11 January 2011
The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) has accepted, with regret, the resignation of Jeffrey Gedmin, who has served for four years as president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Gedmin announced his plans to depart RFE/RL at the end of February 2011. The BBG, which oversees all U.S. international broadcasting including RFE/RL, thanked Gedmin for his dedicated service and announced plans to begin a search for a new President of RFE/RL.
Jeff’s passion for the power of the truth has been a great inspiration for all of us involved in international broadcasting, said Walter Isaacson, Chairman of the BBG. Isaacson added, The Board looks forward to Jeff serving as a valuable adviser in the future.”
Gedmin took office in February 2007 and has overseen RFE/RLs expansion of broadcasts to critical countries, its significant development of new media, the corporate relocation to a state-of-the-art broadcast headquarters in Prague, and has served as a passionate defender of press freedom.
Jeff has been an exceptional leader of RFE/RL over the past four years, said Dennis Mulhaupt, chairman of the corporate board of RFE/RL and member of the BBG. He has immeasurably strengthened the organization and we are grateful for his dedicated leadership. We wish him the best in his future endeavors. As a Board, we reaffirm our commitment to RFE/RL’s vital mission, which is more important than ever.
Gedmin departs RFE/RL to become CEO and President of Legatum Institute, London. The BBG will start an international search for new president of RFE/RL and work closely with Gedmin during this transition.
11 January 2011
Vizrt Ltd., a leading provider of content production tools for the digital media industry, today announced it has closed a deal with a large existing broadcast customer in Northern Europe on the supply of Vizrt’s online product suite. The value of the deal will be a minimum of USD 1.2 million, and represents one of the biggest for Vizrt Online so far.
Martin Burkhalter, CEO of Vizrt, stated, “We’re very pleased that such an important customer has chosen Vizrt’s technology to extend their online capabilities. This project is further proof of the strength of our comprehensive Online product platform, which enables customers to power a media-rich online environment with multi-platform distribution capabilities while providing a smart and efficient workflow.”
With the implementation of Escenic Content Engine and Escenic Content Studio early in 2011, more than a hundred journalists will be able simultaneously to publish as many as 1,500 articles per day, including video material. Furthermore, the Viz Mobile Expansion will boost the amount of video content available on the broadcaster’s mobile platform. The inclusion of Viz Community Expansion will also provide the toolkit for building online communities.
6 January 2011
Well-known Cuban blogger Yoani Sanchez tells Voice of America she hopes the growth of information networks in Cuba will lead to an end of the states information monopoly in 2011.
In an interview with VOAs Spanish Service, Sanchez said the Cuban blogosphere had a gradual growth and enrichment in 2010, despite the continuing difficulties with Internet access and government censorship.
Sanchez, who also managed to transmit a video message to the VOA website www.voanoticias.com, said, The year 2010 has been a very important one for the alternative information nets in Cuba, for those of us reporting from here to the world, and to our people about what is happening.
Sanchez has achieved international fame and won many awards for her critical portrayal of life in Cuba under its current government. She is best known for her blog, Generación Y (Generation Y), which she is able to publish by emailing entries to friends outside the country who then post them online.
Sanchez said the alternative blogosphere has grown and has been very rich on information. Now, we have more pluralism and diversity.
She said she hopes 2011 will see the definitive ending of the state monopoly in information in Cuba. We hope to conquer more spaces and especially more diversity in this island (Cuba) where one day we will finally have space for all of us, she told VOA in her video message.
13 December 2010
On the occasion of UN Human Rights Day 2010, the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) renewed its call for press freedom and freedom of information around the world.
Advancing press freedom is central to our mission, including our efforts to combat censorship online and on the airwaves said Walter Isaacson, Chairman of the BBG. As a model of free press, our journalists around the world endure hardships and take great risks to bring news and information – via everything from SMS text to shortwave radio – that is vital to our audiences, particularly in places in conflict or without a free and vibrant media.
Since their inception, BBG broadcasters – Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Sawa, Alhurra Television, Radio and TV Marti and Radio Free Asia – have worked to facilitate the free and open exchange of ideas, and they continue to do so in some of the most repressive, closed societies: Listeners of Radio Free Asia and VOAs Burmese services will soon be able to engage Burmese opposition party leader Aung San Suu Kyi on topics of their choice in two unique weekly series. The audience will be able to ask questions on any topic, which are then answered by the recently freed Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
At the same time in another county without press freedom, Radio and TV Martí have begun to open their programs to callers from the island of Cuba. “We want our audience to know that they are valued contributors to our programming and the exchange of ideas and information is central to our broadcasts,” said Carlos A. García-Pérez, director of Radio and TV Martí. The Cuban government fosters one the world’s most restrictive media environments in the bottom ten of the Freedom of the Press rankings by Freedom House.
Unfortunately, it is all too common that journalists endanger themselves simply for reporting the news. This year, VOA journalist Abdumalik Bobayev was tried in Uzbekistan after authorities charged him with threatening public safety, slander, insult, and visa violations. The BBG has condemned the government’s attempt to silence objective reporting for VOA, noting that the manipulation of the criminal justice system to punish journalists for freely expressed views has a chilling effect on journalists throughout the country. Similarly, in the last week, Alhurra’s journalists covering Egypt’s recent elections face formal complaints made by the country’s Ministry of Information.
The BBG will continue to work in some of the most difficult and challenging environments to bring reliable news and information to those denied this fundamental human right. For more information on UN Human Rights Day visit http://www.un.org/en/events/humanrightsday/2010/. For more information about press freedom around the world, visit freedomhouse.org (http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=16.
In addition, this year World Press Freedom Day will be recognize in a series of events May 1-3, 2011 in Washington, DC. The BBG welcomed this announcement by UNESCO and the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/12/152465.htm.
13 December 2010
Sony Professional has unveiled its first European Customer Experience Centre at its offices in Basingstoke, UK. The new resource will allow visitors to gain an understanding of the latest broadcast solutions in a relaxed and comfortable setting reflecting the work Sony is doing to ensure that the customer is at the heart of its propositions. The centre boasts a state-of-the-art 3D broadcast training facility, ensuring that stereographers and camera operators are equipped with the skills required to ensure that live broadcast 3D is a success.
The Centre is equipped to demonstrate the Sony lens to living room story. The sizable training area contains 3D rigs and camera systems allowing users to learn how to capture the best 3D footage while dealing with issues such as changes in lighting, temperature and speed of action. A section of the main lounge is set up as a production gallery, enabling visitors to experience the MPE-200 multi format processor box, which is central to the production of high quality live 3D. Customers are then able to view the output of their work in the lounge area where professional 3D monitors and consumer 3D BRAVIA televisions are set up.
Aside from 3D solutions, visitors will also be able to experience a fully functional TV production gallery including the latest switchers and Sonaps system. A further demonstration area will allow customers to get to grips with the latest software offerings, including XDxchange, Media Backbone and Ensemble. As well as the static broadcast solutions, customers are able to visit the Solutions team, who are responsible for large scale broadcast transformation projects as well as the design, fitting out and testing of Outside Broadcast trucks.
David Bush, Director of Marketing, Sony Professional, commented; Until now our ability to demonstrate a functional broadcast workflow to customers has been restricted due to the space and equipment requirements. This new Experience Centre will change that, allowing us to work with our customers to understand the issues which they face and working collaboratively to solve them.
Bush, went further; We know from the Sony 3D Technology Centre in Culver City, USA, that customers are appreciative of being able to experience equipment and improve their skills in a comfortable, relaxed atmosphere. We hope that our European customers will gain the same benefits, from this, our first Customer Experience Centre in Europe.
An exciting extension to this Centre is the upgrade taking place in the current Studio+ facility. This area is being transformed into a fully fitted cinema complete with 2K, 4K and 3D projectors. This project is due for completion in January 2011 and will complete the Sony Professional Customer Experience Centre.
Source: Sony press release
