29 September 2016
The Broadcasting Board of Governors met at its Washington, D.C. headquarters on September 28, 2016 to receive status reports from each of the five BBG networks and to discuss BBG programming in key topic areas.
BBG CEO and Director John Lansing presented his report along with representatives from the International Broadcasting Bureau and network heads of the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Middle East Broadcasting Network, Radio Free Asia and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting.
Lansing updated the Board on agency-wide initiatives to counter violent extremism and on programming for women and girls.
“It’s noted that communities where women and girls participate in civic life are safer, generally more stable, more equal and ultimately are better partners for the United States,” said Lansing. “Unfortunately this sort of equality is difficult in many of the markets where we operate. In many cases we are the only potential platform to give voice to the voiceless women.”
Other agency highlights included OCB Director Malule Gonzalez’s readout of the recent OCB-hosted Cuba Internet Freedom Conference. The conference, which took place during Social Media Week Miami, brought together journalists, innovators and other individuals for talks focused on improving digital rights in the country. The event included a panel discussion featuring Alan Gross, the former U.S. government contractor jailed on the island for attempting to establish Internet access for a minority group.
Additionally, VOA Director Amanda Bennett briefed the Board on a recent town hall meeting which brought together Somali communities in Mogadishu, Somalia and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Bennet showed a clip from the town hall during which Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, who took questions from the crowd on topics ranging from terrorism to education, thanked VOA for hosting the event.
The Board was also introduced to Dr. Nnake Nweke, director of its newly created Office of Internet Freedom. Dr. Nweke will lead the development of the BBG’s strategies on combating internet censorship and will study its impact on BBG programming.
Minutes, documents and a video recording are available on the BBG website.
(Source: BBG press release)
28 September 2016
Regional broadcaster Channel NewsAsia and its partners, CSR Asia and Sustainalytics, today announced that technology companies took seven of the top ten spots in the 2016 Channel NewsAsia Sustainability Ranking. Wipro Ltd. was ranked number one for its proactive efforts to reduce its energy use and mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The annual Ranking identifies the top 100 companies in Asia with the highest sustainability performance, measured based on a broad range of environmental, social and governance (ESG) indicators. The partners released the Ranking at the 2016 CSR Asia Summit in Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong.
Key findings of the 2016 Channel NewsAsia Sustainability Ranking
Companies in the technology sector captured the largest proportion of positions (38 of 100) in the Ranking.
Eighty-two percent of companies in the top 100 are from Japan (33), Taiwan (20), India (16) and South Korea (13). Regulatory oversight of corporate sustainability disclosures is likely the reason for companies in these countries to take leading positions.
Five Japanese companies have been placed in the top 20 of this year’s Ranking, up from only one in the 2015 Ranking.
The top five companies in the 2016 Ranking are Wipro Ltd. (India), City Developments Limited (Singapore), Lite-On Technology Corp. (Taiwan), Hankook Tire Co., Ltd. (South Korea) and Qisda Corporation (Taiwan).
The 2016 Channel NewsAsia Sustainability Ranking is generated based on specific ESG indicators and methodology developed by Sustainalytics, a leading global provider of ESG and corporate governance research and ratings. From the full list of 100 companies identified, the Ranking highlights the overall top performing 20 companies and the top three businesses per country. A total of 11 territories are covered in this robust research – China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand.
The Channel NewsAsia Sustainability Ranking is part of the channel’s initiative under its larger Corporate Social Responsibility project, Changing Lives. The focus for this year – Business and Philanthropy in Asia – highlights the importance for today’s businesses to take the lead in propelling social change and progress in Asia. The Ranking urges businesses in the region to find the balance among their economic, social and environmental responsibilities in their operations.
Ms Hidayah Ong, Head of Mediacorp’s News Segment, says, “Amidst the competitive and busy corporate climate in Asia, this Ranking serves to help businesses benchmark themselves against some of the best in the industry. It spotlights companies that are successful in corporate sustainability and urges action from others. We hope that such initiatives play a pivotal role in driving change.”
Mr Michael Jantzi, CEO of Sustainalytics, says, “Over the past few years, the consideration of ESG factors has gained significant momentum throughout Asia. This Ranking has added to the dialogue, bringing more attention to the importance of company ESG issues. We congratulate the companies included in this year’s Ranking for providing comprehensive sustainability information to their stakeholders.”
Mr Richard Welford, Chairman, CSR Asia said, “This ranking enables companies and their stakeholders to benchmark performance with respect to sustainability. Bold and effective leadership – from business, government and individuals – is needed to drive the sustainability agenda forward in Asia Pacific. Indices like the Ranking are an important tool to assess which companies are looking to become regional and global leaders”.
The Ranking is available online at http://sustainability-ranking.channelnewsasia.com/
(Source: Channel NewsAsia press release)
27 September 2016
RT received seven trophies at the prestigious Lovie Awards – the European counterpart of the Webbys, which honors outstanding achievement in digital media. RT won three People’s Lovies based on public online voting. Additionally, an expert jury composed of representatives of major international media companies such as Google, Twitter, and the Huffington Post awarded RT one silver and three bronze prizes.
Chernobyl: Fallout 30, RT’s special interactive multimedia project marking the 30-year anniversary since the nuclear disaster, received a silver for “Web: Best Practices” and a bronze for “Web: Best Use of Animation/Motion Graphics”. RT’s website RT.com and RT’s social media platforms (on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Soundcloud, Coub and Instagram) were awarded bronze trophies in the “Web: News” and “Social: Best Overall Social Presence” categories respectively.
In addition to the expert jury prizes, following an online vote, RT won “The People’s Lovie” in three categories. In the “Web: News” category, RT.com surpassed the likes of VICE News, RFERL and The Guardian. In the “Social: Best Overall Social Presence” category, viewers gave the top spot to RT, leaving behind The Guardian and the popular “Game of Thrones” TV series, while Chernobyl: Fallout 30 won in “Web: Best Use of Animation/Motion Graphics.”
“To receive seven prizes in such a prestigious and high-profile digital media competition – that’s incredibly cool! But to win the People’s Lovie in almost all the categories where we contested means even more: it proves that RT enjoys highly engaged audience, and when your real fans vote for you to win – it means more than any gold,” said Kirill Karnovich-Valua, RT’s Head of Online Projects. “We thank the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences for this honor, and we thank everyone who voted for us – it is our joint victory!”
In April 2016, RT won the People’s Voice Award Webby – the leading international award honoring excellence on the Internet – in an open online vote. Webby Awards online voters chose RT social media platforms over those of BBC News, ABC News, NBC Nightly News, and the New York Times.
RT is a global TV news network that broadcasts 24/7 in English, Arabic and Spanish from its studios in Moscow, Washington, D.C., and London. RT has a weekly TV audience of 70 million people in 38 countries, and is the most watched TV news network on YouTube with nearly 4 billion views. RT is the winner of the Monte Carlo TV Festival Awards for best 24-hr newscast, and the only Russian TV channel to become a four-time finalist of the International Emmy Award for News.
The Lovie Awards is the most prestigious pan-European awards honoring online excellence. Now in its sixth year, The Lovie Awards continues to celebrate the most resonant and pertinent stories in Europe, those inside and outside of the prevailing trends. The Awards reflects the tremendous growth of the internet as a tool for business and everyday lives. The Lovie Awards presents gold, silver and bronze awards as chosen by members of the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS). In addition, the online public votes for their favorite finalists to take home The People’s Lovie Award in each category.
(Source: RT press release)
26 September 2016
Deutsche Welle has filed a claim in a civil court in Ankara for the return of video material containing an interview with a Turkish minister. Following the filming of a TV interview in Ankara on September 5, 2016 for the Deutsche Welle broadcast series “Conflict Zone” with Michel Friedman, the Turkish Minister of Youth and Sports, Akif Cagatay Kilic, the video material was confiscated by Turkish authorities.
The Turkish ministry allowed a deadline set by Deutsche Welle for the return of the materials on the following afternoon to pass without the materials’ return. Attorneys for Deutsche Welle thence set a second deadline for their return, which was ignored by Turkey. As a result, Deutsche Welle has filed suit at a court in Ankara.
Deutsche Welle’s Director General, Peter Limbourg, condemned the Turkish authorities: “This is an event that has nothing to do with rule of law and democracy. We are now using legal methods to demand the prompt return of our video material.”
DW’s Broadcasting Board met in Berlin on September 23, 2016, where they explicitly supported the filing of a suit for the return of the video material. Board Chairman Dr. Karl Jüsten said, “We advocate for unrestricted freedom of the press. Turkey is closely connected to Europe. Along with that comes respect for democratic foundational principles including press freedom. Comparable standards must be adhered to. It is deeply troubling that Deutsche Welle has been forced to file suit in court for the return of the video interview with the Turkish minister.”
The Broadcasting Board likewise welcomed the journalistic engagement that DW has shown in regards to Turkey as well as for Turkish speakers in Germany. The Board requested that DW be financially endowed accordingly in order to adequately fulfill their responsibilities as the provider of objective information in a politically significant region.
“We cannot accept what is happening in Turkey with regards to press freedom. DW is required to inform people in a comprehensive and objective way and to convey Germany’s positions,” Jüsten said.
“Conflict Zone” is DW’s most prominent political interview television show. The interviews that take place gain international attention – though most especially in the interview partner’s country. The interviews in the political broadcast “Conflict Zone” in DW’s English-language television program are confrontational. “Conflict Zone” is uncompromising as it strives for positions and authenticity. The moderators, Tim Sebastian and Michel Friedman, are unyielding in their approach to their guests.
(Source: DW press release)
23 September 2016
Watch the trailer ► http://f24.my/2dgqiKy
FIRST DEBATE ON SEPTEMBER 27th AT 3:00am (PARIS TIME)
As part of its extensive coverage of the US presidential campaign, France 24 will live broadcast the three debates between the Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican candidate Donald Trump.
Broadcast on France 24’s three channels (in English, in French and in Arabic) and on France 24’s digital platforms (France24.com, Youtube channel, Facebook pages).
Location: Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
- On October 10th at 3:00 am (Paris time)
Broadcast on France 24 English channel as well as France 24’s digital platforms in English (France24.com, Youtube channel, Facebook page).
Location: Washington University, St. Louis, MO
- On October 20th at 3:00 am (Paris time)
Broadcast on France 24’s three channels (in English, in French and in Arabic) and on France 24’s digital platforms (France24.com, Youtube channel, Facebook pages).
Location: University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
Following these broadcasts, France 24’s US correspondents will analyze the key moments of each debate with guests and experts on set.
On November 8th and 9th, France 24 will team up with France Médias Monde channels RFI and MCD to offer a special night entirely dedicated to the US presidential election in three languages (English, French and Arabic).
(Source: France 24 press release)
23 September 2016
A court in Uzbekistan this week upheld a decision to sentence the brother of an RFE/RL journalist to eight years in prison on drug-related charges, the latest in a series of cases that appear to target family members in retaliation for their relatives’ reporting.
The Ferghana appeals court, in the country’s southern Ferghana Valley, rejected Aziz Yusupov’s appeal on September 20 in a session in which no witnesses were present and, according to his mother, took 15 minutes. No witnesses testified in the original hearing in August, nor was any evidence brought against Yusupov to corroborate the charges.
Drug charges are frequently brought against independent journalists, human rights defenders, and other government critics in Uzbekistan.
Noting that the decision comes only two weeks after the appointment of interim president Shavkat Mirziyaev, following the death of long-serving leader Islam Karimov, RFE/RL President Thomas Kent said, “Uzbekistan’s new leaders should know that RFE/RL vigorously condemns any attack on the family members of our journalists, and any attempt to intimidate or silence us.”
In a statement issued following Yusupov’s original conviction, the media advocacy group Reporters Without Borders called the charge “trumped-up,” characterizing it as an effort by authorities to continue “stepping up their persecution of the country’s few remaining independent journalists.”
Other members of RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service and their relatives have been subject to attempts at intimidation recently. One employee’s apartment in Tashkent was seized by agents with Uzbekistan’s National Security Service in August. Another employee was warned this spring that her brother would suffer if she continued working for RFE/RL. Authorities have interrogated the family members of RFE/RL employees about their relatives’ journalistic work, and in several cases have denied their requests for exit visas to leave the country.
RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service, known locally as Radio Ozodlik, operates from Prague, having been forced to close its bureau in Tashkent in 2005 following that year’s massacre in the eastern city of Andijon. Ozodlik relies on constant innovation and a wide network of local sources to report news and engage with audiences in one of the world’s most closed societies. Despite government efforts to block access, the Service’s website averages more than 2 million visits per month; during the week that President Karimov died (August 28-September 4), the website registered 6.5 million page views, while the Service reached more than 5.1 million via social media platforms, and its videos were watched 5.5 million times on YouTube.
(Source: RFE/RL press release)
