15 June 2012
Journalists deploying to Poland and Ukraine for the Euro 2012 football competition should be aware of safety and security issues they may encounter there.
Violence flared when Polish and Russian fans clashed before a game earlier this week. According to reports, water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets were used to disperse the mob while fireworks, bottles and other makeshift missiles were thrown by fans from both sides. It was reported that 183 people were arrested and 24 were wounded.
Football crowds are notoriously unpredictable – a crowd can quickly turn aggressive, particularly if fuelled by alcohol. Camera crews could be a target for attack. Equally an overreaction by the police can cause a situation to escalate.
Recent BBC investigations have uncovered evidence of racist violence and anti-Semitism in Polish and Ukrainian football matches, and the British Foreign Office advises that “travellers of Asian or Afro-Caribbean descent and individuals belonging to religious minorities should take extra care.”
Journalists travelling by car have also expressed concerns about road safety in Ukraine, with poor road surfaces and the occasional disregard for driving rules.
The International News Safety Institute issues the following safety advice for journalists operating in Poland and Ukraine for the Euro 2012 football competition:
Covering civil unrest
Before you head out
• Make sure your accreditation is in order and easily accessible.
• Alert authorities that your news organization plans to cover the protests, and obtain the cell number of the person in charge.
• Take protective gear. This can include helmets, gas masks, or vests, depending on what the local police force uses for crowd control.
• In case of tear gas, carry a bandana soaked in onion, lemon, or vinegar, which neutralizes irritation.
• Don’t wear contact lenses. Bring eye drops and spare glasses.
• If there’s a chance you might be pepper-sprayed, don’t wear face cream or cosmetics. They burn on contact.
• Wear comfortable boots that you can run in.
• Wear natural fabrics, which are less flammable than synthetic fabrics.
• Prepare a backpack with supplies to last a day: lightweight raingear, energy bars and water, spare batteries for electronic equipment.
• Pack a medical kit and know how to use it.
• Carry a photocopy of your press accreditation and telephone numbers of your editor and lawyer. Make sure your editor knows how to reach your family in case you’re arrested or hurt.
• Set your cell phone to speed dial an emergency number.
• If possible, explore the terrain ahead of time. Are there stores you can dart into? Can you arrange to film from a high vantage point? Negotiate a “safe” place where you can retreat if mayhem erupts.
At the scene
• Don’t go alone. Get someone to watch your back if you’re shooting pictures.
• As soon as you arrive, spot escape routes and look for landmarks like a tall building or lamppost. It’s easy to get disoriented in a crowd.
• Stay on the edge and do not get caught between police and protestors.
• Crowds have a life of their own. Stay aware of the prevailing mood.
• Alert your editors if the scene turns angry.
• Stay away from aggressive people. They may provoke a violent response.
• If planning to move, seek advice from people who have just come from the direction you’re heading.
• Television crews should travel as light as possible. If experiencing aggression, leave the tripod behind so that you can run fast. Consider concealing cameras / recording equipment as best you can when in a crowd.
• Consider your profile and try to portray anonymity in terms of where you are from and what you do e.g. remove logo’s from clothing.
• Consider that alcohol can lead to violence so be aware in and around bars.
Be aware of the signs of a deteriorating situation
• An increase in the noise level
• A change in the tension or mood of the crowd
• Sudden crowd surges
• The occasional missile thrown
• More aggressive behaviour vocally or physically
• The police adopting a more aggressive posture, perhaps with the donning of helmets and shields or restricting the crowd’s freedom of movement
When trouble erupts
• Avoid horses. They bite and kick.
• Stand upwind from tear gas.
• Do not position yourself between the police and the crowd.
• If the police detain you, insist that they call the cell phone of their boss, whose number you just so happen to have.
• Call your lawyer (if they are local and on standby) and editor
• Maintain a safe distance from violence.
INSI is monitoring the safety of journalists covering Euro 2012 and asks anybody with information on any incidents involving journalists to contact Rodney Pinder + 44 7734 70 92 67 rodney.pinder@newssafety.org; or Hannah Storm +44 7766 814274 hannah.storm@newssafety.org
14 June 2012
Record breaking audience figures have made the 2012 French Open the best ever on Eurosport.
The 2012 tournament attracted an average live audience of 1.1 million viewers on Eurosport, a rise of 7% on the 2011 tournament, which held the previous best live audience average.
Nadal’s historic seventh Roland Garros victory and the return of Maria Sharapova helped to generate the largest ever audience reach for any Grand Slam tennis tournament on Eurosport and Eurosport 2. A total of 61.2M different viewers tuned in to the event during the two week period, beating the previous best figures for a Grand Slam set by the 2011 US Open by 7%.
Extensive daily coverage of the tournament on Eurosport and Eurosport 2 featured 292 hours of broadcast including 207 hours of live action.
National performances were strongest in Spain where average live audiences increased by + 100% and by + 75% respectively in Poland vs. 2011.
In addition, the Sharapova – Errani match was the best women’s final since 1994 in terms of live average audience with 1.9 million viewers.
Eurosport’s in-house production also contributed to the rise in popularity of the tournament on the channel. “Game, Set and Mats”, Eurosport’s exclusive on site live show hosted by Mats Wilander in evening primetime was watched by its largest ever audience. The programme reached 21.5 million different viewers throughout the tournament on Eurosport and Eurosport 2, +13% vs 2011.
2012 French Open audiences confirm the strength and the quality of Eurosport’s Grand Slam tennis offer. French and US Opens rights were renewed in January, respectively through 2014 and 2017 editions. An Australian Open multi-year contract was renewed in 2011.
French open audiences also contributed to the positive audience growth of Eurosport Group TV audiences for first half of 2012. From 2 January to 10 June, TV audiences across the Eurosport Group rose by 12%, compared to the same period in 2011.
Sources: AGF/GfK, BARB, SKO, MMS, TNS-Gallup, Kantar Media, AGB NMR, Armadata/Kantar, Auditel, Mediametrie – Techedge
www.eurosport.com
13 June 2012
On June 5, 2012 Deutsche Welle launched “Voices from today – Ideas for tomorrow.” The multilingual, multimedia project examines the background to the Rio+20 Conference with the help of reports from around the world.
DW’s multimedia-special “Voices from today – Ideas for tomorrow” presents innovative projects and ideas. “It’s about a new, sustainable approach to development for our protagonists and authors, just as it is for the participants in the Rio+20 summit,” said Editor in Chief Ute Schaeffer. “The question of how we deal with the unequally distributed economic growth, with technology and social goals will be decisive for global development. The media should accompany this controversial and decisive process. We are doing that with a series of reports from Africa, Asia, Europe and North and South America.”
Most of the ambitious goals set in Agenda 21 – an agreement passed by the first UN Earth Summit on sustainable development in 1992 – have not been achieved. Nevertheless, there are numerous encouraging examples worldwide, as the DW project shows. One report looks at female activists in Malawi who serve as key figures for implementing development projects. We also tell the story of a virtual market place in Africa, based on a mobile phone network, where farmers can sell their products or transfer money in regions that don’t have banks.
“Women are essential for sustainable development and they part of the solution,” said the Executive Director of UN Women Michelle Bachelet. She is one of a number of prominent authors who participated in the multimedia project “Voices from today – Ideas for tomorrow” that DW is presenting in German, English and other foreign languages.
Interacting with users around the globe plays a vital role in this project. We invite them to send us their wishes, demands, and proposals for the Rio+20 Conference via Facebook. Their texts, photos, and videos will be linked by geotagging.
The topic of education and sustainable development is also an important component of the Global Media Forum, which will take place at Deutsche Welle in Bonn from June 25 to 27. Renowned experts from Germany and abroad – including philosopher Thomas Pogge and World Bank finance expert Mahmoud Mohieldin – will discuss the role of the media on Wednesday, June 27, at the World Conference Center Bonn. They will also discuss concrete achievements that have been made during the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014).
www.dw.de
13 June 2012
Voice of America’s audience in Iran grew sharply in 2012, according to new research data released Tuesday.
The Gallup poll, conducted in March, shows VOA’s TV weekly audience grew to 21.4%, up from 6.5% in 2011. With the addition of radio and the Internet, VOA’s total audience reach in Iran is now estimated at 22.1%.
Voice of America’s Persian TV programs were taken off the popular Hotbird satellite in mid-2010, contributing to a sharp dip in audience figures from the previously estimated 20%. Resumption of VOA service on Hotbird shortly before this new survey played a role in restoring VOA’s audience, researchers say.
“This new data underscores the growing importance of satellite television in Iran, and the critical role that international broadcasters like Voice of America can play in providing balanced news coverage in a highly restrictive media environment,” says VOA Director David Ensor.
“Millions of people in Iran turn to VOA and other international broadcasters to fill in the gaps left by state controlled outlets,” Ensor says.
The Gallup poll, carried out under a contract with the U.S. Broadcasting Board of Governors’ Audience Research Program, found that while 86% of Iranians get news and information from domestic television, only 49% found the broadcasts “very trustworthy.”
Internet usage is also growing sharply in Iran, with 43% saying they had Internet access, and the overwhelming majority of respondents (80%) saying they had it in their homes.
In the past year, Voice of America’s Persian Service has updated its schedule and introduced a number of show changes, including the addition of the new program, ‘Inside the USA,’ which shows Iranian audiences various aspects of American life and American institutions.
www.voanews.com
12 June 2012
AIB has published its latest industry briefing, its round-up of news from and about AIB members, plus stories from the wider industry. In this edition, F1 rights in Italy, Smart TV app for Eurosport, people news from euronews, SatLink Communications and A+E Networks as well as technology and distribution news.
You can read the briefing online here.
These briefings are published by AIB every four weeks or so and reach more than 26,000 media leaders globally. For information on how you can use this industry briefing to tell your story, contact Matthew Porter or Judy Lund on +44 20 7993 2557.
11 June 2012
SatLink Communications Ltd., a leading teleport delivering content to every corner of the world, has today announced that it has expanded its operations into Asia by opening a new office in Singapore. The new office will support the company’s strategy to expand its reach and provide a gateway for broadcasters, enterprises and telecoms operators into and out of Asia. The office will be headed up by Rajeev Kaushik, the newly appointed Director of sales for Asia, who will be spearheading new business activities in the region.
SatLink will be using their strategic location in the Middle East, connecting East and West to provide broadcasters and content owners with the ability to deliver Asian content to Europe, Africa, Middle East and Americas. Satlink operates two MCPC (Multi Channel Per Carrier) platforms on the AsiaSat 5 C-band satellite, delivering content for tier 1 international and news broadcasters to Asian Pay TV markets. Sporting highlights and major breaking news stories previously broadcast by SatLink include live events such as the UEFA Championship League, Beijing Olympics, FIFA World Cup and live footage of the Japanese Earthquake, which were distributed out of and into Asia using SatLink’s teleport and HD Playout Centre.
To mark the opening of the new Asian office, SatLink will be offering a special offer on current AsiaSat 5 platforms offering international broadcasters the ability to reach both the Asia-Pacific and the Middle Eastern market www.satlink.tv/asia. SatLink will also provide localisation solutions via SatLink’s HD Playout Centre, including live and advertisement insertions, time delay and encryption (CA) services.
Mr Rajeev Kaushik as Director of Sales, Asia will be heading SatLink’s Asian sales and business development activities. He brings to the role more than 15 years experience in the Satellite and Broadcast market within Asia and the Middle East. Prior to joining SatLink, Rajeev held engineering and management roles within the satellite and VSAT market including: SingTel and Intelsat. In his role at SatLink, Rajeev will be responsible for establishing and developing strategic partnerships with leading industry operators and broadcasters within Asia.
David Hochner, SatLink’s CEO commented: “The Asian market is one of the largest in the world and growing at an incredible speed. With the expansion of our operations we are providing a bridge between East and West and enabling broadcasters in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas to distribute content both into and out of Asia. We are providing a strategic gateway for western content to reach this versatile and content rich continent and look forward to working with new partners in the region.”
www.satlink.tv
