4 August 2015
RT has handed over information on the Malaysia Airlines MH17 plane’s fragments to the Dutch agency heading the international probe into the crash. The investigators earlier contacted the network over the footage shown in a recent RTDoc film ‘MH17: A Year Without Truth’.
The film showed fragments of the crashed Boeing and pieces of luggage were still scattered in the area at the time of filming, many of which have since been collected by the administration of the nearby village of Petropavlovka. The contacts of the local officials were also handed over to the Dutch Safety Board, which is leading the international investigation.
In MH17: A Year Without Truth, which premiered on RT on July 17, 2015 – the one-year anniversary of the tragedy – tracks the course of the still-ongoing investigation into the possible causes of the crash, and features testimonies from experts the relatives of those who had perished in it. (Source: RT press release)
4 August 2015
International Radio Serbia – or Radio Yugoslavia – has been closed down by the Serbian government. The move was first announced in April when the government published its media strategy and new law on public information which was adopted in 2014 and brought about the end of state ownership of the media or its funding.
During protests in April, a letter from the station’s staff was handed to Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic which said: “Although the new media laws were adopted in 2014, we are certain there is a way for Radio Yugoslavia – International Radio Serbia to survive, being the only short wave radio station in the country, and whose broadcasts are reaching all continents. There is not a lot of us – less than a hundred – and before you solve our fate, check to see whether Germany has renounced on Deutsche Welle, Great Britain on BBC, the USA on the Voice of America, China on the China International, or Russia on the Voice of Russia. The situation is similar in Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania and Albania. Those are all radio stations financed form the state budget as their world service. Please consider those options and let someone speak to us before passing the decision to shut down the program in 11 languages, which offers exquisite possibilities for representing Serbia around the world. We sincerely believe you will find the way to hear our position and help us.”
The broadcaster, that had been on the air since the 1930s, had 12 language services and employed 96 staff, all of whom have lost their jobs according to reports coming out of Belgrade.
A statement on the radio station’s website says: “The Serbian government, however, believes that the closing down of Radio Yugoslavia – International Radio Serbia – is a justified move. Regardless of the fact that the state of Serbia is in an economic crisis, that each saved penny is precious, that many citizens have been rendered jobless, that new work positions should be opened, it has become unclear to the very end why the only state short-wave station has suddenly become too expensive after 80 years. We are, however, certain, that Serbian citizens, taxpayers, who have financed us for all these years, would have decided differently had they been asked to.”
4 August 2015
RNW Media has supplied mobile radio stations to two earthquake-ravaged regions in Nepal. The “radios in a box” [RIAB] were sent to restore communication in two agricultural areas, each situated around 100 kilometres from the capital Kathmandu.
It took RNW Media’s Technical Coordinator Marc Brouwer a three-hour drive eastwards on dirt roads to reach Krishi Radio, the “first and only agricultural radio of Nepal”, with a reach of around 25,000 people in the valley.
The second RIAB went northeast of the capital to Radio Melamchi Community in the mountainous village of Sindhulpalchok, one of the regions hit worst by the April earthquake.
Disaster zones.
The RIAB is a small mobile radio station specially designed for use in war zones or disaster areas where radio transmitters have been destroyed. With both stations situated on top of mountains, the transmitter range is at least 15 kilometers. Brouwer provided a crash course in operating the RIAB for staff at both stations.
Less than a cubic metre in size, the portable Radio in a Box is equipped with an FM transmitter, a mixing console, microphones, headphones, two recorder sets and a laptop computer for editing.
Monsoon
“We arrived just in time,” Brouwer says. “It was just before the monsoon season and we were lucky to get back to Kathmandu before the heavy rains started coming down. Our journey would have taken much longer in the pouring rain.”
“Besides, the monsoon season is when farmers in these areas rely the most heavily on the practical information aired by these specialised radio stations. They had cobbled together a makeshift transmitter themselves, but are now fully up and running with the Radio in a Box.”
Gratitude
The RNW Media crew appreciated the warm traditional welcome with shawls which they received at both stations.
As a token of gratitude, Krishi Radio presented Brouwer with a plaque reading:
“Heartfelt thanks to RNW, Netherlands for providing the radio transmission equipment to Krishi Radio, Nepal. Krishi Radio had been totally destroyed by earthquake on 29th April 2015. We hope RNW will be always with us for the betterment of Nepalese farmers and agriculture.”
All photographs © RNW Media/Daniel Maissan
4 August 2015
From Saturday 8 August, football fans in Africa can follow the exciting live action of the new season of the Barclays Premier League in four languages. BBC Africa will bring commentary from matches of the world-famous league to football fans across the continent – in French, Hausa, Somali and Swahili.
Broadcasts are available on BBC FM stations and partner radio networks. The programmes provide live match commentary and also interaction with pundits and fans across the continent via satellite links, telephone, SMS and social-media channels. Live updates from matches will also offered via live pages for each of these services on bbc.com, giving fans the chance to keep up with the matches wherever they are.
Solomon Mugera, BBC Africa Editor (pictured right), says: “We know that the English Premier League has millions of supporters from all across Africa and are very happy to be launching the season once again. Our commentary brings the thrill of these matches directly to fans, and there is more to come. In response to our audience’s growing interest in all things English Premier League, we want to give them an all access pass to players and clubs as well featuring the people who are the league’s heartbeat: its fans. Look out for our new and exciting online extras to support this season.”
How it will work
BBC Hausa
Weekly on Sharhin Gasar Premier League, commentators are Aminu Kado and Aliyu Tanko.
BBC Hausa reaches an audience of 18. 1million every week across Nigeria, Niger, and parts of Ghana and Benin. It is broadcast via 14 local FM stations.
BBC Hausa has over 872,000 fans on Facebook and over 110,000 followers on Twitter (as of July 2015).
Hausa-speakers anywhere in the world can access BBC Hausa multimedia content at bbchausa.com.
BBC Afrique (French)
Weekly on Samedi Foot, commentator is Emmanuel Coste.
BBC Afrique reaches an audience of 12.7million every week and provides content for 23 countries across Africa. It is broadcast via eight local FM stations.
BBC Afrique has over 382,000 fans on Facebook and over 124,000 followers on Twitter (as of July 2015).
French-speakers anywhere in the world can access BBC Afrique multimedia content at bbcafrique.com.
BBC Somali
Weekly on Tabinta Tooska ah ee Tartanka Premier League-ga Ingiriiska ee Sabtida, commentators are Ahmed Abdinur and Mohamed Deysane.
BBC Somali reaches an audience of 3.5 million every week across Kenya, Somali, Djibouti and parts of Ethiopia. It is broadcast via four local FM stations.
BBC Somali has over 299,700 fans on Facebook and over 32,000 followers on Twitter (as of July 2015).
Somali-speakers anywhere in the world can access BBC Somali multimedia content at bbcsomali.com.
BBC Swahili
Weekly on Ulimwengu wa Soka, commentators are Salim Kikeke and Hamisi Kizigo.
BBC Swahili reaches an audience of 16.6 million every week across Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and parts of Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi. It is broadcast via 21 local FM stations.
BBC Swahili has over 973,000 fans on Facebook and over 55,000 followers on Twitter (as of July 2015).
Swahili-speakers anywhere in the world can access BBC Swahili multimedia content at bbcswahili.com.
3 August 2015
Stockholm-based Newstag, the ‘mobile-first’ video news service, has been selected as one of 15 top start-ups in an international contest to recognise the most innovative use of mobile technology in business.
The entrepreneurial ventures were picked during this year’s GSMA Mobile World Congress – the premier event for the global mobile industry – by Mobile World Capital Barcelona, the not-for-profit foundation established to promote the latest mobile technology globally. The selection criteria included a high level of innovation, potential for growth and global positioning and economic or social impact.
The award forms part of Mobile World Capital Barcelona’s programme of entrepreneurship designed to promote international innovation in the mobile ecosystem, called 4 Years From Now (4YFN). The business platform, established to help start-ups grow is focused on building ideas and forging lasting relationships for international start-ups, investors and corporations. The highlight of the programme is a 4YFN event devoted to innovation in the mobile ecosystem.
Alongside the other finalists, Newstag will be joining the 4YFN delegation to exhibit at DLD Tel Aviv this September (7-9). At the three-day conference Newstag will take part in the programme designed to showcase the innovative platform to the tech entrepreneurship community.
“We are delighted that our new platform for creating and sharing video news content has been recognised with this award. It’s a huge endorsement and a great honour to be selected as one of the most innovative companies using mobile technology by the world’s largest mobile organisation,” says Camilla Dahlin-Andersson, Newstag Founder and Chairman.
Newstag’s pioneering and innovative approach to the distribution and consumption of news brings together video news stories from professional content producers around the world, including AP, AFP and Reuters, as well as top brands. By radically rebalancing the traditional relationships between industry stakeholders, Newstag aims to make journalism sustainable through a proper funding stream. Newstag launched a public beta version of the platform in mid-June 2015 and has grown rapidly since, now reaching a global audience of users in more than 200 countries consuming nearly 2 million streams per week.
“At this important point in Newstag’s development we’re very excited to be joining 4YFN in Tel Aviv as it’ll be a great opportunity to meet and learn from fellow entrepreneurs and potential investors,” says Victor Alexiev, Director of Research & Development and Co-founder.
The ‘mobile-first’ service enables users to create their own ‘tagstream’ (or personalised TV channel) in seconds, organising, consuming and sharing the stories that they care about among their social networks using the latest web and mobile technologies. The wide variety of stories from trusted sources ranges from entertainment to current affairs.
These stories are available from a number of different perspectives, putting users at the heart of the experience and in complete control. The result is a platform that allows converging viewpoints to be presented side by side, creating contrasting frames of reference.
But that’s not all. Newstag is not just about understanding the world, it also offers users a unique opportunity to make a difference. Consumers can take action by supporting causes and research they think are important. A part of Newstag’s revenues are available for users to allocate to charitable, NGO and NPO partners, such as WFP, the Red Cross and Oxfam. The more they watch and share, the higher their impact
Charities, NGOs and agencies joining this new media model will also be able to provide video news content to users on international initiatives, using the platform both to fundraise and communicate.
Newstag, currently in beta stage, is continuously bringing new users onboard. To sign up, visit www.newstag.com.
30 July 2015
America’s National Press Club presented its highest press freedom prize to jailed Azeri investigative reporter and RFE/RL contributor Khadija Ismayilova (pictured) on 29 July. Ismayilova has been held in pretrial detention in a Baku prison for 234 days on charges many observers link to her investigations of high-level corruption involving Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, and which could bring a prison sentence of 19 years.
RFE/RL Editor in Chief Nenad Pejic accepted the award on Ismayilova’s behalf, saying “Khadija is in prison because of her journalism…This award is an acknowledgement of her courage and her convictions, but it is also a call to all of us here tonight to condemn her imprisonment and demand her freedom.”
Each year, the National Press Club presents its John Aubuchon Press Freedom Awards to reporters or others who manifest the values of a free press. Other recipients of the 2015 award are Austin Tice, who has been detained in Syria since 2012, and Jason Rezaian, a Washington Post reporter who has been imprisoned in Iran for more than a year – also on charges widely believed to be politically motivated.
On July 24, dozens of journalists, activists, foreign diplomats, and supporters gathered in front of a court building in Baku to attend the first hearing in Ismayilova’s trial. Most of them were not allowed to enter the courtroom to observe the proceedings. A judge rejected motions to dismiss the criminal case and to grant Ismayilova house arrest as a substitute for pretrial detention, and ordered Ismayilova to return to court on August 7.
During the hearing, Ismayilova addressed the court, declaring that President Aliyev “has imprisoned me to hinder my journalistic activity. But even though I‘m here, my colleagues continue their investigations.”
Among the many organisations advocating for her freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists called on Azeri authorities to release Ismayilova “as a crucial first step in addressing Azerbaijan’s tarnished image which reached a new low amid the European Games last month.”
