KBS : Going Together with People with Disabilities

The Korean Broadcasting System has decided to hire a newscaster with a disability, setting a milestone in promoting the welfare for those with special needs. To mark the occasion, KBS will put its slogan, “Going Together with the Disabled,” into practice and fulfill its duty as a public broadcaster. April 20 marks the national day for people with disabilities. Earlier, President Lee Myung-bak stressed the need for expanding employment for the disabled in his regular radio and Internet speech. This year, a series of positive developments make the day dedicated to people with disabilities all the more meaningful. Following this encouraging development, many more citizens will hopefully move forward with those who are mentally and physically challenged in every corner of society.

On April 19, one day before the national day for people with disabilities, KBS held a ceremony in which it vowed to partner with those with special needs and announced a plan to hire a news anchor with a disability. A person with a disability will be in charge of a particular section of a news program and deliver it as a regular presenter. The decision is similar to the case of the British public broadcaster BBC, which hired a man with a facial disfigurement as a news anchor for one week in 2009. But the Korean example will take the cause one step further, as the disabled newscaster will be a regular presenter, not a temporary one.

The difficulties faced by the disabled are not only found in mental or physical disorders themselves, but in deep-rooted social prejudices. Today, the number of individuals who acquire a physical challenge due to traffic accidents or other causes is increasing. Therefore, anyone can suddenly find themselves with a disability. It would be a grave mistake to underestimate anyone with a disability, and people should cast aside outdated biases.

KBS’s plan will set an important precedent in the effort to cast away public prejudices against people with disabilities and correct erroneous impressions. The broadcaster will enjoy public confidence and deliver news stories with greater credibility. Just one post has been added to the job list for people with disabilities, but the general public must realize how competent people with physical challenges are and accept them on equal footing. The ripple effects this news program delivered by a person with a disability will have will be enormous. Previously, President Lee stressed the importance of creating more jobs for the disabled, saying that expanding employment would be the best welfare policy for those individuals. Through employment, people with disabilities can support themselves and be accepted as responsible members of society with the same rights and duties that other citizens exercise. We hope KBS’s brave decision will make a greater contribution toward promoting the welfare of people with disabilities.

(Source : KBS World)

New VOA iPhone App Empowers Citizen Journalists

Voice of America’s Russian Service has rolled out a new iPhone app that does more than just deliver the latest news and information - it lets citizen journalists use their mobile devices to upload and share short reports, photos or video about key events in their target region.

The app, which is available for free in the iTunes store (click here), is a true multimedia tool, providing access to VOA Russian service text, video, and audio content, including podcasts and the popular Russian blog. The app also lets users bookmark VOA articles or create video and audio playlists, as well as connections to Twitter and Facebook for easy content sharing across social media sites.

Russian Service Managing Editor Irina Van Dusen says “the feature on the new app we are most excited about is called ‘You - the Reporter,’ which allows members of our audience to become citizen journalists who can share with our audience what they have witnessed or observed.”

With the new app, iPhone users can type a short report and attach photos or videos, then send that user-generated content directly to the VOA Russian Service, where journalists will evaluate the material for possible use on the website.

For other smartphone users, VOA Russian provides a state-of-the-art mobile website (click here) that adjusts to the specific features of the user's phone (ru.voa.mobi).

VOA’s Russian Service (Golos Ameriki) employs an all-digital strategy to deliver news and information to Russia and other former Soviet Republics. With reporters in the United States and in the region, the service provides interactive and timely text, audio and video, and offers insights into U.S. policy and American life.

In the past year the service has experienced significant audience growth, with nearly 4 million visits to the site since January 1. Earlier this month, the service teamed up with award-winning investigative journalist Fatima Tlisova, on a multi-media project aimed at telling the difficult stories that reporters are often punished for pursuing. More than a blog, the Russian language project, titled Journalism in the Crosshairs (Pressa pod Pressom), provides a digital media platform for reporters from the former Soviet Union and Central Asia, who are often beaten or killed as a result of their work.

For more information about VOA or any of its 44 language services visit our website at www.voanews.com. For Russian language news visit www.voanews.com/russian/news/. For information, or to download the new Russian app, visit http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/voanews-russian-edition/id429287693#.

(Source : Broadcasting Board of Governors Press Release) 

CRI Signs Deal with Turkish National Broadcaster

China Radio International (CRI), China's only radio station running a world service, signed an agreement with Turkey's national broadcaster Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) in Ankara Monday to step up cooperation in broadcasting.

The two sides will exchange programs, increase staff communication and offer training sessions for each other's employees, according to the agreement.

CRI President and Editor-in-Chief Wang Gengnian said it was the responsibility of Chinese and Turkish media organizations to promote the development of bilateral ties through media cooperation.

"I hope the agreement will be put into practice as soon as possible and we can work together in other potential areas, too," Wang said at the signing ceremony.

TRT Director General Ibrahim Sahin said TRT and CRI will provide assistance for each other's resident correspondents working in their countries and have opportunities to jointly produce programs.

"I believe our cooperation will be stronger after the agreement takes effect," he said.

China Radio International, formerly known as Radio Beijing, was founded on Dec. 3, 1941, with the aim of promoting understanding and friendship between the peoples of China and other countries. As of the end of 2010, CRI offers 2,471 hours of radio programming a day in 61 languages.

(Source : China Radio International)

David Ensor to Serve as Director of Voice of America

The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) has selected award-winning broadcaster and communications executive David Ensor to serve as the next director of the Voice of America (VOA). VOA reaches an audience of 123 million people with unbiased news and information in 44 languages across multiple media platforms.

“The democracy uprisings of the past two months have shown the critical importance of the free flow of credible information in empowering people around the world. The Voice of America has been pursuing this mission for seventy years by providing great journalism and a clear presentation of America and its policies,” said Walter Isaacson, Chairman of the BBG which oversees all U.S. international broadcasting including the VOA. “David Ensor is uniquely suited to lead VOA in fulfilling this dual mission. We are deeply honored that he would continue to be of service to journalism and to his country by following in the tradition of Edward R. Murrow and John Chancellor.”

Ensor has been Director for Communications and Public Diplomacy of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan since January 2010 and will join VOA in June.

“David Ensor’s unique experiences and skills make him a solid fit for this role,” said Judith A. McHale, the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, who serves as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s representative to the BBG, and who oversaw Ensor’s work in Afghanistan. “The State Department has been very fortunate to have David oversee our public diplomacy effort in Afghanistan, and we wish him well as he prepares to take the lead at VOA.”

Ensor is a winner of a National Headliner Award and an Emmy-nominated broadcast journalist whose 32-year career in television and radio news included extensive reporting on international affairs. Ensor covered the demise of Communism in Russia and Poland, armed conflicts in Bosnia, Chechnya, El Salvador, and Afghanistan, and the U.S. response to the 9/11 attacks. He was CNN’s National Security Correspondent and prior to that, an ABC News correspondent, with assignments in Washington, Moscow, Rome, and Warsaw. Ensor reported from Washington for National Public Radio covering foreign policy and defense issues.

In welcoming David Ensor, the BBG thanked retiring VOA Director Danforth Austin for his outstanding leadership. The Board recognized Austin’s role in improving VOA's ability to engage with and grow audiences across multiple media platforms, integrating broadcast, online and social media while remaining steadfast to the principles of sound journalism enshrined in the VOA charter. Appointed to the post in October 2006, Austin has been one of the longest serving VOA directors.

Ensor is a member of the U.S. Council on Foreign Relations and is fluent in French. He received a B.A. with honors from the University of California, Berkeley. Ensor holds the Knight’s Cross awarded by the President of Poland.

(Source : Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) Press Release)

RFI The Sound Kitchen Quiz

This week’s question is a “spacey” one: Tuesday marked the 50th anniversary of the first human journey into outer space, and the human to make it was a Russian. What was his name? What is the name of the Russian cosmonaut who was the first person to complete an orbit of our good green earth?

You have until 16 May to send in your answers; the answer and the winners will be announced on the 22 May programme.

Send your answers to:

english.service@rfi.fr
or
Susan Owensby
RFI
Service anglophone
BP 9516
75016 Paris
FRANCE

(Source : RFI) 

VOA Reporter June Soh Wins Bronze Medal at New York Festivals Television and Film Awards

Voice of America reporter and videographer June Soh has won a Bronze Medal at the 2011 New York Festivals World's Best Television & Films Award, one of the most respected competitions in the world, with entries from more than 35 countries.

Soh, who was presented the award this week at a ceremony in Las Vegas, said she was “delighted” to be honored for her 2010 TV feature on Wayne Henderson, one of the finest acoustic guitar makers in the United States.

Soh says when she heard about the legendary guitar maker in 2005 she “immediately knew she wanted to do a feature on Henderson,” who lives a quiet life in a small village in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

She says several years went by as she tried on and off to arrange a meeting with Henderson, who has no computer, cell phone or answering machine and frequently works late into the night producing hand-made guitars for customers who often wait up to 10 years for his instruments.

Soh, who shoots and produces her own television material, says she found Henderson “a master artist, yet very humble.” She says, “The day I arrived, he let me shoot until close to midnight at his workshop.” Soh’s feature (click here) can be found at www.voanews.com.

VOA Director Danforth W. Austin says “June’s well deserved award recognizes the kind of vivid storytelling that lets our audience get to know the people of the United States and see how they live.”

The New York Festivals Television & Film Awards recognize the "World's Best Work" in news, sports, documentary, information and entertainment programs as well as music videos, infomercials, promotion spots, and program opens. Now in its 54th year, the number of entries in the competition continues to grow.

(Source : BBG Press release)

 

Radio Bulgaria's technical service has requested for a one-month monitoring of their broadcast

Dear listeners and radio amateurs! The technical service of Radio Bulgaria turns to you with a request for a one-month monitoring of our broadcasts divided into two parts: 

Part 1: from 18 April to 1 May via a transmitter in Plovdiv 300 kW and
Part 2: from 2 to 15 May via a transmitter in Kostinbrod 100 kW under the following schedule:
 

-direction West Europe
0430-0500 hrs in Bulgarian on the frequency of 7400 kHz
0530-0700 hrs in German, French and English on the frequency of 11600 kHz
1300-1400 hrs in Bulgarian on 15700 kHz
1630-1800 hrs in German, French and English on the frequency of 7400 kHz
1900-2200 hrs in German, French and English on the frequency of 7400 kHz
 

-direction Canada and USA:
2300-0300 hrs in English, Bulgarian and French on the frequency of 11700 kHz

We are looking forward to your opinion about possible differences in the quality of the signal from the two transmitters in e-mails and/or audio files /МР 3 or МР 4 formats/ at: frequencies@bnr.bg, as well as at the respective addresses of language sections.

(Source : Ivo Ivanov, Frequency Manager of Radio Bulgaria, DX Mix)

RTI International Painting Competition

Get your brushes ready – Radio Taiwan International invites foreign nationals to celebrate the Republic of China’s birthday through paintings! 100 artists’ submissions will be selected by professional judges to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Republic of China (the official name of Taiwan’s government). The selected pieces will be shown off to the world in a digital gallery on the event’s website, and exhibited publicly in an outdoor projection exhibit in October to coincide with the nation’s centennial.

First, second, and third place winners will each receive a 7-day, 6-night food and accommodation package upon arriving in Taiwan! (From October 5 to 11, 2011; cost of plane tickets and visa fees not included.)

Prizes
‧One first place prize: US$1,000 and 7-days, 6-nights of food and accommodation
‧One second place prize: US$500 award and 7-days, 6-nights of food and accommodation
‧One third place prize: US$300 award and 7-days, 6-nights of food and accommodation
‧97 honorable mention prizes: ROC 100th anniversary memorabilia

Additionally, the winner of the most online votes will receive one Apple iPad 2. 20 participants in the online voting will also be randomly selected to receive one RTI retro-style radio each.

Eligibility
The contest is open to all foreign nationals living either in Taiwan or abroad. (ROC nationals are not eligible.)

Eligible paintings must include the following elements:
1. The artist’s impression of Taiwan
2. The artist’s blessing for the country’s centennial
3. The digits ‘100’

Judging Criteria
A panel of five professional judges will chose the 100 winning paintings. Evaluation will be based on each piece’s thematic expression (40%), creativity (30%), and use of color (30%).

Specifications

Entries must be A3 sized (420mm x 297 mm) for paintings in traditional media, or 720 dpi (1920 x 1080) in JPG format for digital paintings.

The submission period is from April 15, 2011 to June 30, 2011. Entries received after June 30, 2011 will not be accepted.

Important Dates
(All dates are for the year 2011)
October 8: Announcement of selection results
October 8-17: Nighttime public art exhibition
October 8-31: Online gallery exhibit
October 8-31: Online voting
November 4: Announcement of online voting results

Read More

(Source : Radio Taiwan International) 

SBS-Australia hires ABC executive as MD

SBS today appointed the ABC's head of corporate strategy and marketing Michael Ebeid as its new Managing Director, The Australian reports.

Mr Ebeid will replace Shaun Brown, who is retiring. Mr Ebeid beat a number of internal SBS candidates in the protracted process to find a new MD for the ethnic broadcaster.

He will commence on 13 June. Mr Ebeid spent 10 years with Optus Communications where his last role was Director of Commercial Operations for the Consumer Division and nine years with IBM before moving to the ABC.

SBS Chairman, Joe Skrzynski, Mr Ebeid's experience in media, communications and technology would help the multi-cultural broadcaster in an era when all three were converging.

"As SBS moves into its fourth decade, its charter is more vitally relevant than ever. Not only is our population manifestly more complex and diverse, but today there are three million Australians whose first language is not English and that is twice as many as when we were first formed," Mr Skrzynski said.

Mr Ebeid moved to Australia from Egypt when he was three years old. Mr Skrzynski added: "He is extremely well suited to lead SBS in its mission to promote social harmony by helping migrants to settle and participate fully in Australian society, and assisting all Australians to understand and appreciate the benefits of cultural diversity.

Mr Ebeid said he wanted to ensure "SBS grows its relevance and reach", a difficult task given the number of free-to-air television channels has more than tripled recently, and some of the commercial multichannels now outrate SBS' main one.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

ABU members honoured at New York Festivals

Asia-Pacific broadcasters won a number of honours at the recent New York Festivals competition. It is one of the world's largest international competitions dedicated to the TV and film industries.

Hong Kong's RTHK won one gold and bronze medal as well as five finalist certificates while TVB obtained five finalist certificates.

Japanese public broadcaster NHK was awarded a silver medal and one bronze as well as well as a finalist certificate.

Malaysian broadcaster Astro was honoured with three silver medals, one bronze and seven finalist certificates. TV3 and ntv7 were each given a finalist certificate for their programmes.

ABS-CBN of the Philippines walked away with one silver medal and one bronze as well as six finalist certificates.

Korea's MBC won a silver medal and a finalist certificate. SBS-Korea also won a silver medal while KBS racked up two finalist certificates.

Channel NewsAsia/MediaCorp of Singapore notched one silver and one bronze medal along with seven finalist certificates. MediaCorp was awarded a silver medal and a finalist certificate for its documentaries and two other certificates.

ABU's European members also were honoured during the competition. ARD-Germany was awarded a silver medal for its feature film while ZDF-Germany won a gold medal and two bronze medals along with a finalist certificate. Deutsche Welle won a bronze medal and two finalist certificates.

England's BBC racked up one silver and one bronze medal and three finalist certificates. Australia's ABC garnered three gold medals, three silver medals and three bronze medals. It also gained eight finalist certificates.

CNN hauled four gold, three silver and seven bronze medals in addition to 14 finalist certificates.

Details of the winning programmes can be found here.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union) 

HFCC now offers station-by-station schedules

The problem of some international broadcasters not updating their websites in a timely manner, and the fustration of missing a broadcast because you don’t know its frequency, has been solved - at least for those stations that are active participants in the High Frequency Co-ordination Conference (HFCC).

You can now access the current HF frequency schedules of individual broadcasters by clicking on ‘A11 Schedules’ link on the HFCC website, or go direct to this URL: http://www.hfcc.org/data/a11/index.phtml. As broadcasters and Frequency Management Organizations upload changes to their schedules, the data displayed via the TX links on this page will automatically be updated.

You can also view complete schedules for all the transmissions of each Frequency Management Organization (FMO) which arranges transmissions for more than one broadcaster. Thus for RNW you can choose to view just our own transmissions, or a complete list of all the transmissions coordinated by our Programme Distribution department.

NB: It is not (yet) possible to distinguish between AM and DRM.

(Source: Oldrich Cip/Jan Peter Werkman, HFCC via Radio Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

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

More details 

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union) 

 

South East European EBU members meet in Istanbul

European Broadcasting Union (EBU) members from South East Europe met this week in Istanbul to discuss regional cooperation. Topics on the agenda included the digitalization of archives, coproductions and developments in new media. Hosted by Turkish Radio & Television Corporation (TRT), it was the second high-level meeting of the Association of Public Service Media in South East Europe established formally last November in Novi Vinodolski, Croatia.

TRT Director General Ibrahim Salim told delegates the association was not seeking to establish an alternative structure to the EBU but rather to bring together broadcasters which shared “a common air”.

Petar Karanakov, CEO of MKRTV (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) and Secretary General of the association, said the new organization aimed to bring added value by preserving and promoting the cultures of South East Europe. He proposed that digitalization of the archives of the association’s members should be centralized in one or two broadcasters in the interests of efficiency.

Hosted by TRT, the meeting was attended by EBU Members from Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, FYR Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia.

(Source: EBU via Radio Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

KBS World Radio 1st Quarter, 2011 Quiz Winner

KBS World Radio 1st Quarter, 2011 Quiz Winner has been announced. To see the winner, please visit KBS World Radio website. 

(Source : KBS World Radio)

Radio Sweden Technical Difficulties

Radio Sweden carries the following announcement in Swedish

"We currently have problems with listening directly from our web player. Listening on the mobile site works, however. To switch between our different versions of the site, see link at the bottom." (Translated by Google Translate)

(Source : Radio Sweden )

Shortwave is still best for Veritas Asia

It’s 7 p.m., Sunday, and Aminah Khan, an overseas Filipino worker in Dubai, hurries to her bedroom and turns on her portable radio.

In a matter of seconds, her room is filled with soothing hymns, prayers and words of blessings from a priest.

Khan is listening to “Banal na Misa” (Holy Mass) on 9.615 Mhz. shortwave, broadcast every Sunday night to the Middle East from Manila by the Radio Veritas Asia Filipino Service, a Church-run project launched in 1990 to meet the spiritual needs of migrant workers.

“I’m very lonely and the radio is my only means of enjoyment, getting news from home and hearing Holy Mass every Sunday,” Khan said in a letter thanking Veritas for its daily programs which she said sustain and deepen her Christian life.

Despite the growth of the Internet and social media, thousands of overseas Filipino workers in the Middle East still use radio as a link to their homeland and a way of coping with loneliness, religious restrictions and cultural isolation.

“[Analog] broadcast – shortwave radio – has become a faithful travel partner to seafarers who might not see land for months or a companion to migrant workers who struggle with loneliness,” said Sheila Hermida, program producer of the Radio Veritas Asia Filipino Service.

She said the Filipino Service does its best to bring home the truth to its listeners and makes the presence of Christ in their lives seem more alive by telling them that Jesus is accompanying them on their difficult journey and in the challenges that will come their way as migrant workers.

While shortwave giants BBC World Service, Voice of America and Radio Netherlands are shutting down most of their shortwave transmitters after embracing Web streaming technology, Radio Veritas, despite having invested in digital media, is sticking to shortwave to reach out to more migrant workers.

“Our listeners are domestic helpers, construction workers, drivers and seafarers, and most of them don’t have access to the Internet,” Hermida said.

“[In Saudi Arabia], there are only a few employers who allow [migrant workers] to use cell phones, most of the time they are not allowed to have one.”

Shortwave has been hailed as having several advantages.

“While the Internet and cell phones are vulnerable to government interference” shortwave radio is difficult to block “if enough is invested in signal strength and bandwidth,” Britain’s Guardian newspaper reported.

“It is cheaper than other [platforms] of new media, plus the fact that analog radio is not difficult to use … you can just turn it on, look for the meter-band and you can listen to the program,” Hermida said.

She said that with the present crisis in Middle East, Radio Veritas maintains active linkages with government agencies and non-government groups to help disseminate information to migrant workers.

(Source : ucanews.com via kimandrewelliott.com)

BBC World Service cuts must be reversed, say MPs

An influential cross-party committee of MPs has called for the cuts to the BBC World Service to be reversed to protect its global reputation. The Commons foreign affairs select committee said the 16% budget cut imposed on the service as part of the government’s comprehensive spending review had “long-term ramifications” for the broadcaster and called for its future funding to be ringfenced.

MPs on the committee called for the World Service budget to be protected to “prevent any risk of long-term erosion of the World Service’s funding and of parliament’s right to oversee its work”. They also questioned whether the government’s decision to shift responsibility for funding the World Service from the Foreign Office to the BBC licence fee by 2014 would make its budget more secure.

Read more from The Guardian

(Source : Radio Netherlands Media Network Weblog/The Guardian)

RNW journalist wins prestigious prize

Radio Netherlands Worldwide journalist Robert Chesal and his colleague Joep Dohmen from the national newspaper NRC Handelsblad have been awarded the H.J.A. Hofland Tile, a prestigious Dutch journalistic prize. The two investigative journalists received the prize for their reports on child sex abuse among Roman Catholic clergy in the Netherlands and the former Netherlands Antilles.

The prize was presented by former RNW editor-in-chief Joop Daalmeijer at the Lucent Dance Theatre in The Hague on Monday night. The best journalistic productions of 2010 in printed media, radio and television were awarded a Tile in the categories News and Background. Separate Tiles are awarded for on-line journalism and journalistic talent.

Close collaboration
A large number of facts regarding church child sex abuse were brought to light as a result of the close collaboration between Robert Chesal and Joep Dohmen. The two journalists tracked down many of the victims and others involved, many of whom shared their often horrifying stories about sex abuse at Catholic boarding schools and parishes in the Netherlands and the former Netherlands Antilles.

Robert Chesal (1965) moved from the United States to the Netherlands in the 1980s and joined Radio Netherlands Worldwide in 1991. Robert Chesal initiated the research into church child sex abuse but soon approached Joep Dohmen to take the research further.

Joep Dohmen (1960) is an investigative journalist with the national quality newspaper NRC Handelsblad. He wrote a book about sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church called Vrome Zondaars (Pious Sinners).

Earlier, Mr Chesal and Mr Dohmen were lauded by a professional jury as Journalists of the Year 2010.

Admiration
Andy Clark, head of the RNW Central News Desk, who accepted the prize on behalf of Robert Chesal, praised the excellent cooperation and journalistic interaction between RNW and NRC. In his acceptance speech, Joep Dohmen expressed admiration for the courage of the abuse victims who came forward and talked about their traumatic experiences, often for the first time in decades.

(Source : Radio Netherlands)

'A Tunisian Girl' wins Deutsche Welle Blog Awards

More than 90,000 votes cast online. Facebook group "We are Khaled Said" takes award for Best Social Activism Campaign and Bahrain website wins in Special Award for Human Rights

The blog "A Tunisian Girl" won the seventh annual Deutsche Welle Blog Awards: The BOBs, Deutsche Welle announced Tuesday (April 12). An international jury of blog and media experts awarded honors in six multilingual categories. The awards will be presented as part of the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum on June 20, 2011 in Bonn, Germany.

Lina Ben Mhenni, a 27-year-old assistant professor at the University of Tunis, has blogged about repression and censorship in her country since 2007 - long before a popular uprising unseated former president Ben Ali. During the protests in December 2010 and January 2011 she traveled to places including Sidi Bouzid and Kasrine to document the repression and killings occurring there. She now keeps a careful watch on political developments in the new Tunisia on her blog (http://atunisiangirl.blogspot.com).

"The reactions to this year's competition show how prominently bloggers in countries with limited freedom of expression deal with issues of human rights," DW Program Director Christian Gramsch said. "They bravely make use of their fundamental right to share their views on everything from the details of their daily lives to major political upheaval – and they do it despite the great personal danger it puts them in."

Deutsche Welle reports on the debates occurring in the international blogosphere and presents them to readers and listeners around the world.

"The importance of blogs when it comes to freedom of expression and promoting a civil society can be clearly seen by event occurring in the Middle East and North Africa," Gramsch added. "The imprisonment of influential bloggers by repressive regimes can slow down progress toward individual freedoms but cannot stop it in the long term."

Social networks have been particularly important recently in promoting freedom of expression. For this reason, The BOBs introduced the category Best Social Activism Campaign.

The Facebook group "We Are Khaled Said" (www.facebook.com/ElShaheeed) won the jury's award in this category. Currently with more than 1 million members, the group emerged after the Egyptian man Khaled Said died as a result of police brutality and played a prominent role in the January protests at Tahrir Square.

In the Special Topic Human Rights category, the jury members decided to honor "Migrant Rights in the Middle East" (www.migrant-rights.org). The site from Bahrain addresses the plight of migrant workers looking for physical and domestic work in the Middle East to improve their lives and those of their families only to be treated like slave labor. The site calls for an end to this "new form of slavery".

The Best Video Channel award went to the "Iranian Stand With Fist" (www.youtube.com/user/standswithfist60). The jury said the artist makes use of a mix of seriousness and shock in the video critiques and analysis of life in Iran.

The award for the Best Use of Technology for Social Good went to the Russian website "Rospil" (http://rospil.info). The site's online community tracks public calls for tender and looks for irregularities that could indicate public authorities are trying to enrich themselves by abusing state funds. Internet users register especially expensive and short-term public calls for bids that are then followed by other users and passed on to prosecutors if deemed potentially illegal. 

The 2011 Reporter Without Borders Prize went to the blog "Ciudad Juárez, en la sombra del narcotráfico"  (http://juarezenlasombra.blogspot.com/) by Judith Torrea. She writes courageously – and publically – about the power of drug cartels and the northern Mexican city Juárez. The journalist tells victims' stories and uses her blog to describe the devastation caused by drug trafficking.

Internationally established award

Internet users around the world suggested some 2,100 sites in 11 languages to the contest this year. The jury trimmed the list down to 187 finalists.

This year's 12-member jury included: Chinese blogger Isaac Mao, one of the Organizers of the Chinese Blogger Conference; as well as blogger Amira Al Husseini from Bahrain.

In addition to the jury's decisions, more than 90,000 ballots were cast in an online vote for the contest's 17 User Prizes – one in each of the six multilingual categories as well as one for the best blog in each of The BOBs 11 languages.

In the Best Blog / English category, Internet users chose "Rantings of a Sandmonkey" (www.sandmonkey.org/) as the winner. Mahmoud Salem promised at least once to give up his blog. And the world is a more well-informed place because he broke that promise. The activist blogger's witty and courageous writing has called for freedom and democracy in Egypt long before this year's uprising.

A list of all the User Prize winners can be seen online at:

http://thebobs.dw-world.de/en/winner

BOBs partners

Reporters Without Borders joined the BOBs again as a the competition's premium partner. Other media partners involved in this year’s BOBs are Global Voices, Clarin.com, Gooya News, Lenta.ru and Lainformacion.com.

(Source : Deutsche Welle)

China Radio International launches radio station in Armenia

China Radio International (CRI) launched its 56th overseas radio station in Yerevan, Armenia today. Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee’s Political Bureau who is currently visiting Armenia, and Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisyan attended the launch ceremony.

CRI Director-General Wang Gengnian stated at the ceremony that the radio station would provide local residents with various information from China and promote exchanges and communication between the two peoples. CRI is making every effort to develop a long-standing and deep friendship with Armenia and its people and contribute to building a harmonious society together with Armenia, Mr Wang said.

CRI set up its first overseas radio station in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2006. Now the multimedia entity has 56 FM or AM radio stations abroad broadcasting in 24 languages and giving people around the world an opportunity to understand China.

(Source: CRI via Radio Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Malaysian Govt negotiating with Astro on RTM satellite broadcasts to remote areas

Malaysia’s Information Communication and Culture Ministry is negotiating with pay TV station Astro to forge a collaboration to enable Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) to use Astro’s satellite network for clearer and wider broadcasts to remote areas in Sabah and Sarawak, said its minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

“Now we are slotting in television broadcasts and later will follow up with RTM’s major radio stations,” he told reporters after launching the Bintulu FM radio station at Studio RTM today. Mr Rais said he hoped the initiative could be fully realised by the middle of the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011-2015). RTM’s broadcasts at present are terrestrial.

On the Bintulu FM station, Rasi said it would broadcast programmes in various languages like Iban, Melanau and Orang Ulu to meet the needs of listeners. The station broadcasts 10 hours a day on 97.5 MHz.

(Source: Bernama via Radio Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Radio Vlaanderen moves to new Hot Bird transponder

Radio Vlaanderen Internationaal has moved its two streams for listeners outside Belgium, Radio Vlaanderen and Radio Vlaanderen Info, from transponder 14 to transponder 157 on the Hot Bird satellite at 13°E which serves Europe and North Africa. The new transponder started operating on 1 April, and the old one will be de-activated on 1 May. The tuning details for the new transponder are:

Frequency: 11642 MHz
Horizontal polarisation
Symbol Rate : 27.5 Mbps
Modulatiion : DVB-S QPSK
FEC: 3/4

(Source: Radio Vlaanderen International website via Radio Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

KBS World Radio Quarterly Quiz (April-May-June)

Question 1
What is the name of the Korean city that will host this year’s International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships from August 27th to September 4th? This year, about 6,000 athletes from 212 countries will visit the city to participate in IAAF World Championships.

* Daegu         * Gwangju
* Daejeon      * Ulsan

Hint

Question 2What is the name of the Korean city that was listed as a World Heritage site in 2000, often referred to as \"the museum without walls\" thanks to the many archaeological sites and cultural properties scattered throughout the city? This city was the capital of the ancient kingdom of Silla (57 BC – 935 AD) which ruled most of the Korean Peninsula between the 7th and 9th centuries.

* Buyeo         * Gyeongju

* Andong       * Gongju

Hint

(Source : KBS World Radio)

China's Eighth Beidou Navigation Satellite Launched

China early Sunday morning successfully launched its eighth orbiter which will form part of its indigenous satellite-navigation and -positioning network.

A Long March-3A carrier rocket carrying the "Beidou," or Compass, navigation satellite took off at 4:47 a.m. Sunday from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

It will join seven other satellites already in orbit to form a network which will eventually consist of more than 30 satellites.

The launching of the satellite marks the establishment of a basic system for the navigation and positioning network, said an unidentified spokesperson for the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.

China will launch more satellites within the coming two years to finish a regional network to provide navigation services with high precision and credibility for industries and sectors such as mapping, fishery, transportation, meteorology and telecommunication, in the Asia-Pacific regions, the spokesperson said.

The network is scheduled to be able to provide global services by 2020.

(Source : China Radio International)

Radio Prague Quiz (April)

The first two countries to send people into space were the Soviet Union and the United States. In April we would like you to tell us the name of the first man in space who was not a citizen of either of those countries.

Please send us your answers by the end of April to english@radio.cz or Radio Prague, 12099 Prague. We would also like to hear your questions and comments. Mailbox will be back on April 16, so until then take care.

March Winner : Roman Belikov from Russia. Congratulations! 

(Source : Mailbox, Radio Prague)

Saved - RFI's The Sound Kitchen is back!

Radio France International: The Sound Kitchen is back!

This week you’ll hear who won the 20 February question about Egypt’s acting chief of state. Will it be you? You’ll hear listener letters from all over the world, and great music, too … don’t miss it!

This week’s question is about Haiti: preliminary results of the presidential run-off were released this week … not the final results, because a period for legal complaints has to be observed, until 16April … but, so far, who looks to be the new president of Haiti – by a landslide, in fact? You have until 9 May to send in your answers; the answer and the winners will be announced on the 15 May programme.
Send your answers to:
english.service@rfi.fr
or
Susan Owensby
RFI
Service anglophone
BP 9516
75016 Paris
FRANCE
Bonne chance!

(Source : Radio France International)

Radio Netherlands Worldwide opts for international focus

The Dutch government has committed itself to public spending cutbacks in a range of sectors, including public broadcasting. Radio Netherlands Worldwide has been making headlines in recent weeks amid speculation on where these cuts will fall.

The broadcaster has now issued a statement that, if faced with a choice between its core activities, it will dispense with its services informing Dutch-speakers abroad. In the following statement, the director and editors-in-chief informed the staff about this decision on Tuesday.

“In its coalition agreement, the Dutch government has presented its plans for its current term of office. This agreement states that Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) should focus on its core activities, including freedom of speech. This is partly inspired by the fact that technological developments have compelled a re-evaluation of RNW’s activities. Parliament recently adopted a motion put forward by D66 Democrat MP Boris van der Ham to examine RNW’s role in a changing world.

Future vision
The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained these latest developments to RNW’s management in January and February and announced that an analysis would take place. This analysis included approximately 60 questions on such issues as personnel, finances, distribution, core activities and cooperation with other organisations. One question called on RNW to provide a vision of how it would carry out its activities in future. The director and editors-in-chief decided to give a clear indication of its priorities in this regard, taking into account the economic climate and the need for cutbacks in all areas of public spending.

RNW’s current ambitions were recently set out in its Policy Plan for 2010–2015. This plan also formed the basis of the Performance Agreement reached in June 2010 with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the Dutch Media Authority (CvdM).

International expertise
The key objectives set out in the Policy Plan for 2010–2015 and the Performance Agreement are:

• to reinforce the distinctive profile of Radio Netherlands Worldwide;
• to bring about a shift in the distribution mix (scaling back shortwave broadcasts);
• to limit the activities for Dutch-speakers abroad to information targeting specific groups; and
• to encourage national public broadcasting media to use RNW’s international expertise.

In addition to these points, our answers to the questions asked by the ministries contained the following passage:

‘Should a prioritisation of core activities prove necessary, we would therefore give prevalence to the task of providing information to countries with an information deficit (core activity II) – in combination with core activity III. Informing Dutch-speakers outside of the Netherlands (core activity I) could if necessary be limited to the role of “emergency broadcaster” and the provision of information for expats and/or be taken over by the NOS. We also see opportunities to accelerate the scaling back of shortwave broadcasts as a distribution platform, including the closure of broadcasting stations on Bonaire and Madagascar.’

Uncertain
The above is not to say that this will be the nature of any decisions taken. These decisions lie with the politicians. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will consider our answers in the coming period. Before the summer recess, the government will inform parliament about the future of Radio Netherlands Worldwide and how its activities will be conducted. The outcome is uncertain. We have provided the initial impulse for a discussion that will take place elsewhere. (...)”

(Source : Radio Netherlands/Media Network Weblog)

China Radio International Delegation Visits AIBD

China Radio International (CRI) will pursue more initiatives with AIBD and ABU, actively engaging with broadcasters in the Asia-Pacific region to address the challenges of rapidly developing communication technologies and competition from new media platforms.

A six-member CRI delegation, led by Prof. Dr. Li Zhongshang, Deputy Editor-in-chief of CRI, made known this commitment during a visit to AIBD in Kuala Lumpur on 6 April 2011.

Read the story and photos from AIBD

(Source : Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development)

An Hai broadcasting station launched in Da Nang

The construction work of An Hai broadcasting station was launched in the central city of Da Nang by Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) and the city’s Municipal People’s Committee on April 8. 

The VND40billion-broadcasting station will be built on an area of more than 8,000m2. The Da Nang Department of Natural Resources and Environment will be the major investor and VOV will install the equipment.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, VOV Director General Vu Van Hien pledged that VOV will invest to make the broadcasting station a modern construction to improve the quality and widen the coverage of the national radio broadcasting to better disseminate Party and State policies to the people.

(Source : Voice of Vietnam)

"Dateline Pacific" no longer broadcast by Radio Australia

From 11 April onwards RNZI’s flagship Pacific current affairs programme "Dateline Pacific" will no longer be broadcast by Radio Australia. RA has advised that they are renovating their programme schedule and will no longer have room for the programme. RA has relayed the programme since 2004 and RNZI Manager Linden Clark has thanked them for their support over the last seven years.

For RNZI’s broadcast times of the programme please see our "Programmes" page.

"Dateline Pacific" is still also relayed by the BBC World Service’s Pacific stream across the region.

(Source : Radio New Zealand International)

Radio Australia is Renovating

Over the coming weeks and months you'll begin to notice changes to Radio Australia

We're renovating to be more relevant and immediate in our coverage of breaking news, major stories, activities and events as they occur around Asia, the Pacific and Australia.

Through this renovation we'll provide new improved opportunities for sharing, participating and collaborating, as well as a new look, style and feel.

Preview the new Radio Australia

You can now preview our new program schedule featuring nine live audio streams, which will be live from 11 April across Asia and the Pacific.

Below you can also preview how the new site is shaping up.

During the renovation we'd like to hear what you think makes a great website. You can let us know by visiting our contact us page.

(Source : Radio Australia) 

Radio México Internacional adds English news

Thanks to Jolyon Curran for alerting me to the fact that Radio México Internacional has added short (approx 3 minutes) bulletins of Mexican news to its schedule. The bulletins, which are available on demand through an audio player on the RMI website, are scheduled twice daily at 0800 and 1600 UTC.

(Source : Radio Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Deutsche Welle Ethiopian service jammed again

Deutsche Welle (DW) has condemned the latest case of jamming of its Amharic service for Ethiopia. Germany’s international broadcast has appealed to the Ethiopian administration to ensure that an undisturbed shortwave signal remain available for listeners in the region.

DW’s shortwave signal for Ethiopia has been jammed since April 6. Programming from the Voice of America has also been affected. This has lead DW officials to believe that it is a concentrated effort to block critical international media. Several individual broadcasters were also jammed in Ethiopia in May 2010 around the time of local elections.

The latest case of jamming is occurring at a point in time in which more than 200 from the alleged opposition of the Oromo Group have been arrested and journalists who have voiced criticism of the administration have been silenced. The Ethiopian administration is apparently concerned that the so-called Jasmine Revolution in North Africa will spread into their country. A call for protest has been popping up on social media platforms over the last few weeks using the motto “Beka” (enough).

After being approached by Deutsche Welle on Thursday, 7April, a spokesman from the Ethiopian government has denied any jamming attempts. The Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has publicly acknowledged the jamming of international broadcasters in the past.

German development organizations will be meeting on Monday, 11 April in Bonn ahead of the bilateral negotiations between Germany and Ethiopia – under the direction of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). For the first time, DW will use this opportunity to report on the current media landscape in Ethiopia and expand on jamming and the restrictions put on its correspondents in the country.

DW has been broadcasting its Amharic service in Ethiopia since 1965 and is along with the Voice of America the most popular international source of information.

(Source: Deutsche Welle via Radio Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

Korean media seeks to enhance emergency broadcasting

A forum has been held in Seoul to enhance the nation's emergency broadcasting system, Arirang reports.

The meeting follows the earthquake in Japan, which highlighted the need for a media equipped for national emergencies or natural disasters.

Panelists from major broadcasters and government agencies discussed ways to better prepare the media, while the leader of the forum, law professor Ji Sung-woo of Dankook University, urged the national broadcasters to establish detailed emergency guidelines, referring to Japan's NHK as an example.

Professor Ji also said that the media must provide accurate and objective information to the public, and protect the rights of victims in disaster.

(Source : Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union)

Japan's public broadcaster plays crucial role warning about earthquakes

NHK, Japan's public broadcaster, has an earthquake early warning system that is unique in the world. 

On 11 March 2011, NHK was broadcasting live from the Japanese parliament. The MPs were discussing various motions and voting.

All of a sudden, at exactly 2.46 p.m., blue lettering appeared on the screen along with a map. An earthquake had just occurred in the north-eastern part of the main island of Honshu. The reporter, who seconds before had been discussing the debates in parliament, told the viewers which prefectures were affected by the quake.

As soon as an earthquake occurs anywhere in Japan, the station automatically broadcasts an earthquake warning. The information comes from the tremors themselves.

When an earthquake occurs there are two types of seismic waves. The early warning system registers the energy of the first wave that is not dangerous and automatically warns about the second one that is coming and will shake the earth. The few seconds in between can be lifesaving.

Read More From Deutsche Welle

(Source : Deutsche Welle/Media Network Weblog) 

 

Radio Taiwan International brand new programs in mid-April!

Tune in to RTI in April to hear a number of brand-new programs! Our new features will be available beginning on the week of April 11.

In Occidental Tourist, Wesley Holzer takes you on a journey through life in Taiwan -- everything from night markets to indie bands. (Thursday)

Wesley will also be profiling a variety of Taiwan's proudest creations and achievements in a series called Made in Taiwan. (Sunday)

Sound Postcards is a series of short programs by Andrew Ryan, which will feature many of the sounds he has collected throughout Taiwan over the last decade. Each postcard uses sounds as a starting point for telling a story. (Friday)

Shortwave listeners will also be able to hear two programs which were previously internet exclusives -- In Mystical Taiwan and Soft Power.

Jonathan Seidman is your guide for all things spiritual and fantastical in the program In Mystical Taiwan. (Sunday)

And in Soft Power, Jonathan takes on Taiwan's global interactions from all angles: overseas aid, NGOs, foreign missions, as well as cultural diplomacy. (Saturday).

(Source : Radio Taiwan International)

Japan's NHK honoured for disaster coverage

Japan's public broadcaster, NHK, has won the Asiavision Award for March for its coverage of the earthquake and tsunami on 11 March.

NHK sent a newsflash for members of Asiavision, the ABU's daily news exchange, shortly after the disaster struck, and provided comprehensive follow-up coverage, including developments at the troubled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.

NHK has won widespread praise around the world for its coverage of the disaster, with many broadcasters airing its footage.

It was so quick to warn Japan of a tsunami after the earthquake on 11 March that the Washington Post said it may have saved thousands of lives.

(Source : Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union)

Hanoi Ready for Asia Media Summit 2011

Preparations for the Asia Media Summit 2011, which will be hosted by the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) in Hanoi from May 23-25, 2011, are going smoothly and Hanoi is ready to welcome delegates from around the world to attend this important intellectual gathering and the biggest media event in Asia-Pacific.

AIBD Director Yang Binyuan paid an official visit recently to Hanoi to contribute for successful preparations of the Asia Media Summit 2011. The visit was very fruitful as it finalized most details of the AMS 2011 and provided an opportunity for AIBD and VOV to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the future.

More News and Photos

(Source : Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development) 

Ford goes DAB standard early

Ford will install DAB as standard in all new UK cars from 2012 - a year earlier than the industry-wide agreement.

The Focus will get digital radio straight away, with the rest of the range coming joining within the next 18 months.

It is a looming issue, and we want to be well placed,' Ford of Great Britain managing director Nigel Sharp told WhatCar?. '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 : Radio Today)

Radio Taiwan International Global Exchange (April Topic)

Every month, we pose a new question to listeners as part of our Global Exchange segment in the We've Got Mail program. If we choose your letter to read on the air, you will receive a special RTI souvenir!

April Topic : "Tell us what you want to do the first day spring arrives!"

Send entries to natalie@rti.org.tw or shirleylin@rti.org.tw or PO Box 123-199, Taipei, Taiwan.

(Source : Radio Taiwan International) 

BMW announces digital radio tuner DAB+ functionality in vehicles from May 2011

BMW Australia today announced that it would be the first manufacturer in Australia to offer DAB+ as an option, with availability on 5 Series and 7 Series from May, and the new 6 Series upon launch.

DAB+, available in capital cities Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth, offers listeners the ability to tune into all existing commercial, ABC and SBS stations in digital quality plus a wide range of new digital only stations with crystal-clear digital audio quality.

DAB+ will allow drivers to view additional information such as track and artist details whilst the music is playing; news headlines; weather information and more BMW Group Managing Director Phil Horton said BMW has built its reputation in Australia being the pioneer of exciting new infotainment technologies.

“BMW ConnectedDrive showcases BMW’s philosophy for enriching driving experience with the most cutting edge in-car technologies available today.”

The option will cost $750 on all 7 Series, and $900 on 5 Series Touring and Sedan. 

For further information on DAB+ availability, please refer to http://www.digitalradioplus.com.au

(Source : World DAB Press Release) 

Bangladesh Betar Reaches Expats With Thomson Broadcast Transmitters

PARIS — March 31, 2011 — Thomson Broadcast today announced that Bangladesh Betar, the Bangladeshi national radio network, is to install a new shortwave transmitter and rotatable antenna from Thomson Broadcast, to extend the reach of its service to the Middle East, Central Asia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Indian subcontinent. The new transmitter and antenna installation will be located at the Kabirpur Shortwave Station, about 40 km north of the capital Dhaka, and is scheduled to be operational by September 2011 while the antenna is planned to be on air by spring 2012.

Thomson Broadcast is supplying a 250 kW TSW 2300D shortwave transmitter, together with the rotatable HP-RCA 2/2/0.5 shortwave antenna system. This configuration will allow Bangladesh Betar to increase its coverage to the diaspora of Bangladeshi workers abroad who rely on Bangladesh Betar for home news and other entertainment programs in their own language. The installation is being carried out in collaboration with Bangladesh-based distributor and systems integrator Triwave Network Ltd.

Bangladesh Betar already operates a range of Thomson Broadcast shortwave and medium-wave transmitters, including the S7HP 1000-kW MW transmitter supplied in 2009 for domestic national coverage. The new shortwave installation at Kabirpur will allow broadcasts to reach target areas between 1000 and 4000 km in any direction, and includes Thomson’s latest generation of technology for greater energy efficiency and Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) capability.

“We have confidence in Thomson Broadcast equipment and services, built on many years of excellent experience with the company’s transmitters,” said AKM Shamim Chowdhury, the director general of Bangladesh Betar. “It is an important part of our mission as the national broadcaster for Bangladesh to ensure that Bangladeshis who are living abroad are able to receive our programs, and this new installation will make a significant improvement in our coverage.”

The Thomson TSW 2300D 250-kW shortwave transmitter supports both AM analog and DRM digital operation. Based on field-proven equipment and designed to fit a wide range of customer-specific equipment and subsystems, the high-power TSW 2300D is equipped with interfaces for remote and automated operation and is ready for advanced digital transmission. Originally engineered for 500 kW carrier output power, TSW 2300D provides considerable reserve when operating the transmitter on 250 kW. At the heart of every TSW 2300D is the new PSM solid-state Pulse Step Modulator, designed to meet the stringent requirements for best quality signal during DRM operation and combining classical shortwave engineering at its best with unrivalled digital AM know-how. Providing high overall efficiency, sophisticated remote control facilities, and rugged, day-to-day reliability, the new digital TSW 2300D is optimized for long-term, flexible operation.

“Thomson Broadcast has enjoyed a fruitful relationship with Bangladesh Betar for many years, and this latest installation is another important step on the broadcaster’s program of upgrades to its infrastructure,” said Moritz Steinmann, area sales manager, Thomson Broadcast.

(Source : Thomson Broadcast Press Release via kimandrewelliott.com)

New radio station launched in Azerbaijan

Radio Araz 103.3 FM has been launched in Baku, Azerbaijan. According to 1news.az, its presentation involved Head of the National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting Nushirevan Meherremli, chairman of the Fund of Support to Mass Media Vugar Safarov, chairman of the Council for Press Aflatun Amashov and others.

According to the radio chief Eldar Safaraliyev, the radio went on air on 4 April. He voiced hope that the channel will give a new shade to radio broadcasting in Azerbaijan. He said the radio channel currently broadcasts only to Baku and Absheron peninsula but further expects to be extended to the whole country, as well as neighbour Russia, Georgia, Turkey and Iran.

(Source: News.Az via Media Network Weblog)

Radio Prague Quiz (April)

The first two countries to send people into space were the Soviet Union and the United States. In April we would like you to tell us the name of the first man in space who was not a citizen of either of those countries. 

Please send us your answers by the end of April to english@radio.cz or Radio Prague, 12099 Prague. We would also like to hear your questions and comments. Mailbox will be back on April 16, so until then take care.

(Source: Radio Prague)

RFI starts new format Monday

Starting Monday 4 April RFI's broadcasts in English will be for four continuous hours, starting at 4am GMT. There will be no broadcasts after 9am UT. Look out for our increased coverage of French news and continuing international coverage, along with new short features, sport and reviews of the African press and French weeklies at the weekend.

(Source: RFI)

ABU Receives Golden Paulownia Award

The ABU was among several organisations which were presented with the Golden Paulownia Award at a glittering ceremony in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing today.

The awards, instituted by the ABU member Phoenix Satellite TV Company of Hong Kong, were presented by its Chairman, Liu Changle, at the satellite broadcaster's 15th anniversary. The awards acknowledge excellence in service to the broadcasting industry.

Receiving the award on behalf of the ABU, Sharad Sadhu, Director of the Technical Department said: "The ABU is delighted to receive the Golden Paulownia Award today. It is a great honour to receive recognition for the contributions that the ABU and its members have made to the broadcasting industry.

Among other award recipients were the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Special Olympics International and NHK, the Japanese public broadcaster.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

Voice of the People frequency change at 0400 UTC

As of 31 March, the 0400-0500 transmission of Voice of the People via the RNW transmitting station in Madagascar has moved down 5 kHz from 9875 to 9870 kHz.

(Source : Media Network Weblog)

BBC knocked offline by network failure | News | PC Pro

BBC knocked offline by network failure | News | PC Pro