Commitments to protect media freedom announced

31 March 2023

Commitments to protect media freedom announced

100+ GOVERNMENTS, CSOs, CORPORATIONS, AND MEDIA GROUPS TO ISSUE COORDINATED COMMITMENTS TO PROTECT MEDIA FREEDOM WORLDWIDE

Media Freedom Cohort creates unprecedented global partnership supporting independent media

Ahead of the Summit for Democracy 2023, more than 100 governments, businesses, and media support organisations are making official commitments to protecting media freedom worldwide.

The commitments are a direct response to a call to action issued by the Media Freedom Cohort – an international coalition chaired by the Governments of Canada and the Netherlands and facilitated by the international NGO Internews. The full list of commitments is available here.

“This is a tremendous achievement for the global movement supporting independent media,” said Internews’ President and CEO Jeanne Bourgault. “At a time when journalists face new threats, local news outlets struggle to stay afloat, and dangerous disinformation campaigns sway public opinion, it’s very encouraging to see an unprecedented number of influential actors come together to protect free, high-quality journalism around the world.”

The commitments provide a concrete roadmap for making progress in the Media Freedom Cohort’s three priority areas: protecting journalists’ safety and security, advancing freedom of expression, and bolstering independent and diverse media. Actors behind the commitments include 27 governments, leading news organizations such as The New York Times and Associated Press, corporations such as Microsoft and WPP, and an array of civil society groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, BBC Media Action, Free Press Unlimited and IREX. Details about each commitment, including metrics and projected timelines, can be found in the Media Freedom Cohort’s Findings Report.

Looking beyond the Summit for Democracy 2023, the work of the Media Freedom Cohort will continue through the Media Freedom Coalition, co-chaired by the Governments of Canada and the Netherlands.

ABOUT THE MEDIA FREEDOM COHORT

In 2021, U.S. President Biden hosted the Summit for Democracy, at which countries from around the world pledged concrete actions to advance democracy at home and abroad. “Democracy’s Year of Action” followed, with governments and civil society groups working together to convene Democracy Cohorts in advance of the second Summit for Democracy in 2023. The second summit will highlight progress against commitments made in the first summit, as well as new commitments to advance democracy by a wider array of stakeholders. These broadened commitments were the focus of the Media Freedom Cohort, co-led by the Governments of Canada, the Netherlands and international NGO Internews. The Association for International Broadcasting is a key member of the Media Freedom Cohort, and is a member of the Consultative Network to the Media Freedom Coalition.

Orchard Clips launches with Middle Eastern Video Content

29 March 2023

Orchard Clips launches with Middle Eastern Video Content

New video clip sales business Orchard Clips, is launching on 30 March offering what the company says is an unparalleled selection of both historic and contemporary footage showcasing the rich diversity and cultural heritage of the Middle East. Orchard Clips aims to become the go-to destination for video clips from and about the region as the demand for this high-quality content continues to grow. See showreel here.

Orchard Clips will draw on its award-winning sister company, OR Media’s 30-year archive of documentary footage and unmatched access to people, places, and events across the Middle East. OR Media produced the winning entry in the historical documentary category in the AIBs 2022.

The Orchard Clips team says that it has scoured thousands of hours of footage for exclusive and elusive clip content. From events throughout the region’s history to the everyday lives of its citizens. Over 10,000 clips will be available at the time of launch, with hundreds more added every week for use by documentary producers, news channels, publishers, and brands.

OR Media is also currently documenting Saudi Arabia’s societal transformation, Vision 2030, and has been granted unique access to major cultural, historical and archaeological projects, many of which have gone unrecorded and unseen by the outside world. With over 150 hours of documentaries currently in production, Orchard Clips will make this footage, shot to the highest quality by award-winning filmmakers, readily available to worldwide content producers.

In addition to the exclusive content from OR Media, Orchard Clips will also be collaborating with high-profile third parties for content acquisitions and partnerships. The company is committed to helping Middle Eastern content owners turn their archives from a “cost sink” into a revenue-generating resource. They also plan to offer new user-generated content (UGC). The team will provide advice and support to help content owners effectively maximise their revenue potential.

Head of Orchard Clips and former AP archive manager, Luke Smedley, will lead a team of industry experts, with experience in managing, preserving, and monetising audio-visual content. He explains: “Right now, lenses – both figuratively and literally – are focused on the Middle East. With the World Cup in Qatar, protests continuing in Iran and the mega building projects of Saudi Arabia, the whole world is watching the region with interest. We’re committed to providing video producers with the right footage to tell the stories of the Middle East. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to be able to make the prestigious archive of OR Media available for the first time. The collection goes beyond the headlines and tells the intimate stories of the diverse people of this fascinating region.”

To ensure that customers can quickly and easily find and licence the content they need, Orchard Clips has partnered with Veritone, a leader in developing AI tools and services for video clip content ‘search and find’. The user-friendly platform will offer content that is both searchable and licensable online in English with an Arabic version coming soon. The range of purchasing options ensures that clients with different requirements can find a package that meets their needs.

Twitter blocks international journalists’ accounts

16 December 2022

Twitter blocks international journalists’ accounts

Social media platform Twitter has suspended the accounts of a range of journalists who report on the company.

Reporters including Steve Herman – a long time correspondent for Voice of America (pictured) who has covered the White House extensively – and others from CNN, the New York Times and Washington Post have all been locked out of their accounts.

In a statement, Voice of America said it “can confirm that at approximately 9:00 p.m. last evening [15 December 2022], Twitter suspended the account of Chief National Correspondent Steve Herman. Later in the evening he received additional notification of the permanent suspension of his account. Mr. Herman is a seasoned reporter who upholds the highest journalistic standards and uses the social media platform as a news gathering and networking tool. Mr. Herman has received no information from Twitter as to why his account was suspended.

“As Chief National Correspondent, Mr. Herman covers international and national news stories and this suspension impedes his ability to perform his duties as a journalist. We request that Mr. Herman’s account be reinstated along with an explanation from Twitter for the suspension.”

The response from across the globe to the suspensions has been swift. The UN Under Secretary-General for Global Communications, Melissa Fleming, said she was “deeply disturbed” about reports that journalists’ accounts were being “arbitrarily” suspended by Twitter.

“Media freedom is not a toy,” she said. “A free press is the cornerstone of democratic societies and a key tool in the fight against harmful disinformation.”

In Brussels, EU Commissioner Vera Jourova suggested that sanctions could be applied against Twitter using the EU’s Digital Services Act.

AIB chief executive Simon Spanswick said: “The Association for International Broadcasting is appalled that Twitter is suspending the accounts of respected and highly experienced journalists, including some who work for AIB Member news organisations.

“This goes against the principles of freedom of speech and does an immense disservice to Twitter’s user base across the globe who use the platform to gain news and information from trusted sources. The AIB and its Members call on Twitter to immediately reverse the suspensions of journalists’ accounts.”

Uzbek viewers gain more international TV channels

16 December 2022

Uzbek viewers gain more international TV channels

Viewers in Uzbekistan are to be able to watch more channels from outside the country, ensuring “citizens’ rights to full and objective information”. The list of foreign TV channels authorised to be carried in the central Asian country has increased to 192, up from 50. The increase has been authorised by the Agency for Information and Mass Communications.

The channels can be carried by pay TV operators in the country on cable TV, mobile platforms, web-based services and satellite TV.

In November, UzDigitalTV started carrying BBC World News, Bloomberg and CNN. Now the list of international channels authorised within Uzbekistan is:

1	1 HD MUSIC TELEVISION
2	365 DAYS TV
3	8 CHANNEL
4	AL JAZEERA
5	ANIMAL PLANET
6	AZTV
7	BARAEM
8	BBC NEWS
9	BBC WORLD NEWS
10	BLOOMBERG TELEVISION
11	BOLLYWOOD HD
12	BRIDGE TV CLASSIC
13	CBS
14	CGTN
15	CGTN Russian
16	CINEMA
17	CLUB MTV
18	CNBS
19	CNN
20	CNN International
21	DA VINCI
22	GERMAN WAVE
23	DISCOVERY CHANNEL
24	DISCOVERY SCIENCE
25	DISNEY CHANNEL
26	DUCK TV
27	HOME
28	HOME INTERNATIONAL
29	ENGLISH CLASS
30	EURONEWS
31	EUROSPORT 1 / HD
32	EUROSPORT 2 / HD
33	FASHION TV
34	FOX NEWS
35	FRANCE 24
36	FUEL TV
37	GOLDEN GIRL
38	HDL
39	HOOLLYWOOD HD
40	INSIGHT
41	ITV
42	JEEM TV
43	JIMJAM
44	KBS WORLD
45	KHL
46	READING
47	LOVE NATURE
48	MEZZO LIVE HD
49	MMA TV
50	MTV
51	MTV LIVE HD
52	MUSEUM TV
53	MY ZEN
54	NATIONAL GEO WILD
55	NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
56	NBC NEWS
57	NHK World Japan
58	NICK JR
59	NICK TOONS
60	NICKELODEON
61	NICKELODEON HD
62	OK TV
63	PARAMOUNT CHANNEL
64	PBS
65	QAZAQSTAN
66	RU TV
67	SEVENTY SPORTS 1
68	SEVENTY SPORTS 2
69	SKY NEWS
70	SPACETOON
71	SPIKE HD
72	STAR CINEMA
73	SUPER RTL
74	TCM
75	THE CW
76	FULL
77	TNT
78	TRACE SPORT STARS
79	TRACE URBAN
80	TRT AVAZ
81	TRT NEWS
82	TRT MUSIK
83	TURKMENISTAN
84	TV 1000
85	TV 1000 ACTION
86	TV 1000 RUSSIAN CINEMA
87	UFC
88	VIASAT EXPLORER
89	VIASAT HISTORY
90	VIASAT NATURE
91	VIASAT SPORT
92	VIP COMEDY
93	VIP PREMIERE
94	VIP SERIAL
95	ZOOM
96	ZOOPAK
97	AUTO 24
98	AUTO PLUS
99	ARSENAL
100	BEAVER
101	VISIT A FAIRY TALE
102	IN THE ANIMAL WORLD
103	QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
104	TOURIST’S EYES
105	CHILDREN’S WORLD
106	WILD HUNTING
107	WILD FISHING
108	WILD
109	DOCTOR
110	HOUSE OF CINEMA
111	PETS
112	DORAMA TV
113	DRIVE
114	LIVING PLANET
115	LIVING NATURE
116	LIVE
117	LIVE ACTIVELY
118	COUNTRY LIFE
119	COUNTRY INT
120	STAR
121	HEALTHY TV
122	INDIAN CINEMA
123	HISTORY
124	KALEIDOSCOPE
125	CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
126	CAROUSEL
127	MOVIE COMEDY
128	KINOMIX
129	SHOW
130	MOVIE PREMIERE
131	CINEMA WATCHING
132	FILM FAMILY
133	FILM SERIES
134	KINOHIT
135	KITCHEN TV
136	A MINOR TV
137	MOM
138	MATCH TV
139	MATCH! ARENA
140	MATCH! FIGHTER
141	MATCH! THE GAME
142	MATCH! PLANET
143	MATCH! PRIME
144	MATCH! FOOTBALL 1
145	MATCH! FOOTBALL 2
146	MATCH! FOOTBALL 3
147	WORLD
148	WORLD 24
149	MOTOR SPORTS
150	MY PLANET
151	MY ELEMENT
152	MEN’S CINEMA
153	MUZ TV
154	MUSIC FIRST
155	CARTOON
156	MULTILANDIA
157	SCIENCE
158	OUR SIBERIA
159	OUR SUBJECT
160	OUR NEW CINEMA
161	NTV
162	Public first channel
163	HUNTING AND FISHING
164	HUNTER AND FISHER
165	FIRST CHANNEL
166	FIRST SPACE
167	ADVENTURE HD
168	RBC
169	RETRO
170	NATIVE CINEMA
171	RUSSIA 1
172	RUSSIA 24
173	RUSSIA K
174	RUSSIAN COMEDY
175	RUSSIAN BESTSELLER
176	RUSSIAN DETECTIVE
177	RED
178	SARAFAN
179	SMILY TV
180	STS KIDS
181	T 24
182	MYSTERIES OF THE GALAXY
183	TV 3
184	TV CENTER
185	TV CAFE
186	TNV PLANETA
187	TAJIKISTAN
188	BREAKING POINT
189	MOTHER TONGUE
190	UNICUM
191	ESTATE
192	MESSAGE 24

RFE/RL Condemns Taliban Move to Further Silence Independent Media

1 December 2022

RFE/RL Condemns Taliban Move to Further Silence Independent Media

The Taliban has removed Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s (RFE/RL) award-winning programming from AM and FM radio transmission networks in Afghanistan.

“Azadi is a lifeline for tens of millions of Afghans, making the Taliban’s decision all the more tragic,” said RFE/RL President and CEO Jamie Fly, speaking on 1 December. “RFE/RL will not change our editorial line to accommodate Taliban demands in order to stay on the air. We know from experience that our audiences make great efforts to find us. The truth cannot be completely suppressed.”

For decades, RFE/RL’s Afghan Service, known locally as Azadi, has been a staple of everyday life in Afghanistan, commonly heard in public settings, from marketplaces to taxis. In a recent survey commissioned by the U.S. Agency for Global Media, half of Afghan adults surveyed use Azadi content weekly. Despite significant pressure from the Taliban, RFE/RL continues to provide bold coverage of stories suppressed by state media. Azadi has given a platform for the most vulnerable — women and girls, victims of violent extremism, the LGBTQI+ community, and youth — to share their experiences. Azadi has also informed Afghans about public health, provided school lessons for girls, exposed corruption, and helped the powerless find community and hope.

In contrast to official Taliban claims, Afghans have again and again expressed their appreciation and gratitude to RFE/RL for providing a vital public service. RFE/RL will continue broadcasts from outside the country, and will expand options to reach its dedicated audience through other platforms.

RFE/RL’s Afghan Service is one of the most popular and trusted media outlets in Afghanistan, providing uncensored news in the Dari and Pashto languages. Following the Taliban takeover, RFE/RL closed its Kabul bureau, yet Azadi continues to cover events ignored by state media. In partnership with Learn Afghanistan, Azadi has also used innovative and accessible platforms to provide lessons for girls in grades 7-12 now barred from attending school. RFE/RL’s Afghan Service has a growing digital presence to reach younger audiences, with millions of video and page views on its websites, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Afghanistan is one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists, and RFE/RL journalists have paid the ultimate price for their commitment to a free press. In 2018, three Radio Azadi journalists — Maharram Durrani, Abadullah Hananzai, and Sabawoon Kakar — were killed in a suicide bomb attack in Kabul. In 2020, Mohammad Ilyas Dayee was killed in a targeted bomb attack.

Arqiva and MainStreaming in streaming video distribution partnership

14 November 2022

Arqiva and MainStreaming in streaming video distribution partnership

Arqiva and MainStreaming have forged a technology and services partnership, to jointly offer distribution services for the media streaming market.

The partners will explore how the combination of MainStreaming’s cutting-edge CDN technology and broadcast-grade streaming experience with Arqiva’s global media infrastructure and managed services capability can offer more scalable, flexible, and programming-centric content distribution services for the media streaming market.

With ever-growing viewer numbers on streaming services and the increasing strategic value of online audiences, the streaming needs of the biggest broadcasters and service providers are greater than ever. The combination of a large audience served, consistently high video quality, and low latency is the tough combination to get right hour after hour. As such, secure, scalable and cost-effective content distribution networks are vital.

Existing streaming distribution networks are not well suited to deliver either the quality of service required by service providers or the quality of experience expected by audiences. The growing carbon footprint of streaming services is also a concern for both providers and audiences. Arqiva and MainStreaming are coming together to address these issues and to challenge conventional approaches to content distribution.

“MainStreaming’s technology makes true edge computing for the media industry a reality, and already delivers important benefits for our industry-leading customers,” said Antonio G. Corrado, CEO, MainStreaming. “We are excited to work together with Arqiva and the media industry to take advantage of our real-time, ultra-low latency, highly scalable streaming capabilities to deliver broadcast-grade streaming and also create new and exciting edge applications for video delivery.”

Clive White, CTO, Arqiva, commented: “The streaming world is changing fast and navigating the commercial and technical issues has never been harder. Arqiva and MainStreaming will be collaborating on a range of new capabilities and service offerings to meet these challenges with a view to optimising the customer experience and adding value to the biggest broadcasters in our core markets.”