NHK WORLD Monthly Focus July

29 June 2022

NHK WORLD Monthly Focus July

Manga Artist René’s Diversity Lesson

Cameroon-born manga artist Hoshino René says he wants to “make Japan a country where people can embrace differences.” His works help to do just that by highlighting cultural distinctions. As the number of foreign residents rises, some newcomers have trouble adapting to Japan. One 17-year-old girl from Nepal facing just such a challenge came to René for advice. Join him as he visits her school to help students confront the problems they face, in part by turning to manga.

Transmission dates to be announced

J-FLICKS
Close-up: Cannes Film Festival

This episode sets the spotlight on the 75th edition of the Cannes Film Festival. Screened in competition was “Broker,” the first release by Kore-eda Hirokazu to be shown at the festival since he received the Palme d’Or in 2018 for “Shoplifters.” Then we look at Hayakawa Chie’s science-fiction feature,“PLAN75.”

July 17 Sun.

0:10/ 6:10/ 12:10/ 18:10 (UTC)

Cross-Cultural Documentaries from Asia

“I DREAM OF CARING”

July 1 Fri.

14:30 / 20:30 / 3:10 / 10:10 (UTC)

July 6 Wed.

19:00 (UTC)

This documentary, co-produced by a Filipino filmmaker and a Japanese cable TV station, depicts the struggles of a Filipina caregiver working in Japan and nurses who dream of doing the same.

Cross-Cultural Documentaries from Asia

“AWAY FROM HOME”

July 29 Fri.

14:30 / 20:30 / 3:10 / 10:10 (UTC)

This co-production by a Vietnamese filmmaker and a Japanese broadcaster depicts a Vietnamese university student’s challenging search for work in Japan and her family’s efforts to support her.

[Source: NHK WORLD press release]

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa opens DW’s Global Media Forum in Bonn

20 June 2022

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa opens DW’s Global Media Forum in Bonn

Global Media Forum in Bonn: Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa opens DW‘s international media conference

“If you don’t have facts, you don’t have truth; if you don’t have truth, you don’t have trust,” said Philippine journalist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa at the opening of Deutsche Welle’s Global Media Forum (GMF).

Nobel Prize laureate Maria Ressa opened her keynote with the questions: “How do we rebuild trust? Because that is what illiberal governments have destroyed. If you don’t have integrity of facts, how can you have integrity of elections?” adding: “The three pillars of technology, journalism and the community will help rebuild trust in journalism.”

In his opening speech, DW Director General Peter Limbourg emphasized the challenges of reporting the war in Ukraine: “This is one of the times in history when journalism can definitely prove its relevance. We cannot stop the war, but we can contribute to decisive political action by keeping the fate of hundreds of thousands of people in the headlines,” he said.

Limbourg: “We are facing a storm of disinformation, propaganda and censorship. When the free and independent voices work together, we can withstand this storm and make a difference.”

In a video statement, German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock commended this year’s DW Freedom of Speech Award laureates Mstyslav Chernov and Evgeniy Maloletka: “I’m delighted that the Global Media Forum is honouring them with the Freedom of Speech Award today. They stand for the courage of hundreds of journalists reporting from Ukraine.”

Baerbock: “I firmly believe that free and democratic societies need free media to inform citizens and hold those in power accountable. DW’s Global Media Forum is making a vital contribution to achieving this goal. People throughout the world rely on Deutsche Welle as a source for factual, objective and balanced reporting. Because truth is indispensable – in Mariupol and in Moscow, in Brussels and in Bonn.”

North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister-President Hendrik Wüst stated in a video message that “freedom of expression and freedom of the press” are the “foundations of a liberal democratic society.”

Under this year’s theme “Shaping tomorrow, now,” GMF panel discussions and partner sessions will address how to promote resilient journalism and strengthen civil societies in times of crisis.

Guests from the world of politics joining the GMF today and tomorrow include Claudia Roth, Minister of State for Culture and the Media; Věra Jourová, Vice President for Values and Transparency at the European Commission; Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s Digital Minister; Laura Braam, Deputy Head of Law and Supervision of the Media Authority of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia; and Katja Dörner, Mayor of the City of Bonn.

Speakers from the fields of media, business and academia include Ukrainian UA:PBC journalist Angelina Kariakin; Timothy Snyder, Levin Professor of History at Yale University; Brazilian investigative journalist Patricia Toledo de Campos Mello; Guido Bülow, Head of News Partnerships for Central Europa at Meta; and Ulrik Haagerup, founder and CEO of the Danish Constructive Institute.

Against a backdrop of the war in Ukraine, the GMF will spotlight the challenges of reporting from the front lines by hosting war correspondents from war zones across the globe. Journalists from Germany, Ukraine and Russia such as Paul Ronzheimer, Angelina Kariakina, Tetjana Kyselchuk, Mikhail Zygar and Maria Makeeva will share how they cope with reporting on the war.

Later in the afternoon, DW will honor Ukrainian AP journalists Mstyslav Chernov and Evgeniy Maloletka with its Freedom of Speech Award in recognition of their courageous reporting from the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol. Ensaf Haidar, Saudi-Canadian human rights activist and president of the Raif Badawi Foundation for Freedom will attend the ceremony. Jodie Ginsberg, president of the Committee to Protect Journalists, will give a laudatory speech.

The DW Global Media Forum is Germany’s only international conference for representatives of the media from all over the world. Together with its main partners, the German Federal Foreign Office, the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Foundation for International Dialogue of the Savings Bank in Bonn, the Federal ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the City of Bonn, DW offers media professionals a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary discussions with opinion-leaders from different fields around the pressing issues of our time.

[Source: DW press release]

BBC Studios and MBC STUDIOS announce “Al Maktab”, the first Arabic-language version of award-winning comedy, “The Office”

31 May 2022

BBC Studios and MBC STUDIOS announce “Al Maktab”, the first Arabic-language version of award-winning comedy, “The Office”

BBC Studios and MBC STUDIOS – the in-house premium content production arm of MBC GROUP – the largest and leading media company in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have announced a new scripted format agreement that will see the BAFTA and Golden Globe award-winning comedy series, “The Office” remade for audiences across the Arab world.

Titled “Al Maktab”, the Saudi-led version of the comedy will be produced by MBC STUDIOS, with support from the BBC Studios international production team who have licensed the format.

Scheduled to begin filming this June (2022), the Arabic-language series is to be directed by renowned Egyptian filmmaker Hisham Fathi, with Alessandro Martella as director of photography (DoP) and AFLAM Productions’ Shadi Mcdad as producer.

André Renaud, SVP Format Sales for BBC Studios said: “Although office working may look slightly different for many of us in 2022, the familiarity of these well-observed characters as they navigate petty rivalries, moments of friendship and humour, and a boss that sometimes makes a fool of themselves still rings just as true. I’m sure audiences in the Middle East and the Gulf will take Malik and his team to their hearts as much as audiences did with David Brent in the UK over twenty years ago”.

“Audiences around the world, including in the MENA region, are no strangers to ‘The Office’, and given its huge success over the past two decades, it’s incredibly exciting for us to now be bringing the very first Arabic version of the comedy to MBC’s screens very soon,” said Zeinab Abul Alsamh – General Manager of MBC STUDIOS KSA. “’Al Maktab’ features a very talented cast from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond who will bring the stories of this eccentric group of colleagues and their boss to life, reimagined for Middle Eastern and Gulf audiences for the very first time. It’s definitely one for the history books!”

A fly-on-the-wall style mocumentary, the original version of “The Office” was written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, and first aired in the UK over 20 years ago. The agreement with MBC STUDIOS and BBC Studios will mark the 12^th international sale of the format, alongside other territories including the US, Canada, Chile, France, India and most recently in Poland.

In the Saudi adaptation, “Al Maktab” is set in a courier services company, with the main character played by Saleh Abuamrh. He plays Malik Al-Tuwaifi, the self-absorbed yet loveable boss.

Also joining the cast are Fahad Albutairi, Nawaf Alshobaili, Saad Aziz, Adhwa Fahad, Razan Mansour, Reem Busati, Hisham Hawsawi, and others.

The twenty-part series will broadcast on MBC’s TV channels, and stream via Shahid VIP – the world’s leading Arabic streaming platform – later this year.

[Source: MBC press release]

NHK WORLD Japan Monthly Focus – June

31 May 2022

NHK WORLD Japan Monthly Focus – June

SHOHEI OHTANI: A Baseball Virtuoso

NHK has followed baseball sensation Shohei Ohtani closely since his 2018 Major League debut. We look at Ohtani’s ability to both pitch and bat at the highest level. We hear from those who have supported him on and off the field and examine the importance of his father’s training regime. Join us behind the scenes at such pivotal points as Ohtani’s battle to recover from elbow surgery and reclaim his place as a baseball virtuoso like no other.

June 12 Sun.

0:10 / 6:10 / 12:10 / 18:10

Digital Eye #01

Ukraine, How Satellites Changed the War

The first episode of our new flagship program Digital Eye focuses on Ukraine. Satellite imagery has helped reveal Russian troop movements and the destruction and humanitarian crisis left in their wake. We look at the way experts and ordinary people sift through such images and other data as part of open-source intelligence efforts. We also examine how smartphones record things on the ground and images and information are spread around the world via communication satellites.

June 18 Sat.

0:10 / 6:10 / 12:10 / 18:10

J-MELO

Japan’s exciting music scene! Pop, rock, traditional and more! Live performances, artist interviews, plus all the latest news!

Sundays

15:10 / 20:10 / 3:30 / 9:30　　

DESIGN TALKS plus

What is good design? And what is its power? From traditional to cutting edge, we explore Japanese designs that are literally shaping our lives.

Thursdays

1:30 / 6:30 / 12:30 / 17:30 / 22:30

[Source: NHK WORLD press release]

DW Global Media Forum 2022 kicks off in Bonn on June 20

31 May 2022

DW Global Media Forum 2022 kicks off in Bonn on June 20

More than 100 experts from all over the world will be “shaping the future of journalism in times of crisis and war” at the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum 2022. DW’s annual media convention will open its doors from June 20 to 21 at the World Conference Center Bonn (WCCB) in Bonn, Germany and bring together global leaders as well as professionals from media, government, technology, and civil society.

Among those who will tackle global media challenges and advance solutions for resilient societies are Nobel Peace laureate Maria Ressa from the Philippines, German Minister of State for Culture and Media Claudia Roth, Ukrainian journalist Angelina Kariakina, Brazilian investigative journalist Patricia Toledo de Campos Mello.

Taiwan’s Digital Minister Audrey Tang, Lutz Güllner, Head of Strategic Communications and Information Analysis European External Action Service, as well as Head of News Partnerships for Central Europe at Meta, Guido Bülow, will discuss the current role of technology in media and civil societies. Editors-in-chief from leading news outlets as well as scholars and media professionals from newspapers such as the Guardian and Süddeutsche Zeitung or broadcasters such as WDR, NDR and DW will share their extensive knowledge of the challenges and opportunities for journalism.

A list of confirmed speakers can be found here.

Discussion topics range from climate crisis and digital activism to war and pandemic journalism. Artificial Intelligence, fact-checking, political agenda-setting and representation in media also take center stage. The start-up contest @GMF focusses on new tech designed to foster resilient journalism and civil societies in times of rapid change. Start-ups, entrepreneurs and talent in media technology and innovation will showcase their work as a central feature of the DW Global Media Forum.

Learn more about the program and view sessions here.

Against a backdrop of the war in Ukraine, the GMF will spotlight the challenges of reporting from the front lines by hosting award-winning war correspondents who covered stories first-hand from war zones in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Myanmar, and beyond. Journalists from Germany, Ukraine and Russia, such as Paul Ronzheimer, Angelina Kariakina, Tetiana Kyselchuk, Mikhail Zygar and Maria Makeeva will share how they cope with reporting on the war.

Participants will also join DW in honoring Ukrainian AP journalists Mstyslav Chernov and Evgeniy Maloletka with its Freedom of Speech Award in recognition of their courageous reporting from the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol. The award ceremony will be co-hosted by Jodie Ginsberg, president of the Committee to Protect Journalists, and Ensaf Haidar, Saudi-Canadian human rights activist and president of the Raif Badawi Foundation for Freedom.

Learn more about the Freedom of Speech Award here.

The annual meeting will also bring together younger generations of journalists, with a tribute to the honorees of the ARD.ZDF Media Academy’s “Women and Media Technology” award comprising successful female graduates from German, Austrian and Swiss universities in the fields of technology, engineering, and media studies.

About GMF

The DW Global Media Forum offers a unique interdisciplinary platform for media professionals as well as decision-makers from politics, civil society, culture, education, business, and science from all over the world to get together and to learn from each other as part of an intercultural exchange since 2008. The Global Media Forum is sponsored by the German Federal Foreign Office, the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Stiftung Internationale Begegnung der Sparkasse in Bonn, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the City of Bonn.

[Source: DW]