television station, BBC Persian TV. Although it was Iran that was accused of repeatedly jamming and interfering with its signal, Eutelsat stopped carrying the station at the start of the year, yielding to political and commercial pressure from a government that constantly violates its citizens’ basic rights, including the right to be informed." Reporters sans frontières, 25 February 2010.
     Update: "Saakashvili is pursuing a propaganda campaign aiming to destabilise the region through direct and indirect provocation of Russia and support of terrorists with the tacit approval of Washington and Brussels. He has launched a Russian-language TV station First Caucasus beamed into South Ossetia, much like Reagan’s TV Marti set up in 1985 for Cubans." Eric Walberg, Faxts.com, 2 March 2010. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 08 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Former BBC journalist and the three issues she "cannot touch" on China Radio International.

Susan Osman, who accused previous employer BBC of ageism, is now at China Radio International, where she is the host of "the breakfast-time English-language show, Beijing Hour. In style, it sounds much like a local BBC radio show, including traffic roundups and chit-chat with the business reporter. But while a news report about the Dalai Lama avoids the kind of angry rhetoric sometimes employed by state media, it is noticeable that it also omits the viewpoint of the Tibetan government-in-exile. ... Are there any issues she cannot touch at all? 'Yes, three.' Reluctantly, she elucidates: the private lives of leaders; the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests of 1989; and the banned spiritual movement, Falun Gong." Tania Branigan, The Guardian, 3 March 2010. Posted: 08 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Report: North Korean executed for passing news via mobile phone.

"A North Korean has been publicly executed for using a mobile phone to tell a defector friend in South Korea about living conditions in the communist state, a rights group said Thursday. The man identified only as Jung was executed in late January after security officials discovered a Chinese mobile phone in his home, said the Seoul-based Open Radio for North Korea. It said Jung, a munitions worker in the northeastern port of Hamhung, confessed under torture that he had mentioned rice prices and living conditions. The friend defected to South Korea in 2001, said the station, which allows individuals and private groups to broadcast to North Koreans via shortwave radio. Jung was the first person to be shot since Pyongyang tightened a crackdown on illegal mobile phones this year, it said." AFP, 4 March 2010. Posted: 07 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

North Korea develops its own Linux-based operating system.

"Not only does North Korea have “its own Internet” [Kwangmyong]-- still active?] – a national information network independent from the US-based Internet regulator – it also has an operating system, developed under by order of Kim Jong-il. Russian student Mikhail, who studies in the Kim Il-sung University and writes a blog from the Russian embassy in Pyongyang, has recently purchased the Red Star Operating System (OS) and tested it. Courtesy of Mikhail, RT gives you an opportunity to take glimpse at IT life of world’s most closed country. The Red Star is a Linux-based OS developed by North Korean IT specialists last year. Readme file, which goes with the install disc, even gives a quote from Kim Jong-il about how important for DPRK is to have its own Linux-based operating system compatible with Korean traditions. The version tested by Mikhail is the latest build, which, according to locals, still needs polishing. The OS is not popular (yet?), with most people who need one preferring Windows XP and Windows Vista. ... What is interesting for a North Korean product is the near-total absence of propaganda – unless you treat the word “red” in its name as an instance." Russia Today, 1 March 2010. Cited by PC World, 4 March 2010 and The Korea Herald, 4 March 2010. In addition to its coverage of UFOs and conspiracy theories, here's an example of Russia Today (RT) providing some really interesting and useful news. Its reference to a "US-based Internet regulator" apparently refers to ICANN. Posted: 07 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

An essay on jamming.

"Deliberate jamming breaches international law, although inadvertent signal interference (as a result of a badly tuned or unduly powerful transmitter for example) is quite ordinary. Jamming is often a political act, practiced by many administrations around the world: the United States is known to have recently jammed legal Cuban radio and TV news broadcasts; Indonesia jammed Tongan satellite signals in 1997; Cuba, Libya, Syria and Egypt have all reportedly jammed foreign satellite signals for ostensibly political motivations." Sonya Shaykhoun, "New York qualified Attorney at Charles Russell LLP in Bahrain," Digital Production Middle East, 2 March 2010. I'm not aware of any US jamming of Cuban news broadcasts. She might be referring to Cuban complaints that TV Martí transmission from an aircraft over the Florida keys interfere with Cuban domestic television. Cuba, on the other hand, is one of the most active jamming nations, with most of its efforts aimed at Radio and TV Martí. Posted: 06 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Comments on the State Department's "Global War on Censorship."

"Now, not only are we engaged in a War on Terror, but according to the U.S. State Department, apparently a Global War on Censorship. As President Barack Obama extends the hand of reconciliation to distasteful regimes, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is simultaneously declaring open war on many of these same states’ control of private-media access." Aaron Church, The Foundry blog, Heritage Foundation, 1 March 2010. See also Ken Stier, Time, 6 February 2010. Posted: 05 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

BBC's Asian Network -- domestic, not World Service -- will close.

"The BBC’s Asian Network, a digital radio station which is aimed at the ethnic minorities but has suffered a sharp fall in its listening audience, is to close as part of a wide-ranging cost cutting and overall strategy review, Mark Thompson, director-general of the corporation, announced today. ... The Asian Network was an attempt by the BBC to provide a service to 2.5 to 3 million listeners of Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan origin, with a focus on music aimed at Asian 'youth' and a significant Bollywood content as well. ... Although well intentioned, the Asian Network was encouraging a ghetto mentality and paid little attention, for example, to ideas, books, literature, films beyond Bollywood, education, foreign affairs, science, history, contemporary art — and the kind of treatment that finds a home either on BBC Radio 4 or BBC World Service." Amit Roy, The Telegraph (Calcutta), 2 March 2010.
     "The truth is that the majority of the Asian Network audience comes from the Midlands (around 70%) and these people are listening to it on the AM frequency, not on digital radio. As a result you're unlikely to find them on Twitter or in media-friendly places. Does that mean the Asian Network has a PR and marketing problem? Probably. Does it raise questions regarding management support and trust? Yes. Does it raise questions regarding the BBC's failure to serve and include British Asians on the rest of their "mainstream" networks? Certainly. Does that mean it should be axed to save some cash in case the Tories take it away from the BBC in a few months? No." Malik Meer, The Guardian, 3 March 2010.
     "Britain's venerable BBC is overhauling its domestic coverage, shedding radio stations, slicing the number of its Web pages by half and moving out of magazines. ... Whatever the case, the BBC's foreign audience — from Afghan listeners of BBC Pashto to American fans of 'Antiques Roadshow' — aren't likely to see much in the way of changes. And at a time when U.S. media organizations such as ABC have promised massive layoffs in their news operations, the nearly 90-year-old broadcaster says it's putting extra money into its journalism. ... The BBC's World Service — which gets its funding from the Foreign Office and broadcasts in Arabic, Pashto, and 30 other languages — isn't covered by the review." Raphael G. Satter, AP, 2 March 2010.
     BBC's "commercial subsidiary BBC Worldwide will be ordered to focus its activities overseas and dispose of its British magazines arm. This puts the future of publications such as Radio Times and Top Gear in doubt." Patrick Foster, The Times, 26 February 2010.
     "'There is an argument that it is the single most important institution in Britain,' says Luke Johnson, the recently retired chairman of Channel 4. 'It is probably more powerful than some branches of government.' John Newbigin, a former special advisor to the Blair administration's department of culture, media and sport, agrees: 'The BBC is by far the most potent brand image of Britain worldwide.'" Andy Beckett, The Guardian, 1 March 2010.
     "The BBC World Service is funded directly by the Government through the Foreign Office and this is one of the jewels in the Corporation’s crown. Britain may be a middling country with a fast shrinking economy on the edge of Europe, but the BBC helps the country punch well above its weight." Mark Seddon, Big Think, 27 February 2010. Posted: 05 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

BBC Bangla looks at digitalization, BBC Hausa at the internet.

"As the government of Bangladesh has announced its ambition to digitalise the country by 2021, in time for the nation's 50th anniversary, BBC Bangla investigates the project's chances for success in a special series of programmes. In Jogajog Bangladesh (Connectivity Bangladesh), from Wednesday 10 to Friday 19 March, BBC Bangla provides audiences with an insight in all things digital in Bangladesh – and the country's digital future. The multimedia content will be broadcast on radio, online on bbcbangla.com – in text, audio and video – as well as by Bangladesh's Channel i television. Head of BBC Bangla, Sabir Mustafa, says: 'Arguably, full digitalisation of Bangladesh, where less than one per cent of the population is currently connected, is a tall order.'" BBC World Service press release, 2 March 2010.
     "As part of the BBC's international news services' SuperPower season, BBC Hausa is launching special programming that explores the ways in which the internet is transforming the world. The BBC Hausa daily multimedia output – on radio and online on bbchausa.com – focuses on how the internet is affecting the Hausa-speaking community across the globe, from villages in Northern Nigeria to diaspora audiences in Europe." BBC World Service press release, 3 March 2010. Posted: 05 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Worldspace appears closer to becoming Sirius XM's ticket to global expansion.

"An SEC 'annual report' filing made Feb 25 by Sirius-XM ... talks of Sirius-XM’s long-held relationship with Worldspace, in particular a Technology Licensing Agreement dated January 1 1998 (and amended six months later). A key – but telling – phrase says bluntly: 'Other regions. We are in discussions with various parties regarding possible joint ventures in other countries.' ... As far as Worldspace itself is concerned there will be a hearing this coming Friday in a Delaware courtroom regarding the closing stages of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy." Chris Forrester, Rapid TV News, 1 March 2010.
     "With Worldspace having L-Band spectrum licensing globally, and both the XM infrastructure side of Sirius XM Radio and Worldspace having come from the same technologies, it’s not a big leap to speculate that the XM side of Sirius XM is a key part of the globalization planning. Worldspace broadcasts in the 1467-1492 MHz frequency range of the 'L' band, and Worldspace’s proprietary and patented technology is coincidentally used in each XM Radio receiver. ... There is already one spare Worldspace satellite in storage (was planned for launch prior to the Worldspace Bankruptcy) that can be modified prior to launch as needed. This as yet unlaunched satellite would cover a larger area of Europe than the current Afristar satellite in orbit." Steve Garcia, King of All Trades, 28 February 2010.
     "The pioneer of satellite radio is, arguably, WorldSpace founder Noah Samara. With proprietary technology and other people’s money he launched birds, assembled content and put satellite radio on the map. He also burned through a fortune, US$2.5 billion by one estimate. The WorldSpace service proved popular in Asia – largely India – and Africa. In October 2008 WorldSpace – by then renamed 1worldspace – was in US bankruptcy court." Michael Hedges, followthemedia.com, 3 March 2010. Worldspace had devotees in India, but with only 170,000 subscribers worldwide, it wasn't really "popular."
     "Liberty Media has pumped $21 million into WorldSpace since assuming control, according to documents filed with the bankruptcy court. The filings list WorldSpace assets as worth $307 million. It could be on the hook for $2.2 billion in debt, depending on how royalty payments on future profits it owes to previous investors are sorted out. ... It’s unclear what the business model will be for WorldSpace. A strategy, or at least a use for WorldSpace assets, is expected to emerge in coming weeks in bankruptcy court hearings." Greg Avery, Denver Business Journal, 5 March 2010. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 05 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Al Jazeera Film Festival, with "Freedom" theme, includes judges from China, Iran, and Cuba.

"A total of 198 films are to compete in the sixth edition of the Aljazeera International Documentary Film Festival 2010, being held under the slogan ‘Freedom’, from April 19-22. A staggering 20 new countries are joining the contest. ... Highlighting new participating countries, the official said the festival is to feature seven Russian TVs, as well as submissions from Turkey and many other south American and African contestants. The 15-member jury is from different countries including China, India, Iran, Australia, Cuba, Argentina, Italy, Turkey, Mexico, Norway, Lebanon, Egypt and Russia." The Peninsula (Doha), 1 March 2010. See also Festival website. Posted: 05 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

International channels in Malaysia, and their accents.

"Most of the evenings nowadays when I am watching the news, I will watch CCTV9, CNN, BBC, Al-jazeera, and even CNBC, and I survive the evenings because it isn’t such an ordeal to endure watching these foreign presenters. ... Newscasters from Japan's NHK or China's CCTV9 read the English news with their own accents but we in Malaysia, want to emulate the English speakers and that simply does not work. We just can’t get it right! Why can’t we read English, or Malay for that matter, in a grammatically correct way, but in our own accent?" Rusdi Mustapha, The Malay Mail, 1 March 2010. I posted this item not so much for the commentary about accents, but to show the range of international channels available in Malaysia. Posted: 05 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Tsunami warnings via mobile phone.

"Radio Australia's Ulamila Wragg says that for the first time warnings were sent via email and text messages advising of the dangers. Almost every mobile phone owner in the Cooks has registered themselves with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, she says." Australia Network News, 1 March 2010. The PTWC, in Hawaii, is operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 05 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

The harrowing media news from Iran.

Iranian student activist Iman Sadighi, sentenced to ten months in prison: "Regarding the charge of contacting satellite TV stations, I was interviewed on BBC, VOA, and Radio Farda, but according to law, contacting foreign media is not a crime and they can’t imprison anyone for being interviewed." International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran, 28 February 2010.
     "The [Iranian] daily Etemad was suspended on 1 March and the weekly Iran Dokht's licence has been cancelled. At the same time, journalists continue to be arrested in Tehran and many others throughout the country have received summonses. ... Etemad was suspended after publishing the reactions of pro-reform parliamentarians to video footage broadcast by BBC Persian [see previous post] showing police and militiamen beating and clubbing students during a raid on the Tehran university campus on 15 June that was apparently filmed by the security forces themselves." Reporters sans frontières, 3 March 2010.
     "Ghanbar Naderi, a journalist for the Iran Daily, an official government newspaper, told Al Jazeera that journalists have to censor much of what they write, irrespective of their political background. 'The press law in this country is very tough and unforgiving, it doesn't make any difference if you are a reformist or a conservative media outlet,' he said. 'In these sensitive times, with the country under constant political pressure, as a journalist your first mistake will be your last.'" Aljazeera.net, 2 March 2010. See also BBC News, 1 March 2010.
     "'I have to change my phone number every month because Iranian intelligence are threatening to kill me,' human rights activist Ahmad Batebi, who fled to the U.S. from Iran in 2008, told FoxNews.com. Now working with the Voice of America, the international broadcasting service funded by the U.S. government, Batebi says he spent nine years in Iranian prisons, where he was tortured for his affiliation with student groups working against the Tehran government." Richard Byrne Reilly, Fox News, 4 March 2010.
     "[T]he intellectuals and politicians of [Iran's Green] movement have created a discourse that equates revolutionary change with violence and despotism, and reformism with nonviolence and democracy. In the present climate of censorship, their voices are the loudest. They have been successful in colonizing media outside Iran, like BBC Persian service and Voice of America, which are then beamed back into the country." Mahmood Delkhasteh, Huffington Post, 1 March 2010.
     "RFE/RL's Radio Farda has obtained an audio recording that offers disquieting insight into the methods being employed by Iranian officials during the current clampdown. The listener, who called the station's voicemail service on the uneasy anniversary of Iran's Islamic revolution (he says SMS service was not working on February 11), recorded a phone call he received a week later from a man claiming to be from the Isfahan offices of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence. The listener is summoned -- in no uncertain terms, including a threat of 'scalping' -- to appear for questioning at the Intelligence Ministry's local offices." RFE/RL Watchdog, 25 February 2010. Posted: 05 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

New VP/GM for CNN en Español "underscores CNN's commitment to the Latin American marketplace."

"Award-winning Spanish-language television executive and journalist Cynthia Hudson has been named senior vice president and general manager of CNN en Español and Hispanic strategy for CNN/U.S., it was announced today by Tony Maddox, executive vice president and managing director of CNN International. Hudson will relocate from Miami to CNN’s global headquarters in Atlanta, and report to Maddox. In her new position, Hudson will oversee newsgathering, editorial content, programming, production, operations and personnel, of CNN en Español, CNN en Español RADIO and the recently launched CNNMexico.com, a joint venture Web site produced in conjunction with Grupo Editorial Expansión. ... 'Her appointment underscores CNN's commitment to the Latin American marketplace, where CNN en Español consistently ranks as the region’s leading pan-regional news network, and positions us to best serve the growing Hispanic market in the U.S.' ... CNN en Español, CNN’s independently produced 24-hour network in Spanish, is currently available in 23 million cable and DTH households throughout Latin America, and more than 4 million households across the United States." Kevin Allocca, mediabistro.com, 1 March 2010. Posted: 04 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

In new CNN International environmental program, president of Maldives will debate model.

"‘Earth's Frontiers' is a new monthly environmental programme on CNN International, which will bridge the gap between science fiction and the reality of managing the planet's finite resources. Cutting edge, investigative and futuristic, 'Earth's Frontiers' promises to expose the challenges the planet faces from changing global resources; tests technologies being developed which will change ordinary people’s everyday existence; confronts businesses consuming irreplaceable resources and debates the best way forward for the future of the planet. ... The monthly programmes will be punctuated by quarterly studio debates, from major cities around the world, beginning in South Korea in April. Confirmed guests in the April debate include: director James Cameron; model Gisele Bundchen; the President of the Maldives, Mohammed Nasheen, plus the entrepreneurs and business leaders, Virgin’s Richard Branson and Puma President Jay Pioccola will come together to discuss and debate, moderated by a CNN correspondent." Press release via BI-ME, 28 February 2010.
     "The Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, Masdar begins its 2010 commercial association with CNN International with the exclusive sponsorship of the network's newest monthly environmental series, 'Earth's Frontiers', due to launch to international audiences on 25th February. As CNN seeks to set the agenda for moving the sustainability debate forward, the multi-platform advertising campaign extends the Masdar brand footprint, with their first international programme sponsorship, connecting with CNN's audience of opinion leaders on air, online, in print and through a series of global debates." Press release via AMEinfo, 28 February 2010. Will the UK's Ofcom have a problem with this sponsorship thing?
     "Lotus Racing has secured a high-profile sponsor on the eve of its maiden Formula 1 season in the form of the global news giant CNN. The Malaysian-backed entry has signed what it is calling a 'long-term agreement' with CNN International, with the tie-up to see the news network’s famous logo appear on Lotus’s cars, driver overalls and team clothing." ITV, 2 March 2010. Posted: 04 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Winston Churchill, grandson of Winston Churchill, helped create Radio Free Kabul.

"The former Conservative MP Winston Churchill, who has died of cancer aged 69, perhaps tried too hard to emulate the grandfather whose name he inherited. ... He exploited the Soviet Union's brutal attempts to suppress its Afghan insurgents in all sorts of ways, both open and covert. He was a sponsor of the rebels' illegal Radio Free Kabul." Andrew Roth, The Guardian, 2 March 2010. Radio Free Kabul was a black clandestine radio station, something the British have a knack for organizing. See, among other sources, Henry S. Bradsher, Afghanistan and the Soviet Union (Durham NC: Duke University Press, 1985), pp. 190-192. Posted: 03 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Hand over the source code, China tells US manufacturers of routers, firewalls, etc.

"China is pressuring foreign makers of high-tech products for sensitive information at a time of growing concern over computer hacking, experts say. ... Some makers of products like secure routers and firewalls face the choice of providing source codes and opening possible 'back doors' to information or losing market access, industry officials said. John Neuffer, vice president for global policy at the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI), told the paper that U.S. companies 'are feeling less welcome' in China, although they want to keep doing business there. The Washington-based group represents over 40 U.S. suppliers of computer and communications technology. ITI officials declined a Radio Free Asia request for an interview, but experts say the pressure is part of a pattern of cybersecurity conflicts with China." Michael Lelyveld, Radio Free Asia, 1 March 2010. Posted: 03 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

China labor organization communicates via Radio Free Asia.

"China Labor Bulletin (CLB), [is] a non-governmental organization founded in 1994 by activist Han Dongfang. Han and his colleagues are pushing hard for grassroots change in China -- and they're doing it openly. But they are also doing it within the existing system, not against it. ... One of the group's most potent tools is its thrice-weekly radio program, beamed into China by Radio Free Asia. (The Chinese authorities block CLB's website on the mainland, but staffers say the group manages to quietly advertise its services on other sites.) Workers call in or send emails explaining their legal travails. Then, Han responds on the air, explaining the cases, discussing possible legal strategies, and sometimes actively intervening." Christian Caryl, Foreign Policy, 28 February 2010. Posted: 03 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Bernie Lo returns to CNBC Asia.

"CNBC has announced that Bernard (Bernie) Lo will rejoin the network as an anchor based out of its Hong Kong Studio. His new assignment will include coverage during core business day programming, as well as a weekly 30-minute talk show. In this new capacity, Lo will report to John Casey, VP, News and Programming for CNBC Asia. ... Over the last 6 years, Lo has been the lead anchor on Bloomberg television, based out of Hong Kong. Prior to that, he was with CNBC, also based in Hong Kong, where he hosted several of its flagship programmes including Squawk Asia and talkshow Lo & Co." Press release via News on News, 1 March 2010. Posted: 03 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Saudi channels influencing the Iraqi election?

"Iraqi observers have noted that TV satellite channels supported by Saudi Arabia, such as Al-Sharqiya, Al-Baghdadiya, and Al-Babiliya, or ones financed by the Kingdom, such as Al-Arabiya, are expanding coverage that takes aim at Iraq's two key Shi'a coalitions – Al-Maliki's State of Law and Al-Hakim's Iraqi National Coalition. These channels appear to be supporting slates supported by Saudi Arabia and the U.S. – in particular, those headed by former prime minister Ayad Allawi, Interior Minister Jawad Al-Boulani, and 'the controversial personality' and MP Ayad Jamal al-Din." MEMRI Blog, 1 March 2010. Posted: 03 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Psyop soldier makes sure "the right people get the right information."

Spc. Brittney Hunt, a 2007 Yale B.A. in religious studies with a concentration in Islamic studies "deployed to northern Iraq in the summer of 2009 and returned to Fort Bragg last month. Her job was to do research and analyze the 'target audience,' the people that they were trying to influence. 'A lot of what pys op is is the war of ideas, trying to make sure the right people get the right information and making sure we tailor what we are saying to our audience,' she said. 'A lot of what I do is the research that's the basis of that.'" Henry Cuningham, Fayette (NC) Observer, 28 February 2010. Posted: 03 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

VOA health journalism training goes to Panama City.

"More than 20 reporters from every country in Central America attended a two-day Voice of America (VOA) training session on critical health issues related to influenza and natural disasters. Organized by VOA’s Office of Development in Panama City, Panama, the Feb. 24-25 training exercises included roundtable discussions, analysis and knowledge-sharing by panelists from several International Organizations ... . Topics discussed included the creation of simple and direct messages in cases of critical health emergencies under a possible pandemic and during a natural disaster. ... One of the mandates of the Voice of America is to provide training in critical journalism skills around the world, particularly in issues pertaining to health." Rohini Singh, Media News International, 26 February 2010. VOA doesn't have an "Office of Development in Panama City." It should have been written that VOA’s Office of Development in Washington organized the event in Panama City, as it has done in other cities, e.g. Kingston (see previous post). Posted: 03 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Report: Obama administration will spend on Pakistani media "to reverse anti-American sentiments."

"The Obama administration plans to spend nearly $50 million on Pakistani media this year to reverse anti-American sentiments and raise awareness of projects aimed at improving quality of life, confirms a Washington insider. ... The US Special Representative to Pakistan and Afghanistan, Ambassador Richard Holbrooke believes that a substantial amount of monies spent on media- especially private TV channels will reduce tension and may even bring Pakistan-US relations back on the right path. Senator John Kerry, the main architect of Kerry-Lugar bill also supports the idea of claiming credit for all 'the good work being done to improve infrastructure, energy and education,' said a source in Senator’s office. ... Voice of America, a radio and TV platform that speaks for the government of the US already has a tie-up with Geo TV and now they have aligned with Express TV as well." Ibrahim Sajid Malick, 27 February 2010. No details on how the $50 million would be spent. Spot ads on Pakistani television, perhaps. Posted: 03 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Experimenting with shortwave, now and then.

"At a facility in a remote part of south-central Alaska, the largest radio transmitter on Earth sends high-frequency [shortwave] signals into the ionosphere to better understand the influence of charged particles on radio communications and satellite surveillance systems. Surprisingly, it also is able to create a mini-ionosphere. 'The High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program, a program known as HAARP, is basically a joint Air Force-Navy program to investigate ionospheric physics and radio science,' explained James Battis, HAARP program manager at the Air Force Research Laboratory, in a Feb. 24 interview on Pentagon Web Radio’s audio webcast 'Armed with Science: Research and Applications for the Modern Military.'" Bob Freeman, American Forces Press Service, 26 February 2010.
     "On 26 February 1935 a radio receiver was taken, in a small van, to a field near the village of Litchborough a few miles north of Towcester on the A5. Today on 26 February 2010 on a wet, very cold and windy day the event was celebrated and recreated. The original purpose was to try to detect a Handley Page Heyford bomber, a modern aircraft was used today. The bomber had been directed to fly through short-wave (49 metre) transmissions from the nearby Daventry radio transmitter. The Heyford was detected by the vehicle & was tracked for some 9 miles. At the time known as RDF this was the 'Birth of RADAR'." James Rudd, About My Area, 26 February 2010. "The original experiment was carried out on the 49 metre short wave band. Using the BBC Empire transmitter at Daventry, hence this being The Daventry Experiment." G8GMU website. The re-enactment was done on the 2-meter amateur radio band, between 144 and 148 MHz, thus higher in frequency than shortwave (3-30 MHz). Posted: 03 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Malfunctioning shortwave transmitters prevent reception in remote areas of Zambia (updated).

"The Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) shortwave transmitters that carry the Radio 1 and 2 signals in the short wave band have developed a technical fault. ZNBC Public Relations Manager Miriam Mtonga disclosed the development in a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday. Ms. Mtonga said the situation means that listeners in remote areas will not be able to access the service." Lusaka Times, 10 February 2010.
     Update: "Speaking at the China-Zambia Investment Promotion seminar held at the China Nonferrous Metal Corporation (CNMC) headquarters in Beijing yesterday, [Zambian] President [Rupiah] Banda ... said the Chinese had been involved in the implementation of some important projects in Zambia such as the construction of the TAZARA , construction and rehabilitation of roads, supply of shortwave transmitters to Zambia’s national broadcaster... ." Lusaka Times, 27 February 2010. Posted: 03 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Has scoop about (of all things) cricket put VOA in a sticky wicket?

"The International Cricket Council (ICC) has provided match fixing proves to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) against alleged involvement of wicket keeper Kamran Akmal and medium pacer Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan. ... On investigation, a highly placed official in PCB exclusively told Voice of America on the condition of anonymity that 'the two players were wicket keeper Kamran Akmal and medium pacer Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan'." The News (Karachi), 27 February 2010.
     "The 28 year old Lahore based wicketkeeper/batsman has represented Pakistan on 191 occasions in all forms of the game, but was named on Saturday along with Rana Naved-ul-Hasan by Voice of America as two Pakistani players allegedly involved in match fixing." Asian News International, 1 March 2010.
     "A day after Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ijaz Butt said two players were under investigation for match fixing, the Voice of America television and radio network reported Akmal and Naved-ul-Hasan were the players under scrutiny." ANI, 1 March 2010.
     "'I will be consulting the board and my lawyer also to decide what action to take against the Voice of American for making these false allegations,' the 28-year-old [Kamran Akmal] told the Times of India. ... Kamran and Rana were both named in Pakistan's preliminary squad for next month's Twenty20 World Cup, but Voice of America reported that the Pakistani board had decided the duo would not be in the final squad." Jesse Hogna, The Age (Melbourne), 1 March 2010.
     "The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is seeking an apology from a foreign broadcasting service over its report that two Pakistan cricket team players are involved in match-fixing. A well-placed source in the PCB said on Monday that senior board officials are unhappy with match-fixing accusations against two national team players and have decided to sue Voice of America if it did not apologize for the report." Indo Asian News Service, 1 March 2010. Posted: 03 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Heritage Foundation advice about broadcasts to North Korea. Much clean-up required.

"The most effective medium into North Korea today remains short-wave radio, a medium that unfortunately has become undervalued by the Broadcasting Board of Governors overseeing U.S. international broadcasting. New and sexier venues, such as television and the Internet, is where the focus is today. Vis-à-vis North Korea, medium wave broadcasts from Russia were an option in the past, but were closed down owing to pressure from Pyongyang on the Russian government. Meanwhile, short-wave can be beamed from South Korea and received primarily at night, when most underground users are able to take the risk and when climate conditions are optimal. ... Broadcasts from South Korea also have a strong Christian content, understandably so given that Christian missionaries often are instrumental in facilitating defections." Hell Dale, The Foundry blog, Heritage Foundation, 25 February 2010.
     Most radios in North Korea are of domestic manufacture and receive only AM (medium wave). They are fixed on the frequencies of North Korean government radio. These sets can be modified to tune other frequencies, but only within the AM (medium wave) band. For this reason, medium wave, not shortwave, is the most effective waveband to reach North Korea. VOA Korean still transmits via the Russian MW transmitter on 648 kHz (according to this schedule). More importantly, VOA Korean is also now available on 1188 kHz medium wave from South Korea.
     Some Chinese-manufactured shortwave radios get into North Korea via the black market, and high level officials probably also have radios with shortwave bands. Both VOA and RFA have always had multiple shortwave frequencies to North Korea. The only shortwave transmitters in South Korea belong to the public Korean Broadcasting System (KBS), which has no history of providing transmitter time to VOA or RFA on any waveband. In any case, it would probably be better to transmit on shortwave from a location more distant than South Korea, for reasons of propagation, and to help overcome any North Korean jamming. Shortwave signals can reach North Korea day or night, depending on the frequency used.
     The broadcasts from South Korea that have a "strong Christian content" are, tautologically, from South Korean Christian stations. The more popular broadcasts from KBS are secular. Posted: 02 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Smartphones may not outsmart China's "harsh censorship system."

"The Chinese censorship system could make it difficult for international vendors to penetrate the Chinese [smartphone] market. In particular, Google's threat to leave China has triggered a heated debate about the censorship system. With smartphone users mostly interested in various value-added services including video, mobile gaming and other content-rich services and applications, the Chinese market is becoming attractive to overseas Internet and content service providers. However, under the strict Chinese censorship rules, Western vendors have begun to perceive risks and challenges in the Chinese market: the delayed launch of Google-branded handsets by China Unicom is one example. We anticipate that the harsh censorship system will remain in place in the short term. The argument between Google and the Chinese government will benefit Chinese vendors such as ZTE and Huawei in terms of their smartphone market share. Also, the censorship restrictions are unlikely to prevent China Mobile from using Google's Android platform for its own open mobile operating system (OMS) platform, which is used in the OPhone." Ovum, 26 February 2010. Posted: 02 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

More difficult to start a website in China.

"China on Feb 23 began implementing strict new controls on internet by requiring all individuals wishing to operate Web sites to first of all meet in person with regulators from the country’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology." TibetanReview.net, 26 February 2010
     "A number of websites are now being registered overseas in an attempt to avoid controls." BBC News, 23 February 2010. See also RFA, 24 February 2010. Posted: 02 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

A Texas fiddler-singer's ancestral connection to VOA (or, at least, USIB).

"For years [Texas fiddler-singer Carrie] Rodriguez has performed the song 'La Puñalada Trapera.' It was a song Rodriguez's great aunt, Eva Garza, a well-known recording artist and Voice of America radio personality, recorded decades ago." Stewart Oksenhorn, The Aspen (CO) Times, 25 February 2010. About Eva Garza, see the Wikipedia article about the shortwave radio program Viva América, especially the part about 78 rpm recordings "that have since passed into private collections." Hmm. I'm not sure if US broadcasts to Latin America during the 1940s were called "Voice of America," at least at first. See also references to Eva Garza at the Carrie Rodriguez MySpace page. Posted: 02 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Radio del Sur, radio version of Telesur, inaugurated.

"Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez officially inaugurated Radio del Sur (Radio of the South) on Thursday, a network of radio stations aiming at the peoples of the South in Latin America and other parts of the world, according to its promoters. ... With a network that includes over 100 radio stations in the continent, Radio del Sur will be broadcast in Argentina, Cuba, Chile, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Uruguay, Colombia, the United States, Angola, Iran, Vietnam, Libya, Algeria, Gambia, Benin and China. Sixty percent of the programming will be made in Caracas and the rest will be shows prepared by the associated radio stations of Latin America and the Caribbean. Conceived by Chavez in 2007, the radio network had been on a trial period for four months before its official inauguration on Thursday. Cuban leader Fidel Castro sent the Venezuelan president a message of congratulation for the establishment of a radio of the South." Periodico26.cu, 26 February 2010. See previous post about same subject.
     "'La Radio del Sur tiene la misión de ofrecer la mejor alternativa en materia de información, entretenimiento y educación, a través de una Red de emisoras de alcance internacional, que permita romper con la escasa información que se divulga por los medios tradicionales de comunicación y así poder contrarrestar las manipulaciones mediáticas de las cuales son víctimas los pueblos del mundo'". Radio del Sur, 26 February 2010. Posted: 01 Mar 2010 Permalink Print

Alhurra cited here and there.

"At issue is that Mr al Maliki’s government relations with the Arab world are not based on trust. This led the prime minister, in a statement to the Al Hurra TV channel, to say that movements of the leaders of electoral lists and their meetings with some Arab heads of state put into question the very concept of nationhood through which different Iraqi political forces can deal with each other." Mostapha Elmouloudi, The National (Abu Dhabi), 24 February 2010.
     "Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki [commented] on [Ayad] Allawi's visit to Saudi Arabia to the Al Hurra channel, saying '[as for] the movement of some [electoral] list officials to certain countries, and meeting with the heads of state of these countries, and conducting talks devoted to the [Iraqi] elections… what kind of patriotism is this and how can we deal with it?'" Tariq Alhomayed, Asharq Alawsat, 24 February 2010.
     "An Israeli source told the Al Hurra Satellite TV that there is a significant cooperation between Israel, France, the U.K, Jordan and Egypt to counter what the sources described as 'countering Hamas terrorism'. Another source told Al Hurra that the relations between the Mossad and security agencies in Jordan and Egypt, will not be impacted by the assassination especially since Jordan and Egypt consider Hamas to be part of the Muslim Brotherhood in the two countries, as the two movements seek to topple the ruling regimes of Mubarak in Egypt and King Abdullah II in Jordan." International Middle East Media Center, 24 February 2010.
     "The al-Hurra network quoted 'senior Jerusalem sources' as saying that 'there is a strong cooperation between Israel, France, Britain, Jordan and Egypt in fighting the Hamas terror'." Roee Nahmias, Ynetnews, 23 February 2010.
     "Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammed al-Askeri explained to Alhurra television that the move [to allow members of former ruler Saddam Hussein's army to rejoin the military] had been repeatedly delayed due to a lack of funding." Edward Yeranian, VOA News, 25 February 2010. Posted: 28 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

President Sarkozy says RFI will resume in Rwanda.

Nicolas Sarkozy, on the first visit to Rwanda by a French head of state since the 1994 genocide, "said that Radio France International would begin broadcasting in Rwanda this year." Anjan Sundaram, New York Times, 25 February 2010.
     "The troubles of Radio France International (RFI) started months before relations between Kigali and Paris were severed. On June 10, 2006, then RFI reporter in Kigali, Sonia Rolle,y was ordered out of the country by government for allegedly conducting activities outside her accreditation. The signal of RFI was switched off after the French embassy was closed and the diplomats sent packing. With the situation improving between the two capitals, Ambassador Contini revealed to RNA that RFI could come back on air as soon as next week. He said the remaining issues are mainly technical." Rwanda News Agency, undated but recent. Posted: 28 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Swiss government zeros out funding for swissinfo.

"Government funding for swissinfo.ch would be cut as part of budget proposals for 2011-2013, the finance ministry has confirmed. ... It is the second time in less than ten years that swissinfo.ch is facing potential financial cuts. Its budget was reduced to SFr26 million from SFr44 million and included job losses and the abolition of shortwave radio broadcasts. Half of swissinfo.ch's funding from the government and half from the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC), swissinfo.ch's parent company." swissinfo, 25 February 2010. See also Le Temps (Geneva), 27 February 2010. Swissinfo.ch, in English, german, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Arabic, and Chinese, is the website successor of the shortwave-delivered Swiss Radio International. Could swissinfo drop German, French, and Italian, as information in those languages is available from Swiss domestic websites? Posted: 28 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Israel will add English-language public diplomacy website.

"An English-language Web site will soon be added to the government’s new effort to involve average Israelis in the effort to defend the Jewish state abroad, Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs Minister Yuli Edelstein said on Wednesday. Edelstein said the Web site would be ready in April, joining the Hebrew site Masbirim.gov.il, which around 150,000 people have entered since it debuted two weeks ago." Gil Hoffman, Jerusalem Post, 25 February 2010. Posted: 28 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Slow going for the international channel machers.

"Russian Jewish entrepreneurs are having trouble getting their Jewish television channels off the ground in an effort to counter the influence of Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based, Muslim-sponsored television network. In the latest instance, entrepreneur and politician Vladimir Slutzker has been trying to create an English-language television channel that would offer news from a Jewish perspective, with little success thus far. ... Meanwhile, Nikolai Amiridze, a former producer of Russian state TV’s Channel One, has been trying to launch Shalom TV, a proposed Jewish channel from Russia. He has not been able to find investors thus far." Miriam Cross, Shalom Life, 24 February 2010. Posted: 28 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Sky News prevails over CNN International and Al Jazeera English for RTS news channel of the year.

"Sky News scooped the prestigious News Channel of the Year award for a record seventh time at the Royal Television Society (RTS) awards last night (Wednesday 24 February 2010). Beating off stiff competition from nominees CNN International and Al Jazeera English in the same category, the RTS judges said that Sky News 'demonstrated it can report international news as well as its normal fare of UK news'." News on News, 25 February 2010. Posted: 28 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Radio República and the death of a dissident.

"They are glued to the phones at the Directorio. The audio engineer at the group's shortwave radio station takes in a feed that includes shouts of 'Libertad, Libertad, Libertad!' All attention focused on the funeral services for Orlando Zapata Tamayo. The Cuban Democratic Directorate is a low key, yet high energy Cuban exile group based in Miami that documents civic resistance on the Island. ... The funeral of Zapata Tamayo was producing numerous examples of protest and resistance. Zapata Tamayo was a political prisoner, a dissident, who died after an 80-day hunger strike. ... Despite Cuban government attempts to suppress the news of the dissident's death in the age of Twitter, Facebook, bloggers, and the Directorio's Radio Republica, the word is spreading across the island." Hank Tester, WTVJ-TV (Miami), 26 February 2010. Radio República is now leasing time from the Radio Canada International transmitter near Sackville, NB. See Canada and Cuba entries in DX Listening Digest, 25 February 2010.
     "In Zapata's case, his death was reported worldwide almost immediately because his case was being followed by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, and the news of his death is beginning to trickle into Cuba through shortwave radio broadcasts from abroad," said Elizardo Sanchez Santa Cruz, head of Cuba's Human Human Rights Commission. Andres Oppenheimer,
Miami Herald, 27 February 2010. Posted: 27 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Haiti's Radio Lumiere identifies its three journalists who were quake victims.

"Radio Lumière has officially published the names of three of its journalists who died in the January 12 earthquake in Haiti: Jude Marcellus, Marlene Joseph, and Ginord Desplumes. They died under the rubble of collapsed buildings. It took a month for Radio Lumière officials to decide to publish the names of the three victims. ... Since the earthquake, Radio Lumière has been operating from a makeshift tent, like most media outlets in the Haitian capital. With great difficulty, it is resuming its daily news editions. With the death of journalist Marlene Joseph, the midday news editions have stopped, Toussaint told CPJ. However, Radio Lumière continues to relay news reports three times a day in Creole from the U.S.-backed Voice of America." Jean Roland Chery, Committee to Protect Journalists, 26 February 2010. Posted: 27 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

CNN reports on the Chilean earthquake with the help of CNN Chile.

"When an 8.8 earthquake hit Chile early this morning, CNN was best positioned to relay the most news. CNN drew on the resources of CNN International, CNN’s president in Chile and the latest information via the Web. CNN’s president in Chile, Rolando Santos, said the quake struck at 3:34 a.m. 'One moment I’m in bed,' Santos said. 'The next moment I’m literally on the floor.' He said nothing was left on the walls of his Santiago home." Hal Boedeker, Orlando Sentinel, 27 February 2010.
     "CNN, Fox News and MSNBC struggled to get live updates from Chile, declared a 'state of catastrophe' by President Michelle Bachelet. CNN spent a large amount of time translating directly from CNN Chile and MSNBC, which usually broadcasts documentaries and newsmagazines rather than live news coverage on the weekends, struggled to find last-minute anchors." Kate Stanhope, TV Guide, via seattlepi.com, 27 February 2010. At 2345 UtC, cnnchile.com is loading very slowly. Posted: 27 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

"News at it happens" from TVN Chile.

Thanks to a tip from VOA's Steve Herman, I'm watching live video stream of TVN in Chile. This is using an Acer Aspire Revo mini-pc fed via HDMI cable to the family's HDTV, resulting in AD (adequate definition) rather than HD (high definition) video from the scene, but remarkable nevertheless. Commentary is in Spanish, as TVN is a domestic station. The correspondents, anchors, and camera-persons are doing an excellent job. I'm an old shortwave enthusiast, but shortwave was rarely as good as this for "news as it happens." Wishing the people of Chile a speedy recovery. Posted: 27 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Not much tsunami advice from Radio Australia at 12, 13 UTC, but more at 14 UTC.

Listening to Radio Australia, I have not been hearing much about the tsunami caused by the Chilean earthquake. No advice for listeners in the Pacific region, Radio Australia's primary target. The newscast on Radio Australia at 1200 UTC was a relay of the domestic ABC radio news, and spoke mostly of tsunami warnings for Australia.
     Update: At 1400 UTC, the ABC newscast on Radio Australia provided much more specific tsunami information for the Pacific, including French Polynesia. It included actuality of an employee of the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii, who explained that the tsunami is not "huge," but enough to "cause concern." Listen to audio.
     The VOA newscast at 1300 UTC said that the earthquake triggered "a tsunami warning around the Pacific rim of fire," with no further details. VOA no longer nominally broadcasts to the Pacific region, but at 1300 UTC, it is probably audible in that part of the world.
     With many people living (or sailing) in remote areas, and with limited broadcast satellite coverage, shortwave broadcasting is still important in the Pacific region.
     See also "Will international broadcasting sound the warning – next time?," Radio Netherlands Media Network, 6 January 2005. Posted: 27 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

VOA's Steve Herman tracks the tsunami across the Pacific.

Steve Herman, VOA South Asia bureau chief, and also radio amateur W7VOA, has been following amateur radio and other communications about the tsunami caused by the Chilean earthquake: twitter.com/W7VOA. (Refresh often.) Steve's tweets are a primary/secondary source you can rely on. Posted: 27 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

For early Chile earthquake coverage, BBC World Service uses Twitter as a primary source.

The National Public Radio newscast at 4:00 a.m. EST (0900 UTC) on 27 February included a BBC report about the earthquake in Chile: "There are no direct reports from Concepción yet, but someone in Chile has posted on the social network site Twitter that he had no lights, no electricity, and no internet, but that everything was well at home." Listen to audio excerpt. This would seem to be a manifestation of the directive to BBC journalists by Peter Horrocks, the new director of BBC Global News, to use the social media as a primary source. [See previous post.] Let's hope that tweet actually came from near Concepción and not from, say, Dubuque. Presumably the tweet was, as the BBC puts it, curated. If the twitterer had "no internet," then probably the message got through via texting on a mobile phone. Wouldn't the BBC correspondent in Chile have known contacts in or near Concepción that could also be reached via mobile? Posted: 27 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Don't worry: there are special shampoos that get rid of virally shared widgets.

Executives of consulting agency Mindgrub attended a seminar in Baltimore "to discuss Mindgrub’s new social media marketing campaign for the Voice of America. Voice of America is an international multimedia broadcasting service funded by the US government, which Mindgrub is now working with. Todd and Vince discussed the potential benefits involved in the creating of shareable widgets that can be virally shared on Facebook and other social networking sites. In addition, they discussed how to determine the ROI that can be expected from social activities. ... Mindgrub is currently targeting China for this project and are researching the environment of this country’s most popular social networking sites." Mindgrub press release, 26 February 2010.
     "[S]ocial media [allow] a government to present its views to its citizens and the world, said Michael Walsh, project director at Forum One Communications. He cited the example of the U.S. government’s Open Government initiative to provide transparency into federal activities. Walsh said that citizens want government to incorporate their feedback into policy, and social media [help] to enable this process. He said that social media [are] a useful tool for public diplomacy and explained that the United States must become a leader in this context because other nations are actively using social media tools to promote their national agendas." Henry Kenyon, Signal Scape, 25 February 2010. Posted: 27 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Stories of BBC international cricket coverage.

"While the broadcast lines were being fitted in the morning, Alam helped me find a suitable roof where I could set up the small satellite dish I was using to make contact with 5 live to bring early news on the game. The roof I found was also being used as a security base - and it was more than a little intimidating trying to describe Craig Kieswetter's fantastic batting surrounded by 15 soldiers all armed with large rifles. Disturbingly, one of the soldiers seemed to be taking extra interest in what I was saying and was getting more and more anxious as my report went on. As I finished he came over and I feared what might happen next. He then put his hand in his pocket to pull something out - but it turned out he had a small portable radio with him which, he showed me, he had tuned to the BBC World Service. The reason he was looking anxious was that I think he was expecting the report I was doing to be going out live on his radio. I'm not sure he understood my explanation of the different kind of BBC outlets, but he seemed happy enough and bid me farewell with the words 'I see you for the next bulletin.'" Adam Mountford, BBC Sport, 25 February 2010.
     "The memory is surprisingly sharp given just how long ago it was: April 18, 1994, near on 16 years ago. Chris Lewis, meeting the English definition of all-rounder by being not quite good enough to either bat or bowl in Test cricket, dropped another gentle delivery just short of his own toes, Brian Lara imperiously helped it through the leg-side for four, and Antigua erupted, setting off celebration around the cricketing world as fellow West Indian Gary Sobers’ 365 not out was passed. Lara had the highest score in Test cricket, a feat I heard him achieve through the crackle of the BBC World Service, conveying news of the Prince of Trinidad’s extraordinary feat to a distant village in rural Zimbabwe, and a battered radio held together with wire and insulation tape. The memory endures, I suppose, because of the romance of the moment — thousands of miles away, through the prism of shortwave radio, cricket’s most beautiful artist had broken one of the most celebrated milestones in a game flooded with records and statistics." Dan Nicholl, iafrica.com (Cape Town), 25 February 2010. Posted: 26 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

BBC World News America, reporting this week from Cuba.

"BBC World News America has secured a rare opportunity to broadcast two live programs from Cuba on Thursday, February 25 and Friday, February 26 at 7:00 p.m. ET/PT. Anchored by Matt Frei from Havana, these two special newscasts will feature interviews with key players and in-depth pieces examining some of the major issues impacting Cuba and U.S.-Cuban relations. Matt will also report from Cuba this week in the days leading up to the programs on Thursday and Friday." BBC America press release, 22 February 2010. See also BBC World News America website and links thereto. Posted: 26 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

BBC Russian university tour showcases "serious multiplatform broadcaster."

"BBC journalism and innovative multimedia content are the focus of the BBC Russian University Tour across four Russian cities. Between Monday 1 and Friday 12 March, BBC Russian is holding a series of events at universities and major libraries in St Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Moscow and Voronezh. During these events, BBC Russian will showcase the best of BBC Russian journalism, including new ways of reaching audiences by using the latest technologies, and engage young audiences in live debates. ... These include multiplatform broadcasting and availability of multimedia content via mobile phones, embedded video and audio on bbcrussian.com, podcasts and presence on online social networks and blogging sites. ... Dmitry Shishkin adds: 'BBC Russian has changed significantly over the last few years, not in its editorial approach, but in the way it's reaching Russian audiences. It's no longer "heritage" radio but a serious multiplatform broadcaster."
BBC World Service press release, 24 February 2010. With BBC Russian taken off of Russian FM stations, and with Russians no longer listening to shortwave as they they did in past years, the service will have to reach its audiences via internet and mobile media. That will do unless Russia tries to block those media.
     "BBC Russian is entering a new partnership with MSN Russia that will see the internet portal displaying a variety of Russian language video and text content from the BBC. The deal will make MSN the first multimedia partner in Russia to take video in Russian from the BBC, and will enable the broadcaster to reach a wider audience with a range of its content." BBC World Service press release, 16 February 2010. Posted: 26 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

An American's BBC habits.

Steve Coll, president of the New America Foundation and a staff writer at The New Yorker: "When I'm in Washington, I'll listen to NPR and BBC World News if I'm driving to work. At the office, I have a mini-screen TV on top of my desk that I leave on all day, muted, just to have it on--an old newsroom habit, I guess. I leave it on CNN and will change it to CSPAN if there's an interesting hearing on. My work homepage is the BBC." Nicole Allan, The Atlantic Wire, 24 February 2010. While driving, I trust he is listening to BBC World Service (radio) rather than (gasp) watching BBC World News (television). Yes, the BBC world services' nomenclature is confusing. Posted: 26 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Various BBC dramas in various overseas markets.

"Dhamaal 24 – the radio venture by B.A.G Network has started broadcasting BBC World Service Trust’s radio drama, Life Gulmohar Style from 22 February 2010. Directed by the BBC’s award-winning producer Pervaiz Alam, Life Gulmohar Style addresses a host of issues faced by girls and women in modern day India." Radioandmusic.com, 24 February 2010.
     "BBC Worldwide Australia has sold the new 3x90-minute contemporary re-imagining of Sherlock Holmes to Nine Network in Australia, where it will air later this year." WorldScreen.com, 24 February 2010.
     "Matt Smith will make his American 'Doctor Who' debut on Saturday April 17 as he takes on the eleventh incarnation of the venerable hero from another time. He will accompanied by Scottish actress, Karen Gillan, on his timeless travels. She will play the latest companion, Amy Pond. The premiere on BBC America is expected to broadcast 'shortly after' the UK, leading fans speculating that the series will return to the airwaves over the Easter weekend (meaning the shows American fans will only be a week behind the UK), or even on April 17 as well." Ala Stanley Blair, Airlock Alpha, 26 February 2010.
     "To ensure high-end shows are still being greenlit, BBC Worldwide pushed co-production at its Showcase sales market, which wrapped Wednesday. 'We have refocused our business and put more dedicated specialists on co-productions,' said Worldwide managing director of sales and distribution Steve Macallister. 'We now have a dedicated co-production team for EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Asia), and we are strengthening the U.S. team.'" Steve Clarke, Variety, 24 February 2010. Posted: 26 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Cambodian prosecutor accuses RFA of "exaggerated information" in robbery case.

"Court officials in Phnom Penh have taken the unusual step of criticising recent media reports alleging 'irregularities' in the convictions of three men accused of armed robberies last week. A statement issued Monday and signed by Yet Chakrya, the chief prosecutor at Phnom Penh Municipal Court, alleged that Radio Free Asia (RFA) had broadcast 'exaggerated information' involving three men convicted of committing a series of armed robberies. ... RFA reporter Kim Pov said she met with the Council of Ministers to discuss her reporting." Chrann Chamroeun, The Phnom Penh Post, 24 February 2010. Posted: 26 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Zimbabwe officials still "raise concerns" about the VOA relay in Bostswana.

"Zimbabwe has returned a car and rifles seized from three Botswana rangers in January as part of moves to ease tensions between the two countries ... as a bilateral meeting between the two countries began in Victoria Falls. ... 'Zimbabwe took the opportunity to raise concerns particularly with the relay station of Voice of America’s Studio 7 in Botswana.'" Tafadzwa Mutasa, ZimOnline, 24 February 2010. Posted: 26 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Bringing talk radio to North Korea (updated).

"A Seoul-based internet radio station that broadcasts to North Korea said it will air actual voices of North Korean residents for the first time in a feature program this week. The Free North Korea Radio, run by North Korean defectors, began shortwave broadcasts across the border in 2004 and now transmits programs for five hours a day. The radio station plans to air accounts of North Korean complaints on the country's economic policies in a seven-minute feature program to be aired this Friday and Saturday. 'There are four private stations in South Korea that broadcast to the North, but it will be the first time actual voices of North Koreans are being aired,' said Kim Seong-min, founder of the Free North Korea Radio." The Korea Herald, 28 January 2010.
     "Free North Korea Radio said its contacts in the North had recorded conversations with ordinary people without their knowledge." AFP, 28 January 2010.
     Update: "'We have at least one stringer, or reporter, in every North Korean province. We throw them issues to talk about, like "currency reform", or "market conditions." They go out and do interviews, and put together a sort of news report," said Kim Seong Min, the broadcaster's director, who is himself a defector from North Korea. ... Free North Korea Radio connects with North Korean citizens via mobile phones. But conversations have to be brief to avoid tracing. Longer reports are recorded onto tiny digital devices similar to these. The devices are passed hand-to-hand in a chain that smuggles them across North Korea's border with China." Kurt Achin, VOA News, 23 February 2010. They go out and do what?! Posted: 26 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

A rare victory by a shortwave radio over interference from a plasma television.

"A case of radio interference caused by a Plasma TV provides a good example of how interference issues should be addressed by a regulator. A German TV station carried a news report that described how radio amateur Gerhard Peuser DL3OCL found high levels of noise on his short wave radio which was making reception difficult. He used a portable radio to find out where the interference came from and reported it to BNetzA (German Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications, Postal Services, Railways, Electricity). ... The BNetzA undertook measurements on the TV and the owner got a letter banning him from using the Plasma TV or else he would get a fine. The manufacturer of the TV denied the interference but they did supply the customer with a TV of a different model." Southgate Amateur Radio Club, 24 February 2010. Plasma-display television sets are among the worst of many modern electronic devices that cause interference on the shortwave frequencies. This interference is probably one of the reasons for the decline of shortwave listening. See, for example:
     "A lot has changed since I began [shortwave] DXing in 1962: equipment, locations, me, the world, broadcasting itself. Some of these changes were for the better (most change is, whether we like it or not); others, however, have worked against me. Noise, for instance. I’ve been battling local RFI [radio frequency interference] for decades. Now, noise is simply everywhere, all the time, and it has won; I can’t very well go to all my neighbors and ask them to unplug their plasma TV’s, their home security systems, their in-home powerline networking. Over time my RF noise floor has gradually risen to a level that has made real DXing impossible. Without DX, and with additional gremlins (CODAR, or DRM, anyone?), I haven’t been listening much lately. Not much at all." Al Quaglieri, resigning as editor of his Listener's Notebook column, North American Shortwave Association, September 2009, via DX Listening Digest, 3 September 2009. Posted: 26 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

DW News Portal iPhone app offers content in seven languages.

"Deutsche Welle has redeveloped its iPhone news application... . The 'DW News Portal' offers users from around the world access to multimedia content on the go - including news, background information and features. More information is available at www.dw-world.de/iphoneapp and the app can be downloaded for free at the iTunes Store. ... The 'DW News Portal' is now available in seven different languages, including English, German, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Spanish and Turkish. As an added bonus, the new iPhone news app also makes it possible for users to enjoy DW-TV via live stream - direct from their handset." DW press release, 16 February 2010. Posted: 26 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Rotana-News Corp business deal, but apparently no Arabic-language Fox News.

"Saudi-based media group Rotana will sell shares to News Corp for access to the U.S. firm's movie-making and new media expertise to help boost its position in Arab media ahead of an IPO. ... The Rotana-News Corp deal has sparked speculation that Fox News will launch an Arabic version to compete with news broadcaster rivals Al Jazeera and MBC's Alarabiya. [Rotana chairman] Prince Alwaleed said this was unlikely. 'I don't visualise a situation whereby Fox News would be broadcasting in Arabic,' he said. However, he said the partnership would help Fox News and the United States to 'understand the Arab world better'. 'Fox News is not the only media that is against Saudi Arabia ... It's an American syndrome'." Souhail Karam, Reuters, 23 February 2010.
     "Free-to-air broadcasting needs to see advertising rates grow – and significantly. At a Beirut conference last week it was suggested that the combined net income of the top [Arab] free-to-air broadcasters were sharing little more than $300m annually between them in ad-revenues. That figure needs not just to rise but to be multiplied three- or four-fold. Rotana and News Corp could be the perfect catalyst for this change." Chris Forrester, Rapid TV News, 24 February 2010. Posted: 26 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Euronews HQ as protest venue.

"A protest rally is planned March 3 in front of Euronews head office in Lion [Lyon], France in defense of the rights of the Armenians in Javakhk and political figure of Armenian origin in Javakhk Vahagn Chakhalyan, 'Yerkir' Union reported." Panorama.am, 23 February 2010. See previous post about protests at Euronews. Posted: 26 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

BBC-acquired video of attack at Tehran University widely cited by bloggers.

"Last night the BBC Persian service broadcast for the first time a very disturbing video of the attack by the Basij militia and riot police on Tehran University's campus just two days after the stolen election last June. ... Surprisingly, the video shown on the BBC is not amateur footage but leaked from the police archive (how it came into the BBC's possession is unknown but may make an interesting story in itself)." Saeed Kamali Dehghan, Comment is Free, The Guardian, 23 February 2010. See also: Huffington Post, 23 February 2010. -- Andrew Sullivan, The Daily Dish, The Atlantic, 23 February 2010. -- Babylon & Beyond, Los Angeles Times, 24 February 2010. VOA Persian News Network has the video, too.
     "Iran trumpeted a significant security success today with the capture of Abdolmalek Rigi, the leader of Jundullah, a Sunni insurgent group accused by Tehran of mounting terrorist attacks with the support of the US, Britain and Pakistan. ... [Iran's intelligence minister, Heydar] Moslehi also blamed the BBC and the Voice of America for covering Rigi's 'achievements'." Ian Black, The Guardian, 23 February 2010. Posted: 26 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

At RadioAsia, DRM chairperson says challenge is content, not receivers.

"One of the most eye catchy presentations at the RadioAsia 2010 conference, being held in New Delhi (February 22-24) is the demonstrations of the Live broadcast of radio by deploying the digital broadcast technology developed by DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale) Consortium. ... While discussing the proliferation of DRM platform among the radio broadcasters, the DRM Consortium Chairperson, Ruxandra Obreja remarked, that the challenge for the broadcaster is not the receivers for the listeners but the introduction of digital content for them. ... In addition to the ongoing Conference, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is to broadcasting three hours in DRM everyday from 22nd- 26th February from 04:29:30 - 07:29:00 GMT (09:59:30 - 12:59:00 IST) on 17760 kHz. For the first time this year the broadcast will start with the daily Hindi programme followed by current affairs in English. Christian Vision Radio (CVC) will run DRM transmissions from 22nd -24th February from 0830-1230 UTC (2pm-6pm IST) on 17590 kHz. The programmes will be in Hindi." Shivani Anand, Media Mughals, 23 February 2010.
See also DRM Consortium press release, 19 February 2010. Posted: 25 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

"Does the Path to Middle East Peace Stop in Doha?"

"For Americans seeking to understand Al Jazeera’s role in shaping public opinion, it is perhaps useful to compare the channel to Fox News or MSNBC. Al Jazeera largely reports the facts, but in choosing which stories to highlight and which guests to invite on regularly, it betrays a certain political perspective. Of course, whereas Fox News and MSNBC operate in a highly competitive media environment, Al Jazeera is the main source of news for a majority of Palestinians and is the most popular television channel in the Arab world. This maximizes its influence. Indeed, Al Jazeera’s dominance of the Arab media makes it a political force unto itself. In no place is this more true than in the Palestinian arena, where it focuses much of its news coverage and where its market share is particularly strong. In the years following the signing of the historic Oslo Accords, Hamas tried to derail the peace by sending suicide bombers into Jerusalem and Tel Aviv in order to undercut popular faith in the agreement. In today’s environment, such extremes may be unnecessary. If Al Jazeera’s coverage of a future accord is sufficiently critical, the resulting Palestinian skepticism could be enough to doom any peace agreement before it even has a chance to succeed." Noah Bonsey and Jeb Koogler, Columbia Journalism Review, 16 February 2010. Posted: 25 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Abu Dhabi newspaper doubts Senate approval of "terror TV bill."

"To become law, [H.R. 2278] requires the approval of the US senate and the signature of the president. It is likely that enough senators will understand the hypocrisy of preventing broadcasts from the Arab world from entering American homes. Speeches about press freedom delivered by the US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and the US president Barack Obama should make this all the more clear. ... Arab media is developing into a more important driver of the region’s progress every day. An airing of respectful disagreement with the policies of governments in the region and abroad is part of that development. For this media landscape to mature we might remember the advice of the American journalist Edward R Murrow: 'We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty ... We will not walk in fear, one of another.'" Editorial, The National (Abu Dhabi), 22 February 2010.
     Guest on Al Jazeera Arabic talk show: "[I]f you were to talk about the language of hate, then you have to be start by applying that same principle to yourself. We haven’t heard any condemnation from Congress; we haven’t heard any party, even the Republican Party, when one of its members Tom Tancrado presented himself as a candidate… the Republican Party did not expel him or even ask him to apologize. In truth, these matters are a problem in Congress, and another problem in the U.S. is the media. And not just Fox News, radio stations in the U.S. transmit on a regular basis distasteful talk that is hostile to Muslims, and incites violence against Muslims. You have to listen to, not only to Glenn Beck on Fox News, but also the Levin Show and other programs on the radio that are spread in the entire country and millions listen to them. So, if Congress is interested in the issue of the language of inciting hatred, then it has to start on working on this issue inside the U.S." Via Mosaic News, Link TV, 23 February 2010. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 25 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Awards to RFA and RFE/RL broadcasters for productions about Uyghur, Iranian, and Armenian women.

"Radio Free Asia is a proud recipient of American Women in Radio & Television’s Gracie Allen Award this year. In recognition of this honor, RFA President Libby Liu praised the team behind RFA’s winning entry, 'Half the Xinjiang Sky,' a multimedia Web page focusing on in-depth coverage, images, and video relevant to Uyghur women following the deadly events in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and Guangdong province in the summer of 2009." RFA, 24 February 2010.
     "'Women In Shroud,' a documentary coproduced by RFE/RL's Radio Farda broadcaster Mohammad Reza Kazemi, was awarded by the Cinema For Peace initiative that promotes humanity through film. The film explores the injustice toward women in Iran’s legal system and the 'Stoning of Soraya M.' by director Cyrus Nowrasteh, shared the Cinema for Peace Award for Justice at a February 15 gala ceremony attended by stars and personalities such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Mikhail Gorbachev. The ceremony was held on the sidelines of the International Berlin Film Festival." RFE/RL, 21 February 2010.
     "Seda Papoyan, a RFE/RL Armenian Service journalist in the Yerevan bureau, won a 'Silver Microphone' award in a prestigious competition aimed at covering the achievements of women in political, economic and social spheres. ... Seda’s story for Radio Azatutyun profiled a group of four young Armenian women who organized a bicycle trip from Yerevan to Batumi and back. The women are artists and activists who planned the tour in order to call attention to the changing role of women in Armenian society and also to show that bicycle travel can be an environmental means of transportation." RFE/RL, 8 February 2010. Posted: 25 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Trumpet player Arturo Sandoval remembers Willis Conover (and more VOA jazz).

"A graduate of the Cuban National School of the Arts in Havana, [Arturo] Sandoval was already among his country’s leading young orchestral musicians when he was introduced to jazz by a trumpet-playing journalist friend. 'One day he asked me: "Have you ever heard any jazz music?" I said, "No, what is that?" He said, "Come with me," and he played me a record by Charlie Parker and Dizzy. That was it, that was my initiation,' Sandoval said. 'I thought, "Wow, that’s the music. I want to learn to play like that." I’ve been trying to learn ever since. And I never missed Willis Conover’s ?show on Voice of America, which I heard on shortwave radio in Cuba. I listened to that program, "Music USA," every single day. That was my only way to become aware of what was going on in jazz and to learn and listen to different bands.'" George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 February 2010.
     "Truly a melding of classical repertoire with jazz, Time For Love is a major departure for Sandoval, yet immediately familiar in its timeless ballads. 'The song selection process was something that I'd begun when I was a kid back in Cuba,' says the artist, referring to how while growing up he would surreptitiously listen to the officially banned Voice of America radio broadcasts." Press release via JazzCorner, 25 February 2010.
     Saxophonist Krzysztof Medyna: "Records were not available in Communist Poland, and all of my generation would listen to Voice of America, to Willis Conover's Jazz Hour, which was famous across the Communist Bloc." Pianist Andrzej Winnicki: "At that time, there was a magazine called American published in Polish, by the American State Department, I think. It's strange to think that it was published in Poland, but it was a very glossy magazine and so popular that you had to have connections with the places where it was sold to have a chance of getting one. My father would buy it, and it would often come with a flexi-disc [a cheap, flexible, vinyl record with music on only one side]. The first jazz I ever heard, and it had a great effect on me, was Miles Davis' recording of 'My Funny Valentine' on one of these discs. It was so glorious; I just fell in love." Bruce Lindsay, All About Jazz, 23 February 2010.
     In 1960: "Willis [Conover], Newport Jazz Festival emcee and radio host for Voice of America in Europe, then closes the proceedings [an afternoon blues lecture/demonstration] on a somber note, announcing that the board of directions of the Newport Jazz Festival had voted to accept the decision of the city council of Newport to suspend activities of the Newport Jazz Festival, beginning with the evening concert on July 3. 'In other words, there will be no concert tonight or…again,' he told the stunned audience." Melodika.net, 23 February 2010. "Music at Newport" replaced the Newport Jazz Festival in 1961, then Newport Jazz Festival resumed in 1962. Posted: 25 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Not much VE-RI-TAS here.

"The aim of public diplomacy is to communicate America’s policies abroad and to engage international audiences about all things American. The problem is, we’re failing, and that’s to the detriment of our national security as well as commercial, cultural, and education interests. ... Our international broadcasting has few devotees." M.C. Andrews, a Spring 2010 [Harvard] Institute of Politics Fellow, former Special Assistant to the President, former White House Director of Global Communications and former Director for Democracy on the National Security Council Staff in the George W. Bush administration, Harvard Crimson, 23 February 2010. US international broadcasting has a weekly audience of 171 million, larger than ever. Posted: 25 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

RCTV Internacional will be domestic, while RCTV Mundo will be internacional.

"A television company that was booted off Venezuela's airwaves and even cable announced plans Monday to resume broadcasting, saying it will meet government regulations while keeping a tough editorial line on President Hugo Chavez. Company president Marcel Granier told a news conference that Radio Caracas Television Internacional will try to make a comeback on cable after agreeing to meet government rules on carrying official broadcasts. He also said his operating company, Empresas 1BC, hopes to launch a sister channel, RCTV Mundo, aimed at international audiences." AP, 22 February 2010. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 24 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Internet radio from a basement: global, but listening involves a bandwidth lottery.

"An internet radio station operating out of [a basement in Glasgow] is to celebrate its tenth birthday next month by broadcasting live .... Being an internet station, there will be, at any one time, only a limited number of people able to 'tune in', because of bandwidth restrictions. But those able to gain access to www.radiosix.com will be treated to a continuous stream of mostly 'world music' plus news, on the hour, every hour. ... With listeners in 172 countries and 33,000 listeners a year logging in ... specially-produced programmes are recorded in studios in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Belfast, Derby, London, West Virginia and Los Angeles and electronically beamed to the station’s HQ on Glasgow’s south side before being delivered to its international audience." allmediascotland.com, 21 February 2010. Posted: 24 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

New website provides news from Arabic to English, and English to Arabic.

"A new website hopes to bridge the divide between the west and the Middle East, by allowing English speakers to read news articles originally printed in Arabic – and vice versa. San Francisco-based Meedan, which launches tomorrow, will provide translations of news articles in both languages in an attempt to help foster better relations between the two. ... 'Outside of the news agencies like the BBC and al-Jazeera that are doing ­programming in two languages, Arabic speakers are unable to access information written in English,' [Meedan co-founder Ed Bice] added. 'The goal is to provide more media exchange across both these languages.'" # Bobbie Johnson and Jack Schofield, The Guardian, 21 February 2010. Does not mention MEMRI (Arabic to English) and CNN Arabic (English to Arabic). Posted: 24 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Euronews seeks digital terrestrial license in Spain.

"Following the exit of Spanish state broadcaster RTVE from the Euronews consortium, the news channel is now actively pursuing a digital terrestrial licence in the country. Euronews has been struggling to get distribution in the country following the withdrawal of RTVE in 2007. With Spain now holding the rotating presidency of the European Union, the channel believes it to be the right time to target to the Spanish audience once more. 'We do not understand that Spain does not support a single European news channel,' said Euronews president Philippe Cayla to Spanish newspaper ABC. ... According Cayla, 'a satisfactory solution would be a DTT licence for Euronews.'" Robert Briel, Broadband TV News, 21 February 2010. Even without RTVE, Euronews continues to have a Spanish service, which I think includes Spanish audio under the Euronews video. Posted: 23 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

UK regulator chides CNN International for sponsorship of "Inside Africa."

"CNN International has been criticised by Ofcom [UK regulator] after it broke UK broadcasting rules by accepting sponsorship for one of its current affairs shows. A viewer complained to the broadcasting watchdog that the 29 September edition of CNN International’s show, Inside Africa, breached regulations as it was sponsored by Zenith Bank. ... According to Ofcom, sponsorship of current affairs programming is outlawed in the UK to 'support the important principle that news and current affairs must be reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality.' ... Ofcom said today that Turner had reminded the editorial team responsible for the Inside Africa programme of the relevant rules in relation to sponsorship and that it 'intends to retrain all relevant members of staff including those based in Africa'. Turner told Ofcom CNN’s lead producer would also be relocated from the network’s headquarters in Atlanta to Johannesburg to 'help to ensure the show stays true to its editorial mission as...feature programming focussing on African culture'." Oliver Luft, PressGazette, 22 February 2010. Something is missing here. CNN's remedy seems to have more to do with changing the nature of the program than eliminating the sponsorship. In Europe, I think the principle is that commercials occur in a block between programs, rather than a program being associated with a certain advertiser. (For example, Ofcom would have taken a dim view of John Cameron Swayze's "Camel News Caravan," on NBC, 1949-1956.)
     "And all because of a single complaint!" Chris Forrester, Rapid TV News, 23 February 2010. Posted: 23 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

CNBC will be available on the UK's aptly named Freesat.

"Business and financial news channel CNBC is to launch on the subscription-free satellite platform Freesat next Tuesday as part of a free-to-air strategy to widen its distribution. ... CNBC has been available on Sky, Virgin and TalkTalk since January and the addition of Freesat means the channel will now be distributed to 12 million UK households. The company said it has no plans at present to launch on Freeview. Mick Buckley, president and chief executive EMEA [Europe, Middle East, Africa] of CNBC, said the decision to become a free-to-air channel in the UK, is part of CNBC's strategy to 'aggressively grow' its distribution across EMEA in 2010." Maisie McCabe, mediaweek.co.uk, 19 February 2010. The CNBC schedule for Europe shows mostly business programming, but "Poker" (similar to trading, I guess) is available Saturday and Sunday 0100-0400. And "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" (that's what it says) Saturday 2100-2230. Posted: 23 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Radio for expats in Kuwait includes English, Filipino, Persian, and Urdu.

"Local Kuwaiti radio is granting expatriates here an opportunity to listen to broadcasts in their mother tongues, and to remain in touch with their religions and cultures. ... FM 93.3 is a local station run by foreigners, and serves as a mediator to help expatriates get a sense of what is going on in the country through covering events and stories in their mother language, explained Director of Radio Kuwait’s Foreign Programs Department Sheikha Shojoun Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to KUNA. ... English programs are aired on FM 93.3 from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., followed by Persian from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Filipino from 1:00 p.m. to 3: 00 p.m., Urdu from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and finally an English broadcast from 9:00 p.m. till midnight, she noted. As for the Short Wave 72.5, she said that it covers the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and some surrounding Arab countries and it aims at highlighting major events in Kuwait." KUNA via Q8NRI.com, 20 February 2010. The mentioned shortwave frequency is actually 7.25 MHz, or 7250 kHz. Radio Kuwait uses other shortwave frequencies, as well. Posted: 23 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

British journalist Andrew Gilligan departs Press TV.

"Andrew Gilligan has quietly dropped his association with Press TV, the Iranian state-owned station accused of beaming propaganda into British homes. His departure follows that of Nick Ferrari, who quit in protest at the station's coverage of last summer's presidential election. Gilligan, now at The Sunday Telegraph, no longer presents his debate show Forum, having previously resisted criticism of the station. ... Gilligan declined to comment." The Independent, 21 February 2010. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 22 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Tian Wei, Chinese international broadcaster.

Tian Wei, former China Radio International Washington correspondent, now of host of "dialog" on CCTV-9, "described to the Global Times her dream of hosting a well balanced yet heated debate on topics concerning China and the world by inviting opinion makers, government officials and common people from all over the world to a 'town hall' meeting, where all participants present their arguments rationally based on solid facts. The purpose of the discussion would not be to attack one another or reach a conclusion, but to understand how everyone developed their attitudes and opinions." Jiang Xueqing, Global Times (Bejing), 20 February 2010. Posted: 22 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Myanmar International will take on BBC, Al Jazeera, CCTV.

"A new 24-hour international TV news channel will go on air in Burma next month, according to sources at the Ministry of Information. Named Myanmar International, the English-language channel is a joint-venture between the Ministry of Information and Shwe Than Lwin Co. Ltd, a large enterprise closely linked to Burma's military generals. The channel will reportedly operate as a modified version of the unsuccessful MRTV-3 which was intended for countering the international media coverage of Burma. The new channel will begin broadcasting on Mar. 27––Burma's Armed Forces Day––and will feature both Burmese and foreign hosts and news anchors, the source said. ... 'The ministry has directed us to develop this channel along the lines of CCTV, BBC and Al Jazeera,' said a TV staffer in Naypyidaw." Aung Thet Wine. The Irrawaddy, 22 February 2010. Posted: 22 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

RFA stringer in Cambodia acquitted of disinformation charges (updated).

"A Cambodian court Friday acquitted a journalist for U.S.-based Radio Free Asia on charges that he spread false information when reporting an alleged corruption case. Takeo provincial court judge Cheng Bunly dropped the charges against radio reporter Sok Serey for a 2008 broadcast about a dispute between a group of villagers and a leader of the ethnic Cham community, who are mostly Muslims. ... Sok Serey was not arrested and was allowed to continue reporting." AP, 19 February 2010.
     "Today, Radio Free Asia President Libby Liu praised the acquittal of four men, including RFA broadcaster Sok Serey, on charges of disinformation stemming from a report about a Cham Muslim community leader in Takeo province. 'We at Radio Free Asia are pleased that our reporter has been acquitted of the baseless charges against him,' Liu said. 'We hope this ruling will reverse the growing pattern of using Cambodia’s legal system to suppress free speech and freedom of the press.'" RFA website, 19 February 2010.
     Update: "Local and international organisations have welcomed the acquittal of a Radio Free Asia reporter and four rights activists by Takeo provincial court on Friday, saying the ruling could set an important precedent for future defamation and disinformation cases." Sebastian Strangio and Chhay Channyda, The Phnom Penh Post, 22 February 2010. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 22 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Visit to RFE is subject of 1960 television documentary.

The 1960 television documentary "Eagle Cage" is available at YouTube, 10 January 2010, part of the public.resource.org channel. It's about a visit by 60 Americans to the studios of Radio Free Europe in Munich, and to other US funded facilities in Germany, with a side trip to the RFE transmitter site in Gloria, Portugal. The program was "produced by KCMO News and Public Affairs." The general manager of Kansas City's KCMO television, E.K. Hartenbower, was one of the 60 members of the tour, and is frequently pictured during the piece.
     At 8:13 into the 27 minute program, the narrator states: "RFE, supported entirely by contributions from Americans to the Radio Free Europe Fund, has gained a reputation for truth and reliability in its five target countries, despite the best effdorts of the Communists to discredit it." It's ironic that a sentence touting RFE's "reputation for truth" contained a clause that was not true. RFE was, in those days, mostly funded, covertly, by the CIA. (It could be that the writer of the documentary, Harry Francis, was unaware of RFE's actual source of income, and was just working from RFE's own publicity materials.)
     Contributions from Americans contributed an average of 19 percent of RFE's budget during the 1950s. (This from Arch Puddington, Broadcasting Freedom: The Cold War Triumph of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty, citing a report from the Comptroller General of the United States.) That 19 percent would have been sufficient to impress the audience: how many US government entities could recoup a fifth of their income from voluntary donations? And it would have had the added benefit of being the truth, helpful given that international broadcasting efforts depend on credibility above all else.
     All told, however, this is a fascinating documentary, and a good example of the rhetoric of that time. Thanks to historian Richard Cummings for mentioning this. Richard's next book about RFE and RL will be Radio Free Europe's 'Crusade for Freedom': Rallying Americans Behind Cold War Broadcasting, 1950-1960. See Historytimes.com, 8 January 2010.
     "When I first left Hungary, in 1953, and came to live in the West, I settled for a while in Munich where my father and stepmother worked for Radio Free Europe. This outfit was partly American government – CIA – funded, beaming programs into Eastern European, Soviet bloc countries and supposedly countering communists propaganda. But at heart, the idea of the American government doing this turned out to be a paradox since what is wrong with communist countries is precisely that they place everything in society under state control, including broadcasting the news, educating the young, doing science, entertainment or athletics. That is just what is supposed to be so different between communism and capitalism; yet here was RFE doing just what the communists were doing, entrusting government with broadcasting." Tibor Machan, Sun Journal (New Bern, NC), 15 February 2010. Posted: 22 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Evgeny Morozov on "the age of Twittering bureaucrats."

"It is certainly a good thing that Obama's youthful bureaucrats have bonded with the brightest creative minds of Silicon Valley. However, the kind of message that it sends to the rest of the world—i.e. that Google, Facebook and Twitter are now just extensions of the U.S. State Department—may simply endanger the lives of those who use such services in authoritarian countries. It's hardly surprising that the Iranian government has begun to view all Twitter users with the utmost suspicion; everyone is now guilty by default. But there is a broader lesson for the Obama administration here: Diplomacy is, perhaps, one element of the U.S. government that should not be subject to the demands of 'open government'; whenever it works, it is usually because it is done behind closed doors. But this may be increasingly hard to achieve in the age of Twittering bureaucrats." Evgeny Morozov, Wall Street Journal, 20 February 2010. Posted: 21 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

From Iran's police chief, more accusations and warnings about BBC and VOA.

"Iran's police chief has again warned citizens against cooperating with foreign media, and accused the BBC and Voice of America of serving British and US intelligence services. 'All those who work with foreign services by sending them news, reports, pictures and films should know that their behaviour is monitored,' Esmail Ahmadi Moghaddam said in comments carried by local news agencies. ... 'The BBC is the medium of MI6 and VOA is the medium of the CIA, while some people contact them and make statements against Iran,' he said." RTÉ News, 20 February 2010. See also Canadian Press, 20 February 2010.
     Iranian "Police Chief Gen. Esmail Ahmadi-Moqaddam sees fit not only to take sides in the ongoing factional political fight within Iran's establishment, but to opine on matters of foreign policy and comparative social science. ... It turns out Ahmadi-Moqaddam is an officer who's also an expert on the intricacies of international espionage. He equated giving interviews to the popular BBC Persian and Voice of America to collaborating with Western intelligence." Babylon & Beyond blog, Los Angeles Times, 20 February 2010.
     "Maziar Bahari is a Newsweek correspondent who was detained in Iran last year and held for four months following the street protests that erupted after the disputed June presidential elections. He said the Iranian authorities are employing new tactics to harass journalists. He noted that a proposal is being mulled to make it a crime for Iranian citizens to work for foreign media. 'The Iranian authorities, especially the Revolutionary Guards, even though they have not passed this law yet, have said they are going to [make it] a crime to work for Persian media outside of Iran,' Bahari said. 'So, anyone who works for BBC Persian, VOA Persian, or Radio Farda which is the Iranian version of Radio Liberty, can be accused of espionage and can be tried as a spy. And as my interrogator once told me, we all know what the punishment is for a spy -- execution.'" Nikola Krastev, RFE/RL, 17 February 2010. Posted: 21 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Former BBCWS exec compares BBC Persian and VOA Persian.

Interview with Rob Beynon, who was acting head of BBC Persian during the June 2009 post-election protests in Iran: "Q: How should television channels capitalize on [user-generated] content? Beynon: You make it second nature to people to say, 'I’ve walked around the corner and something’s happening; I’ll use my mobile phone and I’ll send it to my favorite broadcaster.' We always used to say that Americans must stand around the corner waiting to be interviewed in a vox pop, because they were so articulate when a crew came up and asked them a question. Now, in many places, people are so savvy that they’re shooting the thing on an iPhone or mobile phone and then uploading it and sending it off straight away. It’s all done without hesitation. For the broadcaster, for the news channel, the emphasis has to be, 'What’s the second way? How do I provide the in-depth quality coverage? How do I provide the analysis? How do I do the comparative coverage?' You’ll still need high-quality coverage and you’ll still need to be able to put it into context. Otherwise it’s YouTube; YouTube is fantastic but YouTube isn’t going to tell you anything deep about a news story. ... Q: How does BBC Persian measure up to the competition? Beynon: There are only two international channels that broadcast in Farsi into Iran that do any sort of news coverage. One is BBC Persian, and the other is Voice of America. Voice of America does a perfectly good job, but it is directly funded by the State Department in the US, while the BBC has an arm’s-length relationship with the UK’s Foreign Office. So, effectively, the Foreign Office outsources all the content and journalism to the BBC." Austyn Allison, Kippreport, 19 February 2010. VOA has not been "directly funded by the State Department" since 1953. The International Broadcasting Act of 1994, and the resulting creation of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, came about to give VOA and the other elements of US international broadcasting that same "arms length relationship."
     "Abolhassan Banisadr, first president of Iran after the Islamic Revolution, told the Voice of America’s (VOA) Persian News Network (PNN) that 'lack of freedom in this regime [is the main problem]... they should respect freedom and leave brutality, because democracy and brutality do not go together....' Banisadr made those comments Thursday, during a two-hour special program that delivered a historical perspective of Iran’s Islamic Revolution on its 31st anniversary." VOA press release, 12 February 2010. Posted: 21 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

In Iran, Twitter may be more for activists than for the masses.

"[T]he notion that Twitter and other social media played a defining role in orchestrating one of the greatest challenges the Islamic Republic has faced in its 30-year history always seemed vastly overcooked to anyone who was on the ground in Iran at the time. Of the scores of protesters I met in Tehran and two other major cities, Isfahan and Shiraz, only one had ever used Twitter, and she admitted that was only once or twice. Most had never even heard of it. With internet access disrupted and text-messaging services shut down, Iranians learned of the anti-government rallies through word of mouth or calls made on landline phones. ... Ali, an Iranian man who works for Tactical Tech, says the importance of the sense of community engendered by social media should not be underestimated. 'Human rights activists can often feel isolated and their work can make them feel like David against the Goliath. These tools help by allowing them discover that people on the other side of the world are doing similar things. That brings a feeling of empowerment.'" Mary Fitzgerald, Irish Times, 20 February 2010. Posted: 21 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

"Tear down this firewall!" But first: "Tear down these sanctions!"

"[S]oftware called 'Haystack' that makes it near impossible for [Iranian] censors to detect what Internet users are doing. ... 'It’s encrypted at such a level it would take thousands of years to figure out what you’re saying. It’s a potent open-society tool. It’s just a matter of getting it to Iran — and that’s still illegal.' ... My understanding is the license may soon be approved. Treasury insists it's now sitting at State. My urgent message to the Obama administration is: Hurry up with this license and the general one for mass market software! ... The United States is shooting itself in the foot by making this illegal. Hillary Clinton’s speech on the importance of an open Internet was good, but right now it’s just a speech. Don’t shut down on Iran; open up to its promise. Sanctions are a feel-good impasse. 'Tear down this wall!' was a 20th-century cry. It has given way to the 21st century’s 'Tear down this firewall!' That, not sanctions, is what the I.R.G.C. fears most; and that, not sanctions, should be Obama’s priority." Roger Cohen, New York Times, 18 February 2010. See previous post about (and with doubts about) Haystack. Posted: 21 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Haiti's state-owned media "politically oriented, even after the earthquake."

Haiti's "two main state-owned media outlets withstood the earthquake that heavily devastated the country’s broadcast and print media outlets. Their premises were only slightly damaged and their buildings survived. Their equipment is still functional and their journalists are unharmed. Even so, the state-owned outlets took about two weeks to get back on the air. ... Contacted by CPJ, a member of the editorial staff of Haiti’s National Television (TNH), who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that state-owned media outlets are entirely politically oriented, even after the earthquake." Jean Roland Chery, Committee to Protect Journalists, 19 February 2010.
     "More than one month after the devastating 7.0 earthquake in Haiti, Internews continues to work on the ground with local Haitian media and humanitarian aid agencies to get critical information directly to the people who need it most. With a team of local reporters, Internews produces a daily humanitarian news broadcast, Enfomasyon Nou Dwe Konnen (News You Can Use) currently airing on 25 local radio stations. In January, Internews distributed nearly 9,000 wind-up radios provided by the U.S. military, through 19 local radio station partners. With core support provided by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Internews has also conducted rapid assessments of the damage caused by the earthquake to broadcast media in the greater Port-au-Prince area in order to determine stations' capacity to broadcast and the type of programming available to the affected population. ... Internews is a founding member of the Inter-Agency Group on Communicating with Disaster Affected Communities (CDAC) that includes UNOCHA, key agencies such as the Red Cross and Save the Children, and other media assistance providers including the BBC World Service Trust and the Thomson Reuters Foundation." Internews press release, 19 February 2010.
     "Along with the State Department, the Pentagon and aid groups, as well as Haiti’s leading cellphone carrier and countless volunteers, the Coast Guard is part of an emergency contact network for Haitians to send text messages requesting aid. Those involved in the effort also monitor Facebook and Twitter postings for information indicating where supplies are needed. To get the word out about the new program, the distress code number — 4636 — was sent to every cellphone on the Haitian network. Word of the program also went out on local Haitian radio stations." Carmen Gentile, New York Times, 20 February 2010. Posted: 21 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Will Liberty Media combine Worldspace and Sirius XM into an international satellite radio company?

"[I]t’s time to catch up on the fate of another company, WorldSpace. The beleagured international satellite radio has been in Chapter 11 for some time and a deal to sell it fell apart last August. Since then, though, WorldSpace has found a savior in the form of Liberty Media, which has made debtor-in-possession (DIP) loans of millions to keep the company afloat and is leading the DIP lending group which has committed to $21.6 million in financing. Liberty also holds some of WorldSpace’s pre-petition debt and has a right to be a credit bidder to buy the company, which would give it a leg up on any potential cash bidder. (Not that cash bidders have been standing in line to go after WorldSpace.) As it happens, this is the same Liberty Media which rescued Sirius XM from the brink of bankruptcy about a year ago and now holds preferred stock convertible into 40% of Sirius XM’s common stock. As first reported Friday by Satwaves, some buyers of Sirius XM stock are betting that Liberty Media will make a play to buy up the other 60% of Sirius XM, buy WorldSpace out of bankruptcy – and combine the two into an international satellite radio company." RBR-TVBR, 19 February 2010.      "There now seems little doubt that Sirius-XM will soon launch a near-global pay-radio service. There are simply too many clues to ignore, and more might well emerge from Sirius-XCM’s quarterly financials this week. Indeed, some industry observers are suggesting that Worldspace will not only rise from the ashes, but could be the vehicle that emerges as owner of Sirius-XM!! The Worldspace assets of two orbiting satellites are key to Sirius’ global expansion." Chris Forrester, Rapid TV News, 21 February 2010. See previous post about same subject.
     "For a little less than a decade, [Worldspace] provided commercial-free music of a purity and eclectic variety that had devoted listeners totally hooked. Moreover, they had a team of RJ's whose passion for and dedication to the content of their programmes was as palpable as the melody that streamed out of your speakers. The chasm between WS and the other free-to-air FM channels available was vast. The state-run Vividh-Bharti channel in my city, Allahabad, routinely broadcasts commercials not just between songs, but in the middle of a given song, which is then resumed after these rude interruptions." Raj Gandhi, The Hindu, 20 February 2010. Posted: 21 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Released from house arrest, Burmese dissident appears on VOA.

"The release from house arrest of the 83-year-old co-founder and Deputy Chairman of Burma's National League for Democracy (NLD), Tin Oo, has failed to impress the international community or the Burmese opposition, who view it as a calculated act of regime 'magnanimity.' One of Tin Oo's first acts after his release was to appear on the Voice of America's Burmese Service, discussing the NLD's official stance on the planned general election." Dr Zarni, The Irrawaddy, 19 February 2010.
     "Home Minister Maj. Gen. Maung Oo reportedly said last month that Tin Oo would be freed in February and Suu Kyi would be released in November. His comments were made during remarks to local officials in central Myanmar and reported by the U.S.-government backed Radio Free Asia and other media, and could not be independently confirmed." AP, 19 February 2010. Posted: 20 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

RFA: North Korea jamming and otherwise cracking down on mobile phones along Chinese border.

"North Korea has launched a crackdown on would-be defectors and on Chinese mobile phones used by its own people along the northern border with China, according to several North Korean sources. These tougher measures have made it harder for cash-strapped North Koreans to make calls abroad appealing for help and sharply increased the cost of obtaining a guide to help sneak out of the country, they said. ... An announcer on government-run Korean Central Television (KCTV) said: 'We possess a world-class striking force and means to protect our security that have not yet been entirely mentioned or made public.' Sources inside North Korea subsequently said in interviews that the authorities had stepped-up patrols for would-be defectors and jamming of Chinese cellular phones." Jung Young, Radio Free Asia, 19 February 2010. This refers to black market or smuggled mobile phones that communicate with cell towers in China, not the authorized North Korean mobile service provided by Egyptian operator Orascom. See previous post. Posted: 20 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Broadcasting to the Horn of Africa is not for the squeamish (updated).

"Ever since its re-instatement in 2007, the Voice of America’s Somali section has been viewed as the beckon of hope for impartial and just news service that will humble serve the people of Horn of Africa. But the future of the VOA Somali section, under the leadership of Abdirahman Yabarow, a former BBC staff seems to gradually disappearing under the dark clouds of deadly clanism. In an interview with Radio Rajodoon, Farhiya Absiye, now a former VOA reporter, revealed the inside story of the station and how clan plays the biggest role." Garowe Online, 14 February 2010.
     Update: "A former Voice of America contractor has made a number of allegations on several Somali Websites about the VOA Somali Service and its Chief, Abdirahman Yabarow. Those allegations are baseless. In a continuing effort to produce valuable, high quality broadcasts, Voice of America will occasionally make changes to achieve its goals and maintain its standards. All decisions are made to preserve the integrity of our programming, while respecting and honoring our contractual agreements. VOA does not comment on details about internal matters involving individual employees or contractors. Decisions for VOA's Somali Service are made to achieve the goal of broadcasting excellence. The VOA Somali service has a large listening audience in Somalia as a result of its reputation as a source for accurate, objective and comprehensive news and broadcast opportunity for the Somali people to express their many points of view. VOA takes pride in the service and the leadership of the service." VOA Public Affairs, direct. The VOA Somali contract employee's lengthy resignation letter and list of grievances was published in Somaliland Press, 31 January 2010.
     "On Wednesday (02/17/10), the veteran news organization, Voice of America, behaved like a propaganda mouthpiece for Ali Abdu, the Eritrean Information Minister. Its news story was entitled: 'Eritrea Official Denies Asmara´s Involvement in Organizing Protest against UN- Sanctions'. In it, Ali Abdu is telling VOA reporter Peter Clottey that the planned pro-government protest marches near the White House are a result of an 'absolutely popular appraisal against the unjust [UN sanctions]..…This resolution is not only targeting Eritreans, it´s targeting the Horn of Africa entirely.' ... The Eritrean Minister is doing his job really well, but Peter Clott[e]y is not as he ought to in the interest of fair and responsible journalism. ... VOA could have made the story fairer and more balanced by quickly obtaining the reactions of anyone of the leaders of influential Eritrean civic organizations like the US based Global Eritrean Solidarity or the UK based Citizens for Democratic Rights in Eritrea." Michael Abraha, American Chronicle, 18 February 2010. See also VOA News, 17 February 2010.
     "The Horn of Africa region is among the most dangerous places in the world to work as a journalist, according to a global watchdog group. The Committee to Protect Journalists says numerous journalists in the region have been forced to flee home under threat of death or imprisonment. The New York-based group warns that the quality of reporting has suffered significantly due to the high number of local journalists from Somalia, Ethiopia, and Eritrea who have been imprisoned, attacked, forced to flee, or censured." Alan Boswell, VOA News, 16 February 2010. Posted: 20 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

BBC World Service Trust is "monitoring and advising" the Georgian public broadcaster's newsroom.

"President Saakashvili said on February 17, that Georgian 'media still lacks objectivity and professionalism.' Speaking to an audience in London-based think-tank, Chatham House, Saakashvili said that his 'government is committed to media freedom' and added that there were several TV channels in Georgia 'hostile' to the authorities. ... Saakashvili welcomed cooperation between BBC World Service Trust and the Georgian public broadcaster. A BBC team is monitoring and advising the public broadcaster’s newsroom. Saakashvili said that he had recently met with this team 'to hear what they have to say.'" Civil Georgia, 18 February 2010. Posted: 20 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

New Australian headquarters for Doctor Who, and the rest of BBC Worldwide.

"BBC Worldwide Australia will take a step forward in its strategy to develop its presence in the Australian market by moving to a major new HQ in March. The move will combine two BBC Worldwide offices, currently situated in North Ryde and North Sydney, at new premises in Macquarie Park [suburb of Sydney]. It will co-locate the company’s 90 staff who work across BBC Worldwide’s seven business areas. The new premises follow the principles inherent in the recent re-development of BBC Worldwide’s London headquarters, which reflect the company’s culture, identity, vision and values. They will showcase BBC Worldwide’s key brands: Top Gear, Doctor Who, BBC Earth and Dancing with the Stars as well as its Australasian channels brands – UKTV, CBeebies, BBC Knowledge and BBC World News. ... Australia was named a key territory for BBC Worldwide in 2007." BBC Worldwide press release, 15 February 2010. Posted: 20 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Is BBC World News getting biased reports about Nigeria from BBC Hausa?

In the recent sectarian violence in Nigeria, "our Muslim brothers have so far proved quicker off the mark to tell their version of events. Thus on January 26, in the wake of another Jos crisis, BBC World television carried the news that 150 bodies of Muslims had been discovered at the village of Kuru Korama south of Jos. The source of the story? The Jama'atu Nasirul Islam, a powerful organisation that seeks to promote Islam in Nigeria. It also seems that for news about northern Nigeria the BBC relies heavily on its Hausa Service, and I want to take this opportunity to plead with the British public to investigate this body and see that its pro-Muslim bias is corrected." Fr Alex Longs, The Catholic Herald (London), 12 February 2010. Posted: 20 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

BBC Arabic to launch "first wiki-driven television show."

"The BBC Arabic service is launching the corporation’s first television programme driven entirely by social media. The show, called 710 Greenwich, will be the first for the global broadcaster to take its ideas from Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and blogs. 'The actual production of the show is going to be as open as Wikipedia,' he said, referring to the online encyclopaedia created by its users. 'This is the first wiki-driven television show.' The show will be broadcast on Thursdays for 50 minutes on BBC Arabic TV from the first week of next month. ... In future episodes, the audience will act as researchers and de facto producers of the show, forming conversations around upcoming guests and posting videos and news articles that make a case for a certain line of questioning. 'Part of the idea is to train people, to get them used to the idea of basing their argument on evidence and fact,' Mr el Sokkari said. 'So when they ask a question, it should be supported by something they have researched, which could be a good thing for young journalists learning the trade.'" Keach Hagey, The National (Abu Dhabi), 18 February 2010. Posted: 20 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

There is also media fragmentation, with more "competition for attention."

"Edelman's hire this week of Richard Sambrook [see previous post], head of global news at the BBC, reminds us once more of the increasing number of senior journalists opting for a career in PR consultancy. ... But as we know, things are tough in journalism at the moment, both in print and broadcast. The axe will soon fall on many more BBC journalists, not least at the excellent BBC World Service, where morale is already low. ... As the media continue to fragment and the number of journalists-per-medium dwindles, there is an increasing demand for compelling content. And yet the competition for attention is also becoming more intense, not least because the cost of content creation continues to fall. Creativity, inspired narrative and authenticity become the premium attributes, as those at the leading edge of social media are discovering. In other words, senior journalists entering PR will find this new arena no less challenging than their previous one, and hopefully no less a test of their character and mettle." Danny Rogers, PR Week, 16 February 2010. Posted: 20 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

"Device fragmentation" is not when you drop your device. But it is a problem.

"At [Mobile World Congress] the UK broadcaster unveiled plans to launch several new mobile applications, showcasing its news, sport, and TV content. The BBC News app will arrive first, with the iPhone version leading the way in April. But while the BBC is enthusiastic about using the latest devices to show off its content to best advantage, it is already finding the extent of software fragmentation between devices a burden. In his keynote, Erik Huggers, director of the BBC's Future Media & Technology division, attacked the mobile industry. 'As a broadcaster we're used to broadcasting once and the receivers just work. Why should we have to reformat our apps for every device?' ... Fragmentation is fast becoming a major obstacle to increased growth, at a time when mainstream content providers are showing unprecedented interest in the mobile channel and when mobile content consumption is rapidly increasing among users. ... The end result is that content providers will naturally come to favor some platforms over others... ." Tony Cripps, Ovum, 18 February 2010. Posted: 20 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

BBCWS Trust Janala project has served one million English lessons in Bangladesh.

"Janala - it means Window - is a service run by the BBC World Service Trust and funded by the UK's Department for International Development which launched in Bangladesh last November. At the Mobile World Congress this morning its creators are revealing that it has already served up one million English lessons over mobile phones. ... Now, as with any mobile service, plenty of people will try this once and not return but the figures show that English-by-phone is proving more compelling than just about anything else. 39% of callers return to the service, compared to an average 5% return rate for other mobile information products in Bangladesh, and the content for beginners gets a 69% repeat rate. ... Price is of course key here, and local mobile operators have co-operated in keeping it very low - at 1 Taka (1p) a minute it's about half the price of a normal call or text message. Janala appears to have tapped into a huge unmet need to learn English as a means of getting access to the global economy." Rory Cellan-Jones, dot.Rory blog, BBC News, 17 February 2010. See also PDA blog, The Guardian, 17 February 2010. And BBC News, 17 February 2010. Posted: 20 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

DW Bangla celebrates 35 years, plans to add FM.

"German radio station Deutsche Welle arranged a listeners' gathering on Friday to mark the 35th anniversary of its Bangla service. Deutsche Welle South Asia chief Grahame Lucas inaugurated the gathering at the Goethe Institute in Dhaka. Organisers said more than two hundred Deutsche Welle listeners from across the country participated in the gathering. Unfolding the future plan of Bangla service, Lucas said Deutsche is soon going to start airing programmes in Bangladesh on FM (frequency modulation)." bdnews24.com, 19 February 2010. Posted: 20 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Prosecutors say defendants in obstruction case know who murdered RFA GC.

Robert Wone "was murdered in 2006 while visiting friends in a tony section of Washington. At the time, he was the general counsel at Radio Free Asia. He was 32. Two years later criminal charges of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and tampering charges — but not murder charges — were brought against three housemates that Wone was visiting: Joe Price, Victor Zaborsky and Dylan Ward. A trial it set for May. Several days ago, according to this WaPo story, federal prosecutors in the case said in filings that they were confident the three men charged with obstruction know who killed Wone." Amir Efrati, Law Blog, Wall Street Journal, 18 February 2010. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 19 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

CNN International wins George Polk Award for documentary on Burma.

"CNN International has won a 2009 George Polk Award in the ‘International Television Reporting’ category for its documentary, World’s Untold Stories: A Forgotten People. The award-winning documentary highlighted the ongoing persecution of the Rohingya people in Myanmar (or Burma) and tracked their story of abuse and neglect across Southeast Asia." Web Newswire, 18 February 2010. Posted: 19 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Hallmark Channel Africa, "the number 1 international channel in the region," becomes Universal Channel.

"In a successful period of growth and expansion, Universal Networks International is now also focusing on harmonizing its TV channels under five revitalized core brands delivering new original, first run content targeted at local audiences around the globe. Hallmark Channel Africa, the number 1 international channel in the region with subscribers approaching 3,7million in total (Africa and South Africa combined), will change its name to Universal Channel on 24th March. Africa is the first market to introduce the new look channel globally. ... [C]ontent premieres will include Monk, Psych, Being Erica season 2 and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 8." MultiChoice press release, 18 February 2010. Posted: 19 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

A channel for all those French-speaking South Koreans.

"French generalist network TV5MONDE launched yesterday on QOOK TV throughout the territory. Korea Telecom’s QOOK TV is South Korea’s largest IPTV operator with 1.2 million subscribers, including about 900,000 subscribers to linear channels, according to the latest figures released by the operator." Media Research Asia, 17 February 2010. Posted: 19 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Bloomberg to exec: While you're at it, do Asia as well.

"Bloomberg has expanded the remit of commercial director Lindsay Oliver for Europe, Middle East, and Africa to encompass Asia, as the television network looks to expand its global footprint. Oliver, a former CNBC Europe network director, joined Bloomberg at the start of 2009, with responsibility for the financial network's five European language channels. ... Oliver's promotion comes as Bloomberg looks to strike new distribution deals across Asia. It claims that Oliver was fundamental to increasing the English-language network's presence from 28 million households in 2008 across Europe, Africa and Asia, to more than 140 million last year. Previously, Oliver was commercial director at Al Jazeera, where she launched the network in 80 million households."
John Reynolds, Brand Republic, 17 February 2010. Posted: 19 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Hillary Clinton has a "quite frank" meeting with Al Jazeera management.

"[I]t is notable that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made time to meet with [Al Jazeera's] senior management during her tour of the Middle East this week. The network said in a statement Monday that Ms. Clinton met with its director general Wadah Khanfar 'and the network’s senior editorial staff for a meeting to further dialogue with Al Jazeera.' The meeting was held on the Carnegie Mellon University campus in Doha, Qatar, the city where Al Jazeera is based. It lasted for about one hour. The meeting was 'quite frank' as Al Jazeera managers 'put their frustrations on the table,' according to a network employee who was briefed on the meeting. 'Over all, the meeting was very positive,' the network employee added." Brian Stelter, Media Decoder blog, New York Times, 16 February 2010.
     "Al Jazeera – broadcaster of Osama bin Laden videos, famously contrarian champion of 'the opinion and the other opinion' – has entered the retail DVD business. ... In particular, the retail platform will give Al Jazeera a chance to reach viewers in the large and lucrative US market, which both the Arabic and the English channels have so far failed to crack with a national distribution deal. Although a landmark local cable deal in Washington DC last year gave Al Jazeera English the opportunity to access the airwaves of a major metropolitan area for the first time, and last year it won approval from Canadian regulators for satellite distribution there, the broadcaster still lacks the US distribution deal that would make it commercially viable." Keach Hagey, The National, 17 February 2010. Posted: 19 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

VOA music people in the news.

Leo Sarkisian, 88, "spent 45 years at the Voice of America, the official radio station of the United States, and a music library was founded in his name. He is also an admirer of Turkish Classical Music. Sarkisian is well-known for his research on Ottoman music as well. In the past, he has shared his research with the Center for Advanced Research in Music, or MIAM, at Istanbul Technical University. 'I strongly believe, and my close Turkish friends know that, there is no place for hate,' Sarkisian said." Vercihan Ziflioglu, Hürriyet Daily News, 15 February 2010.
     "Haroon Bacha, who was trained in tabla and harmonium, has emerged as perhaps the preeminent vocalist of the Pashtun diaspora. Bacha, who would likely face death were he to go back home, performs around the world, keeping alive Pashto-language poetry and song forms. He articulates traditional folk and classical tunes in his keening voice, adding a fresh sociological perspective with his lyrics. Bacha also reaches his native region via the airwaves, as a cultural-programming director with the Voice of America's Pashto service." He will perform 21 February in Philadelphia. David R. Stampone, Philadelphia Inquirer, 19 February 2010. Posted: 19 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

With Cubans getting more of what they want to watch, can Radio/TV Martí compete?

"[T]he U.S. trade embargo against Cuba may actually make it easier for American movies and shows to end up on Cuban TV. Since the trade sanctions block the Cuban government from paying legally for the use of American media content, it just uses the programming for free. ... The proliferation of digital media on the island has made it increasingly tough for the Cuban government to monopolize its audience. That competition may be another reason the number of state-run channels has increased from two to five over the past decade, with programming that increasingly reflects what people want to watch, rather than what the government officially thinks they should be watching. But it’s also made Radio and TV Marti a less appealing alternative for Cubans who don’t necessarily want more politics in their lives. Cuban dissident Vladimiro Roca recently complained to Miami’s El Nuevo Herald that Radio Marti was 'so bad and so uninteresting to the Cuban people that no one listens,' adding that its coverage was too focused on exile politics in Miami, instead of news from Cuba." Nick Miroff, GlobalPost, 17 February 2010. US international broadcasting is a confederation of separate, sometimes competing operations. Radio/TV Marti has not, until recently, made use of the news resources of VOA, and has no plans (that I know of) to use news reports from RFE/RL, Radio Free Asia, Alhurra, or Radio Sawa. These news resources of US international broadcasting will have to come together in a era in which even Cuban broadcasting is at least somewhat competitive. The continued need for US international broadcasting to Cuba is discussed in the previous post. Posted: 19 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Czech senator writes to US senators about human rights complaint involving RFE/RL (updated).

"Czech Senator Jaromir Stetina has sent an explosive letter to 'American colleagues' on the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. The letter is a reaction to a suit against the Czech Republic by a Croat who claimed national discrimination. The Czech Republic is charged with human-rights violations at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. ... Stetina warns in his letter that Prague RFE/RL employees are divided into three castes. The first includes American citizens who enjoy the protections provided by the Federal Equal Employment Opportunities Commission. Czech citizens are protected by the Czech Labour Code. Unfortunately, employees from third countries 'enjoy' zero protection." Croatian Times, 11 February 2010.
     Update: "All American citizens employed by RFE/RL are relieved of Czech income taxes as performing duties of governmental nature. This generous hospitality is well deserved by the unique role RFE/RL broadcasts from Munich played in unmasking communist lies that strangled Soviet-dominated Czechoslovakia. Just to note: In Munich, all RFE/RL personnel was equally protected by the strict German labor laws; still, it did not hinder RFE/RL from being truly instrumental to American victory in the Cold War against 'evil empire'. ... Dear American colleague! At the date of this letter, BBG nomination hearings were not scheduled yet. I cannot see, however, what may prevent you to act within your sphere of political and public influence even now, with the present BBG at hand, provided, you share my concerns." From Senator Stetina's letter to Senator John Kerry, received by CTK, News.az, 16 February 2010. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 19 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

BBG confirmations in March?

"It's slow going in this town even for nonpaying, part-time jobs. Take for example the confirmations of eight members of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the folks who oversee U.S. international radio and television programs. Many months in the making, the slate of four Republicans and four Democrats -- the secretary of state's designee breaks any ties -- was announced three months ago. The skids were greased for confirmation without even so much as a hearing. But nothing happened before the Senate recess. There was word of a glitch with some of the nominees, but we're told that's not the case, just normal checks at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Now they're talking confirmations in March." Al Kamen, Washington Post, 17 February 2010. Not "nonpaying": there is some remuneration for BBG members. And I don't think the secretary of state's ex officio vote is strictly for tie-breaking. See previous post about same subject.
     Walter Isaacson, nominated for the chairmanship of the BBG, will write an authorized biogrpahy of Apple founder Steve Jobs. Kevin Bloom, The Daily Maverick (Johannesburg), 18 February 2010. Posted: 19 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

NSC reportedly objects to description of Iranian satellite jamming as "intensified."

"Three sources tell The Cable that the National Security Council at first tried to prevent Jeff Trimble, executive director of the Broadcasting Board of Governors ... from allowing VOA to attach its name to a statement last week with Deutsche Welle and the British Broadcasting Corporation protesting Iranian signal jamming. Two sources close to the issue say the NSC first didn't want the VOA to join the statement if it mentioned 'jamming.' Later in the email chain, the NSC modified its position to object to the use of the term 'intensified jamming.' According to Trimble, 'The BBG wasn't asked not to participate in the statement.' 'NSC is ok with our confirming that jamming continues, they ask that we not say for now that it has intensified,' one Feb. 11 email from Trimble to several BBG staffers read. Dan Austin, the president of VOA, acknowledged that changes had been made to the statement, but declined to discuss the NSC's role. He said that the U.S. government should not be interfering with the BBG's editorial content, but acknowledged that on the communications and policy side, the lines were less clear. 'If it doesn't violate the letter of the firewall, common sense dictates it violates the spirit,' a BBG official told The Cable on background basis." Josh Rogin, The Cable, Foreign Policy, 17 February 2010. See previous post for the statement, by way of a BBC World Service press release. It was also issued as a press release in German by Deutsche Welle, 12 February 2010. The statement has not appeared as a press release from either VOA or BBG, but VOA had a news report about it. Satellite enthusiasts in Europe (see, for example, previous comments by Kai Ludwig, and links thereto) are the real judges of whether jamming exists, and how intense it is.
     "A military source, who ran intelligence operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, told HUMAN EVENTS that Iran's ability to shut out commercial TV and radio signals of its choosing is impressive. But being able to use jamming technology against U.S. military satellites is a much taller order. 'We use frequency hopping,' the source said. 'That means we actually broadcast our transmissions for one ten thousandth of a second then change to another frequency. That means unless they have our codes to know what frequencies we are rolling to and when., they cannot jam us.' But the BBC and the Voice of America, two of those being jammed, do not operate in secrecy and provide an easier target. Iran can overpower their frequency at the satellite or the ground receiver level with a stronger microwave signal of white noise and static. It 'forces' them to accept that frequency over the weaker one, the military source said. 'The most challenging part is identifying exactly where the satellite is and what frequency it is operating on, but that is certainly within their capability,' the source said." Rowan Scarborough, Human Events, 17 February 2010. Because viewers in Iran (or at least their satellite dish installers) need to know "where the satellite is and what frequency it is operating on," that information is usually publicized. Thus not so "challenging" for the Iranian jamming bureaucrats. I'm no engineer, but "one ten thousandth of a second" seems an awfully short span to get any information out. I've seen references to 250 milliseconds and 62.5 milliseconds for such bursts. That provides a bit more time for nuance. Posted: 19 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Report: Turned away by Al Jazeera and Alhurra, he airs allegations against Palestinian official on Israel's Channel 10.

"Rafiq Al-Husseini, the former chief of staff to [Palestinian National Authority] President Mahmoud Abbas, said Sunday he is innocent of allegations broadcast on Israeli TV days earlier. Flanked by relatives, Al-Husseini told reporters that a videotape apparently showing him propositioning a job applicant... . Al-Husseini termed the broadcast, which appeared Wednesday evening on Israel's Channel 10, 'a meeting between corruption and collaboration with the occupation.' He applauded the Arab media outlets that opted not to air the allegations brought forward by Fahmi Shabanah, a former Palestinian Authority intelligence official who says he was forced to turn to an Israeli broadcaster after Al-Jazeera and Al-Hurra turned him away." Ma'an, 15 February 2010. Update: Fahmi Shabana responds, Ma'an, 19 February 2010. Posted: 19 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Secretary Clinton, on Arabic channels, talks about Iran.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "has been on something of a media blitz all week: The State Department has sent reporters dozens of transcripts of interviews, including segments with Al-Arabiya and Al-Hurra. She even did an appearance on Al-Jazeera's Arabic network, which U.S. officials don't do nearly often enough. I'm struck, though by how single-mindedly these interviews are focused on Iran and its nuclear program. In Clinton's Al-Arabiya interview, for example, there are 29 mentions of Iran, compared with one mention of democracy, and zero of human rights. I understand that the administration wants to bolster international support for sanctions on Iran, and Clinton is leading that push. Her interviews were perhaps aimed more at Arab governments than Arab publics. But it seems like she, and the administration, missed three good opportunities to speak directly to the general population (okay, two, since nobody watches Al-Hurra)." Gregg Carlstrom, The Majlis, 17 February 2010.
     "'I think the upcoming elections in Iraq are very important, and I hope no one boycotts, because we know that the last time there was a boycott, it didn't work out very well,' [Secretary Clinton] told U.S.-funded Al Hurra TV in an interview in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, while on a Gulf tour." AP, 18 February 2010.
     "Madam Secretary, first, thank you for your time. You have made a great speech in Doha about the relations between the U.S. and the Muslim world. And you visited today the OIC headquarters in Jeddah. Why are you doing these gestures toward the Muslim world?" From transcript of interview by Michel Ghandour of Alhurra with Secretary Clinton, State Department, 16 February 2010. See also BBG/MBN press release, 16 February 2010. And transcript of interview with Secretary Clinton by David Gollust of VOA, State Department, 16 February 2010. Posted: 18 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

"President of Alhurra Television" will "preside over" (ring?) NASDAQ closing bell.

"Brian Conniff, President of Alhurra Television, will visit NASDAQ MarketSite in the heart of Times Square and preside over the NASDAQ Closing Bell. ... Thursday, February 18, 2010 at 3:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET. [2045-2100 UTC]" Alhurra press release, 17 February 2010. Brian Coniff is actually president of Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN) Inc, parent entity of Alhurra and Radio Sawa, part of BBG. The occasion was the sixth anniversary of Alhurra. Several Alhurra broadcasters stood with Mr. Coniff. Posted: 18 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

RFI and MCD may get FM frequencies in Yemen.

"Minister of Information Hasan al-Lawzi, along with the French ambassador to Sana'a Joseph Silva, received on Monday a French media delegation headed by Director General of the Middle East for Audio-Visual Media. ... The meeting shed light on request of the French side to re-broadcast Monte Carlo Doualiya and Radio France International radio stations via the FM waves which received welcome by the Yemeni side within treatment framework of the new Audio Visual Media Law." SABA Yemen News Agency, 15 February 2010."Audio-Visual Media" probably refers to the holding entity Audiovisuel extérieur de la France (AEF). Posted: 18 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Euronews restores first Nagorno-Karabakh documentary that led to the second.

"The Parliament of Azerbaijan can again begin discussions related to the Euronews TV channel. 'Returning the biased and one-sided reportage regarding the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to the website of the Euronews TV channel makes regret, and this issue may again be brought up for discussion at the next meeting of the Parliament,' deputy chairman of the committee on defence and security of the Parliament, MP Aydin Mirzazade told Trend News on Feb. 17. Euronews TV channel again posted the reportage titled 'Nagorno-Karabakh - wind of change' on its website. On Nov. 28, Euronews has broadcasted a reportage by Michael Raikhman 'Nagorno-Karabakh - wind of change', which is very biased and one-sidedly interpreted events in the Karabakh war. After Azerbaijan's protest, the reportage was removed from the side. ... According to Mirzazade, Euronews TV channel conducts a double policy. 'On the one hand, this channel shows the fair position of Azerbaijan, on the other - at the European level, presents false and slanderous claims of Armenians,' he said." Trend News Agency (Baku), 17 February 2010.
     "Euronews video 'Winds of change in Nagorno-Karabakh' posted on agency's website last November and removed on demand of Azerbaijani side is restored. The video captured by Euronews journalists who visited Nagorno-Karabakh reflected true essence of Karabakh conflict while NKR was presented as an independent republic. After the item was placed on Euronews website, Azerbaijani side as expected threw a fit. Country’s Foreign Ministry even filed a note of protest to Euronews. Channel’s management had to remove the video and shoot another film 'Forgotten victims of frozen conflict' about Azerbaijani refugees. However, 'Winds of change in Nagorno-Karabakh' was restored on the website right after a new film appeared." News.am (Yerevan), 17 February 2010.
     Both documentaries are available at the Euronews Nagorno-Karabakh page. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 18 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

NHK World's "uniqueness" now available in Hawaii.

"Japan's giant public broadcasting network, NHK, today is scheduled to begin offering Hawai'i TV viewers a 24-hour English-language news and information channel that focuses on Asia and Japan. NHK World TV, which has only been in operation since February 2009, is already seen in more than 80 countries. ... 'It's sort of a window to Japan,' said Koki Matsumoto, a senior director at Japan International Broadcasting Inc., a subsidiary of NHK. 'You don't see these things on CNN. This is a uniqueness we are very proud of. It is something very innovative.' ... 'About 300,000 Hawai'i residents are either Japanese or a Japanese mixture, so there is a natural interest,' he said. ... NHK World TV can be seen on Oceanic Time Warner Cable's digital channel 682 and on 1682 as part of its high-definition entertainment package. Oceanic reaches about 90 percent of Hawai'i's households." Mike Gordon, Honolulu Advertiser, 16 February 2010. Mr. Matsumoto is correct about NHK World's "uniqueness." During the recent snowstorms in Washington, I've had a chance to watch NHK World for a few hours. There is an artistic quality to much of the programming. It requires more patience than the rapid-paced all news format, but that patience is rewarded. Posted: 18 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

International children's programs to US homes via MHz Networks.

"MHz Networks will launch a brand new block of programming on MHz Worldview March 6. Premiering at 10 AM ET, the weekly block includes the best in children’s entertainment and learning from all over the world. Known as ShorTV ... [the shows] include:" "MuMuHug' from Taiwan, "Lifeboat Luke" from Ireland, "Mixed Nutz," from Canada, "Katz Fun" from Taiwan. MHz Networks press release, 15 February 2010. Posted: 17 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Livestation goes mobile with its international channels.

"Twenty months after previewing an in-development app that would bring its live TV news service to iPhones, Livestation is finally taking its streaming offering mobile - but it’s resorting to the open web, and not Apple’s application platform." Channels are Al Arabiya Arabic, Euronews in English and French, Press TV and RT in English and Arabic, but "more free channels will be added soon, along with access to the premium channels the service began offering in December for £4.99 a month." Robert Andrews, paidContet:UK, 16 February 2010. Posted: 17 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

France 24: Twitter is good for this, Facebook is good for that.

"France 24 uses Twitter and Facebook to aid its newsgathering efforts, but prefers to channel citizen reporters to its 'The Observers' Web site. 'We have about 2,000 "observers" around the world,” said Julien Pain, the site’s editor. 'Three hundred of them are what you could call "really active." When things are happening in their region, we get them to send us information, pictures and video of what is going on from the scene.' This content is sent via Twitter, Facebook, Skype, e-mail or online chat, he added. 'It all depends on the country that the person is contacting us from, and what tools they have at their disposal.' Pain said that France 24 uses Twitter for breaking news research and Facebook to find out more about story subjects. 'If you are following an aid worker for three months, Facebook is really good for that,' he said. 'You get to know more about them by following Facebook, than Twitter.'" James Careless, Radio World, 15 February 2010. Posted: 17 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Nigerian insurance company sponsors segments on CNN International.

"From 15th February 2010, Nigerian insurance company Industrial and General Insurance (IGI) is the exclusive sponsor of two new editorial initiatives on CNN International. The Business Diary highlight, airing during weekly day parts and the Morning Agenda feature airing during CNN International’s morning schedule, both bring audiences a preview of the current top business and financial events expected to occur that week in the world of international business." CNN press release via News on News, 15 February 2010. Posted: 17 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

New Afghanistan radio station taking audience share from Radio Free Afghanistan?

General-store owner and amateur radio broadcaster Sadruddin Nazar: "'In the village, our neighbors are making carpets, scarves. They listen,' Nazar says. 'In the morning, we turn on the transmitter until the evening. If we don't, they come to ask us why we don't put the transmitter into operation. They say they want to have music while they work.' The radio is a box of equipment with a wire leading out to the roof, where the transmitter sits atop a tall wooden pole and broadcasts at 100.1 FM to a radius of 2 kilometers. There is nothing professional about any of it. Nazar and a car-mechanic friend assembled everything themselves from spare parts from old radios and cassette players." Ibrahim Haroon, head of administration of Radio Free Afghanistan's Kabul bureau, RFE/RL, 12 February 2010. Posted: 16 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Russia Today and the "9/11 nutters."

"[L]ast week [Russia Today] they invited me to come on a show of theirs to discuss the issue of the proposed burka ban in France. ... [Y]ou can probably imagine, indeed can see, the look of astonishment that I and my fellow guest felt when the presenter declared to us, in the middle of a discussion about a totally different subject, that 'the people that perpetrated 9/11 were not even fundamentalists at all'." Douglas Murray, blog, The Telegraph, 15 February 2010. Posted: 16 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Australia Network has an outlet in Nauru.

"[W]ith its TV and radio stations upgraded and a newspaper about to launch, the poor island nation is constructing a genuine media sector thanks to Australian funding and expertise. Over the past two years overseas aid program AusAID has put almost $450,000 into the project, overseen by former ABC broadcaster Rod Henshaw, now interim media director for the Nauru government. ... The TV station carries local content as well as broadcasting the ABC's Australia Network. A new transmitter means the station can be heard all over the island." Sally Jackson, The Australian, 15 February 2010. Posted: 16 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Wafted over North Korea: balloons toting bags containing radios and money.

"A group known as the Fighters for Free North Korea plans to launch a specially-equipped balloon over North Korean territory that will include a message from North Korean defectors and Americans regarding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was written in 1948 because of the horrible things that happened during World War II. Suzanne Scholte, chairman of the North Korea Freedom Coalition (NKFC), says the balloon will carry those messages in special bags that will be released into the countryside. 'In that bag that's got the leaflets, we also have plastic radios that have AM, FM, and shortwave frequencies. We've tested these radios, and we're sending in radios, but also money that could be used in the market,' Scholte explains. 'And we know that this has been successful because every time there's a North Korean summit between the North and the South, the North Koreans always show up with handfuls of these leaflets, throw them down on the table and say, "Stop doing this!" And of course the South Korean government has to say, "We're not doing this!"' The NKFC chairman adds that the birthday balloon launch will be followed by several more, including one in April during North Korea Freedom Week." Chad Groening, OneNewsNow, 15 February 2010. Posted: 16 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

It's good to switch gears: Richard Sambrook, was director of BBC world services, joins PR firm Edelman.

"The former BBC director of global news, Richard Sambrook, is to join PR company Edelman. Sambrook will take up the role of global vice-chairman and chief content officer in May, having spent 30 years at the BBC. ... His job will include helping clients produce video content and leading the company's global crisis and issues department... ." The Guardian, 15 February 2010.
     "Global CEO and President Richard Edelman said: ... 'Through his work establishing several BBC News channels (BBC News 24, BBC World News, BBC Arabic, BBC Persian) and his own long-term and personal commitment to social media, he understands very well how the audience is now – to use his own words – "on the pitch", how content and news must be shaped by the needs of the consumer, and the new opportunities provided by social technologies.'" Edelman press release, 15 February 2010.
     "Some people will be surprised that a journalist who has stuck his neck out on many occasions for the independence of news media has joined a PR company. It misses the point. Edelman are redefining corporate communications and growing fast. As digital media explodes traditional channels, they are exploiting the new opportunities that are opening up. It's a stake in the future - I'm looking forward to it." Richard Sambrook in his SacredFacts blog, 15 February 2010. Posted: 16 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Unblocking the internet: Haystack versus Tor Project.

"Austin Heap, a 25-year-old San Francisco software developer ... posted online instructions on how to use 'proxy servers' — such as routing an Internet request through another computer to access a blocked Web site. 'Thousands and thousands of people around the world turned their computers at home into proxy servers for people in Iran,' Heap recalled. 'Somebody had to make a more sustainable and scalable method of getting around the Iranian censorship,' he said. 'These proxy servers weren't going to cut it. We couldn't do this on a massive scale.' ... [His software] Haystack, Heap said, works on two levels. It encrypts online communication and then cloaks it to appear like normal Web traffic. Jacob Appelbaum, a San Francisco programmer with the long-time open source Tor Project, a cloaking program used by corporations and free speech activists alike, said closed systems like Haystack concern him. He said it has no peer review the way the Tor Project does, which has been created and vetted by programmers around the world over many years. 'He has not opened it up for research,' Appelbaum said. 'No one has seen a copy of his specifications. There is no way we can understand if the claims that are made (by Haystack) are true.'" John Boudreau, San Jose Mercury News, 14 February 2010. See also Reuters, 11 February 2010, as cited in previous post.
     "[R]egimes like China and Iran (and Vietnam, and others) are not unduly worried about English-language content produced in America flooding their countries, because few of their citizens can read English. ... What really worries such countries is politically independent material produced in local languages. Such countries often allow the English-language websites of, say, the BBC or Voice of America to be viewed unimpeded inside the country. It is the Mandarin-, Farsi-, and Vietnamese-language sites of such news organisations that are blocked. True, much of the politically sensitive material produced in these languages comes from diaspora communities in America and Europe. But that is precisely because these regimes crack down so hard on locally-produced political content. It's convenient for China and others to claim that cultural anti-imperialism is the reason for their curbs on internet content. If that's true, they can prove it by allowing their own citizens to post whatever they want. Don't hold your breath." M.S., Democracy in America blog, The Economist, 14 February 2010.
     "It appears that the Arabic language is virtually absent from [Google], and [Vinton] Cerf said that 'It is a widely known fact that the MENA region currently produces less than 1 percent of content online in Arabic.' Cerf said that he considered this to be 'both a challenge and an opportunity for the region to take a leap of faith and embrace the benefits of the Internet.' Cerf also described the internet as being 'an amazing tool that encourages the free flow of information, the sharing of ideas, the ability to advance businesses across geographical borders and ultimately empower more individuals in their everyday lives.'" Mohammed Nasser, Asharq Alawsat (London), 12 February 2010. Posted: 16 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

BBC World Service helps hasten the demise of shortwave by giving dial position in "meters." And more shortwave.

"For two weeks, from Monday 15 February, the BBC Hausa daily radio and online output – on bbchausa.com – will be dominated by the Food Special, exploring the reasons behind failures of 'agricultural revolutions' and various other programmes aimed at creating plenty in this region of Africa. ... The Food Special on BBC Hausa is broadcast across daily programming – at 05.30 GMT on 41 and 49 meters, at 06.30 GMT on 22, 25 and 31 meters, at 13.45 GMT on 13 and 16 meters, and at 19.30 GMT on 16, 9 [sic, should be 19] and 41 meters shortwave. The programming, in audio and text, is also available via the website bbchausa.com." BBC World Service press release, 11 February 2010. "Meters"!? (And, by the way, don't they spell it "metres" in the UK?) Nowadays, even radios with analog frequency readout are marked mainly in megahertz (MHz), and only secondarily in the archaic meter bands. And on that radio, 7.205 MHz (one of the frequencies at 0530 GMT) would be at a rather different part of the 41 meter band than, say, 7.4 MHz. It would not have taken much more room to specify: at 05.30 GMT on 5.975, 6.135, and 7.205 MHz, at 06.30 GMT on 7.255, 9.44, and 11.75 MHz (schedule at BBC Hausa website contradicts the press release here), at 13.45 GMT on 15.105, 17.78, and 21.63 MHz (the website contradicts itself here), and at 19.30 GMT on 11.89, 15.105, 17.885 MHz (more contradictions). No wonder shortwave is dying.
     "Historically the Vatican has been no slouch in the technology department. Vatican Radio, at least in the pre-Internet era, had a signal that reached around the world via shortwave. More recently there have been Facebook (see pope2you.net) and iPhone apps, following on the heels of a YouTube channel and a long-established web presence at www.vatican.va. ... Although Pope Benedict does not have a Twitter presence, the owner of the popebenedictxvi account, a self-described 'fan doing his part to spread the word,' has offered it to the Vatican." Peter Vogel, The B.C. Catholic, 15 February 2010.
     STS9's studio album, Ad Explorata, consists of "instrumentals of the proudly interstellar ilk, based, the band writes, in its obsession with shortwave-radio numbers transmissions, said to be coded messages used by overseas spies of various governments." Kimberly Chun, San Francisco Bay Guardian, 12 February 2010. "The story goes that keyboardist David Phipps' young daughter was messing around with a shortwave radio when she landed on a women's voice repeating numbers. Intrigued, the band searched for more voices and found one other, which they actually sampled on the song 'Central.'" Kayceman, JamBase, 11 February 2010.
     "Siegmar Fricke started his first musical experiments in 1981 using tape-recorders and shortwave-radio signals to create collages of musique-concrète." Music Industry News Network, 12 February 2010. Posted: 15 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Working -- and sleeping -- at VOA during the "snowpocalypse."

"When you think of essential government workers, do you think of radio and TV reporters? The federal government's broadcasting arm stayed open for business during snowpocalypse. Workers at Voice of America slept on GSA supplied Army cots and even couches this as other agencies shuttered shop." Federal News Radio, 12 February 2010, with link to audio report.
     "While we struggled to get through this past week, our listeners and viewers never knew it. They got the same quality programming, on radio, on TV and online, that they always get from us. What was different this time was the almost super-human effort, under the most adverse of circumstances, made by many of our broadcasters, journalists, technicians, engineers and support personnel to meet these audience expectations." From e-mail to staff from VOA director Dan Austin.
     An amazing effort by VOA broadcasters and VOA/IBB staff. In past years, when I was a VOA broadcaster, I commuted in during some severe snowstorms, but probably none as formidable as the recent two events. (This time, as an old bureaucrat, I unheroically worked from home.) Posted: 15 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Al Jazeera to "On The Media": We are not a target of H.R. 2278.

"A couple of months ago, the House passed Resolution 2278 [see previous post], aimed at Arab satellite TV networks like Al Jazeera... ." NPR's "On The Media," 12 February 2010, with audio. "You repeatedly mention Al Jazeera as an intended target [of H.R. 2278], yet there is absolutely no reference to Al Jazeera in the resolution, as you can see from the legislative digest summary below, or in Congressman Bilirakis' remark on the House floor. As you can also see, not only is the resolution extremely vague in defining which broadcasters are offenders -- it has absolutely no teeth. It may have antagonized many people in the Middle East, but I'm confident that none of us at Al Jazeera feel it in any way affects us or our reporting." Tom Ackerman, Al Jazeera English Washington Broadcast Center, commenting to ibid. Thanks to Joe Durso for the news tip.
     During her visit to Qatar, Secretary Clinton "is scheduled to meet with the board of directors of the controversial Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television and answer questions from Arabs and Muslims in 'town-hall style' events broadcast on television." AFP, 14 February 2010. See also aljazeera.net, 15 February 2010. "Townterview" transcript: State Department, 15 February 2010. It was during this Al Jazeera town meeting that Secretary Clinton said "Iran is moving toward a military dictatorship," a quote widely cited by global news media.
     "The [Al Jazeera town meeting] audience, which included several young women in Islamic head-dress, asked [Secretary Clinton] awkward questions about the the stalemated Middle East peace process, humanitarian conditions in Gaza and a perceived US bias against Muslims. 'It is President (Barack) Obama's vision that we will overcome stereotypes,' she responded, adding that Washington recognised the 'broad diversity of the Islamic world.' ... But the students, half of them Qataris and the rest of other nationalities, did not appear convinced by Clinton's arguments." AFP, 15 February 2010.
     "'Two things started opening outlets for us to disseminate news that the [Egyptian] government doesn't want anyone to know about,' [journalist Hossam] El-Hamalawy told IPS. 'One was the launching of Al-Jazeera and the other was the rise of the Internet, starting from about 2000.' Al-Jazeera, a Qatar-based pan-Arab satellite news channel launched in 1996, rose to prominence after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and now claims over 50 million viewers. Western and Arab governments have accused the network of sensationalism, but media analysts say it was the first television station to provide independent and often critical analysis of Arab regimes. 'With Al-Jazeera, we started seeing news that was not necessarily handed to us by the state media," says El-Hamalawy. 'Love it or hate it, the channel played a revolutionary role in the Arab world. For the first time we started seeing dissidents on TV. Before that, if a dissident or (political activist) showed up on TV, you knew he was a phony.'" Cam McGrath, Inter Press Service, 14 February 2010. Posted: 15 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Australian regulator investigates Al Manar, received via Indonesian satellite.

"The media watchdog will investigate claims a 'terrorist' TV station is being broadcast into Australia via Indonesian satellites. Al-Manar TV, backed by Hezbollah, has twice been investigated by the Australian Communications and Media Authority but now faces a broader investigation, including compliance with racial vilification laws. Australia Israel and Jewish Affairs Council executive director Colin Rubenstein said Australia should follow the lead of France, the US and Canada by banning the station." Stephani Peatling, Sydney Morning Herald, 14 February 2010.
     "The Australian Communications and Media Authority will further investigate Al-Manar TV program content to ascertain its compliance with regulatory obligations relating to terrorist-related content, as well as racial vilification and hate speech." ACMA, 4 February 2010. Apparently referring to Al Manar on Palapa D, 113 degrees east. If ACMA rules against Al Manar, what enforcement would be available? Posted: 15 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Opposition unplugged? And more Iran media updates.

"Despite weeks of calls to action, the opposition movement failed to derail the holiday's agenda set by supporters of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The Iranian government had spent weeks co-opting the opposition plans. Dozens of activists and journalists were arrested, along with individuals suspected of using social networking websites to encourage protests against the regime. Following in the footsteps of China, Google and other internet service providers had been blocked in Iran. SMS messages were interrupted, and internet communication was brought to a halt. Three major international broadcasters operating in the region, the BBC, Deutsche Welle and Voice of America, have recently accused the Iranian regime of 'deliberate electronic interference' in their broadcasts. It seems that the balance in the Iranian uprising is shifting in the regime's favor. This time Ahmadinejad was prepared ... he succeeded in 'unplugging' the opposition." Jamal Dajani, Huffington Post, 12 February 2010.
     "Revolution Day will not be tweeted. Not entirely, at least. Internet, mobile phone, e-mail, and SMS services in Iran have reportedly been disrupted, apparently in an attempt by authorities to prevent opposition activists from communicating and organizing protests." RFE/RL, 11 February 2010.
     "Q. How could Iran block access to specific websites? A. All Internet traffic in Iran, and many other countries including China, is inspected by government-controlled computers programmed that filter content. Officials can easily program those filters so that computers in those countries cannot access certain Web pages, such as Google.com, or use specific programs, such as eBay Inc's Skype, Twitter, or Activision Blizzard Inc's World of Warcraft online video game. Countries also often choose to block entire websites because that is easier than trying to pinpoint objectionable content. ... Q. Is it possible to get around those filters? A. Yes. There are several ways around the filters, some of which require the user to have some technical knowledge. One of the easiest to use is a program for personal computers called Tor (www.torproject.org). This program encrypts Internet traffic, effectively hiding it from filtering programs. Not all of these programs work all the time, and they cannot circumvent all filtering techniques." Ian Sherr and Jim Finkle, Reuters, 11 February 2010.
     "AFP has reported that opposition sympathizers began 'impromptu' radio broadcasts via the Internet this morning, but we've been unable to track it down: 'Hitting back at official efforts to stifle news of opposition protests, the opposition on Thursday launched an impromptu radio station on the Internet. The scratchy, live broadcast flashed news reports on the clashes.'" RFE/RL, 11 February 2010.
     "On Monday, Iranian state media reported the arrest of seven individuals charged with espionage for alleged ties to the U.S.-funded Farsi-language radio station, Radio Farda. These allegations and arrests coincide with a large-scale crackdown on independent media that has intensified in the past week. In the lead-up to today’s demonstrations, Radio Farda broadcasts have been jammed, and there have been widespread service disruptions to the Internet and text message services. These and other government efforts have impeded the free flow of information, news, and basic means of communication. This is why I will join Senator Casey and others in introducing another resolution denouncing the atmosphere of impunity in Iran for those who employ intimidation, harassment, or violence to restrict basic freedoms of speech, expression, assembly, and the press." Senator Ted Kaufman (D-DE) (and former BBG member) Senate floor speech via Sussex Countian, 12 February 2010.
     "[M]ore should be done to help the opposition. For example, the Internet and satellite television blockages might be overcome with more U.S. support for private groups working to counter the regime's jamming and firewalls." Editorial, Washington Post, 13 February 2010. Posted: 15 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

VOA Persian tilts in favor of Tehran? (updated)

"An internal struggle within the Voice of America (VOA) over its news coverage of Iran is spewing outside the agency as veteran staffers claim the channel tilts coverage in favor of the Tehran regime. The divisions erupted in late January when VOA chiefs removed a popular TV anchorman from the flagship U.S. broadcast into Iran, after he and about 30 Persian-speaking broadcasters had a confrontational meeting with VOA Director Danforth Austin, Newsmax has learned. ... Scott Carpenter, a former deputy assistant secretary of state, severely criticized VOA’s Persian language broadcasting during congressional testimony last week. ... VOA managers trim coverage to eliminate anything that the regime might view as threatening, he said. 'To cite just one example, on the day after the death of Ayatollah Montazeri, when the BBC Persian Service was blanketing Iranian airwaves with coverage similar to that given in the United States to pop star Michael Jackson's passing last summer, PNN was airing documentaries on global warming. Indicative of its lack of impact is the fact that (Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali) Khamenei rails against the BBC Persian Service but rarely mentions VOA.' [VOA Persian acting director Alex] Belida called that claim 'nonsense,' and said VOA 'devoted extensive coverage to Montazeri’s death and its impact.'" Ken Timmerman, Newsmax.com, 11 February 2010. We'll see if media more mainstream than Newsmax pick up this story. Some believe that news on US international broadcasting outlets should emphasize negative news about the target country's regime, or engage in outright advocacy.
     Scott Carpenter (mentioned above) testified at "America and the Iranian Political Reform Movement: First, Do No Harm," hearing of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, 3 February 2010, with link to webcast. See also transcript of testimony by Mehdi Khalaji and J. Scott Carpenter, Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 3 February 2010.
     Update: The link to Timmerman's article at the Newsmax site no longer works, but it is still available at Medya News, 12 February 2010. See on this separate page the answers provided by VOA Persian News Network acting director Alex Belida to questions submitted by Ken Timmerman. Very little from Belida's responses was used in Timmerman's article. See also response (pdf) by VOA edecutive editor Steve Redisch.
     United States District Court (DC) rules against a POV (contract employee) of VOA Persian, who sued the Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, alleging a hostile work environment and discriminatory non-selection. Leagle, 12 February 2010. Posted: 15 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Some listeners are opposing "Opposing Obama" on BBC World Service.

"Of the dozens of documentaries broadcast by the BBC World Service every month, Opposing Obama has caused more of a stir than any I can think of for a very long time. This was Guardian columnist Gary Younge's two-part journey through Eastern Kentucky and into Arkansas talking to anti-tax protesters, fundamentalist Christians, libertarians, Democratic and Republican Party officials and ordinary citizens struggling to make ends meet, to find out how they view the last year under Barack Obama. Some of the more forthright views about Obama were included in trailers to publicise the series. These trailers brought in turn some strong opposition from listeners who thought the whole idea of the programmes was unfair. ... Alambo Datonye Fred e-mailed from Port Harcourt Nigeria to say: 'You've advertised extensively your documentary on those who feel Obama has done nothing but you don't make an effort to have another documentary on those who feel he is a good leader. What's happened to your long-held values of fairness and balance?'" Penny Vine, "Over to You," BBC World Service, 12 February 2010. Posted: 14 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

"Shaping the information battlefield" in Afghanistan.

"It's called shaping the battlefield. It's not the traditional air onslaught or artillery barrage designed to weaken an intended enemy before the offensive goes in. Instead it's now about shaping the information battlefield, because in Afghanistan - and in modern warfare in general - information has become the new front line. ... What began as inducement or encouragement for troops to lay down their arms, or basic instructions to civilians not to get in the way of military operations - think leaflets dropped by aircraft in World War II - has blossomed into almost a social science of cause and effect. Psychological operations or 'psy-ops' of the 1950s have morphed into information warfare. There have been uneasy debates about where the boundary line between this and the traditional press officer's role should be, because, let's face it, the media is an involuntary actor in this drama too." Jonathan Marcus, BBC News, 11 February 2010. No mention of the BBC's role in Afghanistan, perhaps because the BBC would resist being part of any "information warfare" activities in that country. But the BBC Pashto and Persian (covers Dari) services are very popular in that country. Many Afghans are therefore well informed, and any "shaping" will have to take that into account. Posted: 14 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Discovery Communications' Discovery World comes to Africa.

"Discovery World is being launched in 61 African countries, including South Africa, on 1 March 2010, significantly expanding its African audience and making it one of the leading factual TV brands in the region. This addition to its portfolio, on channel 250, gives viewers with a keen interest in the world in which they live greater access to detailed and factual-rich content through immersive documentaries and series. ... The portfolio of brands now includes Discovery Channel (general entertainment), Discovery World (leading factual zone) Discovery HD Showcase (tech savvy viewers) and Animal Planet (female audiences)." Bizcommunity.com, 12 February 2010. Posted: 14 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

New DVD samples cartoons of the GDR.

"From 1946 through 1990, the Deutsche Film-Aktiengesellschaft — known more commonly as the DEFA studio — produced thousands of films, documentaries and television shows for the German Democratic Republic. It was publicly owned, and its films were thoroughly vetted and often censored by the Ministry of Culture, which would export them as exemplars of socialist art. ... In the United States, First Run Features is releasing several DEFA titles on DVD, a worthwhile series that includes the new 'Red Cartoons,' an odd collection of 16 short animated films spanning 1974 through 1990. ... Because socialist art demands realism, these works are strictly — albeit often fleetingly — narrative, but they are rarely experimental and never pursue the form for its own ends. Still, these shorts possess a busy exuberance that makes them fascinating not only as historical pieces but also as lively works of art." Stephen M. Deusner, Express (DC), 28 January 2010. Posted: 14 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Review of French international broadcasting notes reduced audiences for RFI, MCD.

At the French National Assembly Culture and Education Committee Hearing on 10 February, l’audiovisuel extérieur de la France (AEF) CEO Alain de Pouzilhac and DG Delegate Christine Ockrent provided information on the audiences and budgets of France's international broadcasting entities: Radio France International, Monte Carlo Doualiya, TV5, and France 24. Audiences for RFI and MCD are down from 2004 to 2009. See summary on separate page.
     "On 17 February RFI's website in English switches to a new format, which we hope you will find an improvement. Our French service and France 24 already use this format, so you can click to see what it will look like. You will be able to follow the most popular articles at all times and post your comments attached to the articles, meaning that this is the last feedback article, in ths form at least. The site should also be easier to find your way around and, we hope, please the eye with its presentation." Tony Cross, RFI, 12 February 2010.
     "An anonymous correspondent has some caustic comments on our French press review. 'The RFI press review may just get a few more clicks if the press reviewers weren't so busy congratulating themselves for their razor-sharp wit with every sentence they write. Perhaps it works better on air? Nope, tried that too. Just as self-gratifying. And let's not mention the choice of articles covered...' But Pakistani Qamar Yousoufzai finds our programmes 'very informative', while his compatriot Sirajuddin Nizamani thinks RFI in English is 'the very best' and wants RFI to start an Urdu service. He is not the first to make such a proposal but there are no plans for that at the moment, I’m afraid." Ibid.
     Botswana Television, facing budget difficulties, "has resorted to immediately airing freely accessible France 24." Mmegi (Gaborone), 12 February 2010. Posted: 14 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Internews replaces RFI for Creole radio in Haiti

"The 20-minute broadcast, 'Enfomasyon nou dwe konnen' ('News you can use') will be aired via RFI relays in Haiti between 0810 and 0830 local time, Mondays through Sundays as of Saturday 13 February 2010. ... One month after the earthquake, RFI is broadcasting a special programme on Haiti the whole day on 12 February and is airing the last edition of its Creole programme 'Ansanm ansanm avek Ayiti / Together with Haiti' on this occasion." Internews Europe, 12 February 2010.
     "I got back from Haiti a week ago, with my team from Al Jazeera English TV. We looked at the grand schemes being advanced for rebuilding the country, and found a familiar model of exploiting cheap labour for export industries. Traveling to the countryside, we also found longstanding alternatives on a more bottom-up mode... ." Avi Lewis, Huffington Post, 11 February 2010, with link to video documentary.
     Decades ago, Haiti's present ambassador to Washington Raymond Joseph, "launched a shortwave radio broadcast program from New York against the regime of president François 'Papa Doc' Duvalier... . Transistor radios were the latest thing, and the show became so popular it earned Joseph a death sentence in absentia." Mindy Belz, Worldmag.com, 27 February 2010 issue. Posted: 13 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

ABC MD: Radio Australia, Australia Network won't be consolidated with new ABC news channel.

"ABC managing director Mark Scott has conceded that resources for the public broadcaster's upcoming 24-hour news channel will come at the expense of more money for existing flagship programs such as Four Corners and The 7.30 Report. ... 'Our Australia Network reflects more what modern Australia looks like than sometimes our traditional broadcasting programs,' he said. ... He confirmed the other ABC news platforms, such as News Radio, Radio Australia or the Australia Network, would not be consolidated with the new channel. ... He said there had been talk about incorporating Radio Australia within 'a more integrated Australian broadcasting brand internationally . . . there might be some benefits in that, but that's got nothing to do with the new news channel'." Michael Bodey, The Australian, 12 February 2010. Quoting from Mr. Scott's speech at the Melbourne Press Club, 11 February 2010, with video. Transcript: ABC, 11 February 2010. See previous post about same subject.
     "John Lewis, producer of The 10 Conditions of Love [see previous post] ... asks whether there is a tension between the ABC's core role in public broadcasting -- and, by extension, disinterested journalism -- and 'soft diplomacy'. Scott spoke at Sydney's Macquarie University in November on 'A global ABC: Soft Diplomacy and the World of International Broadcasting'. He said then, 'We are intent on securing the all-important "landing rights" for the service in China.' But Beijing usually insists on a price for such entry; and that mostly means, to play the game its way. ... China looms too large for us to think like this in Australia. We won't change China, but perhaps we should consider more clearly the trade-offs involved in reaching agreements, and step aside from areas that require us to change too much." Rowan Callick, The Australian, 13 February 2010. Posted: 13 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

"Foreign Arabic-Language TV: An Exercise in Futility?"

"They're tripping over each other. American, British, French, Russian, Chinese and Turkish satellite TV channels want a piece of the Arab viewers' pie by raising their profiles in the Arab region, with no real guarantees of success. ... [Discussion of BBC Arabic, Alhurra, France 24, Russia Today, Al Jazeera, Al Arabiya, Al Manar, Radio Sawa, Euronews, Deutsche Welle, CCTV, TRT (Turkey), with many logos] ... [O]ne can't blame Arab viewers for being a bit blasé. 'What we want isn't (foreign satellites') blood-filled newscasts, but getting to know the other's culture,' wrote Bandar Abdel Hamid in the pan-Arab daily Al Hayat." Magda Abu-Fadil, Huffington Post, 13 February 2010. There are many subjective assessments of these channels, but the only measure that counts is audience size, based on competent representative sample surveys. The stations from non-Arab nations might not do as well as those from within the Arab world, but how will they compete with one another? I hope the results of surveys make their way to the public domain. Posted: 13 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

US officials on Arab television more effective than Alhurra, he writes.

"The United States’s televised message in the Arab world is dull and poorly managed, and the measures the government has taken to change this have yielded little perceptible benefit. Consider Al-Hurra, a failure by any meaningful measure. I’m an Arabic-speaking American and I can’t even stand to watch it. The programming is boring, and the graphics and studios are often reminiscent of a 1970s game show. ... While funding its own Arabic TV network and targeting the portals of Hamas and Hizballah won’t earn the United States much affective capital in Arab countries, dispatching more Arabic-speaking U.S. officials to Arab news networks to discuss a number of specific changes in American foreign policy would." Justin D. Martin, Columbia Journalism Review, 4 February 2010. Alhurra cannot casually be dismissed as "a failure by any meaningful measure," especially as it has some impressive audience numbers. (See previous post.) Alhurra can be considered a success if it competes well with BBC Arabic TV, its main Arabic-language rival from a non-Arab country.. Posted: 12 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Report: VOA Deewa Radio MW relay in Pakistan ended because of Taliban threats (updated).

"The Radio Pakistan management has decided to scrap the agreement with the Voice of America (VOA) to broadcast its pushto-language radio programmes after receiving 'direct threats' for airing 'American propaganda', Daily Times has learnt. The VOA launched its Pushto-language radio station, ‘Deeva Radio’, last year, targeting audience in the Tribal Areas and the NWFP. Deeva Radio is aimed at offering the locals with a chance to speak out against the Taliban in the region. Radio Pakistan aired Deeva Radio programmes during its prime time slot – 7pm to 10pm. A senior producer at Radio Pakistan Peshawar told Daily Times, 'The Taliban and other anti-American groups in the country threatened to bomb the Radio Pakistan Peshawar premises if the station continued airing Deeva Radio programmes'. ... However, Radio Pakistan Director General Murtaza Solangi said the state-run broadcaster aired Deeva Radio programmes during September and October. The broadcast was cancelled after a month on mutual agreement between the Radio Pakistan and the VOA." Daily Times (Lahore), 7 February 2010. VOA spells it Deewa Radio. In late 2009, Deewa Radio was relayed via Radio Pakistan's medium wave transmitter near Peshawar. Relays of VOA Urdu (Radio Aap ki Dunyaa) continue on Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation FM frequencies.
     Update: "While the Radio Pakistan management has blocked VOA Pushto-language service, after reportedly receiving threats against airing American propaganda, the VoA is still broadcasting its one-hour Urdu service from its original station in the US though without proper editing, it is learnt reliably. ... When contacted, PBC spokesman Mubashir Majoka said that after noting deviation from agreement the PBC has blocked VOA’s 4-hour Pushto language programme of VOA. “We scrap[p]ed the agreement due to some violation on contents of programme but we did not receive any threat from Taliban,” he said adding it was a misperception that VOA broadcasts from FM network of PBC will be used to unleash US propaganda. VOA programmes are under strict regime of checks and balances, monitoring and editorial guidelines to safeguard the national interests of Pakistan, he concluded." Javaid-ur-rahman, The Nation (Lahore), 12 February 2010. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 12 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

BBC, DW, VOA condemn new satellite jamming by Iran.

"International broadcasters – BBC, Deutsche Welle, and Voice Of America - today issued a strong message of condemnation following a new wave of deliberate electronic interference by the Iranian authorities which is affecting their broadcasts. BBC World News – the English language channel - was the latest channel to be jammed this week. The new wave of jamming occurred as Iranians marked the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution. The jamming is affecting services on the Hotbird satellite which covers audiences across Europe and the Middle East. These include BBC Persian television, the Voice Of America television channel in Persian, the Radio Farda service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Deutsche Welle's television and radio services. In a joint statement: Peter Horrocks, Director of BBC World Service, Erik Bettermann, Director of Deutsche Welle and Dan Austin, Director of Voice Of America said: 'We condemn any jamming of these channels. It contravenes international agreements and is interfering with the free and open flow of international transmissions that are protected by international treaties.'" BBC World Service press release, 12 February 2010. See also BBC News, 12 February 2010
     "International broadcasters like Deutsche Welle are broadcasting again in Iran and the surrounding region, after their programming was jammed, apparently by the government in Tehran. The Iranian government had reportedly blocked transmissions from a number of international news outlets, including Deutsche Welle, the BBC and Voice of America. Deutsche Welle Director General Erik Betterman submitted a letter of protest to the Iranian ambassador in Berlin, blaming Iran for the disruption of DW broadcasts since Wednesday." DW News, 12 February 2010. See also German version. Thanks to Kai Ludwig for the news tip. See his additional comments.
     "Radio Netherlands Worldwide was also affected. RNW’s English and Indonesian-language broadcasts as well as its BVN television signal were disrupted. Short-wave radio broadcasts were not affected." Radio Netherlands, 12 February 2010.
     The European Parliament "whereas restrictions on freedom of the press and of expression continue to grow, and whereas the Iranian authorities have engaged in large-scale and frequent jamming of international radio and TV networks, many international websites, including Facebook and Twitter, and local opposition sites and mobile-phone services in Tehran, thereby also causing transmission problems for networks in other Middle Eastern countries and even in Europe, --whereas European and Russian companies have been providing Iran with the necessary filtering and jamming devices, some of which might even pose a health risk to those living in the vicinity of the installations ... Condemns the Iranian authorities' efforts to censor the print media and to jam radio, television and Internet services, such as the BBC, and calls on the EU and its Member States to address the international fallout from these methods in the International Telecommunications Union (ITU)." Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, 12 February 2010.
     "On days when higher levels of demonstrations and protests are experienced, cell phone connections are also interrupted in many parts of Iran. This is done mainly to cut off and prevent any form of communication with the outside world. News broadcasts such as BBC Persian and Voice Of America have been operating for some time now and serve as good means of alternative news for the Iranians. Both programs are highly popular across the Iranian borders. Following the controversial elections in Iran this summer the government used 'microwave technology' to jam satellite signals in efforts to stop all broadcasting, posing a serious health threat to the public. An interesting fact is that the Iranian government continuously accuses the British and U.S. governments, BBC and VOA as the main cause for the public demonstrations in Iran. Meanwhile the Iranian government broadcasts programs in multiple languages for many different countries and in doing so is essentially fully participating in what it claims to be unethical for other countries." Shirin Ebadi, CNN, 11 February 2010. Posted: 12 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

"Radio Free Iran": Heritage Foundation fantasy station.

"[T]he tools of American public diplomacy should be deployed in the service of pro-democracy movements and regime change in Iran. Iranians desperately need independent, trustworthy information — such as provided by Radio Free Iran, the U.S. government’s surrogate broadcaster. Funding for its programs should be generously increased, particularly focused on radio as the medium as television is vulnerable due to the visibility of satellite dishes. Internet is clearly sensitive to government control and interference, as is cell phone serve, which makes them vulnerable. Yet in the age of new technology, total control remains extremely hard to maintain and the U.S. government should continue to work with Iranians abroad setting up pro-democracy websites." Helle Dale, The Foundry blog, Heritage Foundation, 11 February 2010. There is no "Radio Free Iran." Both VOA Persian News Network and RFE/RL's Radio Farda, as well as BBC Persian, provide the news about Iran that the Iranian media would if they were free. As such, they all serve a "surrogate" function. If VOA PNN and Radio Farda were "deployed in the service of pro-democracy movements," they really wouldn't be providing the news that their audiences are seeking. Other US government and US government funded entities can support pro-democracy movements in Iran, although association with the US government might not be helpful to those movements. Posted: 12 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Head of BBC Arabic says her channel is "totally different species to Al-Jazeera."

Liliane Landour, Head of BBC Arabic: "'We have no allegiance to anyone and therefore we can ask whatever we want,' she said. 'We don’t have to take permission from any government. We can look at whatever we want in whatever way we want. I don’t know if people in this country [Lebanon] are as fully aware of this as they should be.' ... 'People are used to BBC Arabic on radio; it has been around for a long time. BBC [Arabic] TV is an 18-month-old baby and some don’t even know we exist. TV is very fresh and very new,' she said. 'It is finding its feet.' ... 'Future TV, Al-Manar, LBC etc, all have some interesting things and things that you can pick and choose. What we offer is total impartiality among the regions and also a very broad freedom of subjects and themes,' she said. ... Landour rejected comparisons between the BBC World Service and Al-Jazeera, the Qatar-based media giant that broadcasts in both Arabic and English from across the globe. 'They have huge resources and we can’t match those,' she said. 'Therefore we can’t compete on the same terrain. We shouldn’t; we are a totally different species to Al-Jazeera.' 'Wherever you are in the world people talk about the BBC – people who may be as partial as possible – and what they admire is its impartiality,' she added.'" Patrick Galey, Daily Star (Beirut), 12 February 2010. Impartiality is necessary but not sufficient. Video reports from the places where news is happening is essential. I would think that BBC Arabic, with the assistance of the larger BBC organization, should be a able to compete with Al Jazeera. Posted: 12 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

How BBC World Service uses the social media, and more BBC world services in the news.

Interview with BBC World Service director Peter Horrocks: "Q: What examples come to your mind where social media improved BBC reporting? Horrocks: Classic examples are situations where it is hard to report from. In northern Nigeria, for example, we are using mobile phones which we provided to villages. In each village there is one person who is known as 'the keeper of the mobile'. This was a way we learnt about a government confrontation with a village about land rights. We looked into that story, and used BBC journalistic rigours to covered that story. Here we simply use social media applying what always has made the BBC World Service strong: holding goverments accountable using this news technique." Mercedes Bunz, PDA blog, The Guardian, 10 February 2010. "'This isn't just a kind of fad from someone who's an enthusiast of technology. I'm afraid you're not doing your job if you can't do those things. It's not discretionary', [Horrocks] is quoted as saying in the BBC in-house weekly Ariel. ... Horrocks, formerly head of the BBC's multimedia newsroom, finds clear words for it: 'If you don't like it, if you think that level of change or that different way of working isn't right for me, then go and do something else, because it's going to happen. You're not going to be able to stop it.'" Bunz, PDA Blog, The Guradian, 10 February 2010.
     Chancellor of the Exchequer "Alistair Darling agreed on Wednesday to bail out the Foreign Office, topping up its core budget by almost 10 per cent, after a collapse in the pound left diplomats facing a financial squeeze. ... The problems at the Foreign Office were caused by a Treasury decision in late 2007 to stop shielding it from currency fluctuations. Sterling subsequently fell 30 per cent against the dollar. ... David Miliband, foreign secretary, also revealed that other Foreign Office funded bodies – including the British Council and BBC World Service – would be making a 'contribution to help manage these pressures'." Alex Barker, Financial Times, 10 February 2010.
     "Broadcasting of programmes of the BBC World Service through the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation will recommence on the 1st of next month. Local listeners will be accorded the opportunity to listen to this channel in all three languages. An agreement in this regard was signed at the Corporation premises today. ... The English Programme of the BBC World Service will be broadcast for a period of three and a half hours. The Sinhala and Tamil Programmes will be broadcast for a period of 30 minutes each. Former Chairman of the Corporation Hudson Samarasinghe said it was impelled to suspend the BBC World Service programme during the period the humanitarian operations were conducted, taking into consideration the broadcasting of information harmful to national security." SLBC, 12 February 2010.
     "BBC World News has become part of the Sun Direct DTH platform in India. Available on Sun Direct’s basic pack, the deal boosts the number of Indian homes in which BBC World News is available by over 20%, to around 22 million. Sun Direct has about 5 million subscribing homes." Rose Major, Rapid TV News, 10 February 2010. See also BBC World News press release, 9 February 2010.
     "BBC AMERICA HD is now available across 20 states as it continues to roll out rapidly across the country." BBC America press release, 11 February 2010.
     "Monocle, the upscale magazine, is launching its own TV series on BBC World News." Campaign, 11 February 2010.
     "Written as email exchanges between a BBC World Service journalist ensconced in the middle-class haven of North London and a beleagured Iraqi academic (and Chaucer expert) in Baghdad, this could have been a lazy format for a book in our blogosphere age. Yet the correspondence - begun in 2005 when Bee Rowlatt emails May Witwit in an attempt to gain professional insight into the lives of ordinary Iraqi's who have been blighted by the invasion and ensuing occupation - turns into what appears to be a true and deep friendship - despite their differences (one dodges bombs, the other struggles with the work-life balance) including its tenderness, disputes, and a movingly happy ending." Arifa Akbar, The Independent, 12 February 2010. Posted: 12 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Point, counterpoint on BBC's coverage of the Ukrainian election.

"Characteristically, the BBC World Service reported the [Ukrainian] election purely in personal terms, without recognition of what had transpired. One commentator said there was no interest in the US. In reality, the election was run by two US [political consulting] firms." Guy Standing, University of Bath, letter to The Guardian, 10 February 2010.
     "Our teams provided programming in English, Ukrainian and Russian for radio, TV and online, and interviewed commentators on all sides of the political spectrum. The BBC Ukrainian Service broadcast a package by their Washington correspondent about the PR companies working for both sides. This side of the election was also discussed in programmes and online debates, and was raised at various points throughout the coverage." Nikki Clarke, BBC head of Americas and Europe region, letter to The Guardian, 11 February 2010. Posted: 11 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Al Jazeera and its detractors.

"Al-Jazeera was not named in the text of H.R. 2278 while other television networks associated with Hezbollah and Hamas were. Yet the legislation defines 'anti-American incitement to violence' as 'the act of persuading, encouraging, instigating, advocating, pressuring, or threatening so as to cause another to commit a violent act against any person, agent, instrumentality, or official of, is affiliated with, or is serving as a representative of the United States.' It will be difficult for officials of the Obama Administration to argue that the definition does not apply to at least some of the programming from its 'friends' at Al-Jazeera." Cliff Kincaid, Right Side News, 10 February 2010.
     "Al Jazeera’s two correspondents at the February 5th press briefing abandoned any pretense of objective journalism by dominating the questioning with diatribes against Israel." Joseph Klein, FrontPage Magazine, 10 February 2010.
     "Israel has renewed the ban on Palestinian prisoners in its jails watching Doha-based Al Jazeera TV." The Peninsula via Zawya, 6 February 2010. Posted: 11 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Comment dites-vous des «tweens» en français?

"Kids’ channel Disney Channel France launched Disney Channel internet radio yesterday following a deal with radio group NRJ. Accessible through websites nrj.fr and disneychannel.fr , the first kids’ radio station launched by a youth channel targets tweens and offers music hits, stars and news all-day long. With this offspring, Disney Channel intends to strengthen its universe based on music programming. The radio will thus broadcast hits from Disney stars like the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato or new French singer Sara along with some premieres and songs from tweens’ favorite worldwide singers. Celebrity news will be delivered by NRJ radio’s animator. The radio station is also available though NRJ’s iPhone and iPod apps." Pascale Paoli Lebailly, Rapid TV News, 8 February 2010. Posted: 11 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

The Disco Palace gives the new UniWave DRM shortwave receivers a workout.

"A Miami based Radio Station – The Disco Palace – has started broadcasting a DRM SW channel of ‘best of Disco music’ for listeners in Europe and North America. The Disco Palace is the first and only music radio station of this genre broadcasting in DRM on shortwave. ... The Disco Chanel can be heard in Europe from 1400-1500 UTC on 6015 KHz and in North America from 2000-2100 UTC on 17755 KHz. The broadcasts are coming via Issoudun to Europe and via Montsinery to the USA by TéléDiffusion de France." Digital Radio Mondiale press release, 10 February 2010.
     The only standalone DRM radio, the UniWave Di-Wave 100, is available (though presently sold out) at Universal Radio for $300.
     "The mission of Digital Aurora Radio Technologies (DART) is to expand communications across the north by using existing, and exploring new communications technologies. DART is in the process of testing the potential to broadcast digital radio across Alaska. Uniquely Alaskan, the project presents challenges and opportunities that one might expect in the 'Last Frontier.' We are currently testing DRM on [shortwave] 4.85 MHz, 7.505 MHz and 9.295 MHz. In addition, we are broadcasting CW [Morse code] on 4.851 MHz, 7.511 MHz and 9.301 MHz. If you pick up our signal, let us know - we would like to hear from you." daradiotech.com Testing the feasibility of using DRM shortwave to bring near FM quality radio to remote parts of Alaska. These tests have been heard beyond Alaska, e.g. Japan. Posted: 11 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

BBC's special Creole broadcast continues, or at least did two days ago (updated).

"Based on a remark from someone at BBCWS Trust, kimandrewelliott.com assumed [see previous post] that the first week in February was to be the 'last week' for Connexion Haïti, the special Creole program BBCWS pulled together a week or two after the quake, in the wake of immediate Creole expansion by VOA. It had been inserted into the Spanish hour, at 1232:30-1252:30 via WHRI 9410 and Guiana French 11860; however, on Friday Feb 5 we heard them say they`d be back the next day, altho unchecked on Saturday and Sunday. Surely this would be gone by Monday, and the Spanish frequencies back to classical music fill? No. But it almost seemed that way, as the show did not start at the appointed time. When we intuned 9410 Feb 8 at 1237 there was an apology loop in French (not Creole), with music, saying programming was unavailable from BBC Afrique, so check out bbcafrique.com. Afrique? How did that get in here? But at 1238 axually started Connexion Haïti which thus still exists; perhaps it is being extended, maybe, day to day, or week to week. If it was needed before, it is not needed any less now. This late start should have been just in time to get it finished before the transmissions end at 1300 sharp." Glenn Hauser, reporting to his DX Listening Digest Yahoo! Group, 8 February 2010.
     "Radio has always been an important part of Haitian society. And since the earthquake, it has played an even more critical role, serving as the primary mode of transmitting information about aid. We talk with Michael Deibert, a freelance journalist who recently returned from Haiti and spent time with local radio hosts there. We also speak to Emilio San Pedro, an editor for Connexion Haiti, a new lifeline BBC program broadcast on six stations throughout Haiti." The Takeaway, 10 February 2010.
     Marc Los Huertos' "unit, the 4th PSYOP Group, organizes, equips and trains forces to conduct psychological operations and other communication tasks in support of combatant commanders, joint and coalition task forces and other government agencies. Haiti is his first deployment. ... 'He told us he really likes the Haitian people and they are excited to meet soldiers. He said food distribution in that neighborhood has been very organized. People must get tickets from designated camps and only women get the tickets. Things are a little more peaceful than it was the first couple days after the earthquake struck.'" Alia Wilson, Santa Cruz Sentnel, 7 February 2010.
     Update: "Sgt. Ryan and Spc. Anthony belong to Fort Bragg's 4th Psychological Operations Group. Commanders wouldn't allow their last names to be published because they work in special operations. About 40 soldiers from the 4th Psychological Operations Group have come to Haiti, dispersing into small teams attached to units of soldiers and Marines. In Afghanistan or Iraq, they may try to persuade insurgents to change sides or try to sway village support toward NATO troops. Here, they call themselves information support teams, and their job is to kill confusion with loudspeakers. Ryan, who grew up in Italy the son of missionaries, speaks Spanish, Italian, German and French. Anthony knows Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. Ryan's French doesn't match perfectly with the local Creole, but he said he's always been able to get his point across. Most afternoons, they crank up their up-armored Humvee and head into Port-au-Prince. On the turret, where there would usually be a machine gun or a grenade launcher, they have speakers. They drive around the city like ice cream men, the loudspeakers blaring. They tell people what station to tune into for more information about food distribution or government programs that are offering help. Thousands of hand-held radios have been given away throughout the city." John Ramsey, Fayette (NC) Observer, 11 February 2010. See previous Haiti media update. Posted: 11 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

"A Fondo": "Back door" to reducing Radio/TV Martí?

"The U.S. government's official broadcasts to Cuba and the government-funded Voice of America are for the first time regularly sharing resources - a move officials hope will enhance both services and which could blunt longtime criticism of the Cuban broadcasts. ... Last week, the office's TV and Radio Marti services opened their studios to VOA's Spanish division to jointly produce a regular half-hour radio show. 'A Fondo' or 'In Depth' provides news and analysis from around the hemisphere. It was developed in part to target Venezuela, where President Hugo Chavez has cracked down on opposition and independent media and frequently criticizes U.S. foreign policy. 'I am looking into this issue to ensure that this is an effort to maximize resources to expand U.S. coverage in the region and not a back door to reducing U.S. broadcasts to Cuba,' U.S Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Miami, told The Associated Press. ... U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., one of the Martis' most ardent critics, had a more cynical take. 'I think they realize they're on borrowed time with the Cuba project, so I think they're trying to merge it in as much as they can with Voice of America,' he said. ... Because the Cuba broadcasts are not welcome by the country's government, the U.S. must beam them directly into the island via shortwave, AM broadcasts and satellite. While VOA's broadcasts also use shortwave and satellite, and now with 'Al Fondo,' some AM, they rely more heavily on local affiliates. Yet that may change, too. VOA's Spanish-language radio is carried by only a handful of affiliates in Venezuela, and its TV service by even fewer. Given Chavez's recent decision to take the opposition cable and satellite Radio Caracas Television International off the air, it could soon lose even those platforms. And that would make it all the more dependent on the same modes of transmission the Martis rely on." Laura Wides-Muñoz, AP, 10 February 2010. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 11 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Radio Farda more tolerated in Iran than VOA Persian? And other Iran media news.

"On Sunday, the public relations office of the Ministry of Intelligence announced the arrest of seven journalists described as 'elements of a counter-revolutionary Zionist satellite station' and in the 'official pay' of US intelligence organizations. They were later identified as working for the US-funded Radio Farda, though the Prague-based organization denies employing anyone inside Iran. Their arrest marks an increasing intolerance towards foreign media. Unlike the Washington-based Voice of America (VOA) television, the Prague-headquartered Radio Farda was tolerated and would regularly interview Iranian politicians." Iason Athanasiadis, Christian Science Monitor, 10 February 2010. I've never seen Radio Farda and VOA Persian contrasted as such. It's not my impression that Radio Farda pulls any punches in its coverage of Iran. As a youth-oriented station with much music, Radio Farda has less quantity of news about Iran than VOA Persian News Network.
     "Iran's telecommunications agency announced what it described as a permanent suspension of Google Inc.'s email services, saying a national email service for Iranian citizens would soon be rolled out. It wasn't clear late Wednesday what effect the order had on Gmail services in Iran, or even if Iran had implemented its new policy. Iranian officials have claimed technological advances in the past that they haven't been able to execute. A Google spokesman said in a statement, 'We have heard from users in Iran that they are having trouble accessing Gmail. We can confirm a sharp drop in traffic, and we have looked at our own networks and found that they are working properly. Whenever we encounter blocks in our services we try to resolve them as quickly as possibly because we strongly believe that people everywhere should have the ability to communicate freely online.'" Chip Cummins and Jessica E. Vascellaro, Wall Street Journal, 10 February 2010.
     "In an email to IPI, Google spokesperson Kay Oberbeck said: “We have heard from users in Iran that they are having trouble accessing Gmail. We can confirm a sharp drop in traffic and we have inspected our own networks and found out that they are working properly. 'Whenever we encounter blocks in our services we try to resolve them as quickly as possible because we strongly believe that people everywhere should have the ability to communicate online freely. Sadly, sometimes it is not within our control.'" International Press Institute, 11 February 2010.
     "The anniversary of the Islamic Revolution is usually greeted with mass celebrations by Iranians. However, this year's activities are set to be marred by demonstrations for increased accountability and representation. Given the turmoil surrounding the coverage of the disputed elections in June 2009, we have identified a number of good sources to monitor today's events. Live coverage: Look for al-Jazeera, the BBC and the Guardian to begin live blogs should events escalate. ... The government's line: http://www.presstv.ir/ -- Tehran's English news network. Farsi sources: http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/index.shtml -- Press TV's nemesis, BBC Persian, will attempt to cover the anniversary for its Farsi-speaking audience." Henry Smith, New Statesman, 11 February 2010. For English-language content, I would add RFE/RL's Iran page and RFE/RL's Persian Letters blog.
     "Iran's official media does not offer a wide angle on the story. Gisoo Ahmadi, correspondent for English-language Press TV, made no mention of opposition protests but described her excitement at covering the revolution's anniversary for the third time. ... Opposition websites are probably the best source of news about Iran and there is regular praise for the BBC Persian TV satellite channel, which depends largely on information sent in by viewers." Ian Black, The Guardian, 11 February 2010.
     "It is 31 years since the Shah of Iran was ousted by making a similar set of mistakes. ... [O]nce matters got out of hand, in desperation, he accused the West of having engineered the revolution through the BBC Persian broadcasts. He called the BBC his 'enemy number one' just as the Islamic Republic is accusing the BBC Persian TV of 'soft power war'. However, at least the Shah admitted towards the end that he had 'heard the voice of the revolution'." Massoumeh Torfeh, Channel 4 News, 11 February 2010. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 11 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

C'mon "good folks," let's "get the word out" to Iran! Anybody? (Cricket chirping in Farsi.).

"As [RFE/RL president] Jeff Gedmin and others have reported, [Iran's] green movement itself is diverse and diffuse, with secular and religious elements, pro and anti-American elements, no clear position on the nuclear program, and no single leader. But that makes its resilience all the more noteworthy, and its demands more unifying: an accountable government that serves, rather than oppresses, its citizens. So as this potentially historic week [31st anniversary of the Iranian Revolution] unfolds in Iran, here's an idea for the White House and State Department: how about turning a section of your official websites green on Feb. 11? This would be a simple yet memorable way to add some spice to what will hopefully be official statements of support for the green movement from President Obama and Secretary Clinton. And it is a gesture that could quickly be replicated around the world, by other governments such as the U.K., France, and Germany, as well as by think-tanks, NGOs, and anyone else who wants to express solidarity with the cause of freedom in Iran. We at the Legatum Institute will be turning our website green. And to make sure that Iranian reformers know of such international support, the good folks at Radio Farda will be broadcasting, streaming, posting, and using all manner of multi-media to bypass Tehran's censorship and get the word out." Will Inboden, Loyal Opposition blog, Foreign Policy, 9 February 2010. I'm sure the good folks at Radio Farda will be reporting the news. It's not really their job to "get the word out."
     "Mohsen Sazegara, an exiled Iranian dissident who was one of the original founders of the [Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps and] who was once a presidential candidate in Iran, has actively advocated mass protests through the Internet and frequently appears on the Persian service of the US government-funded Voice of America." Mohammed A Salih, Inter Press Service, 12 February 2010.
     "Mehr news agency reports today that Brigadier-General Massoud Jazaeri, cultural and press defence secretary of the armed forces urged for 'clear regulations and laws' in confronting collaborators of such media outlets. He added that established laws will clarify that 'any connection or service to these media outlets is a crime and criminals should be confronted firmly.' These comments arrive two days after the Ministry of Intelligence reported the arrest of seven people accused of collaboration with Radio Farda, a US-supported Persian speaking radio based in Washington D. C. and Prague. Radio Farda has rejected the allegations and announced that it has no collaborators inside Iran." Peyvand Iran News, 9 February 2010.
     "Do you think you can stop dissent by throwing those who report it in jail? I’m not sure what your advisers are telling you. But we live in an era in which you cannot stop the flow of information. Even though your government has banned satellite television, a great number of Iranians still get their news from the BBC and Voice of America by using illegal satellite dishes. Currently your police may be able to find and punish dish owners. But soon the dishes will become smaller and cheaper and everyone will be able to have one in the safety of their homes. By arresting accredited journalists your government has made every Iranian a citizen journalist. Your government has blocked most Web sites that are critical of your government, but Iranians have learned to use filter-busters to access them. Your government has narrowed the Internet bandwidth and has passed cyber crime laws, but that has not stopped your compatriots from using the Internet to inform the world about the situation of their country. YouTube, Twitter and Facebook are full of the latest news about the crimes of your regime." Maziar Bahari, an Iranian-Canadian reporter for Newsweek wh was imprisoned in Tehran from June to October 2009, New York Times, 9 February 2010. I'm not sure how the laws of physics will allow satellite dishes to become smaller, unless a new, more powerful satellite beams directly at Iran. If that satellite does not have the entertainment channels directed to the rest of the Middle East, it won't have many viewers. In general, Mr. Bahari is bit too optimistic about the potential to overcome Iran's blocking and jamming. Posted: 11 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Arab media growing but seek more local content.

"Major media players, including Pan-Arab Al Arabiya and Al Jazeera voiced their concerns regarding the need for a serious effort to develop local content. ... MBC Group has seen a substantial growth in Arabic dubbed Turkish, Indian and Latin drama." Emirates Business 24-7, 10 February 2010.
     "The media in the UAE and across all Arab countries is expected to grow over the next five years, but there is a need to better balance international and local content, according to the Arab Media Outlook 2010. ... The Internet will grow at an impressive Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of nearly 50 per cent over the same period to constitute over four per cent of the total advertising market by 2013." Lily B. Libo-on, Khaleej Times, 10 February 2010.
     "The media sector in the Arab region is expected to fare much better than the rest of the world in the coming years as the global economy tries to recover from the financial crisis, the authors of the Arab Media Outlook revealed yesterday." Gulf News (Dubai), 10 February 2010.
     "The latest report also includes in-depth market research carried out in four key Arab markets: Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The research found that the internet is playing an increasingly prominent role in the media consumption habits of people interviewed in these four markets. Remarkably, people in the Arab world are spending about three hours per day on the internet on average, which is already on par with the amount of time spent on TV. Social networking, in particular, was cited among the favourite activities online and one of the top methods of communication. On average, 70% of the people in the four markets researched use social networks in some capacity and about 15% use social networking sites at least once a day." Al Bawaba, 9 February 2010. Posted: 10 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Radio Free Asia reporter in Cambodia faces trial for "disinformation" (updated).

"Well-known Radio Free Asia reporter Sok Serey and four other men charged with spreading disinformation about a Cham Muslim community leader in Takeo province will stand trial on February 9, court officials confirmed Thursday. The five men were charged in 2008 after a radio report by Sok Serey that featured comments from the four other defendants about a dispute between Cham Muslim community leader Ry Mab and 206 villagers from his mosque. ... Radio Free Asia was unavailable for comment on Thursday but issued a press statement that it would not comment on ongoing legal matters. 'We hope authorities follow due process of the law, and that any court trial is conducted in a fair, credible and transparent manner,' the statement said." Chrann Chamroeun and David Boyle, The Phnom Penh Post, 5 February 2010.
     "The stalled investigation of a prominent human rights activist in Ratanakkiri province will recommence later this month, provincial judge Thor Saron said Sunday. ... Thor Saron, who threatened both [rtights activist] Pen Bonnar and Radio Free Asia journalist Ratha Visal in September with disinformation charges for accusing him of corruption, said his investigation would go forward despite facing continual delays." The Phnom Penh Post, 8 February 2010.
     Update: "Radio Free Asia reporter Sok Serey and four other men stood trial on Tuesday for disinformation charges, and judges said they would hand down a verdict on February 19. The charges against the five men stem from an November 2008 radio report by Sok Serey about a dispute between Cham Muslim community leader Rim Math and 206 members of his mosque. ... In court on Tuesday, Sok Serey said he had merely been reporting information provided to him by his sources, adding that he had passed on the story two times before finally airing it because he considered it to be in the public interest. ... Prosecutor Say Nora seemed sympathetic to this argument, telling the court that he believed Sok Serey had 'done his job right'. But he said the October 2008 broadcast included incorrect references to a 'demonstration' that had never occurred. ... Muong Sokun, Sok Serey’s lawyer, said he hoped that the court would find his client not guilty 'because my client has enough witnesses and evidence in his broadcasts to prove that he is not guilty'." Meas Sokchea, Phnom Penh Post, 10 February 2010. Posted: 10 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Indian FM network expands, includes Radio Netherlands and Deutsche Welle programming.

"Gyan Vani, the FM radio channel initiated by the Human Resources Development ministry and the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) with the help of [Indian public broadcaster] Prasar Bharati, is all set to roll out six channels on Wednesday. This would bring the total number of Gyan Vani stations to 37 in the country. Gyan Vani will launch six stations in Agra, Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Srinagar, Tiruchirapalli and Thiruvanthapuram. ... The content broadcast on Gyan Vani is contributed by Radio Netherlands, Deutsche Welle, national level institutions such as NCERT, NIOS and State Open Universities. ... Gyan Vani stations are also available on the Direct to Home (DTH) platform of Doordarshan Direct Plus to ensure greater reach of these educational channels all over the country." Anita Iyer, Radioandmusic.com, 9 February 2010. Posted: 10 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

GlobeCast starts CAD division, with Russia Today (RT) as one of the first clients.

"GlobeCast, a major content management and delivery partner for broadcasters, has created a new division in Asia to oversee the content acquisition and distribution (CAD) business. GlobeCast’s CAD team is actively securing carriage deals for TV channels and content providers with DTH, Cable and IPTV platform operators worldwide. ... Within Asia, one of the company’s key CAD projects executed was for Russia Today, with the channel outsourcing a bulk of its Asian distribution activity to GlobeCast. In less than a year, GlobeCast secured regulatory clearances on behalf of the channel and launched the broadcaster to 16 key digital platforms in India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea, Indonesia and Philippines. This ensured the channel’s reach to more than 25 million homes in the region. The channel can be viewed by subscribers of Singtel, Starhub, Hong Kong Cable, SK Broadband, Destiny Cable, Indovision, and [various Indian DTH services]. The project also involved securing carriage for RT in more than 30,000 rooms in 200+ four & 5 starhotels in India. GlobeCast is also responsible for signal monitoring as well as the Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) and marketing activities for Russia Today." Globecast Press Release, 10 February 2010. Posted: 10 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Maybe it should be called "Chávez Siempre Que Él Quiera."

"The president's ongoing battle against what he calls the 'oligarchic media' has added a new front. The radio program 'Suddenly with Chávez' (De Repente con Chávez) began broadcasting Feb. 8, and as its name suggests, it can go on the air at any moment, the Guardian and Times of London report. ... The new program doesn't have a set schedule and may break onto the air at any time of the day or night, Chávez says, because 'we have many things to report.' Listeners will hear a harp playing folk music, and then the president's voice." Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas, 9 February 2010.
     "Marcel Granier, the Chief Executive Officer of Empresas 1BC [the parent company of RCTV Internacional], appeared on Monday at the head offices of the Organization of American States (OAS) based in Caracas to ask for mediation of the OAS Secretary-General in the case of the removal for second time [from Venezuelan cable television] of the signal of TV channel RCTV Internacional." El Universal (Caracas), 8 February 2010.
     "Even after the signal for Radio Caracas Television Internacional was removed from subscription TV systems in Venezuela, it continues as part of the programming of TV Venezuela, thus strengthening our commitment to keeping Venezuelans living in the United States permanently in touch with what's going on in their country." SUR Corporation press release, 9 February 2010. Posted: 10 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Are Guam's viewers ready for Sumo wrestlers, via NHK, with "sharpness and clarity"?

"GTA TeleGuam today announced it has expanded its GUdTV programming to include Japan’s NHK World TV high definition channel and a new dual language audio track on the NHK World Premium channel. NHK World provides news from Japan as well as popular Asian lifestyle programming for international viewers. GTA TeleGuam added the NHK World TV high-definition, English language channel at no additional charge to its GUdTV HD tier available for Choice Digital Package subscribers. ... 'Many non-Japanese speaking viewers are interested in the secondary audio track on the NHK World Premium channel to watch popular Japanese programs like Japan news and Sumo wrestling with English audio,' said Andrew Gayle, executive vice president of GTA TeleGuam wireless and television. 'As more Guam residents purchase HD television sets, they are also asking us to deliver more programs in high definition to fully enjoy the vivid colors, sharpness, and clarity that HD televisions provide over digital." GTA TeleGuam press release, 31 January 2010.
     New Arabsat HD bouquet will include NHK World. Rapid TV News, 10 February 2010. Posted: 10 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Facebook page for VOA's Willis Conover.

The late VOA jazz host Willis Conover "now has his own Facebook page, The Willis Conover Club. Will that lead to his getting a long overdue posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom? Possibly not, but his page, up only a day or two, is rapidly accumulating fans. ... Much of what Conover accomplished lingers in the good will he created toward his country with the music and dispassionate commmentary he disseminated for years by way of his Music USA program. In these daunting times, with the US so in need of good will, perhaps a swell of recognition from the bottom up will persuade the administration in Washington that cultural diplomacy is a potent tool." Doug Ramsey, Rifftides, via All About Jazz, 8 February 2010. The Facebook page is not an official VOA project, but see VOA's Willis Conover page. Posted: 09 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Idea: Turning Radio and TV Martí into Metrorail Martí.

"[T]he truth is that Miami-Dade desperately needs an expanded rail system. One trip across the county during rush hour painfully drives home the fact that we have a worsening transit crisis. ... So, here’s an idea I’ve already shared with the local Metropolitan Planning Organization. The MPO recently announced a 'call for ideas' on how to reduce traffic congestion and mailed out a form on which to put your idea’s title, objective, and tasks necessary to execute it. [Title] Metrorail Martí. [Objective] Closure of Radio & TV Martí, resulting in direction of $350 million into urban rail construction in Miami-Dade County over the next decade. [Tasks] Develop strategies to 1) persuade Congress and Florida Legislature to match those dollars, for a total of $1 billion in new funding for urban rail expansion in Miami-Dade; 2) press Obama Administration to devote several billion dollars in future stimulus spending to Metrorail Martí." Kirk Nielsen, PODER (Miami), February 2010. Posted: 09 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

US international broadcasters: Hide under your cubicles until this report is relegated to a closet shelf.

"The State Department is gearing up to release a roadmap that will guide its future budgets and priorities. Early this month, perhaps in the next several days, the federal government's diplomatic arm could release a report on its first Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR). ... It is assessing the strategic framework for bilateral and multilateral engagements, and analyzing the opportunities to integrate public diplomacy, non-governmental actors, and new methods of communication to mobilize and lead collective action." Ruben Gomez, Federal News Radio, 4 February 2010. Here's hoping that US international broadcasting is not mentioned as part of the "collective action." Posted: 09 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

NHK World joins the growing family of international appcasters.

"Japan has a plethora of TV channels, but the biggest battleship is NHK [JP], the country’s national public broadcasting organization. NHK itself operates a number of different channels, and one of them, NHK World TV, has just released an English app for the iPhone/iPod touch. NHK World is the international broadcasting service of NHK, offers programs in English and is primarily aimed at the overseas market. Their free app enables you to watch NHK World live, meaning you can access the channel’s entire program from anywhere in the world on your iPhone or iPod touch." Serkan Toto, Asiajin, 9 February 2010. Posted: 09 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

"Like a riot in a shortwave radio factory," and other things they say about shortwave.

Lou Reed "recorded his 1975 album 'Metal Machine Music' (RCA) by leaning guitars against amplifiers, cranking them up until the feedback screamed, playing melodies amid the sonic melee and layering and manipulating the results, including changing the tape speed of some parts. Then he chose four segments for 16-minute LP sides. It sounded like a riot in a shortwave radio factory: a fusillade of sustained, pulsating and scurrying electronic tones that adds up to a hyperactive drone, as consonant as the overtone series." Jon Pareles, New York Times, 8 February 2010.
     "With Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Efrim Menuck provided the soundtrack to our pre-millennial paranoia. ... 'We were especially interested in obscure short-wave radio broadcasts and the American militia movement. I mean, we were super interested in all that stuff.'" Barry Nicolson, The Skinny, 8 February 2010.
     "My first year at university was 1966, also a World Cup year. England not only hosted the tournament but, against the odds, wound up winning. In those days the notion of travelling to London to watch a few games was about as far off as the SABC playing rock music on a Sunday. The introduction of TV was still 10 years away and our only access to live matches was via crackling broadcasts on shortwave radio." David Shapiro, The Times (Johannesburg), 8 February 2010.
     "It was like going back to the bad old days when Welsh throwers seemed to operate on long wave and the jumpers on short wave, with the lifters on FM." thisissouthwales.co.uk, 8 February 2010.
     "After a lull in solar activity that on many days left a "blank sun" with no sunspots at all, a big one popped up this past weekend, marking a change in the sun's weather. ... [H]am radio operators are picking up strong solar radio bursts using shortwave receivers." Tim Chitwood, Ledger-Enquirer (Columbus GA), 8 February 2010. On 6 February, about dusk, my neighborhood had no electricity because of the snowstorm. I took advantage of the lack of radio-interference-causing electrical devices and wiring in and around my house to enjoy some (flashlight assisted) shortwave listening. Said sunspots added to the good conditions, and, for the first time in years, I was hearing shortwave broadcast stations all over the bands, up to 15 Mhz. On many frequencies, I heard Chinese classical music. It's China's preferred method for jamming VOA, RFA, etc. Posted: 09 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

What the internet, and social media, can and can't do.

"Internationally, the new emphasis on enabling the skirting of Internet censorship amounts to a shift from traditional public diplomacy to a kind of Internet democracy activism. Where the former relied on tools such as Voice of America radio broadcasts to all corners of the globe, the latter emphasizes the U.S. promoting indigenous voice in countries that curb free speech, says NYU telecommunications professor Clay Shirky, adding that enabling citizens to express themselves 'is way more threatening than Voice of America-style broadcasts, and autocratic governments will react to that.' Thus far, authoritarian governments have largely managed to control the Internet in their countries, argues Hal Roberts, a researcher with Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet and Society. 'Actually I think the story of the first 15 years of the widespread use of the Internet is that it is deeply embedded with local mechanisms of control and that governments can control the Internet pretty well,' he says. That's only likely to change if the U.S. is willing to match the new inspirational rhetoric about Internet freedom with actions that could be deemed hostile by the regimes concerned." Ken Stier, Time, 6 February 2010. It's great that citizens are expressing themselves, but this is no substitute for the journalism (not public diplomacy) that has always been VOA's mainstay. Furthermore, when the internet, which involves landlines within the target country, is censored, VOA can drop in wirelessly via shortwave and satellite.
     Proposal to award the Nobel Peace Prize to the internet. AP, 2 February 2010.
     "The Voice of America Twitter isn't: commitment to world peace does not rank high on the list of Twitter's objectives (for all the good reasons — they are in the business of making money, after all — leave the world peace to Bono). Don't we want to award this prize to someone who at least WANTS a more democratic and peaceful future and WORKS towards it?" Evgeny Morozov, Foreign Policy, 8 February 2010.
     "[W]hile greater connectivity and the spread of Internet access can be hugely beneficial to the spread of democracy, there is also a flip side – extremist groups and authoritarian regimes will increasingly co-opt and manipulate new technology for their own end." Luke Allnutt, editor in chief of RFE/RL's English website, Christian Science Monitor, 8 February 2010.
     "I’m going to take the stand that social media sometimes just doesn’t matter, and in fact, may be just be a waste of time and effort. Just because it’s out there, doesn’t mean it’s worthwhile, and I’ll point to the Singapore Airshow as an example. ... Sure, it gives it a little buzz by having a lot of social media presence, I guess, but what benefit is it providing? ... 'CNBC Asia was broadcasting on site and had a “lively” guest blog going.' ... Forget about the fact that the 'lively' guest blog actually just has three posts... Will all this social media drive any aircraft, engine, or part orders? Will it help suppliers establish better relationships with key decision makers? I imagine the answer is a resounding no." Brett Snyder, BNET, 8 February 2010. Posted: 09 Feb 2010 Permalink Print

Did ABC hold back documentary about Uighur leader to help get Australia Network into China?

"The producer of a controversial documentary about Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer says the ABC told him