Thinking about Documentaries: A guide for potential documentary production

26 May 2020

Thinking about Documentaries: A guide for potential documentary production

Join us for a webinar beginning on May 30, 2020 at 4:00 PM SGT.

ABU is presenting a Four – Part Workshop: Thinking about Documentaries. The four sessions will be held on 30 May, 31 May, 6 June and 7 June respectively.

The series will identify a way of approaching documentary programmes and films through history, technical developments and the processes required for successful productions. The four sessions will be:

An introduction to Documentary making – Unraveling the “factual jigsaw” from news, features and current affairs to documentaries (30 May).
2. The Documentary Maker … a brief history of genres into documentary development and trends of documentary making (31 May).
3. A Documentary Template…… from concept to transmission (6 June).
4. The Surgery. Participants’ ideas and questions… suggestions and feedback (7 June). WHO’S IT FOR

Broadcasters and associated professionals, who wish to expand their knowledge, skills and ability in factual programme making.

MEET THE TRAINER

Russell Isaac is a broadcaster with 40 years experience and has conceived, presented and produced documentaries since 1982. Working across the globe, he has produced programmes for the BBC, ITV, S4C, ESPN, Sky, Al Jazeera etc. and has tutored and guided documentary makers in Asia,the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Latin America. From an academic background in Social Science Russell became a TV and Radio broadcaster in news and current affairs reporting, presenting and producing from conflict and disaster zones across the world. For 20 years he was Managing Director of a number of UK Independent production companies producing documentaries and sports and was also a senior training consultant for the Thomson Foundation. He is currently a media consultant on Climate Change and Societal Development for a variety of international companies and organisations. He graduated from UCNW, Bangor University, Wales and conducted his MA research for the Social Science Research Council.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

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Voyager Media Awards Recognise RNZ Journalism

22 May 2020

Voyager Media Awards Recognise RNZ Journalism

RNZ excellence in journalism has been recognised at the prestigious Voyager Media Awards announced on 22 May 2020. The annual awards celebrate the very best in print, digital and broadcast journalism on all media platforms across New Zealand.

RNZ journalists have won an unprecedented seven Voyager awards and have received judging commendations as runners-up in two categories.

Guyon Espiner has won the coveted Reporter of the Year Award, with judges noting that he broke one of the biggest political stories of the year and demonstrated a strong commitment to reporting issues of public importance. Espiner’s Voyager award follows his recognition last week as Best News Journalist at the New Zealand Radio Awards.

RNZ podcasts have dominated in Voyager digital categories winning two awards. The RNZ / Stuff production, White Silence, has won Best Narrative Podcast – also backing up from a double success at last week’s New Zealand Radio Awards, and the Voyager award for Best Episodic Podcast is He Kakano Ahau, a collaboration with Ursula Grace Films.

Aaron Smale (Ngāti Porou), is the Voyager Feature Writer of the Year for his longform, hard-hitting, journalism addressing the impact of inequality on Māori. Judges said his work is deeply moving and beautifully written.

Te Aniwa Hurihanganui (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Tuhourangi, Ngāti Tuwharetoa) receives the Te Tohu Kairangi trophy for Best Reporting – Māori Affairs. She was the inaugural recipient of the Henare te Ua Māori Journalism Internship established in 2017 by Radio New Zealand to support Te reo Māori and foster Māori journalism.

RNZ’s Logan Church won Best Junior Reporter for his insightful and compelling live radio cross in the aftermath of the Christchurch terrorist attack, with judges saying he displayed skills beyond his years.

In video journalism, Luke McPake was recognised as Best Feature or Current Affairs Video Journalist for Death Bed: The Story of Kelly Savage, which was described as captivating, powerful and creative storytelling.

Judging commendations as runners-up have been received by Phil Pennington in the individual Reporter of the Year category and the RNZ team for its investigation of the eviction of Tamaki state house tenants.

RNZ CEO Paul Thompson (pictured) congratulated all RNZ winners and finalists.

“These awards showcase excellence in New Zealand news and current affairs and I am proud to see our staff recognised as finalists and winners for their brilliant work – among such outstanding contenders. RNZ is committed to high quality, independent, and credible journalism and we value the opportunity to celebrate the industry with colleagues who represent the very best in New Zealand”

RNZ Voyager Media Award Winners for 2020:

Reporting

Guyon Espiner – Reporter of the Year

Te Aniwa Hurihanganui – Best Reporting – Māori Affairs

Logan Church – Best Reporter – Junior

Feature Writing

Aaron Smale, Feature Writer of the Year – Long Form

Video Journalism and Broadcasting–

Luke McPake, Best Feature of Current Affairs Video – Single Journalist

Digital

White Silence (RNZ/Stuff), Best Narrative Podcast

He Kakano Ahau (RNZ/Ursula Grace Films) Best Episodic Podcast

RNZ Runners-up are:

Phil Pennington – Runner-up Reporter of the Year RNZ- Runner-up Best Team Investigation

A full list of the 2020 Voyager Media Awards can be found here:

https://voyagermediaawards.nz/winners2020

Why freedom abroad affects us all

14 May 2020

Why freedom abroad affects us all

The CEO and Director of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, Grant Turner, has written about the importance of the work of USAGM broadcasters internationally

Just over four months ago, on December 30, a young Chinese ophthalmologist who worked at the central hospital in Wuhan, China, tried to warn colleagues about a contagious infection he’d noticed in several patients.

Within days, he was warned by police about “making false comments” and ordered to return to work. Months later, the infection he rang alarm bells about had made its way around the world and killed more than 80,000 Americans.

It’s impossible to know how many lives were lost as a result of silencing Dr. Li Wenliang. But it has never been more evident that freedom of information in other countries affects the lives of those in the United States.

Dr. Wenliang’s story is tragic, but unfortunately, not rare. For years, China has had one of the most repressive media environments in the world. But the explosive growth of coronavirus cases, as well as critical reporting on the government’s response to it, have only exacerbated censorship and repression of independent media and citizen journalists alike.

Personal attacks-like the one on Dr. Wenliang and other truth-tellers-and the subsequent oppressive media environment they create, are just two strategies for silencing the truth that is now amplified by the pandemic.

For example, according to the U.S. Department of State, Iran’s lack of transparency about its coronavirus outbreak has resulted in a devastating public health risk to the Iranian people, as well as to the region.

In taking a similar approach to obfuscating the facts, the governments of Hungary, Thailand, and Cambodia have made legislative moves to ban so-called “fake news.” In fact, they are using these powers to silence critics.

Even in environments where media exists in a free market, the coronavirus’s negative impact on advertising spends has been catastrophic for many independent and alternative publications.

These challenges to media environments are being augmented by the global health crisis. As press freedom declines around the world, the importance of the universal right to a free press has never been more apparent.

Journalists everywhere, including those who work for the public service networks of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), are facing increasing risks while reporting on the pandemic. They are routinely harassed and threatened just for reporting the news. Three of USAGM’s journalists are currently in jail, and eighteen have been killed in the line of duty.

And, in this global health crisis, the threats are more complicated. Not only are governments taking stronger action against journalists, but reporters must also physically distance themselves to avoid contracting the virus.

As the Columbia Journalism Review so eloquently put it, newsrooms have had to make decisions about “how to keep an industry that relies on human contact running, even as public health experts and government officials mandate social isolation.”

I can say, without equivocation, that USAGM’s networks and others are managing those difficult decisions with clarity, insight and fortitude. Journalists around the world are essential workers – reporting the truth, engaging audiences and connecting people, despite the logistical challenges of reporting during a pandemic.

Before the health crisis began, research indicated that more than 350 million people each week seek out content from USAGM’s five networks-some with support from our newest entity devoted to internet freedom, the Open Technology Fund-despite the best efforts of governments to block it. Now, even more, audiences are seeking out our news and information.

The world marked World Press Freedom Day on May 3, and we reflected on the essential services journalists provide, especially during this unique time in history. By reporting on the spread of the virus and how the public can protect themselves, and by holding governments accountable for their public health response, journalists reporting in one country have the power to save lives in another. For that, we owe them a tremendous debt of gratitude and our ongoing commitment to protect them and their work.

India’s public service broadcaster helping nation

13 May 2020

India’s public service broadcaster helping nation

Prasar Bharati, India’s public service broadcaster, reports that it has been receiving accolades and praise from all over the world for its multidimensional approach to public service broadcasting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A key element of this approach is the combination of high frequency infomercials on COVID-19 with iconic TV shows based on Indian epics such as RAMAYAN, MAHABHARAT, CHANAKYA and others. Similarly, All India Radio (AIR), the radio service of Prasar Bharati, has been regularly broadcasting the government advisories at high frequency while engaging celebrated authors such as Mr. Ruskin Bond to use the power of radio for some old fashioned book reading and story telling.

The re-telecast of RAMAYAN has seen more than 200 million viewers tuning in during the entire episode while the highest viewed episode with an audience of 77 million established a global record.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on 28 April 2020 published an article titled “Coronavirus lockdown creates captive audience for 80’s show” highlighting how the series engaged audiences across India during the nationwide lockdown

Similarly, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on 4 May 2020 published an article titled “The Ramayan: why Indians are turning to nostalgic TV” covering a range of aspects of the popularity of the Doordarshan TV shows and has given a comparison of viewership garnered by the RAMAYANA and popular international TV shows.

Al Arabiya relaunches with new technology and design

30 April 2020

Al Arabiya relaunches with new technology and design

Dubai-based pan-Arabic broadcaster Al Arabiya has unveiled new technology, studios and design across its television and digital platforms in a move designed to retain its top spot in a highly competitive market.

The Al Arabiya News Channel, a 24/7 free-to-air news and current affairs satellite outlet, is ranked the top news channel across many countries in the region, reaching 36 million viewers a week. The network has seen strong growth in its social and digital platforms, including Al Arabiya English and other foreign language editions, with more than 20 million users viewing 88 million web pages every month.

Partnering with global companies

The revamp involved rebuilding the broadcast studios in Dubai’s Media City to integrate new technology and set design. Al Arabiya partnered with New York-based Clickspring Design for the set design. The new studios are equipped with robotic Blackcam cameras that will enable the viewer to have a more immersive experience, showing not only the anchor but also the dozens of writers, reporters and editors that bring the content alive. Al Arabiya collaborated with Ross Video, whose Cambot cameras allow viewers to move anywhere around the studio floor. The network partnered with Belgian company Barco to deliver networked visualisation solutions.

New ‘organic and younger’ branding

Al Arabiya is also launching a new visual identity including an evolved logo, new on-air graphics and an updated font. The redesign of Al Arabiya’s unique Arabic font is the first since the channel launched in 2003.

“We created the original Al Arabiya font 17 years ago and it was the first font to be used on-screen. The font became so popular that it spread everywhere, being used by so many designers in the world, including big brands, as showcased on so many billboard brands and places,” said Fadi Radi, Head of Creative.

Al Arabiya’s staff began working on the revamp several months ago before the global coronavirus pandemic hit, which delayed the relaunch by a few weeks. But Al Arabiya’s General Manager Mamdouh Almuhaini said employees pushed through with limited people on site.

“We had to change some of our procedures as we had to reduce our physical staff to 20 percent at our studios, while the rest of our team worked from home. Despite the difficult circumstances, we are sure we will be providing something that is fitting of the Al Arabiya name and fitting of what Al Arabiya’s viewers expect of their network,” Almuhaini said.

Public Media Serving in the time of a pandemic…

23 April 2020

Public Media Serving in the time of a pandemic…

The year 2020 will be forever etched in our minds. No matter where we live, we share common experiences of fear, grief and the suffering that comes with uncertainty.

And yet in this time of crisis, we are seeing communities come together as never before. We are discovering an even deeper respect for our health workers and other first responders, as well as for the many unsung heroes who are putting the needs of others ahead of their own, often at considerable risk.

Rarely has the role of public service media been of greater importance than it is now. That is why we, the members of the Global Task Force for public media, would like to add our salute to the essential service being provided at this time by public broadcasters around the world.

Our countries may differ by culture and language, but we all share the common duty to Inform, Educate and Entertain. Our engagement with audiences of all ages across a range of broadcast and online services is critical to our success in serving them whenever, wherever and however they want.

We are seeing audiences turn to public media in record numbers for the trusted news and reliable information that is our hallmark – and that has become a matter of life and death. As with all organisations, we have had to adapt to cover COVID-19 in depth. Each of us is also playing an important role for our democracies and holding our public institutions and politicians to account, to ensure there is transparency in their actions.

The Global Task Force is particularly proud of the speed with which public media across the world have responded to the challenge of supporting the education of children who are learning at home by bringing together brilliant partners from across the public and private spheres. Public service media is uniquely placed to play this role.

Meanwhile our promise to entertain helps keep spirits up, especially among our older audiences who are the most vulnerable. We continue to support the performers and creative talent who inspire us and help define our cultures, bringing us closer in a time of social distancing.

To achieve these aims, our employees, our freelancers, our creative industry partners, and of course our private media colleagues, have shown unwavering commitment to provide essential services in these difficult times. The audio, film and television production sectors are a vital and growing part of our economies. Policy makers must take steps to protect the long-term health of this sector.

For all these reasons, we, the members of the Global Task Force, urge policy makers and politicians to support and defend the independence of public media and of journalism more broadly. Truly independent public service media has never been more precious to democracies around the world. Together, we will get through the current crisis.

We thank you, our public, for your continued support and for inviting us into your homes and lives.

Signed, Global Task Force for public media

David Anderson, Managing Director, ABC (Australia)
Thomas Bellut, Director General, ZDF (Germany)
Delphine Ernotte Cunci, President & CEO, France Télévisions (France)
Tony Hall, Director General, BBC (United Kingdom)
Jim Mather, Chair of the Board, RNZ (New Zealand)
Hanna Stjärne, Director General , SVT (Sweden)
Catherine Tait, President & CEO, CBC/Radio-Canada, GTF Chair (Canada)