France Médias Monde strengthens collaboration with Mexican radio stations

4 December 2024

France Médias Monde strengthens collaboration with Mexican radio stations

Marie-Christine Saragosse, President and CEO of France Médias Monde, has signed two framework agreements to strengthen collaboration between RFI and Mexican public and university radio stations

The first is a tripartite framework agreement between France Médias Monde , La RED México, which brings together all of Mexico’s educational and cultural radio and TV stations, and the Federation of French Alliances of Mexico. This agreement was signed during a session with the remote participation of Fernando Sánchez Mejorada and Azucena Pimentel, respectively the outgoing president and new president of RED México, as well as Clémence Mayoral, coordinator of the Federation of French Alliances of Mexico.

This agreement makes available to RED México the original bilingual series of initiation to the French language of RFI “Parlez-vous Paris?” and “Les voisins du 12 bis“, adapted for Spanish speakers, and grants their broadcast on the airwaves of the network radios wishing to program them. These original series, produced by the “Langue française” service of RFI and which are part of the offer “Easy French with RFI“, and the dedicated teaching materials (teaching sheets, self-correcting exercises, comic strips, etc.) can also be used in classes by the thirty or so Alliances Françaises in Mexico, an observer member country of the OIF.

The second is a bilateral framework agreement between the Association of University Radios of Mexico (RRUM), represented remotely by its president Sandra Fernández Alaniz , and France Médias Monde.

This agreement aims to increase collaboration between RFI and the 22 university radio stations that are part of this network, several of which already broadcast RFI programs in Spanish in Mexico. It is intended to facilitate training and exchange projects between Mexican university radio stations and RFI, as well as to strengthen the promotion of the “RFI Award for reporting in Spanish”, which celebrated its 10th edition in 2024, among Mexican Universities.

Thanks in particular to these agreements and an active partnership policy, Mexico now constitutes RFI’s third largest listener base, and the Latin American country in which RFI has the largest number of partner radio stations that broadcast its content.

Image: Marie Christine Saragosse and Blanca Jiménez Cisneros at the signing of framework agreements, courtesy France Médias Monde

85 Years of ABC International

4 December 2024

85 Years of ABC International

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) celebrates 85 years as Australia’s trusted international voice.

On 20 December 1939, just after the start of WWII, Australian Prime Minister Robert Menzies launched ABC Radio Australia, then called Australian Calling, to counter disinformation and propaganda from enemy forces. Since then, ABC International has undergone many changes. Today, it is engaging audiences in Asia and the Pacific and supporting media across the region through the work of two teams – ABC International Services and ABC International Development.

ABC Radio Australia and international television service ABC Australia reach nearly 11 million people each month and digital platforms ABC Pacific and ABC Asia are also experiencing rapid growth. Meanwhile, media capacity building activities, funded by the Australian Government through DFAT and managed by ABC International Development, continue to expand, promoting public interest journalism in the Asia Pacific.

As part of the birthday celebrations, ABC International has launched an interactive storytelling platform, the Indo-Pacific Media Map, which portrays the ABC’s activities, audiences and impact across the region.

This week, international audiences will also enjoy special birthday content on ABC Pacific, ABC Asia and ABC Radio Australia, including ABC Radio Australia Nesia Daily presenters Jacob McQuire and Michael Chow interviewing iconic former ABC Radio Australia identities and unearthing some of the biggest moments from the past 85 years of programming and an in-depth digital feature delving into ABC International’s fascinating past.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “I am incredibly proud of ABC International’s legacy as the trusted and independent Australian voice for 85 years in the Asia Pacific region. As we take this moment to reflect on our journey, we also look to the future as we continue to grow our international audiences and deepen our connections, championing regional storytelling and a robust and independent media landscape.”

EXPLORE THE INDO-PACIFIC MEDIA MAP

Take a journey through the media landscape of Asia and the Pacific using our interactive platform, the Indo-Pacific Media Map, and discover the depth and impact of the ABC’s international activities: https://indopacificmediamap.abc.net.au/

BBC World Service in Kuala Lumpur to record The Arts Hour On Tour

11 November 2024

BBC World Service in Kuala Lumpur to record The Arts Hour On Tour

BBC World Service is bringing its flagship arts and culture programme The Arts Hour on Tour to Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday 26 November 2024, featuring live performances and interviews with leading creatives from the city and country.

The programme will feature live performances and star guest interviews with Malaysian creatives who will join BBC presenter Nikki Bedi on stage, along with a live audience, to discuss the themes of cultural life in Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia right now.

Guests include screen star Sharifah Amani, whose latest film La Luna is Singapore’s submission to next year’s Oscars and tells the story of a woman who opens a lingerie shop in a conservative Malaysian village.

Film director Ng Ken Kin talks about Pendatang, his crowdfunded film, available to watch on YouTube, which depicts a fictitious dystopian Malaysia, where different races are forbidden to live together.

There will be live music from the extraordinarily talented Kuala Lumpur singer-songwriter Takahara Suiko, and from the phenomenal Sabahan band Tuni Sundatang with sensational singer, Dabra Sia, whose collaborations are fusing the folkloric traditions of Borneo with contemporary rock music.

Recorded in English for BBC World Service Radio, The Arts Hour on Tour visits cities all over the world to explore their hottest cultural trends by talking to the artists who live and work there, promoting cultural exchange across the world.

We are especially excited to visit Malaysia, with its rich mix of cultures, ancient and modern, and we hope to create an amazing opportunity for Malaysian talents and culture to be heard by our worldwide audience.

The show will be broadcast on BBC World Service Radio, to millions of listeners worldwide.

Everyone is invited to register to attend for free and be part of the audience for the recording:

Date: Tuesday 26 November
Venue: Playhouse @ The Campus Ampang
Address: Jalan Kerja Air Lama, 68000 Ampang, Selangor, Malaysia
Doors open at 7.15pm for a prompt 8pm start

Please register for FREE seat reservations here

ABC Radio Australia expands FM transmission service in Lorengau, Papua New Guinea

11 November 2024

ABC Radio Australia expands FM transmission service in Lorengau, Papua New Guinea

Residents of Lorengau in Papua New Guinea (PNG) can now tune into ABC Radio Australia on 101.9FM and enjoy its full suite of news, sports, music, culture and health programming.

The launch of the new transmission site in Manus Province, in Papua New Guinea’s northern region, marks a new milestone for ABC Radio Australia and its ongoing FM footprint expansion.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “We are delighted to be reaching new audiences in Lorengau and to continue to deliver on our commitment to expand ABC Radio Australia’s transmission footprint. We invite listeners in and around Lorengau to explore the growing offering of programs available every day, connecting its residents with the latest in regional news, conversations and music.”

Manager of Audio Output and Strategy Justine Kelly who oversees the ABC Radio Australia network said: “It has been a tremendous year at ABC Radio Australia with new presenters, the growth of new bespoke programming that includes even more topics of interest from across the region, and the expansion of our transmission network reaching new audiences. We’re thrilled that Lorengau is now on-air and broadcasting the incredible stories, voices and music of ABC Radio Australia.”

ABC Radio Australia has a long-standing commitment to Papua New Guinea and its diverse regions and audiences, and the new Lorengau service comes in addition to existing services in locations including Port Moresby, Lae, Goroka, Mount Hagen, Arawa (Bougainville) and Kokopo.

WAYS TO LISTEN:

There are multiple ways to listen to ABC Radio Australia – live via internet streaming or in your area through 24-hour FM stations, or catch up with full episodes on ABC Pacific online.

ABC Radio Australia is available in Papua New Guinea on 101.9FM in Port Moresby, Lae, Goroka, Mount Hagen, Arawa (Bougainville), Kokopo and Lorengau.

UK budget increases BBC World Service funding

30 October 2024

UK budget increases BBC World Service funding

In the first budget of the newly elected Labour government in the UK, additional funding has been allocated to BBC World Service. The organisation has been setting out its case to government to demonstrate its need for increased financing to meet the challenges posed by the threat of hostile nations’ international media operations and an increasingly troubled world.

The budget statement said: “In 2025-26, the settlement provides an increase in funding to the BBC World Service, protecting existing foreign language service provision and its mission to deliver globally trusted media, in support of the UK’s global presence and soft power.”

A statement issued by the BBC this afternoon says: “We warmly welcome the announcement of enhanced funding. We are pleased the government has acknowledged the strong case for investing in the World Service. As the world’s most trusted broadcaster, we are in a unique position to lead the global news and information market.

“Today’s announcement will enable us to maintain all of our existing language services, to continue fighting disinformation around the world, and also to provide emergency information services to those in crisis, as we have recently done in Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine.

“However, despite today’s announcement, the BBC World Service is not immune to the immense pressures facing the rest of the BBC – freezes to the BBC licence fee, materially significant global inflation, and the need to make investments for tech and digital upkeep.

“Given this, we will need to work through the details of the funding, and we will say more in due course about any changes and savings we need to make to stay competitive in the face of those continuing pressures.”

New partnership for ABC in New Caledonia

18 October 2024

New partnership for ABC in New Caledonia

The Australia–New Caledonia Media Partnership has been officially launched following the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) between the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and New Caledonian public broadcasters NC La 1ère and Caledonia TV.

This landmark partnership aims to foster greater cross-cultural exchange and strengthen cooperation between Australia and New Caledonia’s public service media organisations. The ABC’s international division has developed the agreements between the ABC, NC La 1ère and Caledonia TV which facilitate content sharing and future content collaborations.

The partnership was commemorated with a reception hosted by Australia’s Consul-General in New Caledonia, Ms. Annelise Young, at the Australian Consulate-General in Nouméa. Senior representatives from NC La 1ère and Caledonia TV, alongside ABC International Services Manager Nesryn Bouziane, attended the event to sign the MOUs and celebrate the new partnership.

As the foundation of the Australia–New Caledonia Media Partnership, these MOUs reflect the ABC’s commitment to closer cooperation with NC La 1ère and Caledonia TV. The partnership will focus on content exchange and sharing, with the ABC providing a range of current affairs, educational, and cultural programs — including The Pacific, ABC Australia’s flagship regional news program, which is now broadcast weekly on NC La 1ère.

The agreements also pave the way for the exchange of digital news and video footage for use in news bulletins and documentaries. This enhanced collaboration will strengthen the coverage of regional news and issues, benefiting the audiences of ABC, NC La 1ère, and Caledonia TV. Additionally, the partnership creates opportunities for future collaborations in regional events, co-productions, and content development.

ABC International Head Claire M. Gorman said: “The Australia–New Caledonia Media Partnership marks an exciting milestone in strengthening our regional ties with fellow broadcasters. We are eager to work closely with NC La 1ère and Caledonia TV to share valuable content and ideas. These MOUs represent a significant step forward in our collaborative efforts, allowing us to expand our programming and deliver even more diverse content to audiences in Australia and across the Pacific.”

Bénédicte Gambey, Regional Director of NC La 1ère, said: “This partnership rekindles the historic ties between public broadcasters ABC and NC La 1ère. We honour our predecessors who made it their mission to bring regional news into Caledonian homes and communities. Today, this partnership strengthens NC La 1ère’s role in informing the public and enriches our programming with content from the Pacific. In a hyper-connected world dominated by social media, where it’s nearly impossible to distinguish between news, rumours, or conspiracy theories, our agreement reaffirms the mutual commitment of media outlets that share the same ethics and respect for our people.”

Pierre Welepa, General Director of Calédonia TV, said: “Since Calédonia was founded 10 years ago, we have strived to be a ‘window to the world,’ particularly to our beautiful Pacific region, while also serving as a ‘mirror’ of Caledonian identity. This historic agreement with ABC allows us to further integrate our region’s cultural diversity and languages into our programming, while partnering with the oldest media outlet in the South Pacific. It is also an opportunity to share more of Caledonia’s authenticity across the Pacific, something the ABC understands and supports as we open up to the world. This new visibility comes at a time when it’s more important than ever to keep our connection to the Pacific alive.”