20 March 2012
In a tribute to the life and work of Vaclav Havel, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic and RFE/RL announce the launch of the Vaclav Havel Journalism Fellowship. The inaugural Vaclav Havel fellow, Franak Viachorka, will be in Washington for a week of training beginning on March 19, and will also be recognized at a reception hosted by the Czech Embassy.
Petr Gandalovic, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the U.S., described the goals of the program by invoking the legacy of his country’s former president. “Havel was a playwright, dissident and political leader. He had an uncompromising belief in the power of words and the power of truth to unite people and overcome tyranny. This Fellowship carries the spirit of his convictions to places struggling against censorship where — even in 2012 — people are still denied the fundamental human right of free speech.”
Fellowships will afford independent journalists from countries lacking a free media six months of professional, on-the-job training and development at RFE/RL’s Prague headquarters. The program initially targets EU Eastern Partnership countries including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, and may expand to include fellows from other countries, including Afghanistan and Pakistan.
“RFE/RL has a special relationship with the Czech people,” says RFE/RL president Steven Korn. “This partnership will give promising young journalists an opportunity to work for impact in their own countries without fear.”
During his fellowship, Viachorka, a journalist and documentary filmmaker from Belarus, will train with RFE/RL’s Belarus service, Radio Svaboda. His visit to Washington will also include high-level meetings with journalists, diplomats, congressional staff members, and think tanks.
Viachorka has worked as a journalist and editor for several independent publications in Belarus, including as a freelancer for the BelaPAN news agency and the independent Polish satellite TV station, Belsat. He first came to the attention of Radio Svaboda at the age of 13 when he appeared from 2001-2002 on the program “Young Voices.” In 2006 he starred in the award-winning documentary, A Lesson of Belarusian, which chronicles his teenage years in Aleksandr Lukashenka’s Belarus. Viachorka is also the author of the European travel book “Wanderer’s Guide” and director of the Citizen Journalist blog.
19 March 2012
Discovery is to enter the genre of childrens television in the second quarter of this year, with launches of Discovery Kids in India, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Discovery Kids will offer Indian children the ideal combination of learning and entertainment. A unique network in the kids genre, Discovery Kids will offer children in a fun and entertaining way to satisfy their natural curiosity with stimulating and imaginative programming, said Mark Hollinger, president and chief executive, Discovery Networks International, during his keynote address at FICCI Frames 2012 in Mumbai.
The network will ignite viewers’ imagination through its compelling and differentiated content. In light of the massive digitisation drive in India, we believe viewers will express their demand for such distinct television networks. I cannot think of any other country more poised for the launch of such a remarkable network. (Source: ABU)
19 March 2012
The 2012 AIBs will be launched at the beginning of April.
These prestigious international awards attract entries from broadcasters, media companies and independent producers the world over. Each organisation is keen to showcase its output and on-air talent to the world, and the AIBs are an ideal platform to demonstrate a company’s expertise.
The annual AIBs are also an ideal vehicle for companies who want to reach the global media community. That’s why each year, AIB offers a limited number of partnership opportunities that provide companies with up to nine months of brand exposure to more than 26,000 media leaders – executives, technologists, editors, producers, journalists – across the world.
To find out more about how your company can get involved with the 2012 AIBs, download our partnership brochure using the link below. Talk to Judy Lund or Matthew Porter at AIB headquarters on +44 20 7993 2557 to explore the opportunities.
Get involved with inspiring creativity at the 2012 AIBs.
19 March 2012
The Damascus office of Rusiya Al-Yaum, RTs Arabic channel, is damaged as dual terrorist attacks strike Syrias capital.
RTs Rusiya Al-Yaum Damascus bureau was damaged by a car bomb blast in the citys downtown on Saturday morning. The blast wave shattered windows and partially destroyed the building’s façade but no RT staff were in the office at the time.
The bomb was one of two which targeted Syrian security service offices in central Damascus, killing 27 people and injured over 100.
RTs Damascus office continues to operate, as equipment was not damaged by the explosions.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Awlt_tO4ZLE
15 March 2012
The latest media industry briefing – covering programming, distribution, technology and more – has been published by AIB.
Distributed to well over 26,000 media leaders globally, the AIB industry briefing provides a snapshot of news from the international media industry.
See the latest edition by clicking on the link below.
