NHK WORLD TV programme highlights for March

NHK WORLD TV programme highlights for March

4 March 2021

NHK WORLD TV programme highlights for March

Ken Watanabe: The decade since the Great East Japan Earthquake

March 6th

1:10 / 7:10 / 13:10 / 19:10

 

Actor Ken Watanabe started going to meet victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake two months after its occurrence in 2011. Since then, he has listened to the stories of more than 20,000 people. Watanabe has used his stature to bring international attention to the disaster. He also has drawn on personal funds to open a café in Kesennuma. The program returns to four communities seriously affected by the quake—Katsurao (Fukushima), Kesennuma (Miyagi), Rikuzentakata (Iwate), and Kamaishi (Iwate)—and revisits some of Watanabe’s encounters over the past decade.

Kiyo in Kyoto: from the Maiko House

March 24th

23:30 / 5:30 / 12:30 / 17:30

Teenage Kiyo and her childhood friend Sumire have come to Kyoto far away from their hometown, dreaming to become maiko (professional female entertainers especially skilled in traditional performing arts such as dance and music).However, after an unexpected turn of events, Kiyo starts working as a live-in cook at a place called “Maiko House”, where maiko live together like a family. Sumire, on the other hand, strives toward her promising future as “the one-in-a-century maiko”. Their story unfolds in Kyoto’s traditional entertainment district called Kagai.You will enjoy its gorgeous atmosphere and behind-the-scenes anecdotes as wonderful meals prepared by Kiyo and her kitchen episodes will warm your heart. Stay tuned for this touching story of two childhood friends encouraging each other to grow up together!

The Tale of Granny Mochi: Kuwata Misao

March 14th

1:10 / 7:10 / 13:10 / 19:10

The Tsugaru peninsula lies on the northern part of Japan’s main island, and is home to some of the country’s most untamed landscapes. For more than 30 years, 93-year-old Kuwata Misao has made over 50,000 Sasa-mochi rice cakes every year here, all on her own. She goes into the wilderness to find bamboo leaves, and grows her own azuki beans to ensure the perfect ingredients for her delicious mochi. What is the meaning of work? Of life? Of happiness? Granny Mochi’s quiet, delightful tale warms the heart.

[Source: NHK WORLD TV]

USAGM condemneds Russian court’s decision to fine RFE/RL

USAGM condemneds Russian court’s decision to fine RFE/RL

4 March 2021

USAGM condemneds Russian court’s decision to fine RFE/RL

The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) today condemned a Russian court’s decision to levy steep fines against Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL).

“USAGM is very disappointed with the court’s decision, which can only be interpreted as an assault on media freedom and the free flow of information to Russia’s citizens. I have every confidence in RFE/RL as they continue to provide audiences in Russia with access to truthful, impactful reporting,” said USAGM Acting Chief Executive Officer Kelu Chao.

Russia’s revised “foreign agent” law requires designated news organizations in Russia that receive foreign funding to prominently label all content, including social media, as foreign agent-produced. Most of the organizations so designated by the Russian Ministry of Justice are USAGM public service media outlets, predominantly associated with RFE/RL. The law, originally passed in 2012 and amended in 2020 to include individual journalists, also imposes regular financial reporting requirements on these outlets. Given that USAGM’s legislatively mandated firewall prohibits its networks from accepting editorial direction from the U.S. government, RFE/RL has refused to label its content in such a wholly inaccurate manner.

In filing more than 250 violations of “foreign agent” regulations, the Kremlin has specifically targeted nine of RFE/RL’s reporting projects: Radio Liberty, its main service for Russia; the Current Time TV and digital network serving a global Russian-speaking audience; the regional reporting projects North.Realities, Siberia.Realities, Caucasus.Realities, Idel.Realities, and Crimea.Realities; the Tatar-Bashkir Service; and the fact-checking website Factograph.info. Additionally, in late December, the Kremlin named three RFE/RL freelance reporters as individual “foreign agent” journalists.

The Committee to Protect Journalists said Russia should repeal the foreign agent law and “ensure that the country’s regulator is not used to censure journalists and harass and threaten media organizations.” Amnesty International said Russia’s foreign agent law “further erodes freedom of expression and association” in that country.

[Source: USAGM press release; Image: P Photo/Pavel Golovkin/Associated Press/Alamy Stock Photo]

Shahid VIP streaming offer for Ramadan

Shahid VIP streaming offer for Ramadan

3 March 2021

Shahid VIP streaming offer for Ramadan

Shahid VIP – the premium, subscription-based service of Shahid, the world’s leading Arabic streaming platform – announces the rollout of its exclusive and special programming for Ramadan 2021.

Under the slogan of “Ramadan Ma’ana”, or “Ramadan with Us” in English, Shahid VIP is the go-to platform for the month, as it is to feature the biggest acting, performing, and presenting stars from the Gulf and the rest of the Middle East and North Africa region through a variety of genres. They include drama to comedy; action, thrillers and suspense; lifestyle and social content; TV game shows and competitions; general entertainment, and more.

In fact, it is the first time that more than 40 new Arabic titles will be shown on a single platform during the holy month – all of which can be viewed without ad breaks. Titles range from “exclusive-to-Shahid VIP” programmes, to special “before TV” previews, meaning a programme’s episode will be available to watch on Shahid VIP before any other TV channel or platform.

CONTENT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY – ANYTIME & ANYWHERE

With Shahid VIP, users are able to watch what they want, when they want – from any screen they prefer, whether TV, smartphone or computer. It offers a fully portable entertainment experience for the whole family no matter where they are.

With special child-friendly Ramadan content also coming up, parents can take comfort in knowing that younger viewers get to watch content made just for them.

RAMADAN 2021: FIRST LOOK

With more titles and information to be announced in the coming weeks, here’s an exclusive first-look at what’s coming up on Shahid VIP:

  • From the Gulf: Titles featuring Nasser Al-Qasabi, Hayat Al-Fahd, Huda Hussein, Elham Alfadalah, Faisal Al-Issa… and many more.
  • From Egypt: Titles featuring Yehia El-Fakharany, Mohamed Ramadan, Ahmed El Sakka, Amir Karara, Ahmed Mekki, Yasser Galal, Amr Youssef, Mohamed Emam, Ghada Abdel Razek, Yasmine Abdel Aziz, Hend Sabry, Amina Khalil… and many more.
  • From the rest of the region, including the Maghreb and Levant: Titles featuring Qusai Khouli, Nadine Nassib Njeim, Salloum Haddad, Bassam Kousa, Mohamed Khouyi… and many more.

 

Part of MBC GROUP, Shahid is home to highly rated original productions from the Arab world, a wide range of exclusive movies and premieres, as well as the top watched live Arab TV channels.

MBC GROUP is the largest and leading media company in the MENA.

[Source: Shahid]

NHK WORLD February programme highlights

NHK WORLD February programme highlights

3 February 2021

NHK WORLD February programme highlights

Art is trash without social impact

February 6

23:10 / 5:10 / 10:10 / 17:10

“I don’t have talent like Picasso,” says Matsuyama Tomokazu. Yet, he’s acquired quite a following since moving to the U.S. in his 20s. His work is in numerous collections, including that of Bill Gates. 2020 was supposed to bring a triumphant return to Japan, with projects at Meiji Shrine and Shinjuku station. However, the Olympics were postponed and other projects during his stay were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The program tracks 300 turbulent days in which Matsuyama struggled to keep his team together.

 

Zeroing in: Carbon Neutral 2050

People are reducing their carbon footprint for a sustainable future. This series is produced in partnership with Northern California Public Media.

Episode 3: Climate Resilient Farming

How we tend the land has a great impact on our climate system. Instead of ploughing, some California farmers are working with soil microbes to grow food and retain carbon.

Episode 4: Living on Renewable Energy

California aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2045 while achieving economic growth. We look at how businesses in the state are turning to renewable energy to power their operations.

 

Miracle Body

Breaking Limits With Hyper-Adaptability

February 13th

15:10 / 21:10 / 3:10 / 9:10

Tatyana McFadden is a Paralympian who has won multiple gold medals competing in marathons and more. We see how her brain rewired itself to achieve such feats in a phenomenon called hyper-adaptability.

 

Side by Side

Wednesdays

1:30 / 7:30 / 10:30 / 19:30

Working together. Inspiring stories of Japanese people working with communities in developing countries to help solve issues and create opportunities.

USAGM CEO Michael Pack names Board of Directors

USAGM CEO Michael Pack names Board of Directors

20 January 2021

USAGM CEO Michael Pack names Board of Directors

Pursuant to the provisions of the William M. Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act, new boards of directors consisting entirely of independent directors have been appointed for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and Middle East Broadcasting Networks.

 

The diverse boards bring exceptional skill in the fields of journalism, language, technology, broadcasting, and diplomacy that are essential to the work of the three surrogate broadcast networks, which provide a lifeline of factual news for those living in places where a free press is denied to them by repressive government. 

 

Blanquita Cullum, the chairwoman of the three boards, remarked, “From my previous service on the Broadcasting Board of Governors, I understand the importance of delivering objective, accurate news about America and the world to combat our adversaries’ misinformation campaigns and to shine the light of truth into those dark corners where access to a free press is denied. The other board members and I will fight to ensure these networks and their journalists have the tools and support they need to perform their difficult but essential work, which itself is crucial for our national interest.”

 

The new boards each consist of the following five members:

 

Blanquita Cullum, Chairwoman. Host, producer, and writer for “The Hard Question.” Recently inducted into the Texas Radio Hall of Fame and was named “Champion of Radio” by the Multicultural Correspondents Association in 2016. She is a co-founder of Voices Against Trafficking. Previously a Governor of the Broadcasting Board of Governors from 2002-2010, Chairwoman Cullum has had a long and distinguished career in radio and television broadcasting.

 

Jonathan Alexander, Director. Senior Counsel for Governmental Affairs, Liberty Counsel. Has worked extensively on religious liberty issues and was previously Assistant General Counsel at Massachusetts Family Institute, a Fellow at the Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School, and a Scholar-in-Residence at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.

 

Amanda Milius, Director. Founder of 1AMDC Productions. Formerly Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of Global Public Affairs and Project Manager for the White House Office of American Innovation.

 

Roger Simon, Director. Novelist, journalist, and Academy Award-nominated screenwriter. Founder of PJ Media. Previously served as president of the West Coast branch of PEN, a nonprofit organization that works to defend and celebrate free expression in the United States and worldwide through the advancement of literature and human rights. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Writers Guild of America, and was on the faculty of the American Film Institute and the Sundance Institute.

 

Christian Whiton, Director. Senior Fellow at the Center for the National Interest. Previously served at the State Department as a Speechwriter, Senior Advisor for Strategic Communications, and Deputy Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues. He is the author of “Smart Power: Between Diplomacy and War.”

(Source: USAGM press release)