5 May 2005
From 1 May Deutsche Welle has a second rebroadcasting partner in Iraq: Radio Alnas is rebroadcasting parts of the Arabic programme of DW-RADIO.
Four hours of DW programming daily is being rebroadcast in the evening, on MW 594 KHz which can be received nationwide. From June 2005 these programmes will also be on FM in Baghdad and in surrounding areas. Radio Alnas takes the DW signal via the Nilesat satellite.
DWs first rebroadcasting partner in Iraq was Radio Schatt Al-Arab in Basra.
5 May 2005
On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, media watchdog Reporters without Borders says European countries should be doing more to respect press freedom, not least by eliminating prison sentences for media offenses.
In its annual report, the group slammed an increase in “formal questioning of journalists, searches of media premises and seizures of documents” in Belgium, Denmark, France and Italy. It said France had taken “a dangerous step backwards” by creating new press offenses punishable by prison sentences. The organisation also expressed concern about “extra powers of requisition” granted in 2004 to police, state prosecutors and examining magistrates, which do not require a judge to be present during searches of journalists’ homes.
5 May 2005
Harris Corporation announced that British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB) has purchased the Harris D-Series Ingest and Play-to-Air Automation System for its forthcoming High-Definition Television (HDTV) services, with Harris also providing full turnkey systems integration for the new HD playout platform.
As BSkyB moves from tape-based playout to a server-based environment, the D-Series system will provide a reliable, scalable content management and delivery foundation for the launch of BSkyB’s HDTV channel offering in 2006, which will include sports, movies, entertainment and factual programming.
Because every environment is unique, the D-Series is configurable to provide the seamless ability to combine HD and SD material under one overall control system. Moreover, it will continue to support existing workflows and services, while allowing the introduction of new technology when required. The automation system is complemented by the latest in encoding and conversion technology, therefore providing BSkyB with a reliable, scalable and flexible platform that is fully integrated with its existing operations.
According to John Phipps, vice president of Harris Automation Sales for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, “Harris is proud to be selected for this important project. The Harris D-Series system has an excellent reputation for quality and reliability and will provide BSkyB with the option to work in any format it chooses. These capabilities are vital for broadcasters who seek to expand their operation to exploit new market areas and technologies and the project showcases Harris’ expertise in this area.”
Whereas many other automation systems are adapted from original designs for single channel playout, the D-Series was designed from the start for multi-channel operation. D-Series automation streamlines ingest, access and playout of digital assets by providing a “content aware infrastructure” that supplements central database information with embedded metadata in each segment of the server-based material. This superior metadata engine is essential for new services such as interactive television, where content and consumers are identified and targeted for new revenue streams. The Harris D-Series is a truly frame-accurate, real-time multi-channel automation system that provides automatic failover protection with error detection and correction features, thus assuring high-quality, uninterrupted on-air performance.
5 May 2005
The International News Safety Institute today formally launched a global inquiry into the rising death toll among journalists. The inquiry the first in-depth survey of its kind aims to examine the reasons behind the killings and produce a report and recommendations for international action to reduce violence against journalists and others involved in gathering the news.
It will be led by an expert Committee of Inquiry comprising news organisations, individual journalists, journalist support groups and legal experts. It is entirely fitting that we launch this inquiry today, World Press Freedom Day 2005, said Committee Chairman Richard Sambrook, Director, BBC Global News. There is no greater threat to press freedom around the world than the deaths of journalists seeking to keep free societies informed.
At least 1,300 news and media personnel journalists and critical support staff such as drivers and translators have died working on dangerous stories around the world in the past 15 years, according to INSI figures. Last year was the bloodiest in a decade. Although major wars take an increasingly high toll more than 70 dead in Iraq in two years most journalists die in their own countries as they report on issues such as corruption and crime.
Alarmed by the growing numbers, a number of news and humanitarian organisations last year invited INSI to establish a committee of experts to report on the legal, professional and practical issues related to the protection of journalists in dangerous situations. The Committee will hear from journalists who have direct experience of violence aimed at the news media in their own countries as well as on foreign assignment. The first of these fact-finding sessions will be held in Kuala Lumpur for Asian journalists on 10 May, followed by Doha on 23 May for journalists in the Middle East. Other sessions will be arranged for local and international journalists in Latin America, the United States, Europe and Africa. The Inquiry will also hear from governments, military and NGOs and examine reports and research from a wide range of other organisations. It expects to take at least a year before publishing its conclusions.
INSI invites anyone with information on or experience of attacks on journalists and other news media workers to contact the Inquiry: Richard Sambrook richard.sambrook@bbc.co.uk or Tel. +44 20 7557 2057; INSI Director Rodney Pinder rodney.pinder@newssafety.com or mobile +44 7734 709 267
5 May 2005
Radio France Internationale and Deutsche Welle are to join forces to broadcast their programmes in the Arab world and states of the Commonwealth of of Independent States (made up of countries from the former Soviet Union).
Both broadcasters are looking at ways to air some DW Arabic-language programmes on Radio Monte Carlo-Middle East to gain more listeners. RFI will also help DW to develop its Arabic programmes.
DW and RFI are also considering sharing frequencies in Moscow, St Petersburg and parts of the CIS to enable RFI to broadcast its own French and Russian programmes alongside DW Russian and German programmes.
Both broadcasters have already been working together since January 2003 to produce programmes and study the use of shared FM frequencies, in particular in the Balkans.
5 May 2005
OSCE Chairman-in-Office Dimitrij Rupel paid tribute on World Press Freedom Day to the large number of journalists who have contributed to democratic change in the OSCE region in the last 30 years through their work. “Journalists have always been in the frontlines of resistance against authoritarian regimes and closed societies,” the Chairman-in-Office, who is also Slovenian Foreign Minister, said.
Uniquely among international organizations, the OSCE has a specialized institution that deals with freedom of the media, reflecting the understanding of the 55 participating States of the importance of a free press for both the quality of democracy and for security. “Professional, balanced and high-quality journalism, in which there is a clear distinction between reporting the facts and commentary, is essential to the democratic process,” the Chairman-in-Office said.
He noted that full media freedom was still not guaranteed in all OSCE countries. “In some cases, pluralistic public discussion is confined to the print press. There is a need to ensure a plurality of ownership in the broadcast media while transforming state television into independent public institutions,” Minister Rupel said. Regretting the use of criminal libel laws in some countries to restrict press freedom, the Chairman-in-Office said libel should be a matter for the civil courts.
