Indian FM stations only allowed to carry news from AIR

Private FM radio channels in India will soon be allowed to broadcast news but will have to source it from the All India Radio (AIR), a senior government official said today, The Economic Times reported.

"In a short time, private FM (radio) channels will be able to carry news as these channels will be allowed to broadcast news bulletins of the All India Radio, unaltered," Additional Secretary in the Information and Broadcasting Ministry Rajiv Takru said.

Mr Takru said the government is working on different modules, including designing two-minute news capsules for the private FM channels, in case they are unable to carry the 15-minute AIR bulletin broadcast.

"AIR will monetise this initiative," he said, adding, the government is also considering to allow live sports commentary on the private stations but did not provide details.

Presently, private radio stations are not allowed to broadcast news. The government's new move comes at a time when it is in the process of finalising the process for the third phase of FM radio expansion in India.

"We intend to start the (FM) Phase Three as soon as possible. Within the next two to three months, we should be able to have a final view taken by the government and be up and running," Mr Takru said.

The private players want the government to kick off the FM radio Phase-III expansion as possible.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

Japanese broadcasters win praise

Japan's broadcasters won praise from their Asian colleagues today for their work in providing news and emergency information about the earthquake and tsunami that struck on 11 March.

Members of the ABU's daily news exchange, Asiavision, expressed their admiration for the efforts of Japan's broadcasters in covering the worst disaster to hit Japan in decades.

At a meeting in Langkawi, Malaysia, Asiavision members noted the key role of Japanese broadcasters as providers of emergency information and expressed their full support.

They also expressed their condolences to those who lost loved ones in the disaster.

Japan's public broadcaster, NHK, is a member of Asiavision and has been proving the news exchange with daily coverage of the disaster and its aftermath. It is also the official provider of emergency warning of disasters.

Japan's commercial broadcasters, too, have been providing continuous news coverage. For the first three days after the earthquake and tsunami, TBS aired news without any commercial breaks.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

World’s first shower powered radio is launched

The team behind the award winning Wind-Up Radio, using new micro turbine technology, has officially launched the world’s first water-powered radio. The H2O™ brand and its earlier product range has also previously showcased on the hit BBC TV programme Dragon’s Den.

The H2O™ Shower Powered Radio provides users with a convenient, and energy-efficient, means of listening to their favourite radio stations whilst in the shower. Using a patented micro turbine concept, the FM radio is powered solely through the motion of water flowing through a small H2O™ micro turbine; driving a generator that creates energy to power the radio. The radio dispels the need for disposable batteries, as the integral battery recharges as the shower runs.

Turning on automatically when the shower is used, the H2O™ Shower Powered Radio memorises the last chosen radio station and speaker volume. The radio even allows users to carry on listening after the shower is turned off; using any excess energy stored in an integral Ni-Mh rechargeable cell.

More information here

(Source : Media Network Weblog)

New rules to give Hungarian music a boost on radio

Representatives of Hungary’s music industry have welcomed plans by the media authority to boost the ratio of domestic music on the country’s airwaves. Tamas Kollarik, a member of the Media Council, told a news conference after meeting music industry reps on Tuesday that the authority would monitor programming to ensure that the mandatory quotas to be introduced gradually - 35 percent for commercial broadcasters and 50 percent for public-service broadcasters - would be abided by.

(Source: MTI via Media Network Weblog)

Voice of Vietnam ready for eighth Asia Media Summit (AMS 8)

(VOV) - Radio Voice of Vietnam has made thorough preparations for the eighth Asia Media Summit (AMS 8), said VOV Director General Vu Van Hien.

Prof. Hien announced this at a reception for Yang Binyuan, Director of the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) on March 30 in Hanoi.

He said VOV has held a meeting of the steering committee for the summit with the participation of relevant agencies.

Prof. Hien also asked the AIBD to select the delegates and reports in compliance with the summit’s theme as well as the host country’s law.

Mr. Binyuan praised VOV efforts in the organization of the summit and expressed hopes that AMS 8 will be a great success.

All necessary information related to the summit such as the invitation letter, theme, agenda, and registration forms is now available at the AIBD website (http://www.aibd.org.my/)

(Source : Voice of Vietnam)

CRI Launches Global Shopping Channel

China Radio International, China's only state international radio broadcaster, formally launched its televised shopping channel "Global Go" Tuesday in Beijing.

"Global Go" is a professional shopping channel that focuses on the latest product and sales information about famous high-end items worldwide.

"Global Go" is a cable TV program with internet, mobile phone and radio broadcasting platforms, offering audiences all over the world information on both China-made and world-famous brands.

(Source : CRI Website/Media Network Weblog)

Radio Station Belarus doubles output in French

Radio Station Belarus says on its website that its programmes in French are now broadcast every Saturday and Sunday at 1940 UTC, while the weekly programme in Spanish continues to be broadcast at 2000 UTC on Sundays.

(Source: Radio Station Belarus via Media Network Weblog)

Radio Kiribati changes mediumwave frequency

Kiribati’s state radio, a division of the Broadcasting and Publications Authority, began broadcasting today on a new frequency of 1440 kHz, thanks to a grant of almost AU$137,000 from the government of Taiwan. The new frequency replaces 846KkHz which has been used since independence.

General manager of BPA, Betarim Rimon, told the national paper, Te Uekera, that the new frequency is a big achievement for the organisation. Radio Kiribati is the only station that broadcasts across the country to the population of about 100,000, mainly in Kiribati languages.

In 2008, the radio station went off air for several months after its transmitter broken down for serious technical problems. This put pressure on the state broadcaster to cut its expenses and consider a bank overdraft to solve its financial problems.

(Source: Pacific Media Watch via Media Newtork Weblog)

Russia moves to permanent ‘daylight saving time’

Russians set their clocks one hour forward in the early hours of this morning, and in so doing put an end to the 30-year old tradition of moving clock hands one hour forward in spring, and one hour backward in autumn, says the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. He argued that this would deliver Russians of the necessity of getting adapted to a new life rhythm twice a year.

The transition to daylight saving time was established in 1981 in an attempt to reduce energy consumption. One year ago, President Medvedev asked experts to analyze whether this “playing with time” is rational. In February 2011, he ordered not to revert to winter time anymore. This means that from today, Russians will live according to summer time all the year long.

The Russian parliament is now working on a draft law on time calculation across the country, which spans nine time zones. Opinions may differ, and Russian laws on time calculation may well receive further corrections in the future. But now Russia is joining the family of the countries that don’t change time twice a year. In most Asian countries, including Japan, China and South Korea, time is not changed all the year long. The same is true for nearly all African and Latin American countries. In the United States, Arizona and Hawaii do not transfer to summer time. Former Soviet republics Ukraine and Belarus are also considering whether to reject “playing with time”.

(Source: Voice of Russia via Media Network Weblog)

VOA Tibetan Service Celebrates 20th Anniversary of First Broadcast

The Voice of America’s Tibetan Service, which began with a 15 minute shortwave radio broadcast on March 25, 1991, is being hailed today as one of the most influential Tibetan language multi-media platforms in the world.

Tibet’s spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, once noted that, “Tibetans call VOA broadcasts their medicine for depression and exhaustion, and on days that they don’t get to hear it, they say they’ve missed their vital medicine.”

Earlier this month the service hosted a televised debate with the three candidates vying to become Prime Minister (Kalon Tripa) of the exiled Central Tibetan Administration based in Dharamsala, India.

VOA Director Danforth W. Austin called the satellite and web-streamed broadcast a “a prime example of how VOA’s Tibetan Service is able to share important events with an audience that is cut off from the free flow of objective and comprehensive news.

VOA’s Tibetan Service produces two hours of original television programming each week, and 42 hours of radio. The programs are broadcast on shortwave, transmitted via satellite and streamed on the service’s website, http://www.voanews.com/tibetan/news.

The Voice of America has also undertaken a number of initiatives to make the broadcasts accessible to Tibetans through a variety of social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter, and with ongoing strategies to combat jamming and Internet restrictions imposed by the Chinese government.

The VOA Tibetan Service was created by an Act of Congress signed into law on February 16, 1990 to established “a service to provide Voice of America Tibetan language programming to the people of Tibet.”

VOA’s parent organization, the Broadcasting Board of Governors, marked the anniversary with a resolution calling the Tibetan Service broadcasts, “as vital to the people of Tibet today as when the Service’s first daily 15-minute shortwave broadcast debuted to the Tibetan plateau 20 years ago.’’

For more information about the Voice of America or any of its 44 language services, visit our website at http://www.voanews.com.

(Source : BBG press release) 

Special radio channel for Sri Lankan fishermen

A special radio service for Sri Lanka’s fishing community will be launched today by the President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the opening ceremony of the state-of-the-art fish trade center at Peliyagoda on the outskirts of Colombo city. The radio service, named Sayura (ocean) FM, will cater for the working fishing community from 12 midnight to 4am daily. It is sponsored by the Sri Lanka Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and broadcast by Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation.

(Source: Colombo Page via Media Network Weblog)

BBC Caribbean Service makes final broadcast

The BBC Caribbean Service is making its final broadcasts, ending seven decades of programming for the region.

The service is being shut as part of budget cuts announced by the BBC World Service in January.

BBC managers say they have had to make tough choices because of a 16% cut in UK government funding.

But one critic called it a short-sighted decision, showing the BBC did not understand the complexities of the region.

The Macedonian, Albanian, Serbian and Portuguese for Africa services have also been closed in a bid to to save $75m (£46m) a year.

Seven other language services have moved away from radio to focus on online, mobile and television content.

These include Spanish for Latin America which last month ended its remaining radio broadcasts, on short-wave and intended mainly for Cuba.

This week, members of the Caribbean Service team have each presented a final programme, including material from the BBC archives.

Copies of the sound and text content of the service's radio and online output are being donated to the University of the West Indies, which will have a team working at the BBC's Bush House base to catalogue the material.

Read More From BBC

(Source : BBC news) 

BBC Chinese Service makes final broadcast in Mandarin

The BBC Chinese Service has made its final radio broadcast in Mandarin after nearly 70 years.

Shortwave programming in Mandarin is a casualty of spending cuts announced by the BBC World Service in January.

From now on, Mandarin-speakers will be served only by the BBC's Chinese-language websites; a weekly radio broadcast in Cantonese will continue.

BBC managers say they have had to make tough choices because of a 16% cut in UK government funding.

BBC World Service Mandarin programming began back in 1941, pre-dating by eight years the proclamation of the People's Republic of China.

Read More from BBC

(Source : BBC News via Kimandrewelliott.com)

DW goes mobile in Tanzania

Deutsche Welle is now offering a new text messaging (SMS) news service for its listeners and users in Tanzania. The initial launch focuses on text-based services in Kiswahili covering news from Africa and around the world as well as sports-related services.

In order to reach the widest possible audience, multiple language services and products will follow the first phase of launch. Deutsche Welle's Kiswahili service is among the most popular radio programmes in Tanzania: around 70 per cent of Tanzanians are familiar with Deutsche Welle and 33 per cent are frequent listeners of the Kiswahili program.

Deutsche Welle has appointed Starfish Mobile East Africa Limited as its technology provider in Tanzania, where the broadcaster will have the opportunity to deploy mobile services in the Kiswahili language to more than 19 million subscribers from the Vodacom, Tigo and Airtel mobile networks. With a current footprint of more than 30 telco relationships in 21 African territories, Starfish is one of the leading players in the field of content provisioning and content aggregation in Africa.

With a current audience reach of nearly 90 million around the globe, Deutsche Welle is aiming to widen its reach in countries like Tanzania, where web penetration is low. By making news services available through mobile technology, subscribers will be able to access news updates. Deutsche Welle viewers and listeners also have the opportunity to view and listen to television and radio programming via mobile.

"To some extent, mobile phones have succeeded in an area where the web has struggled," says Naser Shrouf, Deutsche Welle's head of sales and distribution Africa and Middle East. "With its text messaging service, Deutsche Welle would like to provide Tanzanians access to international news from a European perspective, whenever and wherever they are."

(Source: www.dw-world.de via AIB website)

Online voting begins for ‘The BOBs’ blog awards

Starting today, Tuesday, March 22, Deutsche Welle will be presenting the 187 blogs that were nominated for its international blog awards – The BOBs – on its website www.thebobs.com.

Internet users from around the world recommended around 2,100 blogs for prizes in 11 languages and six categories. An international jury composed of renowned bloggers then nominated 11 finalists for each category. From now until April 11, the online community can vote for their favorite blog, which will then be awarded with the BOBs User Award.

For the first time, there will also be an award for the “Best Social Activism Campaign." Contest organizers will be looking for an initiative that uses social networks and other forms of digital communication in an exemplary fashion to help benefit democracy, freedom and human rights. Advertising and marketing campaigns from corporations and organizations are excluded. The international press freedom organization Reporters Without Borders will once again take part in the international blog award.

Other categories include: “Best Blog”, “Best Video Channel”, “Best Use of Technology for Social Good”, “Reporters Without Borders” and “Special Topic Award Human Rights”. The competition languages are: Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, English, French, German, Indonesian, Persian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

With this competition, Deutsche Welle fosters the freedom of the press and freedom of opinion. At the same time, the prize helps to illustrate the diversity of the international blogosphere.

Winners will be selected from March 22 to April 11. All winners – including those selected by the jury and those chosen during the online voting process – will be announced by Deutsche Welle in Bonn, Germany, on April 12.

The winners chosen by the jury for each of the six categories will be awarded their prizes at the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum on June 20in Bonn. The focus of the three day conference is “Human Rights in a Globalized World – Challenges for the Media”.

Partners of The BOBs are Clarin.com, Gooya News, Lenta.ru and Lainformacion.com.

(Source : Deutsche Welle)

Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) honoured for commitment to human rights

José Zepeda of Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) is to be awarded an honorary doctorate from the Autonomous University of Encarnación in Paraguay in recognition of his commitment to human rights in Latin America.

According to the university, Mr Zepeda, head of the Latin American department at RNW, has played an important role in the spread of free speech. "His work has made him a unique personality. He has paid great attention to events in our country and contributed to the strengthening of our democracy."

In the 1960s the young José Zepeda fled from the junta of Augusto Pinochet in Chile. He arrived in the Netherlands and joined the Latin American department of RNW. He subsequently became head of that department, a role he has held for many years.

Criticism
RNW gives a lot of attention in its broadcasts to human rights, freedom of expression and press freedom. In the past, that has led to sharp criticism from the dictatorial regimes that used to call the shots in Latin America. RNW has always allowed the opposition in those countries to express their opinions, something that was often denied in their own countries. For this work RNW has received various prizes and awards down the years.

José Zepeda has succeeded in getting important political leaders in front of the RNW microphone, such as President Rafael Correa of Ecuador and Evo Morales of Bolivia. Mr Zepeda also gives lectures at universities and training centres.

RNW Editor-in-Chief Rik Rensen recalls: "We were once at a conference in Bogota with sixty partners. An elderly woman came over to embrace Mr Zepeda and said: "This is the voice that connects my village with the rest of the world.”

Jose Zepeda says he’s delighted to receive this honorary doctorate. Since he came to the Netherlands a lot has changed in Latin America. The dictatorial regimes of yesteryear have given way to democracies. But according to Mr Zepeda, RNW still plays an important role in the region: "The Latin American democracies are fragile. Some of the neo-populist governments have authoritarian tendencies. In some countries, press freedom remains weak. In Mexico it’s disturbing how many journalists are murdered by organized criminals because they’re investigating corruption or the murder of women. "

Plans for the future
In the near future, RNW will be turning its attention to the drugs problem in Latin America. A Spanish version of our site about sex education, Love Matters, will be launched under the title 'Hablemos de Amor'. RNW, in partnership with other Dutch and international organisations, is also holding a special event in The Hague on 3 May to mark World Press Freedom Day.

Mr Zepeda says “the 86-year-old Cuban poetess Ilse Bullit sent us a New Year greeting with the words: ‘I listen to you every day. You are my eyes to the world.’ That’s a heavy responsibility."

The honorary doctorate will be presented on 30 May in Paraguay.

(Source : Radio Netherlands Worldwide)

Radio New Zealand Prize awarded

A young graduate who topped the Asia-Pacific Journalism course at AUT University has won the inaugural Radio New Zealand International prize for regional reporting.

The RNZI prize is an all expenses paid internship for a week in the radio station’s Wellington newsroom.

Kim Bowden recently graduated as a journalist with AUT’s Postgraduate Diploma in Communication Studies to add to her political studies and geography degree.

Bowden, who filed frequent Asia-Pacific stories to PMC Online and Pacific Scoop over the past year also won the Kunda Dixit prize for international journalism – a book from the Nepali Times publisher’s photojournalism trilogy on the decade-long Maoist civil war in Nepal.

She won the APN National Publishing Award as the "outstanding graduate" among postgraduate student journalists.

Pacific Media Centre director Dr David Robie praised Bowden for her "commitment, dedication and maturity" for her portfolio of Asia-Pacific stories.

Bowden is also one of three recipients of the 2011 Pacific Media Centre international internships, sponsored by the Asia New Zealand Foundation. She will be attached to China Daily.com in Beijing for three months.

(Source : http://pacific.scoop.co.nz/2011/03/11973/ via Radio New Zealand)

The BBC's international news services mount major multimedia coverage of Nigeria elections

The BBC's international news services – BBC World Service, BBC World News television and bbc.com/news – have stepped up their operations to cover the national elections in Nigeria next month.

BBC World Service is extending regular programming and launching unique online and mobile content to deliver a comprehensive reportage and in-depth analysis of the key vote in Africa's most populous nation.

BBC journalists, who are also household names in the region, will be in key locations across Nigeria. Jamilah Tangaza in Abuja, Mansur Liman in Kano, Bilkisu Labaran and Bola Mosuro in Lagos and Peter Okwoche in Port Harcourt will bring the audiences the latest on the campaigns, votes and moods in the streets.

BBC World News television channel will be covering voting and election results from the north and south of Nigeria with presenter Komla Dumor and reports from correspondents Andrew Harding, Caroline Duffield and Rob Walker.

Special content on bbc.com/africa will include the latest elections news, profiles of main candidates, maps showing some of Nigeria's many divisions, analysis and views from Nigerian voters.

BBC Hausa has initiated a translation of the most important sections of the Nigerian Electoral Law from English into Hausa, to make it accessible to Hausa-speaking public. This content will be published on the elections index on bbchausa.com – along with profiles of the main candidates, political parties, key dates and deadlines, major issues etc.

The website will also profile first-time voters who will say why they will vote in the elections and how they feel about the process. Two-minute audio news updates and live text updates on bbchausa.com/mobile will offer the latest on elections as they happen in different parts of Nigeria and on the results as they begin to come in.

Head of BBC Hausa Jamilah Tangaza says: "These elections belong to the kind of events that bring to the fore our relationship with our audiences. It is not just us informing them, but also them being an integral part of our output, telling us what they want to discuss, responding to the events unfolding around them and using us as platform for debate."

From Friday 25 March, the BBC Hausa weekly audience-participation programme Ra'ayi Riga (Have Your Say) will engage listeners and online users in debates of election-related topics such as monitoring, ways to stop vote-rigging and violence, buying over voters, party primaries and other issues.

In the run-up to the elections, Assignment on BBC World Service will be looking at the aftermath of ethnic and religious violence in Jos, in Plateau state, while BBC World News television will be doing a special investigation on vote-rigging allegations and corruption in Nigeria.

On the three election Saturdays – National Assembly Elections on 2 April, Presidential Elections on 9 April and Governorship and State House of Assembly Elections on 16 April – the BBC's English-language programmes for Africa will broadcast live from different regions of Nigeria.

On these days, BBC Hausa will extend its two daily live radio transmissions from 30 minutes to one hour.

The BBC's leading English-language programmes for Africa, Focus On Africa, Network Africa and Africa Have Your Say will be reporting from across Nigeria, talking about the issues that matter most to the Nigerian electorate. An edition of Focus On Africa dedicated to Nigerian elections will be broadcast to the BBC's global audiences.

Solomon Mugera, Editor, BBC Africa Region, says: "The deployment of a strong BBC team with journalists reporting for our English, Hausa, French and Swahili programmes as well as BBC World News television demonstrates our commitment to report and analyse these very crucial Nigerian elections – for the millions of listeners and viewers in Nigeria, the rest of Africa and the wider international community."

(Source : BBC World Service Publicity)

Planning pays off as NHK takes its quake news global

"The Shibuya, Tokyo, studio is now shaking extremely strongly. The Shibuya, Tokyo, studio is shaking strongly."

So said announcer Kenzo Ito after turning to face a studio camera that had just gone live on NHK. It was 2:48 p.m. on the afternoon of March 11. What would soon become Japan's strongest recorded earthquake was only just getting started, but Japan's sole public broadcaster was already in full natural disaster mode — a mode that is, in a sense, its raison d'etre.

In the 86 years since it was established, NHK, or the Japan Broadcasting Corporation as it is also known in English, has covered hundreds of natural disasters in Japan. It now has an extraordinary network in place to cover crises should they happen at any corner of the archipelago. NHK has eight broadcasting centers including the main one in Shibuya, an additional 46 local stations, 14 helicopters on permanent standby all over the country, and 460 remote-controlled cameras at ports and other key locations from which it can beam live footage at any moment. There is also a hotline to the Meteorological Agency and automated access to the Agency's earthquake early warning system. A warning from that system had been flashed on NHK viewers' screens about 90 seconds before the cut from regular programming (coverage of Diet deliberations) to announcer Ito in the still-shaking Shibuya studio. And the reason that cut could be made so swiftly — minutes before any competing channel — is because NHK holds emergency broadcast drills every night at midnight.

"It is in the NHK charter to provide coverage of natural disasters," explained Makoto Harada, the head of NHK's International Planning and Broadcasting Department, at the Shibuya Broadcasting Center on Thursday. He added that fees the broadcaster is mandated by the government to collect from viewers help make that coverage possible.

More recently, those same fees — along with additional grants from the government — have also made it possible for NHK to broadcast internationally, and this latest series of catastrophes has well and truly thrust its flagship international service, NHK World, which Harada heads, into the spotlight.

Read More From The Japan Times

(Source : The Japan Times/Kimandrewelliott.com)  

BBC Russian marks end of traditional radio broadcasting after 65 years on air

On Saturday 26 March, the BBC Russian live weekend programme, Pyatiy Etazh (Fifth Floor), broadcasts from the studio in Bush House, London, for the last time. Airing at 18.30 GMT (21.30 Moscow time), the final programme signals the end of the BBC's 65-year history of traditional radio broadcasting in Russian.

In a week of special programming in the run-up to this milestone date, BBC Russian is featuring special multimedia content, looking back at the radio journalism that has made the BBC a household name, from Vilnius to Vladivostok, and also looking at future shape of media.

Head of BBC Russian, Sarah Gibson, says: "This is a sad time for all of us at BBC Russian. We are also proud of the unique heritage our broadcasts have left behind – in the hearts and minds of millions of radio listeners. As we move on, we will continue to serve our audiences through online and mobile services. Our website bbcrussian.com will continue to bring global stories to the Russian audience, and put Russian stories in a global context."

The BBC started regular Russian-language broadcasts to the Soviet Union on 24 March 1946. Throughout the years, the BBC radio brought independent news and analysis to Russian-speaking audiences. In its special programming, BBC Russian looks again at the key stories it has covered – reporting the cold war and the perestroika, the attempted putsch of August 1991 and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the two Chechen wars and Beslan, the Russia-Georgia conflict and everything else that has mattered to its audiences in the region.

Highlights from the 65 years of broadcasting also include the BBC voices that have been well known to listeners, ground-breaking interactive interviews with Margaret Thatcher and Paul McCartney, both speaking to audiences in the Soviet Union, as well as unique archive material such as Joseph Brodsky's first radio interview, hours after winning the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1987.

Key Russian media, political and business personalities share their views of the BBC's work over the years – including the businessman and owner of The Independent, Alexander Lebedev, leading Russian journalists such as Yevgeniy Kiselyov, Dmitriy Muratov, Leonid Parfyonov, Vladimir Pozner and Mikhail Rykhlin, human-rights activist Lev Ponomaryov, writer Dmitriy Bykov, and President of the Faculty of Journalism of Moscow Sate University, Yasen Zassurskiy.

The BBC looks at what its broadcasts to the Soviet Union, and then to Russia and other post-Soviet states, meant for the people in those countries, and its influence. Putting its work in the wider context of foreign broadcasting, BBC Russian also looks at how the Western views of the importance of broadcasting to the USSR and post-Soviet states changed over the years, and what these changes mean for politics and the media in Russia. Another focus looks at how the media in Russia is changing, the role the internet is playing in the current media landscape, and the rapid changes in media consumption.

The BBC is closing three of its Russian-language radio programmes – Ranniy Chas (Dawn), Utro na Bi-bi-si (Morning with the BBC) and Vecher na Bi-bi-si (Evening with the BBC). However, BBC Russian will continue to produce BBSeva, Vam Slovo and Pyatiy Etazh which will be available for listening via the website bbcrussian.com as well as for FM partners outside Russia.

BBC World Service is also stopping its short- and medium-wave broadcasts to Russia in English.
 

(Source : BBC World Service Publicity/Media Network Weblog)

Sri Lanka to launch largest telecommunication tower

The Sri Lankan government plans to declare open a multipurpose transmission tower constructed in Kokavil in Northern Province before 10 April, the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) has reported.

Kokavil was a centre of radio transmission for a long time but the area was under the control of Tamil Tiger rebels for many years before the Sri Lankan army took control last year.

The LTTE rebels captured the original tower and used to broadcast their clandestine transmissions before blowing it up when Sri Lankan troops closed in 2009.

ColomboPage quoted SLBC as reporting that plans had been made for President Mahinda Rajapaksa to preside over the opening ceremony.

Kokavil tower, the largest and the highest transmission tower in Sri Lanka, is 175 metres in height. Around 350 million rupees (US$3.1 million) have been spent on the construction of the tower.

The tower, which is Sri Lanka's first multi-channel broadcasting tower, will be allocated for the providers of services of high speed internet, radio, television, and telephone.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcastint Union)

Digital radio listening up in Australia

Nearly 700,000 people in Australia's major cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide are listening to digital radio in an average week, according to new figures.

The statistics were released by Commercial Radio Australia, the body representing the country's commercial radio broadcasters, as part of the Digital Radio Industry Report 2011.

The figures also show that there are more than 400,000 digital radios in the market.

When compared to 2009 (July 09-Dec 09), there was an increase in digital sales of 185 percent in 2010/11 (Jan 10 - Jan 11) and a rise in digital radio listening to 5.6 percent (691,000 people) up from 3.7 percent (449,000) in 2010.

Commercial Radio Australia Chief Executive Officer Joan Warner said: "The commercial radio industry has spent more than A$25 million (US$25.2 million) on an ongoing and extensive digital radio marketing strategy and campaign and continues to work collaboratively with digital radio retailers and manufacturers to build the awareness with listeners.

"We're very pleased with these latest figures but recognise there is still much work to be done, particularly in relation to the roll out of digital radio to the rest of Australia.

"Our priorities over the next 12 months will be to build the growing metropolitan audience and the range of receivers available to them; work on specific promotions with retailers; work with car manufacturers to get DAB+ radios into cars; and work with the government to plan the regional rollout."

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

The radio in Bulgaria in the last 10 years

On 22 March the Bulgarian National Radio held a round table on the topic “The Radio medium 2001-2010: audience, policies, advertisement, digitization”. The event is part of a research project exploring the electronic media in the times of transition in Bulgaria. According to Margarita Pescheva, head of the project, the radio medium in Bulgaria is expanding at a high pace. If in 2006 there were 195 radio stations, in 2007 their number got more than 240. Radio stations, however, are not evenly spread across the country. They are merely 25 in Northwestern Bulgaria, which is the least developed region in the country. One of the Southern regions has 65, while another -45. What poses a problem for the radio medium is that radio stations prefer to broadcast mostly in the big cities. Thus, Sofia has 27 radio stations, Plovdiv has 17 and Varna-16. Local stations are much less developed. Music and information programmes are twice as many as the multi-topic ones. However, Bulgaria’s two nation-wide multi-topic networks Horizont and Daric Radio have been extremely influential in the second decade of the post-totalitarian transition period. The research relies on data from TVPlan/TNS and Market Links, the two most influential polling agencies in the field of media research in Bulgaria.

“The surveys of the two agencies show explicitly that the radio is an extremely vibrant medium”, Margarita Pescheva points out. “The idea that the radio is doomed to disappear after the emergence of the Internet and digital technologies is far from the truth. The radio is like life itself! It is extremely valued by listeners because of two things: its nice music and news in brief. In fact, over the last decade the radio has gained more and more listeners. People look for it mostly on weekdays and not so much in the weekend. Most listeners live in the cities. Men listen to the radio a bit more than women, mostly while driving and working. The most active listeners are people aged 36-54. Furthermore, it seems we are not yet eager to dump our radio receivers at home. The wireless is a preferred means for radio listening, although since 2006 radio listening on the Internet has soared sharply, by more than 20%”, Margarita Pescheva informs.

In the last decade, the undisputable leader on the air in Bulgaria has been Radio Horizont of the Bulgarian National Radio. So for example, in 2007-2010 the average monthly number of listeners of Horizont accounted for 34% or 2.400.000 people. Listeners define the features on Horizont as quite balanced and rich. On the other hand, some of BNR’s regional stations, such as Radio Blagoevgrad and Radio Varna are leaders in their regions, competing with BNR’s national programmes. According to Valeri Todorov, Director-General of the Bulgarian National Radio, Horizont is not only increasing its listeners, but also keeping up a leading position among other radio networks.

“I definitely consider this a success in a very competitive media and I can say with certainty that in many respects we compete with both radio stations and popular TV channels”, Mr Todorov says. “I hope that this competition between us and them will give a new direction and new dynamics to the media. Our goal, however, is much more different from that of commercial stations. We shape, create and promote cultural values in all respects”, Mr Todorov comments.

As a public media the Bulgarian National Radio has the mission to provide a direct and free access to the radio. Therefore, the national media has wide coverage in border and remote regions in Bulgaria. The foreign language broadcasts and the unique website of Radio Bulgaria, which broadcasts and publishes news and features in 11 languages, extends far beyond Bulgaria’s borders only to reach foreign listeners and Bulgarians living abroad. As far as digitization is concerned, within a month the Radio would be able to provide digital broadcasting from its studios. “As early as 2008 the BNR started digital broadcasting. So far, we have been the only country in the large-scale European project of Euranet which broadcasts digitally in 4 languages”, Valeri Todorov concludes.

Author: Veneta Pavlova, English version: Vyara Popova

(Source : Radio Bulgeria/Media Network Weblog) 

RTÉ Radio launches its first Android Apps

Irish public broadcaster RTÉ Radio has launched its first Android Apps. On the new RTÉ PocketPlayer you can listen to all 4FM stations, RTÉ1, RTÉ 2FM, RTÉ Lyric FM and RTÉ RnaG. Also included are RTÉ digital stations 2XM, Pulse, Choice, Junior, Gold and Radio 1 Xtra. You can also check out their Twitter and Facebook pages from the app.

The RTÉ Documentary On One app features multi-award winning radio documentaries from Ireland. The ‘Documentary on One’ unit is currently the most successful radio documentary department in the world, and produces stories about real life.

(Source: RTÉ via Media Network Weblog)

Radio Romania International New Summer Schedule, 2011

SCHEDULE VALID FROM 27th MARCH 2011

Last updated: 2011-03-23 18:35 EET

All hours UTC--------------------------- Frequencies kHz

WESTERN EUROPE

05.30 – 06.00-----------------------------9 655; 7 305 (DRM)
11.00 – 12.00-----------------------------15 210; 17 510
17.00 – 18.00-----------------------------11 735; 9 535 (DRM)
17.00-17.30 ------------------------------ 7 350 (DRM for Great Britain alone)
20.30 – 21.00-----------------------------11 880; 9 765 (DRM)
22.00 – 23.00-----------------------------5 960; 7 435

We also broadcast for listeners in Western Europe via satellite Hot Bird 6 on 11 623.28 MHz, vertical polarisation, azimuth 13 degrees East.

CENTRAL AFRICA
11.00-12.00-------------------------------15 430; 17 670

NORTH AMERICA
20.30 – 21.00----------------------------- 11 940; 13 800
00.00 – 01.00----------------------------- 7 385; 9 580
03.00 – 04.00 (West Coast) -----------7 335; 9 645

JAPAN
22.00– 23.00----------------------------- 9 790; 11 940

THE PACIFIC AREA AUSTRALIA
05.30 – 06.00-----------------------------17 760; 21 500

SOUTH-EAST ASIA - INDIA
03.00 – 04.00-----------------------------11 895; 15 340
05.30 – 06.00-----------------------------17 760; 21 500

RRI’s programs can be heard on the Internet, in WMA, MP3 and AAC+ formats, at www.rri.ro. The English language program to Western Europe, airing at 17.00 hours UTC summer time, is simultaneously transmitted in DRM system on 9 535 kHz and in analogue system on 11 735 kHz. RRI also brings you a 30-minute program in English, broadcast in the DRM system, transmitted to the UK by the British provider WRN Broadcast, between 17.00 and 17.30 hours UTC, on 7 350 kHz. Our English morning program airing at 05.30 UTC is simultaneously transmitted to Western Europe in the DRM system on 7 305 kHz and in analogue system on 9 655 kHz. Our English program airing at 20.30 UTC is simultaneously transmitted to Western Europe in DRM system on 9 765 kHz and in analogue system on 11 880 kHz.

RRI also releases a weekly podcast in English, with an RSS feed; RRI’s program, broadcast on Sunday at 17.00 hours UTC, will be available on the WRN servers and also on podcast directories, such as iTunes and Juicer.
Also, as from October 2010, RRI’s English broadcasts aired at 05.30 UTC (summer time) and 06.30 UTC (winter time) are available to listen on demand (via WRN), using a new link on RRI’s website.
On RRI’s website, www.rri.ro, you can listen to our broadcasts in English from the last 7 days. From Monday to Sunday you can listen, on demand, to our broadcast starting at 06.00 hours Romanian time. The programs become available as audio files 2 hours after broadcasting.

If you are looking for a fresh perspective on events and life in Europe you can listen to Network Europe, a weekly co-production of leading international broadcasters, Radio Romania International included, at http://www.networkeurope.org/.

(Source : Radio Romania International)

RFI broadcasts and internet may be affected due to industrial action.

RFI broadcasts and internet may be affected due to industrial action.

(Source : RFI)

New head for RTM-Malaysia

Datuk Norhayati Ismail has taken over as acting Director General of Malaysia's national broadcaster, RTM.
She succeeds Datuk Ibrahim Yahaya, who had held the post since March 2009.
Datuk Ibrahim, who is also acting President of the ABU, has been appointed Media and Broadcast Advisor to the Minister of Information, Communication and Culture.
Datuk Norhayati, who was Deputy Director General (Strategic Broadcasts) before her new appointment, is believed to be the first woman to head RTM. She has held a range of senior posts with the broadcaster.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

QSLs Are a Portal to the Past, by Jerry Berg

QSLs Are a Portal to the Past, by Jerry Berg

DRM+ Experience day in Scotland

The DRM+UK project team are planning a ‘DRM+ Experience day’ to be held in Edinburgh, Scotland on Tuesday March 29th. Unfortunately attendance will have to be restricted to only those who have been directly involved in this ‘closed’ technical trial. The event will allow attendees to experience first hand DRM+ and to preview some of the early findings of the DRM+ technical trial that has been jointly organised by BBC and DRM Consortium. We hope that all those who have been closely involved with the trial, including representatives from Arqiva, BBC, DRM Consortium, Fraunhofer iis, Keti, Nautel, Ofcom and RFmondial, will be able to attend and offer their perspective.

DRM+ UK Press release

(Source : DRM press release)

Dutch commercial radio licences extended to 2017

Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs Maxime Verhagen has, as expected, extended the licences of the radio stations on FM and mediumwave to 2017. The licences were due to expire in September 2011. However, the minister has stipulated a condition that the commercial stations invest substantially in digital radio.

The major stations will pay a lower annual amount for their licences than hitherto. The thinking behind this is that the stations can use the money saved to invest in digital radio. Some stations including BNR Nieuwsradio, Slam FM, and 100% NL, which already pay relatively small amounts for their licences, will not have to pay anything at all for the period 2011-2017. This also applies to the regional commercial radio stations.

The two vacant FM packages previously used by Arrow Classic Rock and Arrow Jazz FM will be re-advertised for the period 2011-2017.

(Source: Multiple media reports via Media Network Weblog)

RFI decided to end cultural programmes

In the very last edition of The Sound Kitchen, you’ll hear a “This I Believe” essay from listener Samuel Francis, from Jamaica. Management at RFI are implementing a reform of the English service, and have decided to end our cultural programmes.

(Source : The Club 9516 Sound Kitchen, RFI)

Radio Australia Extra SW broadcasts to Japan for the latest news on earthquake

Following the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan Radio Australia is increasing its shortwave broadcasts to the region. Commencing immediately, the following transmissions will be directed to Japan. All times are Japan standard times.

Time                 Frequency     Metre Band      Comments
0800 – 1600     13690           22m
0830 – 1600     17750           16m
0900 – 1400     21725           13m                  Best daylight frequency
1600 – 2200     11945           25m                  Best evening frequency
1600 – 1800     9710             31m
2000 – 2300     9560             31m
2300 – 0300     5995, 6080   49m

(Source : Radio Australia)

Radio Prague Quiz (March)

In March we are looking for the name of the inventor of the printing method of lithography who was born in Prague in 1771.

If you send us the name of this person by the end of March, your answer will be included in a lucky draw and the winner will get a Radio Prague goodie bag. The address for your answers, reception reports, queries, comments and complaints remains as always english@radio.cz or Radio Prague, 12099 Prague.

(Radio Prague Website)

ABU Prizes 2011: Call for entries

The ABU Prizes 2011 committee is accepting entries from 7 March - 27 May, 2011.
In order to qualify for consideration, entries must meet the following criteria:

Duration (Radio & TV):         

1.   Drama and documentary categories (max. 90 minutes)

2.   News category (max. 10 minutes)

3.   All other categories (max. 60 minutes)

Media format:

1.   Radio entries (Audio CD / mp3 files)  

2.   TV entries (DVD)

First transmission dates:

1.   TV sports entries must be first broadcast between ­1 February 2009 and 31 March 2011

2.   All other categories must be first broadcast between 1 February 2010 and 31 March 2011

Script / subtitles:

All radio entries must include an English script.

TV entries must include one of the following: English script / English subtitles / English voiceover.

For contest details and rules, e-mail abuprizes@abu.org.my

Download contest entry form

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union) 

NHK orchestra pays tribute to Japanese people

Japan's top orchestra, the NHK Symphony Orchestra, gave a performance just outside Washington D.C. last night that honoured the people of Japan, National Public Radio reports.

Conductor Andre Previn added Bach's Air on the G String at the last minute, in what he described as a tribute to the Japanese people.

Ninety-three musicians of the orchestra boarded a plane in Tokyo less than 24 hours after the earthquake in Japan.

The orchestra's Chairman, Naoki Nojima, told the audience the musicians had struggled with the decision of whether to cancel the tour or not.

"Most of us have had to leave our families behind. And two of our original members are not here today because their homes were destroyed.

Still, we decided to forge ahead and come to America, because we believe music can uplift the heart and strengthen the spirit.

"So as we perform for you tonight, we are performing for ourselves as well and for our loved ones back home."

The orchestra, which is financially sponsored by public broadcaster NHK, performs at Carnegie Hall in New York on Monday night before returning to Japan.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

ABU Secretary-General sends condolences to Japan

The ABU Secretary-General, Javad Mottaghi, has expressed deep condolences to the people of Japan on behalf of the ABU's members and Secretariat.

"We are shocked and saddened to hear of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan," he said in a message to Japanese members.

"The images we are witnessing on our television screens tell the depth of devastation and loss, but also of the courage and determination of the Japanese people to be united and overcome the disaster in a time of terrible tragedy.

"Our thoughts are with all families in Japan who have lost loved ones. The ABU family is united in supporting our members in Japan."

Japanese broadcasters are continuing to provide continuous news and information a week after the earthquake and tsunami.

Japan's public broadcaster, NHK, has been providing the ABU's daily news exchange, Asiavision, will full coverage of the disaster, starting with a news flash shortly after the earthquake struck.

Japan's commercial broadcasters, too, have been providing continuous news coverage. For the first three days after the earthquake and tsunami, TBS aired news without any commercial breaks.

NHK is also official provider of emergency warning of disasters and gave the first warning of the earthquake even before the first big shock was felt in Tokyo.

Since 1985, NHK has operated an Emergency Warning Broadcasting System. In the event of an emergency, it transmits warnings on all its radio and television channels, based on information it receives from the Japan Meteorological Agency.

In addition, NHK has been providing round-the-clock news coverage of the disaster on its international service, NHK World.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

KBS raises $4.25 million for Japan's disaster survivors

Stirred by the plight of its neighbouring country, Korea's KBS aired a special live programme on 15 March to raise relief funds for the victims of Japan's worst natural disaster to date.

The two-hour telethon programme, which was aired twice at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., showed donors visiting the KBS headquarters to make donations as well as honour their phone-in pledges. The Japanese ambassador to Korea, Masatoshi Muto, also appeared on the show to express his gratitude to the Korean public.

The programme received coverage from Japan's NHK and Nihon TV, which sent reporters to cover the event.

Through the programme, KBS has raised 4.8 billion won ($4.25 million). The funds will be given to the Korean National Red Cross to be handed over to the Japan National Red Cross.

Since the earthquake occurred, numerous Koreans have visited KBS' headquarters in Seoul, as well as its stations in major cities, to contribute towards the humanitarian fund and express their sympathies.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

Another strike disrupts Radio France International

Radio France International (RFI) is once again being affected by an indefinite strike called by staff unions protesting about what they call “irreversible and costly reforms”. They are demanding a “cessation of the ongoing reforms,” which include a move from the Radio France building in Paris to the suburb of Issy-les-Moulineaux, a proposed merger of the editorial staff of RFI and France 24, and a social plan.

RFI is part of l’Audiovisuel Extérieur de la France (AEF), a public company which also includes the international TV channel France 24 and the French part of TV5 Monde. The AEF has been undermined for months by a war between its president Alain de Pouzilhac and his number two Christine Ockrent. Mr de Pouzilhac is currently the subject of a parliamentary fact-finding mission and an investigation into his accounts at the request of the Prime Minister.

Shortwave monitor Glenn Hauser today noted that the Portuguese service at 0600 UTC was replaced by French music. A note on RFI’s English website says “Due to a strike action, some of RFI’s services may be disrupted on Wednesday, including broadcasts and our website. We apologise for any inconvenience.”

(Source: AFP/RFI via Media Network Weblog)

Radio Nikkei simulcasting local radio from Fukushima

Due to the nuclear emergency in Fukushima, Japan, Radio Nikkei - the country’s only private shortwave broadcaster - has begun to simulcast some programming from a local radio station in Fukushima - Radio Hukuzima - which is broadcasting a 24-hour emergency service. The simulcasts are carried on Radio Nikkei’s 1st Programme, which operates on 3925/6055/9595 kHz. Simulcasts over the next few days are tentatively scheduled as follows:

17 March: 0930-1055 UTC
18 March: 0605-0700 & 1045-1130 UTC
19 March: 0930-1030 UTC
20 March: 1035-1130 UTC
21 March: Extended broadcast planned

Radio Nikkei points out that the scheduled transmissions may be modified depending on events in Fukushima.

(Source: Radio Nikkei website via Google Translate via Media Network Weblog)

Cambodia’s orders given to VOV staff

Radio Voice of Vietnam (VOV) held a ceremony at its headquarters on March 16 to present the Cambodian Government’s Orders to nine cadres of VOV in recognition of their contributions to Cambodia’s construction.

The orders were previously handed over by Cambodia during a VOV visit to Cambodia on the occasion of inauguration of five local FM radio stations with non-refundable aid from Vietnam, said VOV General Director Vu Van Hien.

In the meetings during the trip, the Cambodian government highly appreciated the contributions made by Vietnam and VOV to Cambodia’s radio sector.

Dr Hien attributed these achievements to the efforts of all officials and employees of VOV.

Hoang Minh Nguyet, a former official of VOV, said at the ceremony that the dedicated work of VOV experts in Cambodia has laid a firm foundation for bringing the Voice of Vietnam to Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries.

In the time to come, VOV will continue to help Cambodia in the radio broadcasting industry.

Previously, the Kingdom of Cambodia signed a decision to award the Legion of Honour to the General Director of VOV, Vu Van Hien.

(Source : Voice of Vietnam)

RNW summer (A11) frequency schedule now online

The summer 2011 frequency schedule of Radio Netherlands Worldwide, including relays of other broadcasters, is now available on RNW's Website http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/rnw-frequency-schedule-summer-2011. The schedule is effective from Sunday 27 March 2011.

(Source : Media Network Weblog/Radio Netherlands)

New MW transmitter for Angola’s Uige province

A mediumwave transmitter will be installed in northern Uige province this year, in order to expand the signal of the state-run Radio Nacional de Angola (RNA) broadcasting station to the whole provincial territory.

The information was released by RNA chief executive officer, Pedro Cabral. The CEO was speaking at the end of a visit he paid over the weekend to Uige to learn about the functioning of the provincial station. He said the equipment for installation of the transmitter are already in the province.

Pedro Cabral said the transmitter that will be installed soon, will expand the RNA signal to the whole territory of the province, adding that it already reaches 13 of the province’s 16 districts. On the other hand, the official expressed satisfaction with the functioning of the provincial station, despite shortage of staff.

(Source: Angola Press via Media Network Weblog)

Taiwan to set up emergency text message broadcasting system

The Taiwan government will set up an emergency text message broadcasting system to alert residents in disaster-affected areas, Interior Minister Jiang Yi-huah said today. Mr Jiang said he will ask telecommunications operators for assistance to disseminate real-time information quickly on any pending disaster via text message to alert people to danger.

The initiative is patterned after the Japanese government’s usage of the same method to alert residents in Tokyo of a looming disaster prior to the arrival of a powerful earthquake centered off the northeastern coast of its main island Honshu on 11 March. Rescue efforts after a disaster are usually difficult and their effect limited, Mr Jiang said, and he therefore believed that people should be given enough knowledge and use their sound judgment to adopt the best strategy to protect themselves in emergencies.

Mr Jiang, in his capacity as the deputy chairman of the National Disasters Prevention and Protection Commission, was reporting on contingency measures in case of an earthquake, fire, tsunami or nuclear accident at a legislative committee meeting.

(Source: Central News Agency via Media Network Weblog)

Ford plans DAB for all its British vehicles by 2012

UK auto manufacturer Ford has pledged to make DAB digital radios standard across its range by the end of 2012 – one year earlier than the industry-wide agreement. The new Ford Focus has been launched with DAB radio as standard, because Ford believes it will tempt buyers who are wary of the mooted 2015 date for all FM broadcasts to be ended. It now plans to extend that policy.

“It is a looming issue, and we want to be well placed,’ said Ford of Great Britain managing director Nigel Sharp. “The fact is that the Focus’s radio is future-proofed now, whereas those in our competitors’ cars aren’t.

“The plan is to extend that across every Ford model in the next 18 months or so. There are technical issues to overcome because, for instance, traffic alerts are broadcast only in FM at the moment, but we are confident we can achieve our goal.”

(Source: whatcar.com via Media Network Weblog)

Voice of Vietnam (VOV) in the front line of emulation

Voice of Vietnam (VOV) is taking the lead of scientific, cultural and social activities, followed by the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA), the Vietnam Social Insurance, the Vietnam News 

Agency. The Central Emulation and Reward Council held a conference in Hanoi on March 15 to review its activities in 2010 and launch new emulation movements in 2011.

At the conference, VOV Deputy Director General Dao Duy Hua said last year’s emulation activities have encouraged many civil servants from various agencies to improve their working spirit and fulfill their assigned tasks.

For example, social and health insurance funds increased by 53 percent compared to 2009’s figure. VOV’s broadcasting time increased by 101 percent compared to its plan.

Addressing the conference, Prof. Dr Vu Van Hien noted that for three consecutive years, VOV has received great support from many other agencies.

Participants agreed on the need to improve the quality of emulation and reward in the future.

Members of the emulation bloc activities involved in scientific, cultural and social activities include:

- The Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations

- The Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA)

- The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) 

- Vietnamese Academy of Social Sciences

- The Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology

- The Vietnam Social Insurance

- The Vietnam News Agency

- The Vietnam Television

- Radio the Voice of Vietnam

(Source : Voice of Vietnam)

Charity for Japan Earthquake and Tsunami organized by NHK and others

NHK, Central Community Chest of Japan (CCCJ), Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) and NHK Public Welfare Organization have organized a charity for the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan.

If you wish to make your cash donation to be distributed directly among the affected population of the disaster, please see the following homepage of Japan Red Cross Society for the bank account information.

JAPANESE RED CROSS SOCIETY
http://www.jrc.or.jp/english/relief/l4/Vcms4_00002070.html

All the fund received under this account will be transferred to the Distribution Committee, which is formed around the local governments of the disaster-affected prefectures and to administer the distribution of fund.

Thank you very much for your kind thoughts.

(Source: NHK World)

Distance Made the Ear Grow Fonder, by Paul J. McLane

Distance Made the Ear Grow Fonder, by Paul J. McLane

Official NHK WORLD TV live on USTREAM

 Online video chat by Ustream

NHK WORLD TV
Official NHK WORLD TV live on USTREAM.
NHK WORLD TV is an English language 24-hour international news and information channel.
News script now on http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/

 
 

Why Japan is prone to earthquakes - Asia-Pacific - Al Jazeera English

Why Japan is prone to earthquakes - Asia-Pacific - Al Jazeera English

The Voice of Russia offers help in sending urgent messages to family and friends in Japan. Contact the VOR!

The Voice of Russia is one of the few media outlets operational in Japan on short and medium wave. Anyone concerned about the well being of their friends and/or family, who are currently in the disaster-hit regions, are welcome to call and leave a message on +7 (495) 950-64-84 or write to letters@ruvr.ru. Listeners can also pass on words of support for the Japanese people through the same contact points. The messages will then be broadcast over the air.

(Source : Voice of Russia)

Radioactive Material Leak Confirmed in Japan's Nuclear Plant

Radioactive Material Leak Confirmed in Japan's Nuclear Plant

(Source : China Radio International)

Tsunami Hits Japan!!! Live Footage!!!.flv

South Korea may allocate mediumwave frequency for broadcasts to North

Choi See-joong, chairman of the Korea Communications Commission, told the National Assembly on Tuesday that the panel will consider allotting a mediumwave frequency to air civilian broadcasting in the North. If this happens, North Koreans in South Pyongan Province and areas south of it can listen to South Korean broadcasts with clear sound quality. This could open the way for the South to let North Koreans know what is going on the Korean Peninsula and in the world.

(Source: donga.com via Media Network Weblog)

VOA Using Facebook to Teach English!

The Voice of America continues to reach out to new audiences in innovative ways, and now VOA is using Facebook to teach English language lessons as part of its popular on-line learning program called The Classroom.

Here’s how it works. Four times a day, the icon on VOA’s Learning English Facebook page changes to indicate a live, on-line class is “in session.”

Students can submit questions and be part of a free, hour-long, interactive language learning experience that uses materials and lessons from The Classroom, which is now averaging more than 180,000 users a month.

One of The Classroom’s Facebook teachers calls herself “The English Doctor.” When her class is “in-session,” users will be learning from Nina Weinstein, the author of dozens of books on teaching English as a foreign language. Another VOA Facebook teacher,“The English Traveler,” also has classes twice a day, and there are plans to add more instructors to the line-up.

Since The Classroom gave its first lesson on Facebook in February, the response has been positive, with about 16,000 views in the first 24 hour period. Thousands sign on for each lesson.

Many of VOA Facebook friends have written in to say how much they like the new program. One fan said today, “We have the best teacher ever in grammar. You are so good!”

Voice of America Director Danforth W. Austin says, “VOA’s pioneering use of Facebook to teach language is yet another example of how social media can bring people together to share common interests, and VOA is leading the way in the use of these innovative new online platforms.”

You can get to the Facebook class directly from http://www.voanews.com/theclassroom.

VOA editors came up with idea to teach English on Facebook when they noticed they were getting hundreds of questions from VOA’s 40,000 Learning English Facebook fans (click here to join) who often ask about grammar, pronunciation, capitalization, and other English usage rules.

In addition to Facebook lessons, The Classroom (click here to get started) also has a new Business Wordbook with hundreds of business terms, pictures and sample dialogues to help users learn American business English.

Under the activities tab of The Classroom, there are new “English survival” activities, including how to order breakfast and how to count money. Plans are also underway for a new Interactive Health Wordbook, with pictures, definitions and sample dialogues relating to health, fitness and well being.

For more about VOA Learning English visit http://www.voanews.com/learningenglish/home. For more about any VOA programs, or for the latest news and information, visit http://www.voanews.com.

(Source : BBG Press Release)

Radio Netherlands launches iPhone app

RNW has an iPhone app!

Our brand new baby is available in nine languages – Dutch, English, Spanish, French, Papiamento, Indonesian, Portugese, Chinese, and Arabic – and is available for free via the AppStore – just search the app store for “RNW”.

So what does it do?
Our app gives you access to all of our web and audio content – when and where you want it.

You can read the latest articles, listen to live radio broadcasts, download podcasts, and even watch our videos. Our app also checks the latest news from http://www.internationaljustice.nl, our website on international law.

As with all our content, the app offers news, background, and cultural information from a Dutch perspective for a worldwide audience.

(Source: Radio Netherlands)

International Radio Serbia Celebrating 75th Anniversary

International Radio Serbia is marking its 75th anniversary today. Director of the Radio, Milorad Vujovic stated at the ceremony, which marked this important anniversary, that the short wave, which could be listened to as FM through digitization, is the most effective strategic option of sending information throughout the world, which is why no country in the world gives up this type of radio service that is meant to inform audiences abroad. Jelica Tapuskovic has more.

Vujovic reiterated that our radio is the only national radio station broadcasting via short wave, satellite and the Internet, in Serbian and another 11 languages. The importance of the former Radio Yugoslavia is even greater when one knows that it is older than Voice of America and other short-wave stations in the world. The importance and rating of the International Radio of Serbia are confirmed in letters of listeners from around the world and our Diaspora, Vujovic said, adding that these reactions serve as guidelines for program policy. He added that the year 2010 was marked by introduction of new programs and additions to our website, such as interactive maps and video news in foreign languages. According to him, the essential part of the program aims at the promotion of historical and cultural sights and natural beauty of our country, which is why support and help of the state and its institutions is necessary.

"This is even more important since the Serbian Ministry of Culture is in the process of drafting a national strategy for media which, in our opinion, should point to need for the state’s permanent care of our legal status, participation in the financing of our station and also determination of obligations in view of implementation of new technologies as we are far behind highly developed countries in terms of technical and technological development. It is necessary to commence the development of a national strategy on digitization of radio whose essence is the transition from analog to digital radio signal, "said Vujovic.

State Secretary at the Ministry of Culture Snezana Stojanovic Plavsic said that since its foundation, the International Radio of Serbia (Radio Yugoslavia) has been recognized for its high professionalism and has been timely and objectively informing overseas audience and Diaspora about any important events.

"I want to emphasize the importance of your efforts to overcome all difficulties in times of economic crisis, and that at the time of new communications, you offer the programs in a manner technologically appropriate for the new time, catching up with it, so that listeners around the world can be informed in timely fashion about all areas - economy , culture, politics and sports, " said Stojanovic Plavsic.

The annual prize for 2010 was awarded to a prominent journalist of our radio Jelena Gligoric, known for her specific style and our regular feature Beautiful and Interesting Landmarks of Serbia, who said that she was happy and proud of the fact that she received the award from her colleagues, which shows the quality of her work, and that their enthusiasm inspire her. "This is an individual award, but I believe that this is teamwork," said Gligoric.

In addition to former colleagues – journalists, translators and technical staff of our Radio, the celebration was enhanced by the presence of Parliament members Branko Ruzic and Dejan Radenkovic, State Secretaries at the Ministries for Kosovo and of Labor and Social Policy Zvonimir Stevic and Negovan Stankovic, representatives of diplomatic corps, as well as numerous associates of this unique radio.

(Source : Radio Serbia 

http://glassrbije.org/E/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13997&Itemid=32)

BBC Arabic staff attacked in Libya

Three members of the BBC Arabic team in Tripoli were detained and beaten while reporting on the situation in Libya. They were arrested on Monday (7 March) and taken to various barracks where they suffered repeated assaults, were masked and handcuffed, and were subjected to a mock execution.

Liliane Landor (Controller Languages, BBC Global News) said: "The BBC strongly condemns this abusive treatment of our journalists and calls on the Libyan government to ensure all media are able to report freely and are protected from persecution.

"The safety of our staff is our primary concern especially when they are working in such difficult circumstances and it is essential that journalists working for the BBC, or any media organisation, are allowed to report on the situation in Libya without fear of attack.

"Despite these attacks, the BBC will continue to cover the evolving story in Libya for our audiences both inside and outside the country."

(Source : BBC Press Release/Media Network Weblog)

English language programs on RRI’s website

From Monday to Sunday you can listen to our broadcast starting at 6.00 hours, Romanian time. The programmes become available as audio files 2 hours after broadcasting.  Also on our website you can listen, via audio files hosted by WRN Broadcast, our broadcast in English starting at 08.30 hours, Romanian time. These programmes are also available for 7 days. We are looking forward to your feedback.

(Source : Radio Romania International)

BBC launches new FM service in Ghana's Western Region

The BBC will today launch BBC 104.7FM in Ghana's Western Region, from a transmitter based just outside Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana's third largest media market and the country's new oil city. The transmission will also reach parts of the Central Region and provide coverage along important transport routes in the area.

BBC's investment in a second 24/7 dedicated FM in Ghana gives audiences in and around the Western Region the opportunity to hear the full range of BBC programmes. BBC 104.7FM will broadcast news and current affairs programmes, sports and documentaries.

Simon Kendall, Head of Business Development at BBC Global News, said: "We are absolutely committed to our audiences in Africa and delivering our content on FM, whether through relays or with partnerships, will be a big part of that commitment. Our investment in BBC 104.7FM will help us reach a wider audience in Ghana, growing our connection with listeners in this important country."

Solomon Mugera, Editor, Africa, said: "Audiences are at the heart of everything we do at the BBC; the launch of BBC 104.7 FM brings the BBC much closer to its audience, offering them a range of African and world news and current affairs programmes. Audiences also have the opportunity to tune to live Premiership match commentary every Saturday and Sunday."

To mark the launch of the transmitter World Have Your Say – the BBC's award-winning global interactive news discussion show on radio and TV – will be at Skyy House in Takoradi to broadcast a special launch show at 6pm. Hosted by Nuala McGovern, the programme will be connecting audiences in Ghana with people around the world. On a day that celebrates the economic, political and social achievements of women over the last century, the programme will debate the following question: "Why do so many men around the world think it is okay to harass and sexually assault women?"

Hosted on the BBC's international news services – on radio (BBC World Service) and on TV (BBC World News) – the show is a global conversation, with the agenda set by everyone taking part. The show uses different technology to enable as many people as possible in different parts of the world to join the debate via http://bbc.co.uk/blogs/worldhaveyoursay, Twitter (@bbc_whys), Facebook (World Have Your Say), telephone and on air.

(Source: BBC World Service Publicity 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2011/03_march/08/ghana.shtml)

Radio Romania International – Romanian Cultural Institute Partnership

Dear friends, Radio Romanian International- RRI is a media partner of the Romanian Cultural Institute- RCI, in promoting the project ‘’Romanian Language Courses for Foreigners’’.

Classes will be held through December 13th 2011 in Bucharest, in 4 courses one to two months long. Another project entitled ‘’Courses of Romanian Language, Civilization and Culture’’ will run between July 5th and the 30th 2011, in Brasov. 

The RCI offers a free subscription for each of the 4 courses in Bucharest to a RRI listener or Internet user. 

The first of you to enroll for the RCI’s language courses for foreigners in one of the courses held in 2011 will have their fee waived, the equivalent of 200 euros (850 lei).

You will have to cover other costs yourself (transportation to Bucharest, accommodation, meals and transportation while in Bucharest, as well as the fee for the entrance visa to Romania, if applicable.)

In order to win the free subscription, send us an email at ecojocariu@rro.ro and gabriela.drobota@icr.ro.

The first email we receive for each course will be considered for winning the free subscriptions.
You can find more details at http://www.icr.ro/roclasses.

(Source : Radio Romania International)