RNW launches Mexican vote compass

Working in conjunction with Amsterdam’s VU University and a number of Mexican media partners, Radio Netherlands Worldwide launched the Mexican vote compass on Monday in Mexico City. 

The Vote Compass gives Mexican voters an online tool for determining their political preferences for the presidential election on 1 July.

The Mexican variant of the Vote Compass is called La Brújula Presidencial, and will give the nearly 80 million eligible voters the chance to discover which of the four presidential candidates’ policy positions are closest to their own. On 1 July, Mexico will not only elect a new president but also 128 senators and 500 members of the lower house of congress.

On the vote compass website, voters are presented with 30 statements about various political, social and economic topics. Some of the statements are left or right-leaning, while others are liberal or conservative. After filling in the responses, the voter receives an indication of how the party platforms of the four presidential candidates match their own preferences.

La Brújula Presidencial was developed by a team of Mexican and Dutch political scientists. The Vote Compass (Kieskompas) was developed by the VU University of Amsterdam and has been adapted to more than 30 countries. Radio Netherlands Worldwide has previously worked with the VU University to develop vote compasses for Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco. Mexico is the first Latin American country where the vote compass is being used.

(Source : Radio Netherlands Worldwide)

Open letter to BBC Trust Chairman on Digitisation

Independent Consultant John Shaw shares his knowledge and expertise on DRM and DAB in an open letter addressed to BBC Trust Chairman, Lord Patten.

(Source : DRM consortium)

UK: Ofcom boss Ed Richards applies to run BBC

Media regulator Ofcom has confirmed that its Chief Executive Ed Richards has applied for the soon-to-be-vacant role as BBC Director General.

The BBC Trust is recruiting a replacement for Mark Thompson, who will step down following this summer’s Olympic Games.

In a statement, Ofcom said: “Given the significant level of speculation surrounding potential applicants for the BBC Director General role, Ofcom can confirm that CEO Ed Richards has applied. Robust procedures, agreed by the Ofcom Chairman and the Board, have been put in place to prevent any potential conflict of interest.”

Mr Richards has already stepped aside from dealing with any Ofcom matters that may involve the BBC in anyway – including board meetings and both formal and informal policy discussions.

Before becoming Chief Executive of Ofcom in 2006 he was the organisation’s Chief Operating Officer and previously Senior Partner. He joined the regulator on its creation in 2003 after helping draft the Communications Act that created it while working as a policy advisor to then Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Ed worked at the BBC in the late 90s as its Controller of Corporate Strategy.

The boss of BBC Radio Tim Davie and former Radio 4 controller Helen Boaden are other names that have been suggested as possible replacements for Mark Thompson. Boaden is currently the corporation’s Director of News. Favourites for the job, however, are thought to be the BBC’s Chief Operating Officer Caroline Thomson and BBC Vision director George Entwistle.

(Source : Radio Today, UK)

Asia Media Summit opens in Bangkok, Thailand

The 9^th AMS organised by the AIBD,  started in Bangkok, Thailand. The Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS) is the host of the annual two day gathering of hundreds of broadcast industry leaders from the Asia-Pacific region.

Some of the participants started to arrive on 25 May to attend the seminars and workshops preceding the Summit.

In his message to the AMS participants, Mr. Thepchai Yong, Managing Director, Thai PBS, expressed his company’s honor for hosting the event and helping continue the tradition of knowledge sharing and networking in the Summit initiated by AIBD in 2004.

He said  that the AMS 2012 will have added significance, as it will coincide with the 10th anniversary of the Bangkok Declaration, which was issued at the 1st Conference of the Ministers of Information and Broadcasting in Asia Pacific held in Bangkok in May 2003.

During the first day of the Summit there were five discussion sessions with topics ranging from Media Development and Conflict to Building Sustainable ‘Small’ Radio and TV Stations and presentation of the World Television Awards 2012

The documentary ‘Dharma – where does happiness lie?’ , KBS, Korea,   won the big  prize in the category ‘Humanity’ and the documentary ‘Ozone – the human factor’ , HUM TV, Pakistan,  won the big prize in the ‘Science – Environment’ category.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

ABU brings its Programme Advisory Service to Sudan

Last week, Radio Sudan partnered with the ABU to deliver to its journalists and editors a five-day course on how to use multi platform in broadcasting to facilitate the challenges facing radio as the modern media.

 

The course was designed to teach skills of newsroom software and internet research and to increase the news skills of reporters and editors working at Radio Sudan. 

The challenges that come with the imminent introduction of digital radio in Sudan were not lost on the Director General of Sudan Radio, Mr Motasim Fudal, who said that upgrading the skills of staff is of utmost priority in this rapidly changing media environment.

"Really, we used to think that the technology is rapidly changing every year, when in fact, it is changing every day, so we decided that Sudan Radio should not lag behind, even if it is one of the oldest radio stations in Africa.

"Radio Sudan has a rich documentary archive, representing the diversity of the people of Sudan, cultural, social, political and historical. This heritage is now being digitized and saved for the future", said Mr Fudal.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

BBC Presenter Arrested in Zimbabwe

Petroc Trelawny

A British man believed to have travelled to Zimbabwe as a charity volunteer has been charged with allegedly ‘working without a permit’ after his arrest in the country last week.

Petroc Trelawny, who works for the UK’s BBC as a classical music presenter was officially charged over the weekend after his arrest last Thursday. According to UK media reports, he was admitted to hospital on Sunday with a shoulder injury he received after slipping on a wet floor in prison.

Trelawny was arrested after compering at a music concert in Bulawayo. His friends have told UK based media groups that he was in the country doing charity work for underprivileged children.

According to the Telegraph newspaper, Trelawny was not working for the BBC while in Zimbabwe, but he travelled to the country on behalf of The British Friends of the Zimbabwe Academy of Music, a charitable organisation he founded.

His lawyers were quoted as saying that it was hoped he would be released and deported back to the UK as early as Monday.

(Source : SW Radio Africa, London)

Pure is searching for ten of its biggest fans and owners of the first Evoke digital radios

10 years of Pure, 10 radios, 10 weeks, you are in with a chance of winning every week!

To celebrate its tenth birthday, Pure is searching for ten of its biggest fans and owners of the first Evoke digital radios produced when the brand launched in 2002.

Pure fans are invited to submit stories about how they got hold of one of the first Evoke-1 digital radios or photos of their radios in situ plus the serial number on the back of their Evoke-1 to identify whether it was one of the first to be produced. After a ten week search the owner of the earliest Evoke will be presented with a patriotic Evoke Mio Union Jack with a limited edition, commemorative plaque.

Each week during the search, Pure will also reward the best pictures and stories with a Union Jack One Mini.
The Pure Evoke-1, which was the first high-volume sub £100 digital radio quickly sold out and had people queuing on London’s Oxford Street to get their hands on one. Says Colin Crawford, Pure’s marketing director: “When we launched the original Evoke in 2002, we never imagined that we would see crowds queuing down Oxford Street to get their hands on one, but that’s what happened, and the rest, as they say, is history. We are incredibly proud of the Evoke’s success and proud to be flying the flag for British design and technology.”

The Evoke Mio Union Jack is available through leading electrical retailers at an SRP of £149.99

To enter, please visit Pure’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pure or email social@pure.com by 10am on the 6th of August 2012.

To read more please visit the Pure Insider blog http://insider.pure.com/?p=4470

Media blackout in Greece

The Greek media workers have gone on a 24-hour strike.

TV and radio channels stopped broadcasting news as 6 a.m. today, while news websites are not being updated.

The state-run Athens News Agency has suspended operation, and no newspapers will go off the press on Tuesday.

Journalists demand that mass media managers sign collective labour contracts.

(Source : The Voice of Russia)

Mediamobile leads L band digital radio consortium

French broadcast transmission group TDF's traffic information subsidiary Mediamobile is leading the "Radio Numerique en Bande L" association in its bid to operate a digital radio network using the L band. Pending an autumn decision by broadcast regulator CSA about L band spectrum distribution, La Radio Numerique en Bande L could go live early next year. It aims to carry up to 30 radio stations and offer better sound quality than FM. Functions will include catch-up radio (podcasts), pause, and programme search by theme. Two packages will be built in partnership with big radio groups, newspapers and recognised data suppliers. Mediamobile, which has been using FM and mobile networks to deliver real-time traffic information for several years, will finance and deploy the network, and be the technical and commercial operator. Carmakers will integrate the price of the radio service into the reception equipment they sell for the equivalent of a tank of fuel. The same will apply to radio and GPS makers. Service revenues will be shared with publishers, carmakers, audio equipment makers and retailers. Mediamobile, whose backers also include Renault and motorways group Vinci, is also present throughout Scandinavia and in Poland. 

(Source : telecompaper)

China launches telecommunication satellite

China launched a new telecommunication satellite, ChinaSat 2A, into orbit on 26 May, using a Long March-3B carrier rocket launched from the southwestern Xichang Satellite Launch Center, reports China Daily. The rocket blasted off at 23.56hrs Beijing time. The satellite, developed by China Academy of Space Technology, will be used to meet the demands of China's radio and TV broadcasting sector and for broadband multimedia transmissions, according to China Satellite Communications. 

(Source : telecompaper.com)

Ghana: Free Media Environment Hinders Women Empowerment

A resource person for ABANTU for Development, Mrs Faustina Boakye, says research has revealed that a liberalised media environment, with its attendant commercial pressures, often produces news and programmes that do not empower women or promote gender equity.

In such an environment, she claims that the underlining commercial interests that governs the media perpetuates the axiom which says, "Sex Sells", and these are responsible for some of the common problems of women representation.

Mrs Boakye made these assertions when addressing media participants at a day's workshop organised in Accra by ABANTU for Development to enhance the capacity of media. The event was in consonance with Section 7 of the Women's Manifesto for Ghana.

Speaking on the theme, Influencing Gender Responsive National Media Policy, Mrs Boakye hoped that with the growth of local adverting firms and the expansion of the music and film industries, their output would be more gender sensitive and respectful to women.

She said developments in the media brought on by technology advancement also posed new challenges such as stripping a well dressed woman naked or cutting the head of a lady well dressed and pasting it on a naked lady or vice verse.

She was worried that many of the policies formulated around technological innovations failed to consider women's concern, adding that, just as the Internet is perceived as the foremost information source for the future, so also must we see it as the foremost source for the potential perpetuation of inherited hegemonic that must be addressed at the local level.

She observed that the technologically driven information superhighway has the potential for good as well as evil.

The Internet, for example, allows women's group to set up their web pages and networks more effectively. But it can also be a source of women's denigration and exploitation, as demonstrated by the exploitation of Ghanaian women on pornographic website, She added.

Mrs Boakye stated that it has been suggested that because women, particularly gender-senstised women, have been excluded from decision-making position within the media, negative representation of women abound and the media failed to reflect the issues and perspective that were important to women.

Read more

(Source : Public Agenda (Accra) via allAfrica.com)

VOA Statement on the Detention of its Ethiopia Correspondent

Washington, D.C., May 25, 2012  — “We are aware of reports that VOA correspondent Peter Heinlein was detained today in Addis Ababa. The safety and welfare of our reporters is our utmost concern and we are working to gather more information about Mr. Heinlein’s status. We have been in contact with State Department officials and will release details as soon as they are available. We urge Ethiopian authorities to allow Mr. Heinlein to carry out his journalistic responsibilities without interference.”

(Source : BBG)

Radio New Zeland wants your photo!

Radio New Zealand welcomes listeners' pictures to feature on this website.

We want to represent the diversity of our audience by including a variety of ages, cultural backgrounds, lifestyles and geographic locations.

Photos can be from anywhere in the world — internet and podcast only listeners are welcome to submit photos.

How to submit a photo

1. Take the photo (or choose one you already have). The subject of the photo must listen to Radio New Zealand National, Radio New Zealand Concert or Radio New Zealand International. Please send digital photos. High resolution scans are also OK.

2. Use a high resolution setting on your camera, preferably higher than four megapixels. Please send photos that are sharp, in focus and in colour.

3. Photos of people doing things work well, and don't always have to show their face. Fun is good. Holiday locations are great. Have a look at the current photos for inspiration.

4. Feel free to send a few photos through for us to choose from.

5. Get the subject of the photo to sign the model release form.

6. Email your photo and  to webproducer@radionz.co.nz with the word "Photo" in the subject line, and include your full name, address and phone number.

The fine print

1. The subject of any photo must sign a release form. This is really important. A parent or guardian must sign for photographs of children.

2. Radio New Zealand may crop and process the photo for presentation on the site.

3. You retain copyright in the photo, however you agree to license use of the image to Radio New Zealand for use on the website for a period of one year from the date we first use the image. Photos may also appear in other Radio New Zealand publications, for example our Annual Report, as part of a screen capture of the website.

4. No fee is payable to photographer or model.

5. Radio New Zealand reserves the sole right to select or reject photographs submitted.

6. By submitting a photo you agree to these terms.

(Source : Radio New Zealand)

Radio Sweden listener panel!

Join the Radio Sweden focus group! We’re putting together a panel of listeners to help us make better programs.

Are you based in Stockholm?  Come tell us how to do our job.  We’re meeting at Broadcasting House on June 14th between 2 and 4 in the afternoon.  To apply write to  info@radiosweden.org  and tell us a little about your listening habits.

(Source : Radio Sweden)

AMARC Calls to Join the People's Summit Radio!

Montreal, May 24th, 2012. Radio Summit will be on the Web and broadcast, live, during the Peoples' Summit, an event parallel to Rio+20, straight from Flamengo's Park in Rio de Janeiro. The stream will be transmitted by radio stations worldwide. The event takes place between 15 and 23 June 2012.

Schedule, operational procedures, and a "coexistence guide" for the radio stations present at the Summit are being built in a partnership with radios, community, free, educational and public associations, and civil society organizations that share the same view on the issues involving Social and Environmental Justice.

Those institutions or groups wishing to be part of this process need to confirm the participation of at least one person with experience in radio programs edition and production. The Radio People's Summit will provide a shared infrastructure, including audio equipments and a team of operators to support the production of radio content during the event.

The programming of Radio Peoples' Summit will be open for all languages, songs, rhythms, colors and accents. You are invited to join us in this collective process of construction!

Subscribe to the list radiocupula@lists.riseup.net, so you'll be part of this process and know the criteria for joining the program schedule. (The entry in the list does not guarantee your participation immediately. The schedule will be a result of the collective process in this list.)

Discover the digital platform Summit: http://rede.cupuladospovos.org.br/. It will receive texts, videos and audios on issues of Rio +20 and People’s Summit, useful also as an archive of materials to be republished worldwide. The platform is a form of content exchange between those who will be in Rio de Janeiro and those who follow the process from afar.

More information on the official website of the People's Summit: http://cupuladospovos.org.br/category/radio-cupula-2/.

Please inform us if you intend to participate in the People’s Summit at secretariat@si.amarc.org

(Source : World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters AMARC)

VOA’s Elez Biberaj Honored by Albanian President

Albanian President Bamir Topi has awarded his country’s Presidential “Medal of Gratitude” to Elez Biberaj, the Director of Voice of America’s Eurasia Division and former head of the VOA Albanian Service.

Dr. Biberaj was recognized for his contribution to the democratization of Albania and the strengthening of U.S.-Albania relations.  President Topi presented the award in New York on May 17^th.
    
“It is with a great deal of humility that I accept this award,” Biberaj said.  “This award is also a tribute to the Albanian Service and the VOA as a whole.”

In a message of congratulations, VOA Director David Ensor said, “Elez Biberaj is a distinguished son of Albania, and I am delighted to hear of this recognition for one of our top people at VOA.”

Dr. Biberaj has been Director of VOA’s Eurasia Division since 2005. He joined VOA in 1980 as an international radio broadcaster in the Albanian Service.  From 1982 to 1986, he worked at the former U.S. Information Agency, specializing in Soviet and East European Affairs. He returned to VOA as Albanian Service Chief in 1986, and, for the next 18 years helped transform the Service into one of VOA’s most successful broadcasting units.

Dr. Biberaj, whose parents fled communist Albania in 1951, says he remembers human rights and democracy being subjects of dinner table discussion from an early age, and he has been intrigued by Albanian history and politics ever since.

He has a Ph.D. in political science from Columbia University. He has authored three books on Albanian affairs and contributed chapters to several others.  He has also published articles in Encyclopedia Britannica, Conflict Studies, Problems of Communism, Survey, The World Today, East European Quarterly, The Wall Street Journal/Europe, and other journals.

(Source : Inside VOA)

RFE/RL: Volodymyr Noskov's Vision Of Radio As Art

Step into the unknown? What are you talking about?” asks Volodymyr Noskov, a reporter for RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service, Radio Svoboda. “They did not have to kick me out of the plane,” he says of a recent skydiving trip. “I did it myself.”

Known around the office as an enthusiast for the outdoors, 30-year-old Noskov, who lost his eyesight during childhood, has worked for RFE/RL since 2009. Based in Kharkiv, Noskov frequently covers news related to Yulia Tymoshenko but he does not consider himself a political journalist. “Talking to politicians wears me out,“ shares Noskov. “No matter what I report, I am always looking for the human angle in the news.”

Read More

(Source : Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)

UK: Sales of digital radios hit 15 million

New figures from GfK Retail and Technology show that 15 million digital radios have now been sold in the UK.

The numbers include DAB and internet-only WiFi radios, plus hybrid sets which contain a digital radio tuner.

It comes as we’re told sales were up 11% in April compared with the same month last year – and up 8% year-on-year in the latest 3-month period.

Digital Radio UK says the 15 millionth digital radio was bought last week – yesterday Neil Bisset from West Sussex was presented at random with a Pure Evoke Mio Union Jack radio at John Lewis’ Oxford Street store in London to mark the occasion.

Ford Ennals, CEO of Digital Radio UK, says: “Reaching the milestone of 15 million digital radios reflects the increasing popularity of digital radio. People who have digital radio love it, and tell their friends about it. We would expect there to be a further increase in sales as people get ready for an unmissable summer of sports and music which they can follow exclusively on digital radio.”

Nigel Catlow, Business Group Director, Consumer Electronics at GfK, says: “We are pleased to confirm that the 15 millionth digital radio set has now been sold in the UK, and that digital radio is proving to be a resilient category in the consumer electronics market.”

(Source : Radio Today, UK)

BBC Radio 1Xtra announces changes to its schedule

BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra Controller Ben Cooper today announced a number of changes to 1Xtra’s schedule which will see rising star Charlie Sloth take over the station’s weekday early evening show, while new signing Yasmin Evans joins the network to present the weekend Breakfast Show.

• New drive time show for Charlie Sloth
• New weekend breakfast show presenter
• New Sunday show for Tim Westwood

Speaking about his new show Charlie said: “I’m very excited about being given the opportunity to speak to the nation for five days a week and for the faith put in me by the Radio 1Xtra team.”

Yasmin, 21 from Manchester, makes her national radio debut, following her successful development through 1Xtra’s pilot scheme, which is part of the station’s ongoing commitment to developing young new talent.

Talking about joining the station Yasmin said: “I’m incredibly excited and very thankful for all the effort that everyone has put in, which has allowed me to get this amazing opportunity. I can’t wait to get started!”

As part of the changes Tim Westwood gets a brand new Sunday show on 1Xtra from 7-9pm and he will continue to present his seminal Saturday night show, simulcast across Radio 1 and 1Xtra, which brings listeners all the latest hip-hop news and sounds.

Read more

(Source : BBC Media Center)

BBC Radio 2 New Comedy Award 2012 launched

BBC Radio 2 presenter Steve Wright today launched the BBC Radio 2 New Comedy Award 2012. 

Steve was joined on his show - which now reaches a record 7.31m listeners a week - by Patrick Kielty who will host the semi-finals and final of the competition. 

The competition will search for the best stand-up talent in the UK. With previous finalists including Alan Carr, Sarah Millican and Marcus Brigstocke the competition will be focused on finding the freshest talent while helping aspiring comics launch their careers. 

In total there will be eight regional heats. Executive producer for BBC Radio Comedy Steve Canny and Steve Bennett, editor of comedy website Chortle will be the two head judges for the duration of the competition. At the end of the heats there will also be a chance for members of the public to vote online for their two favourites from eight runners up chosen by the judges, who will then go through to the semi-finals.

The semi-finals will then take place in Newcastle and London on 23rd and 30th October. 

The search will culminate in a live hour-long final at the Grand Theatre in Blackpool hosted by Patrick Kielty on November 8th. As well as performances from the six finalists the event will include live music and stand-up from one of the esteemed previous winners of the award. A panel of judges will be present on the night but the Radio 2 audience will pick the winner by voting online and via SMS. Tickets will be available to purchase for all of the heats, semi-finals and the final.

The BBC New Comedy Award initially ran from 1995 to 2005. In 2011, Radio 2 and BBC Radio Comedy revived the award and put the spotlight back on seeking out the best new stand-up comedy talent, with a new format and, for the first time, including audience interactivity.

This year the BBC will be facilitating Learning Workshops in each of the eight cities (Edinburgh, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, Brighton, London) that are hosting the heats working closely with local communities to engage those who are interested in comedy and performance. The workshops will give them the opportunity to learn and develop, have a go themselves and take away transferable skills.

Last year’s winner Angela Barnes said: "It is no way an exaggeration to say that winning the BBC New Comedy Award has changed my life. A year ago, stand-up comedy was my hobby. Now it's my job! 

"In the year since I've won I have written on my favourite radio show - the News Quiz on Radio 4 - played Latitude Festival and Laughs in The Park, and I've met Terry Wogan AND Gary Barlow! 

"If you had told me a year ago any of those things would have happened, I would have laughed in your face. If you're umming and aahing about entering, just do it. There is really nothing to lose and everything to gain."

The winner of the 2012 BBC New Comedy Award will receive £1,000 and the chance for a commission from BBC Radio Comedy. The winner will also have the opportunity to present to networks across the BBC and appear in other slots across the BBC as well as receiving development advice and guidance from the BBC Comedy Department. 

So do you think you have what it takes to get the nation laughing? Entrants need to apply through the Radio 2 website and fill in the web form and upload or email an mp3 of their work. Anyone who has special requirements and is unable to apply through the website should call 03700 100 200.

The closing date for entries is the 30th June. More information and application forms are available at bbc.co.uk/radio2/comedy.

The heats will take place in the following locations:

Edinburgh on August 11th – BBC Potterrow

Leeds on August 21st – Highlight Leeds

Liverpool on August 28th – The Baby Blue Bar

Manchester on September 4th – The Comedy Store

Birmingham on September 11th – The Glee Club

Cardiff on September 18th – The Glee Club

Brighton on September 25th – Brighton Komedia

London on October 2nd – 100 Club

(Source : BBC Media Centre)

Ria 89.7FM – Mediacorp sets Singapore record for Longest Radio DJ Marathon

Ria 89.7FM radio presenter Abdul Karim Sadali (DJ KC), who hosts the station's Klub Kelakar Seram late-night segment, successfully set a new Singapore record after staying on air for 24 consecutive hours. KC, now holds the record for Longest Radio DJ Marathon in the Singapore Book of Records.

"When I got the [Singapore Book of Records] certificate, it felt as though a huge burden had been lifted from my shoulders!" said KC, adding that there had been many times during the challenge when he wanted to just give up, but the people around him kept him going.

Ria 89.7FM is a contemporary music radio station of MediaCorp playing a unique blend of Malay, English and international pop hits.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

Zimbabwe: No more radio licences to be issued: BAZ

NO more national radio licences will be issued to any prospective broadcaster because the sites allocated to Zimbabwe have been exhausted, Broadcasting Authority of Zimbabwe chief executive officer Mr Obert Muganyura has said.

He also said no foreign-funded radio stations will be licensed to offer services in Zimbabwe.

Appearing before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Media, Information and Communication Technology, Mr Muganyura said licences recently issued to Zimpapers’ Talk Radio and AB Communications had completed national radio services on the Frequency Modulation broadcasting band.

He was responding to questions from committee chairman, Mbizo legislator Mr Settlement Chikwinya (MDC-T), if there was going to be more national commercial radio licences to be issued to other broadcasters.

Mr Muganyura said the International Telecommunications Union had already done the planning before use system (apriori) for the Frequency Modulation broadcasting band.

“There is no way forward in terms of going beyond the six national stations except for television where there is a chance for more when we migrate from analogue to digital,” Mr Muganyura said.

“For the FM broadcasting band, apriori planning has already been done and they came up with six frequencies per site, which translates to six national radio services.”

He said BAZ had already invited 14 applications for local commercial radio services in urban centres with a radius of 40km coverage adding that there was still room for more services.

It is understood that frequency for services of national coverage are high in power to the extent that there is a limit on the number of usable frequencies that can be obtained from the band.

Mr Chikwinya said his committee will consider suggesting withdrawal of the frequencies currently being used by ZBC.

Read more

(Source : The Herald online,  Zimbabwe)

Radio Shabelle journalist killed in Mogadishu, Somalia

Reporters Without Borders is dismayed to learn that Radio Shabelle journalist Ahmed Ado Anshur was gunned down on his way home today in Mogadishu, one of the world’s 10 most dangerous places for the media. He was crossing Suq Bocle market in the district of Dharkenley when he was shot several times in the head and the chest by at least two unidentified gunmen, dying on the spot.

“Anshur is the sixth journalist to be slain since the start of the year in Somalia, where working as reporter is synonymous with deadly danger,” Reporters Without Borders said. “All of the previous murders are still unpunished, so we again urge the police and judicial authorities to carry out proper investigations and to deploy all necessary resources to protect journalists."

“Failure to act in a country that is prey to widespread violence means giving a carte blanche to the enemies of media freedom. We offer our condolences to Anshur’s family and friends, and to his colleagues at Radio Shabelle, who have been paying a high price for their professionalism and independence for years.”

Aged around 20, Anshur hosted a popular programme called Qubanaha Wararka and had a reputation for being outspoken when conducting interviews on the political situation. He had received death threats after doing reports on government corruption together with Hassan Osman Abdi, a Radio Shabelle journalist who was gunned down in January.

Anshur’s murder comes just three weeks after Radio Daljir journalist Farhan James Abdulle was gunned down in similar circumstances on the outskirts of the north-central city of Galkayo on 2 May.

(Source : Reporters without boarders)

Liberia : China Ends Media Seminar for Developing Countries

A three-week long seminar on press and publication in developing countries has ended in the People’s Republic of China. The three-week seminar was held from April 7-27, 2012 in that Asian country. The seminar brought together 37 media practitioners from around the world. The Publishers of the Independent and Authoritative Heritage Newspaper and FrontPage Africa Newspaper, Messrs.  Mohammed M. Kanneh, Sr.  and Rodney Sieh represented Liberia at the media seminar.

The seminar was organized by the Ministry of Commerce in collaboration with the State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China.

Making a presentation, a professor at the School of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University in China, SHI Anbin, stated that the media has over the years helped shaped the destiny of China.

Giving the media landscape of China, Prof.  Anbin said the media consumers in China is 20% of the world’s total.

He disclosed that there are 2,000 newspapers and 673 radio stations in China.

Out of the 2,000 newspapers, he further disclosed, 816 are daily newspapers, while the rest are bi-weekly etc.

According to him, there are 9,000 magazines currently functioning in China, and that television audience is about 900,000000.

Said Prof.  Anbin: “Currently, there are 800,000000 mobile phone users, there are 450, 0000000 internet users and there are 300, 0000000 bloggers here.”

Also speaking on the role of the Press in China, he noted that the press has positively helped in the areas of education, mobilization, information and entertainment.

He stated that the media has helped the people of China to think critically, something which according to him limits corruption in the country.

“The role of the press has been so critical in China. The Press in China has helped in protecting individual rights and in exposing corporate scandals in society,” Prof.  Anbin added.

Also making presentation on China’s economic reform, a Professor at Beijing University of Post and Telecommunications,  Sun Qiming, said China has had an increase of 9% Gross Domestic Products (GDP) for 30 years in row (1978-2010).

He disclosed that China, as a country, feeds about 22% of the world’s population, stressing, China has an amount of 7% of the world’s total land.

The Chinese professor indicated that China is a market-oriented economy.

“In 1985, China introduced a dual-track system of purchasing agricultural products, replacing allocated purchasing of agricultural products with contract purchasing and market purchasing,” he stated.  

Meanwhile, participants of the seminar visited the National Palace Museum, the Great Wall, Xinhua News Agency, the Tea City and also visit to local communities in Fujian Province and the famous Olympic venues and Wuyi Mountain.

(Source : Heritage, Liberia via allAfrica.com)

BBC expenses down 9% year on year

The BBC today publishes details of the expenses, central bookings and Gifts and Hospitality Register for its most senior managers for Q3 – October to December 2011. 

The figures show we have achieved 9% savings year on year with particular savings on hotels, taxis and flights. Today’s publication is part of our commitment to provide more transparency in how we are spending the Licence Fee and is our 11th expenses disclosure.

The latest quarterly expenses for the period October to December 2011 (Q3 of 2011-12) are available here.

A BBC spokesperson said: “Our expenses are down 9% year on year. There will always be costs associated with running a large media organisation with bases across the UK and abroad, but we are mindful we are spending public money and will continue to work hard to keep expenditure to a minimum.”

Notes to Editors
The BBC has been publishing the salaries and expenses of the most senior managers since autumn 2009.
The senior managers on the list are those who are paid over £150k and those who sit on the BBC’s main boards.

(Source : BBC Press Office)

Czech Radio candidates shortlisted for EBU journalism fellowship

Geneva, 21 May 2012 – The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) today announces the short list for the first ever EBU Radio News London School of Economics (LSE) POLIS journalism fellowship. The month-long research fellowship is being offered on a competitive basis to public service journalists working for EBU Member organizations.

The successful candidate, chosen by LSE, will carry out a piece of original research into an aspect of contemporary news media practice. Applicants were asked to submit a 500-word abstract to set out the issue they would address and outline what they would do in London.   

"We have been impressed by the interest this fellowship has generated and by the very high quality of the entrants. Choosing the short list has been a difficult but very rewarding task," said EBU Media Director, Annika Nyberg-Frankenhaeuser.  

The six shortlisted candidates are:  

Guido Berger, SRF, Switzerland
Jan Bumba, Czech Radio
Nadja Hahn, ORF, Austria
Zivile Kropaite, LRT, Lithuania
Zoltan Pasztor, MR, Hungary
Magdalena Trusinova, Czech Radio 

POLIS Director, Charlie Beckett, will announce the winner at the EBU Radio News Conference, in Prague, on Friday 15th June 2012.

 

(Source : Czech Radio)

KBS World Radio Essay Contest : Discover Korea

Win a Chance to visit Korea!

As 2012 marks the final year of "Visit Korea' KBS World Radio is holding an essay contest to win a trip to Korea called Discover Korea.

 

Read More

(Source : KBS World Radio)

24th International URTI Radio Grand Prix: Call for Entries

Organisations have until 3 September to submit their entries to the International URTI Radio Grand Prix.  The Radio Grand Prix – first created in 1989 - rewards excellence in research and originality of radio programs.

Each year a different theme is proposed and participating organisations are invited to interpret that theme in their own original manner. This year, the organisers have chosen the theme of “LOVE”.  All production formats are welcome, from reports to documentaries, essays, fiction, sound compositions, children’s stories and the like.

The 2011 Radio Grand Prix attracted entries from 81 participating countries and organisers are hoping to top that number this year. Awards include the International Radio Grand Prix (with a $5,000 premium) as well as a Silver and Bronze Medal.  In addition, the Welles Award for Discovery recognises a programme for its originality, concept, production techniques or interactivity. 

The International URTI Radio Grand Prix is open free of charge to any radio broadcasting organisation or association and institution. 

Entry requirements and contest rules are available from the URTI website www.urti.org/grand-prix-radio-en. To download the entry form click here and for contest rules click here.

Organisations interested in applying can also contact the URTI team for further information: nlacroix@urti.org

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

Eurovision Song Contest legend addresses EBU 18th annual Radio Assembly

As the world counts down to Saturday's final of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Baku, Björn Ulvaeus has spoken candidly about ABBA,  whose phenomenal success followed its 1974 competition win. 

The singer and composer told delegates at the 18th EBU annual Radio Assembly in Stockholm in May that there was 'no chance' that pop group would reunite. However, he  did not rule out repeating his experience of hosting Swedish Radio's cult entertainment programme, Sommar.  

"It's a legendary radio show and the most prestigious one that you can do in this country. Everyone wants to do it," he said. However he said his 'poor episodic memory' was a hindrance. Mr Ulvaeus revealed he had used hypnosis in an attempt to recover memories from his past and had visited a girlfriend from his teenage years to help rebuild his memories. "Old friends share our common memories. It made for a very good program, I think." 

The two-day Assembly opened with an inspirational speech by the Swedish Minister for Culture and Media, Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth, about the role of public service media (PSM) in promoting democracy and freedom of expression.

"Public service broadcasting, and in particular public service radio, plays a fundamental role in terms of freedom of expression, media diversity and democracy," she said.

The conference also focused on the impact of technological innovation and structural shifts in audiences. Speakers and participants shared ideas about best practices and strategies for exploiting new opportunities and for adapting their services to the evolving needs of listeners.

Former BBC Radio 1 controller and Saatchi &Saatchi executive, Andy Parfitt,  urged delegates to reflect on the interests of young listeners. "Put yourself in their shoes. Advertisers do, but very often producers don't." Collaboration between Swedish Radio and streaming service Spotify was cited as an example of best practise. 

The 2013 EBU Radio Assembly will take place in Tenerife at the invitation of RTVE.

More from the EBU Radio Assembly http://audioboo.fm/channel/radioassembly2012

(Source : European Broadcasting Union)

ABU Technical Bureau meets, sets up Strategic Advisory Group

The mid-year meeting of the ABU Technical Bureau took place this weekend in Kuala Lumpur with the Bureau deciding to set up a Strategic Advisory Group on technical issues. The six member group will make recommendations on areas such as human resource development and information transfer, among others.

The meeting, chaired by the Technical Committee Chairman, Mr Yeo Kim Pow of MediaCorp, was attended by 16 members of the Bureau. It addressed the activities carried out by the Technical Department and identified some of the important issues faced by the broadcasters today and discussed possible solutions.

The Bureau was presented with reports on studies taking place in production, transmission technologies, training and frequency spectrum developments. A review of the ABU Engineering Excellence Awards was taken up with the Bureau recommending amendments to the existing guidelines.

The two-day meeting also addressed preparations for the annual Technical Committee meeting to be held in Seoul, Korea later this year.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

DW Contest : "Learning by Ear" wants to tell your story!

"Learning by Ear" wants to tell your story! Take part in our competition and tell us your story. Your idea can inspire a new “Learning by Ear” series, broadcast all over Africa in six different languages. 

So far, we have told the stories of many young Africans, like for example Jonathan who dreamt of becoming one of the most successful soccer players in the world. Or do you remember 16 year old Desirée? After the death of her mother she had to take care of her little brother.

Now it’s your turn: What are the most important lessons you’ve learned about life? Or tell us which topics you want to hear more about in “Learning by Ear”!

Please, write to us at lbe@dw.de by 15^th of June 2012.

What are the prizes?

First prize:

The story of the winning group will be turned into a new “Learning by Ear” series. Your story will also be adapted for the stage in your town and your group can act in the production!

Second and third prizes:

You can win a CD-Player plus a “Learning by Ear” fan package including “Learning by Ear” T-Shirts, CDs and much more!

Who can participate?

You can participate if…

• you are less than 25 years old.
• you are a group of at least 5 people, for example a group of friends, a class at school or a youth club.
• you are living in an African country.

What do you have to do?

• Write down your story on one page. Please do not exceed one page!
• Don’t forget to write down the name and age of all the participants of your group.
• Please attach a photo of your group.

You can send us your story by email at lbe@dw.de or by post to

Deutsche Welle
Learning by Ear
Competition
Kurt-Schumacher-Str. 3
53113 Bonn
Germany

The closing date is 15 June 2012. Any applications arriving after the deadline cannot be considered.

We’re looking forward to your stories!

(Source : Deutsche Welle)

PCJ Radio Contest: 7 receivers in 7 months contest

At the end of May, June, July, August, September, October, and November PCJ Radio will be giving away 7 Sangean ATS909X receivers to 7 lucky people.  To enter this contest it will be done differently than contests we have had in the past. Call the the PCJ ANSWER line to enter. You have up to 2 mins. Leave your name, country, email and tell us why you should be one of the winners.

The number is +44 20 3286 1399

We're looking forward to hear from you and good luck!

(Source : PCJ Radio)

Volkswagen to fit DAB radio as standard

VW will be installing DAB Digital Radio as standard in all new cars from next year, with the new Beetle already equipped. 

Vauxhall have also committed to the same timescale, with Ford saying the majority of new vehicles will include DAB by the end of 2013.

Ed Vaizey, MP, Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries has welcomed the development: “This is fantastic news from Volkswagen and to be welcomed. People love listening to the radio in their cars and fitting digital means drivers and passengers will be able to enjoy the great range of stations on offer.”

VW, together with Ford and Vauxall, they represent 35% of annual new vehicles sold.

The vehicle industry has been asked by Government to prepare for a transition to digital radio, and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has said it expects its members to include digital radio as standard in most vehicles by the end of 2013.

Radio listening in cars currently accounts for 20% of all listening, but digital radios are in fewer than 5% of cars today. In March 2012, 23% of new cars were fitted with digital radio as standard, compared with just 10% a year ago (CAP/SMMT).

Ford Ennals, CEO of Digital Radio UK says: “This announcement from VW confirms the increasing popularity of digital radio in-car and follows their research which showed high satisfaction from drivers with digital radio in their car. We would recommend that everyone in the radio industry gets digital radio in their car – it will transform your listening experience.”

VW says: “Digital radio not only offers listeners clear, crackle-free sound, but it also gives them a bigger choice of radio stations than is available through conventional FM or AM broadcasts alone. Listening options range from specialist music stations to comedy, current affairs and, of course, the all-important cricket coverage.”

(Source : Radio Today, UK)

Radio New Zealand Dominates News Awards

Radio New Zealand dominated the news categories when the 2012 New Zealand Radio Awards were announced this evening.

Radio New Zealand won the major news categories including Best Coverage of a News Story for its Christchurch earthquake coverage.

See a list of Radio New Zealand award winners. 

Two news journalists were recognised with individual awards. Jessica Maddock was voted Individual Journalist of the Year and Bridget Mills was Best New Journalist. The news documentary programme Insight also received an award.

In total, Radio New Zealand won eleven awards in ten different categories.

Radio New Zealand won all Spoken Programme categories and winners included Saturday Morning with Kim Hill, This Way Up, Ruth Beran, and Duncan Smith. In Best New Zealand Music and Outside Broadcast technical categories Radio New Zealand Concert dominated with Robbie Ellis taking two awards and Adrian Hollay one. 

The award announcements come just after a consumer report by international market research company Nielsen confirmed that Radio New Zealand National was the top ranking radio station in New Zealand in 2011 with a market share of 11.1%.

Radio New Zealand’s success at the 2012 Radio Awards highlights its strong performance over the past 12 months as the only independent and commercial-free public service broadcaster in the New Zealand.

New Zealand has more radio stations per head of population than almost anywhere in the world with more than 250 stations competing for a live listening audience.

Entries for the New Zealand Radio Awards are open to all commercial and noncommercial stations.

(Source : Radio New Zealand)

BBC Azeri launches podcasts with "Ali and Nino" series

The BBC Azeri (BBC Azərbaycanca) website bbcazeri.com has launched podcasts as part of its multimedia content with archive readings from Kurban Said’s iconic novel “Ali and Nino”.

Selected parts from the novel, read by veteran Azerbaijani actor, Rasim Balayev, will be published on bbcazeri.com every week, for users to listen to online or to download.

The readings from “Ali and Nino” were produced as part of BBC Azeri radio’s Danışan Kitablar (Talking Books) project a few years ago, and enjoyed great success among the audience. Following the closure of the BBC Azeri radio broadcasts in March 2011, “Ali and Nino” is the first part of the radio archive to move online to bbcazeri.com. 

Head of the Europe Hub, BBC World Service, Sarah Gibson, comments: “The BBC Azeri team had received a lot of requests for access to the series, and they are really excited to bring audience these podcasts. We hope very much that our Azeri-speaking online audiences will enjoy this classic novel, brought to life by Rasim Balayev’s unique style.” 

BBC Azeri is part of BBC World Service’s Europe Hub. The website bbcazeri.com offers news, information and analysis, in text, audio and video, putting the events in Azerbaijan and the wider region in the global context. The average number of weekly unique users of the site has grown by 172% year on year (March 2012) while its social-media following has been growing rapidly via Facebook.

(Source : BBC Media Centre)

Voice of Russia PHOTO/VIDEO CONTEST: "Around the World. My Exotics"

“AROUND THE WORLD. MY EXOTICS” PHOTO/VIDEO CONTEST

Are you fond of travelling? Venturing into new interesting places? Or do you prefer extreme tourism?

Send us the most exotic photos and videos of your adventures and win a prize!

1 Prize: an album about Moscow, a T-shirt and a mug with a VoR logo.

2 Prize: a flash drive with a VoR logo.

The prizes will be sent to any address around the world.

The contest will last from May 11 to June 15, 2012. The results will be made known by June 20, 2012.

Dear readers, it is you who will determine the winners! All photos and videos will be posted on Facebook. Keep track of the news!

Photo and videos that get more Likes and/or comments on Facebook will be our winners! Tell your friends about it!

Please send your photos/videos at the following address:readers@ruvr.ru.

(Note: Please send us a link to your video on YouTube or a photo as an email attachment under 2MB).

(Source : Voice of Russia)

France to Auction Digital Radio Licenses for 23 Cities

Le Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel, the French broadcast industry authority, said that it plans to open a call for digital terrestrial licenses for France’s next 20 biggest cities. This after relaunching its call for digital radio networks in Paris, Marseille and Nice. 

According to the CSA, the 23 cities account for 62% of the French population. 

The licensing process, which is backed by smaller and independent stations in addition to the public broadcaster Radio France, is opposed by the big analog station, has yet to be approved fully. 

(Source : Radio World)

Channel Africa producer/presenter wins award

Channel Africa producer and presenter, Zeenat Abdool, was recognized in the Young Achiever category at the MTN Radio awards in April 2012.

This award aims to acknowledge young talent in the radio journalism industry. This is the third award for Zeenat who received a special commendation by gender organization GenderLinks for gender stories on female circumcision and female terrorism in 2009.

 Zeenat joined Channel Africa in October 2008 and has since reported on various beats including covering the climate change summits in Copenhagen in 2009 and Durban in 2011. She also produces and presents the one-hour talk show African Dialogue discussing gender, education, health, politics and environmental issues in Africa.

(Source : Channel Africa)

Encouraging results of online trial for radio surveys

Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner, said today a trial of online data collection had yielded promising results. International research company, Ipsos, conducted the trial of online data collection in March 2012.

The trial was conducted as part of the industry's exploration of supplementary data collection methods for the radio surveys in advance of the tender being called for the radio audience survey measurement contract later this year.

 “The recent Ipsos trial reported completion rates of 66% which is a promising sign given our last trial of online diaries in 2007 had completion rates of only around 30%. However, it is still well short of the dairy completion rates of over 80%,“ Ms Warner said.

“The improved online response rates in the latest trial are positive and highlight how people’s increasing use of technology has meant listeners now appear more willing to record their listening habits online. The trial has provided the industry with valuable data to assess whether online could be used as a supplementary way of collecting data,“ Ms Warner said.

Ms Warner said the industry will now further explore with Ipsos to increase the completion rates for the online diary. In addition, CRA is working with  Nielsen and Gfk on additional trials of other supplementary data collection methods.

Announcements on these tests will be made over the next few months as they move towards implementation. In particular, one of special interest is a world's first development of an m.site/application which will  allow people to complete radio surveys on tablet devices and mobile phones.

“Australian radio has one of the most robust listenership measurement systems in the world but that doesn’t stop us investigating ways to improve it further. It should also be remembered that one of radio’s major strengths, its mobility and reach into all situations, conversely provides one of the major challenges for radio audience measurement.”

The current contract for the radio surveys, held by Neilsen, expires at the end of next year. Tenders will be called later this year for the next contract to start in January 2014, with the results of the range of tests planned over the next few months informing the makeup of the tender.

Media contact: Jenny Stevenson. Ph: 0402 214 039. www.commercialradio.com.au

(Source : Commercial Radio Australia)

South Africa: Women in the Media Awards 2012 Finalists Announced

Shortlisted out of 41 women in media, Ferial Haffajee (editor-in-chief of City Press), Terry Volkwyn (CEO of Primedia Broadcasting) and Esmare Weideman (CEO of Media24) have been selected as the 1st for Women Insurance Brokers' Women in The Media Awards 2012 finalists.

They will vie for the Media Woman of the Decade Award, established to mark the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the awards.

Said Sandra Gordon, CEO of Wag the Dog Publishers and founder of the event, "They epitomise what this award has come to stand for. They have dedicated their lives to the media and to its advancement, and we find it apt that their contributions will be acknowledged at such an important occasion."

"Elevate the role of women"

Gordon added that the company launched the awards a decade ago in a bid to celebrate the achievements of women within the media sector, many of whom were not acknowledged despite their significant contribution. "What we have uncovered is a wealth of excellence, dedication and thoughtful mentorship. We have seen previously all-male environments such as newspapers, responding positively to the role of woman by appointing them into senior positions. We continue to run the awards to elevate the role of women in this space and highlight their stance on quality, standards and impact of the sector."

The Media magazine's editorial board made up the judging panel; while some of the 41 finalists initially chosen are a part of the editorial board, they recused themselves from the final judging.

"We hope that younger women in media will be inspired to follow in the footsteps of these remarkable finalists. Their tenacity and courage in such a very challenging sector is commendable," said Robyn Farrell, managing director of 1st for Women Insurance Brokers.

(Source : Biz Community (Cape Town) via allAfrica.com)

BBG, VOA Media Event in Dar-Es-Salam

A full day of training on health issues in Tanzania and the role of the media in communicating health information, particularly the role of international broadcasting was held May 17 in Dar-Es-Salam. About 30 reporters and health experts participated in the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) and Voice of America (VOA) event.

A  Town Hall meeting on May 18 drew 100 participants representing civil society, NGOs, Ministry of Health, international broadcasting entities such us RFI, DW and VOA. The focus was on the role of media in communicating health issues, the current situation in Tanzania, and the use of new media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and SMS to inform audiences about critical health issues. Other topics included the cost of producing and airing health programming.

The project is funded by PRB (Population reference Bureau) with original funding from USAID to them, and is part of the much larger Tanzania project funded directly from USAID to BBG under a current two-year Inter-Agency Agreement.

(Source : Broadcasting Board of Governors)

Newly-Delivered, Innovative Equipment Gives Libyan Listeners Expanded FM Access to Radio Sawa

Washington, DC — The Broadcasting Board of Governors has launched an FM radio transmitter in Tripoli that covers the Libyan capital and its suburbs, home to about two million people.

The new transmitter broadcasts a 24/7 stream from Radio Sawa, with a signature mix of more than six hours of daily news combined with popular Arabic and Western music.

“This is a country in turmoil, seeking a foothold in democracy,” said Brian Conniff, president of the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc., home to Radio Sawa. “We offer a reliable source of news and information essential as the people of Libya strive to shape their future. We are proud to support free media in Libya, most especially during its political transition.”

The BBG, which provides and maintains technology around the world to support its broadcasters, had been working non-stop since mid-2011 to get the new transmitter in place.

Compact enough to fit in a refrigerator box, the equipment enables programming on 106.6 FM, an easy-to-find frequency.

“It’s crucial that we reach audiences via the media that they prefer,” said André Mendes, the BBG’s Chief information Officer and Chief Technology Officer. “In this region, at this time, that means FM radio. And we’re delighted to be able to use a frequency with such a good signal, so people will hear our programs loud and clear.”

Audiences in Benghazi have heard Radio Sawa programming around the clock on the locally well-known 88.1 since October 2011.  A major Libyan city, Benghazi was the stronghold of Libyan rebel forces.

As the protests of the Arab Spring swept across the Middle East in 2011, correspondents for Radio Sawa and its sister station, Alhurra Television, reported on the wave of uprisings in Libya by traveling from Benghazi to Tripoli. Their on-air and online reporting tackled the news from the front lines as well as the challenges facing Libya during its transition to a new government.

Radio Sawa has a weekly reach of 14 million listeners, according to international research firms such as ACNielsen. In addition to Libya, Radio Sawa broadcasts on FM in Morocco, Jordan, the Palestinian Territories, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, U.A.E., Lebanon, Iraq, Sudan and Djibouti. Radio Sawa also broadcasts on medium wave to Egypt, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Syria and online at www.RadioSawa.com.

(Source : Broadcasting Board of Governors Press Release)