Pacific Break returns in 2023!

Pacific Break returns in 2023!

Pacific Break returns in 2023!

The Pacific’s biggest music competition returns to the ABC in 2023, kicking off on 21 September.

This year, the search for the Pacific and Timor-Leste’s best original talent launches with an exclusive concert in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Headlining the show is PNG-born Australian artist Ngaiire who will travel from Australia to Port Moresby to perform. Joining her on stage is last year’s Pacific Break winner Danielle as well as ABC Radio Australia music host and DJ Hau Latukefu who will broadcast a special edition of his weekly music show In The Fale: Live From Moresby.

Pacific Break offers unsigned artists living in the Pacific and Timor-Leste a career-changing opportunity with the winner flown to Australia’s largest international music festival WOMADelaide in March 2024. Throughout the six-week campaign, featured artists have their music and videos featured on ABC Radio Australia and ABC Australia programmes and on ABC Pacific digital and social accounts.

ABC Head International Services Claire M. Gorman said, “It’s great to see Pacific Break returning this year. It’s an important springboard connecting Pacific artists with audiences across the region, and we welcome artists from all genres and all the corners of the Pacific to enter their tracks for consideration.”

This year’s winner will be decided by a panel of judges made up of Ngaiire and ABC Radio Australia music hosts Hau Latukefu (In The Fale), Sose Fuamoli (On The Record) and Rick Howe (Island Music).

According to Ngaiire, “There is so much raw talent in the islands. I feel like the world is going to turn towards what’s happening in Pacific music at some point and Pacific Break is playing an integral part in laying the groundwork. I’m really happy to be a part of the initiative this year helping to find the next winner and even more excited that I get to come home and celebrate it with a live performance with my band.”

The free launch concert will be co-hosted by the Australian High Commission in Papua New Guinea and held at Port Moresby’s Lamana Gold Club. Ngaiire and Danielle’s performances will be recorded and available for audiences to listen on ABC Radio Australia and online through ABC Pacific.

The ABC first held Pacific Break in 2008 when Vanuatu group 26 Roots took out first prize with their track Broken Promises. Last year, PNG singer Danielle made history, becoming the first female artist to win the competition.  Other past winners have included PNG hip-hop artist Sprigga Mek as well as Emmanuel Mailau (PNG), III Kings (Solomon Islands), BSQ (Fiji) and Jaik Berg (Cook Islands).

Entries will open on 21 September until midnight on 2 November with the winner announced on ABC Radio Australia morning show Nesia Daily on Thursday 9 November.

Find out more about Pacific Break by visiting www.abc.net.au/pacificbreak

BBC News launches week-long focus on Artificial Intelligence

BBC News launches week-long focus on Artificial Intelligence

BBC News launches week-long focus on Artificial Intelligence

Throughout the week starting 17 July, BBC News is taking a closer look at Artificial Intelligence (AI) – exploring how AI is already affecting our lives, and looking at the ways it could impact all our futures.

Every day BBC News will launch new thought-provoking and informative journalism to help audiences understand what AI is, what it can do, and how it is shaping the world we live in. BBC News will speak to leading experts in the field and deep dive into issues around jobs, security and technology.

It kicks off with an exclusive interview with Ian Hogarth – the recently announced chair of the UK’s AI Foundation Model Taskforce.

In the interview, Hogarth talks to Zoe Kleinman about the importance of tech innovation in Europe, saying that we need to scale up companies in Europe instead of selling them on to be grown by larger global companies, citing the sales the sales of Skype to Ebay and Deep Mind to Google.

He also warns about AI and calls for greater understanding of the risks – telling the BBC “we’ve got to think about how to protect British jobs”  and explore how we “really hold these [AI] companies to account in an appropriate way”.

They also discuss the environmental cost of the energy the data centres will need which will add up to “a tremendous carbon footprint”.

An interview with Deep Mind founder Mustafa Suleyman, also out on Monday, explores security, the culture of risk taking in the UK to facilitate significant tech innovation, and the potential impact of AI on the way we live. He told the BBC:

“[AI] is going to be hugely product productive and beneficial for our civilisation. And clearly that also means that some people are going to struggle to make the transition. The question is one of values, how do we compensate those people who need to retrain and rescale and give them opportunities to improve and get back into the workplace. And to me, that’s a question of government subsidisation and support and ultimately, of taxation.”

The full interviews can be found on www.bbc.co.uk/news 

Across the week, audiences will be able to learn more across all BBC News platforms – including podcasts on BBC Sounds, news and investigations on the BBC News website and TV packages on the news bulletins and channel, as well as special content for iPlayer.

As AI increases in its capabilities and scope of work, BBC News will look across how it is currently affecting our working lives, and how it could change the job market and affect business. It will also look at the role of AI in education, and how it is already being used in sport and being used to create music and media.

The week also starts with a visual guide to help you understand AI, answering all the questions you need to understand the basics of what AI is, and what it does – from the different types of AI, to how it learns, and how it can understand images.

This follows on from the BBC Sounds ten-part series with Spencer Kelly – Understand: Tech and AI, which aims to demystify the technology in our lives, explore key topics and answers big questions such as ‘Can AI be controlled?’ and ‘Will AI take my job?’

Upcoming highlights will include Click with Marc Cieslak: Marc will create Click’s own AI ‘Gogglebox’, and an iPlayer special on AI Moments that Made your Jaw Drop.

More news and content will be launched every day this week, with range of BBC global platforms sharing the focus on AI including:

BBC Future – BBC.com’s science section will be publishing articles including the A-Z guide of artificial intelligence terms,  how to spot an AI cheater and how AI companies are buying up the rights to actors, musicians and personalities.

BBC Worklife will also be looking at the effect AI can have on your personal and professional life, including how AI can make you feel terrible about yourself – but it shouldn’t and how AI could save Gen Z’s professional futures.

Sudan civil war brings communications to near collapse

Sudan civil war brings communications to near collapse

Sudan civil war brings communications to near collapse

As the civil war increased in intensity in Sudan, communications including mobile phones and Internet connectivity all but collapsed on 23 April. Sudan’s media blamed the disruption to fuel supplies caused by the fighting. In many parts of Africa, mobile operators and ISPs rely on diesel generators to power their masts and data centres as the electricity grid can often be unreliable (for example, one broadcaster in Nigeria spends US$30-50k a month on fuel for its TV transmitters).
 
In addition to the fuel issue, it was reported that the fibre connection to one of the country’s principal ISPs was cut by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
 
According to monitoring group NetBlocks, internet connectivity was partially restored, but it is likely that if fighting continues, it will remain challenging to access the web.
 
The challenges with Internet connectivity have meant that access to news and information from Sudan’s broadcasters, and from those outside the country, has been impaired. This shows, in the AIB’s view, the need for a mixed approach to content distribution, including the retention and use of traditional transmission technology to reach audiences at times of natural or man-made disasters.
 
Broadcasters that operate Arabic-language programming delivered on short wave that are likely to be receivable in some or all of Sudan include:
  • Adventist World Radio
  • All India Radio
  • BSKSA
  • China Radio International
  • Ethiopia Broadcasting Corporation
  • IRIB
  • Madagascar World
  • Radio Akhbar Mufriha
  • Radio Algiers
  • Radio Bangladesh
  • Radio Cairo
  • Radio Dabanga
  • Radio Dushanbe
  • Radio Exterior de Espana
  • Radio Kuwait
  • Radio Romania International
  • Radio Sawa
  • Radio Tamazuj
  • Radio Vatican
  • Trans World Radio
  • TRT
  • Voice of Indonesia
  • Voice of Korea
  • Voice of Nigeria
Jazeera heads back to Doha as Buzzfeed cans news

Jazeera heads back to Doha as Buzzfeed cans news

Jazeera heads back to Doha as Buzzfeed cans news

According to the Guardian newspaper, the London broadcast centre of Al Jazeera English is to close. Programming will move to Doha, the Qatari capital. The London operation, located in the Shard skyscraper in the city (pictured), currently produces news bulletins between 1900 and 2300 GMT. The Guardian quotes an email sent to staff by Al Jazeera English managing director Giles Trendle in which he says staff producing live output will be offered the opportunity to relocate to Doha.
 
Al Jazeera English pioneered the concept of rolling newsrooms producing blocks of output. The original idea was that the day would be split into four, with output coming from broadcast centres in Kuala Lumpur, London, Washington DC and Doha. The KL and Washington output has been scaled back over the past few years with just London producing a block of content.
 
The Guardian believes that the London newsroom will remain in operation feeding into the main newsroom in Doha. It is unclear whether this withdrawal from London is a cost-cutting exercise or part of a reassessment of the best way for Al Jazeera English to operate in an increasingly competitive media marketplace.
 
Meanwhile Buzzfeed is adding to the woes of journalists as it is closing its advertising-supported news operation. Instead, it will concentrate its news operation through the Huffington Post that it acquired from Verizon Media in 2021. It is likely that the audiences for Buzzfeed News and HuffPost are different and it will remain to be seen if the Buzzfeed audience migrates to HuffPost.
 
For journalists at Buzzfeed news, the future does not look bright as founder Jonah Peretti announced that the company would seek to make substantial redundancies.
 
This contraction in the English-language online news space could be a blessing for other newcomers, like Semafor that wants to become a major player in global digital news. It may also help established broadcasters with significant online presence as users search for an alternative to Buzzfeed beyond HuffPost.
RTÉ appoints Kevin Bakhurst as next Director General

RTÉ appoints Kevin Bakhurst as next Director General

RTÉ appoints Kevin Bakhurst as next Director General

Ireland’s public broadcaster RTÉ has announced the appointment of Kevin Bakhurst as its next Director General following an extensive and competitive recruitment process which was managed by the RTÉ Board. Kevin Bakhurst will replace Dee Forbes as Director General of RTÉ when her term comes to an end on 11th July this year. 

Kevin Bakhurst was previously Managing Director of News & Current Affairs at RTÉ and Deputy Director General from September 2012 – October 2016. He was also a member of the RTÉ Executive throughout this period and served as acting Director General for a six-month period. 

Commenting on his appointment, Kevin Bakhurst said:“I am honoured and delighted to take up the role of Director General. RTÉ playsa central role in Irish life and has brilliant people dedicated to delivering great and trusted content for audiences. RTÉ faces huge challenges and global competition, and I am confident we can deliver the ambitious change needed to remain valued and relevant to our audiences. I’m looking forward to getting started.”

Prior to re-joining RTÉ, Kevin Bakhurst was Group Director, Broadcasting and Online at Ofcom where he was a member of Ofcom Board. Kevin’s responsibilities included setting Broadcast Strategy and Policy for UK broadcasting regulation, creating and implementing the framework for regulating the BBC, enforcing and developing editorial standards for UK broadcasters and leading work on the future of UK Public Service Broadcasting which has led directly to new government legislation. He has led Ofcom’s work on the UK’s new Online Safety Policy and built a team of around 350 to deliver it, including a new data and technology team, and in the process shaping the overall transformation of Ofcom to take on the new duties. 

Between 2006 and 2012, Kevin Bakhurst held a range of senior editorial positions at the BBC, including Controller, BBC News Channel and Deputy Head, BBC Newsroom from 2005. He was also a member of the BBC’s London 2012 Olympics Steering Committee. 

As Director General of RTÉ, Kevin Bakhurst will be required to take the organisation forward in a rapidly evolving media landscape, while ensuring RTÉ’s valued place in public life in Ireland. 

RTÉ will confirm Kevin Bakhurst’s official start date as Director General of RTÉ in due course. 

Commenting on the appointment of Kevin Bakhurst, RTÉ Chairperson, Siún Ní Raghallaigh said: I’m delighted to welcome today’s announcement of the appointment of Kevin Bakhurst as the new Director General of RTÉ. The appointment follows a competitive recruitment process, with Kevin as the unanimous choice of the RTÉ Board. Kevin brings an exceptional breadth of industry experience, great leadership skills and a passionate commitment to the development of public service broadcasting in all its forms. Kevin’s appointment comes at time of opportunity and change for RTÉ. With my fellow Board members, I look forward to working with Kevin in our shared commitment to a thriving and financially sustainable RTÉ. 

The AIBs 2023  – 19th global journalism and factual awards open for entry

The AIBs 2023 – 19th global journalism and factual awards open for entry

The AIBs 2023 – 19th global journalism and factual awards open for entry

Global competition inviting entries across 19 categories to showcase the world’s best journalism and factual productions across TV, radio and digital platforms

The Association for International Broadcasting has revealed the 19 categories in its 19th global competition that celebrates the world’s best journalism and factual programming.

Each year this renowned and respected competition – called the AIBs – attracts entries in many languages from all over the world. In 2022, more than 400 hours of content was submitted to the AIBs.

New for 2023 are two Presenter of the Year awards – one for TV, the other for radio (or their digital equivalents). There is also a new category rewarding the most innovative docudrama.

“The AIBs are immensely popular in the global media industry,” comments Simon Spanswick, AIB chief executive. “We are looking forward to seeing the extraordinary range of stories that are told around the world, helping journalists and programme makers to showcase their work on the global stage. We are privileged that so much remarkable work is entrusted to the AIBs each year and we look forward to celebrating success in our 19th contest.”

The 19 categories in the AIBs 2023 are:

TV/VIDEO/DIGITAL

  • PRESENTER of the YEAR
  • DOCUDRAMA
  • SHORT FEATURE
  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY
  • SPECIALIST FACTUAL
  • SPORTS JOURNALISM
  • HUMAN INTEREST
  • NEWS COVERAGE
  • POLITICS and BUSINESS
  • DOMESTIC AFFAIRS DOCUMENTARY
  • INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS DOCUMENTARY
  • INVESTIGATIVE DOCUMENTARY

RADIO/AUDIO/PODCAST

  • PRESENTER of the YEAR
  • DOCUDRAMA
  • SPECIALIST FACTUAL
  • HUMAN INTEREST
  • NEWS COVERAGE
  • INVESTIGATIVE DOCUMENTARY   

The competition is open for entry until 30 June 2023. Full information on all the categories, including what the international panel of judges will be looking for, is online at http://theaibs.tv.

The awards will be presented at the annual AIBs gala evening taking place this year on 10 November at Church House Westminster in the heart of London. The event attracts guests from all over the world who travel to London to meet colleagues, exchange ideas and to discover if they have won one of the coveted AIBs. Highlights of the 2022 event can be seen at https://vimeo.com/792992840/214dea2fb8.

The AIBs are run by the not-for-profit Association for International Broadcasting, the industry body for the international broadcasting and media industry.