RFE/RL sanctioned by Government of Iran

12 December 2022

RFE/RL sanctioned by Government of Iran

Today, the government of Iran added RFE/RL’s Persian-language service, known locally as Radio Farda, to a list of individuals and organizations sanctioned for supporting international terrorism or inciting violence.

For over 12 weeks, Radio Farda has covered Iran’s historic demonstrations that began in the aftermath of Mahsa Amini’s death. Through deeply sourced investigative reporting, exclusive interviews with protesters’ families and friends, and verified user-generated content, RFE/RL journalists are documenting the truth about the regime’s victims — including their identities — despite the Iranian government’s ongoing campaign to deceive the public and intimidate minority communities.

“Today’s designation is an absurd manipulation of the truth, straight out of every authoritarian playbook,” said RFE/RL President and CEO Jamie Fly. “The reality is that each day, the Iranian regime kills men, women, and children protesting for a better future, blames the victims, and abuses their families. Through it all, Radio Farda is trusted by sources and audiences alike to report on what is really happening.”

Despite significant state censorship, Radio Farda’s audience is growing. From the start of the protests on September 16 through November 30, Radio Farda’s video views increased 408% on YouTube and 619% on Instagram, compared to the same period last year. Social media growth has been driven by coverage that has gone viral. Radio Farda is also accessible in Iran via shortwave radio, playing an essential role for Iranians during a crisis in which the regime has attempted at times to block or slow Internet access.

RFE/RL’s service for Iran is one of the most popular and trusted media outlets in Iran, providing award-winning uncensored Persian-language news. Radio Farda is known for its in-depth coverage of the Iranian regime and its innovative use of anti-censorship technologies to reach audiences. Farda has a growing digital presence with millions of video and page views on its websites, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

[Source: RFE/RL press release; Image provided by RFE/RL/@vahidonline]

GoGlobal to deliver VOA’s English language training in Ukraine

6 December 2022

GoGlobal to deliver VOA’s English language training in Ukraine

English teachers in Ukraine will now have access to a treasure trove of material through a new agreement the Voice of America signed with GoGlobal, an NGO working on educational projects in Ukraine. The two organizations will bring to Ukrainian schools and learning centers VOA Learning English’s decades-long expertise of teaching foreign audiences the English language.

Under the terms of this agreement, VOA will create a training program for English teachers in Ukraine using VOA Learning English materials. VOA will also work with GoGlobal on additional training and programs featuring VOA Learning English content and provide guidance on its use.

For its part, GoGlobal will assist in the distribution of VOA Learning English content to Ukrainian schools and educational institutions. The NGO will also work with the VOA Learning English team in the preparation of training courses and webinars for English teachers in Ukraine interested in using VOA Learning English content.

“We’re very excited about this new collaboration,” said Acting VOA Director Yolanda Lόpez. “Our partnership with GoGlobal will not only expand VOA’s audience, but also provide Ukrainians with free access to VOA’s excellent English language training materials from our dedicated and experienced Learning English team.”

VOA Learning English endeavors to engage English learners around the world through lessons and content that speak to the interest of individuals. The service uses clear and simple vocabulary to teach American English on radio, television, Internet, and mobile. It reaches learners at their level of proficiency – from beginners to intermediate and advanced students. Through partnerships with organizations around the world, radio and television affiliates, as well as multilingual content, Learning English provides audiences with content and curricula to teach American English in targeted countries and regions.

[Source: VOA press release]

USAGM CEO Bennett condemns media restrictions in Afghanistan

2 December 2022

USAGM CEO Bennett condemns media restrictions in Afghanistan

In response to orders from Taliban officials to stop broadcasting all USAGM-funded programming on FM and AM transmitters operated by Radio Television Afghanistan, CEO Amanda Bennett issued the following statement:

“This action by the Taliban will be seen for what it truly is — an effort to restrict Afghan citizens’ access to uncensored information,” said Bennett. “The people of Afghanistan have the right to know all of the facts, including the information the Taliban is hoping to censor in this flagrant attack on press freedom.”

USAGM research in 2022 indicates that Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty content is reaching 66% of Afghan adults with access to a mobile phone on a weekly basis.

“Afghan citizens are seeking out independent, fact-based journalism from Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and this action by the Taliban is a reminder of the importance of press freedom,” Bennett added. “Repressive governments around the world like this one clearly understand the power of independent media — that is why they spend so much time and effort fighting it. We are already exploring alternate transmissions, and we will not let this action deter us.”

[Source: USAGM press release; Image: AP Photo/Hussein Malla/Associated Press/Alamy]

MBC GROUP expands anime partnerships to add titles to Shahid

1 December 2022

MBC GROUP expands anime partnerships to add titles to Shahid

Group has secured rights to various series, including TV Tokyo’s “Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War,” the 52-episode Japanese anime television series based on the “Bleach” manga series by Tite Kubo

MBC GROUP – the largest and leading media company in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) – has announced the expansion of its partnerships with key anime studios and production houses in Japan and beyond to bring more anime content to its streaming platform, Shahid.

At present, Shahid boasts hundreds of anime titles on its platform, including “Bleach”, “One Piece” “Attack on Titan”, “Tokyo Ghoul”, “Initial D”, “Gin Tama”, “Hunter x Hunter”, “Legend of the Galactic Heroes”, “Belle”, as well as the Japanese–Saudi Arabian animated action fantasy film, “The Journey”.

Building on these partnerships, MBC GROUP has secured exclusive rights in MENA to TV Tokyo’s “Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War,” the 52-episode Japanese anime television series based on the “Bleach” manga series by Tite Kubo, and a direct sequel to the “Bleach” anime series. The title returns following an eight-year hiatus, is streaming on Shahid at the same time as Japan and the United States.

The entire box set of previously aired series’ of “Bleach” is also available on Shahid for streaming.

MBC GROUP has additionally extended a partnership with TOEI Animation to add more episodes of the renowned show, “ONE PIECE”, one of anime’s longest-running programmes, based on Eiichiro Oda’s manga series of the same name.

Following the success of the anime adaptation of “Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai” on Shahid, MBC GROUP has also expanded on its partnership with its production company, Aniplex. The expansion will see the addition of more than 200 hours of Aniplex content on Shahid, including “Fate/Stay Night”, “Sword Art Online”, and “Gurren Lagann”.

Tareq Al-Ibrahim, Director of Content for SVOD at Shahid, commented: “Anime is extremely popular in the Middle East region – particularly in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – so needless to say, we are incredibly excited to be making new additions to our ever-expanding anime catalogue on Shahid, bringing new and hit titles that audiences will love exploring.”

All titles mentioned above will be available on Shahid before the end of 2022.

Often aimed at adults, Anime refers to the wide range of Japanese animation that reflects multiple genres and features a distinctly recognisable visual aesthetic and storytelling approach.

Shahid is the world’s leading Arabic streaming platform by MBC GROUP.

[Source: MBC press release]

DW launches English language vodcast Global Eyes

26 November 2022

DW launches English language vodcast Global Eyes

‘Will the war in Ukraine make your Chapatis cheaper?’ – DW vodcast looks at security policy issues from the Western and Asian perspective

Global Eyes, the latest English-language DW vodcast, is launching on November 26. Two hosts get to the bottom of global security policy issues. With their guests, they explore how these issues affect people’s daily lives.

The creators of Global Eyes are dedicated to the idea that security policy and geopolitics are important for everyone, everywhere. The two hosts examine the very real effects security policy issues have on every individual person – from food prices to health, all the way to armed conflicts.

The vodcast not only deals with security policy issues from a western point of view, but also opens Asian perspectives. Global Eyes offers a broad range of information, expertise and personal stories from their guests, who come predominantly from the global South.

Getting out of the ivory tower

“The Global Eyes vodcast aims to draw the discussions about security policy issues out of government buildings, think tanks and academic institutions,” said Nadja Scholz, Acting Managing Director of Programming. “The hosts break down complex, global subject matters into comprehensible facts while exploring connections with their guests that are often forgotten.”

Host Isha Bhatia, from DW Programs for Asia, wants to prove with the vodcast that young people are interested in more than just TikTok and Instagram. Her goal is to discuss serious, complex topics so that they are interesting and do not sound like intellectual lectures. “From the G7 to the G20, from BRICS to OPEC, from Quad to SCO. What do these groups really mean? What implications do their decisions have? Global Eyes endeavors to answer these questions,” says Bhatia.

Host Kate Brady, from DW’s Analysis and Reports department: “It is easy to get bogged down in details when you are dealing with complicated security policy issues. We want to change that and, with support by experts, decipher how the big global topics affect our daily lives.”

Controversial core questions to guide the debate

Each episode is centered on a provocative question that connects a security policy issue and the lives of users. The first episode examines the how the war in Ukraine and the Western sanctions on Russia are affecting the lives of people in India. The opening question is “Will the war in Ukraine make your Chapatis cheaper?”

Energy expert Nandikesh Sivalingam, from Bangalore and foreign policy expert Seema Sirohi, from Washington, help answer that question. By the end of the episode, it’s not only Kate Brady and Isha Bhatia who will better understand the question, but also the listeners.

They are already planning further questions such as “Will the conflict in Taiwan create IT jobs in India?” or “What does India’s G20 presidency have to do with antibiotic-resistant bacteria strains?”

Video and Audio, YouTube and Spotify

The format was developed by editors working together with Digital Format Development at DW. The English-language vodcast is produced by DW and will appear monthly as both an audio and video production. The first season consists of ten episodes with a run time of between 40 and 45 minutes. The video versions will appear on a monthly basis on YouTube and Facebook with the audio versions on all major podcast platforms including Spotify and iTunes as well as on the India-based platform Jiosaavn.

Global Eyes will premiere on November 26 on the DW News YouTube channel, on the DW Asia Facebook account and on various podcast platforms.

Global Eyes website:

https://www.dw.com/en/global-eyes-security-policy-and-what-it-means-for-you/program-63538048

YouTube:

https://youtu.be/xBSSGjUeEmM

iTunes:

https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/global-eyes-security-policy-and-what-it-means-for-you/id1653609075

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/22RwqvNOHRaV48cfxcZj9L?si=7a8b7687d3124c73

[Source: DW press release]