VOA Website Banned in Turkey

30 August 2023

VOA Website Banned in Turkey

Access to the VOA Turkish website voaturkce.com was blocked in Turkey on Tuesday 29 August, following a court order banning access due to the international news organisation’s failure to apply for a broadcast license from Turkey’s media regulator.

In a warning posted on its website on August 21, the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTUK) gave VOA Turkish 72 hours to apply for an on-demand broadcast license or risk having the court block access to VOA Turkish content.

The media watchdog cited a 2019 law that authorises RTUK to request licenses from “media service providers” for their radio, TV and on-demand services in order for them to continue their online presence. Broadcast executives who air content without a licence could face charges that carry sentences of up to two years in prison.

VOA’s public relations department in Washington said the broadcaster does not plan to obtain a licence from the regulator.

“Given VOA’s status as a public service international broadcaster legally required to provide ‘accurate, objective, and comprehensive’ news coverage to its global audience, VOA cannot comply with any directive intended to enable censorship,” VOA spokesperson Bridget Serchak said.

Banned without a hearing

Following RTUK’s request Monday 28 August to block access to VOA Turkish content, Ankara’s 9th Criminal Court of Peace issued the ban the same day without holding a hearing.

The court order, obtained by VOA, said the access-blocking decision was sent to the Access Providers Association, an organisation that carries out media bans in Turkey. The court also stated that its ruling can be appealed within seven days.

The decision comes more than a year after RTUK banned access to VOA Turkish’s previous domain name, amerikaninsesi.com, and German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle, as the news outlets refused to comply with the regulator’s license requirement because of censorship concerns.

On July 1, 2022, after the access ban was placed on VOA Turkish and DW, RTUK said that if the outlets acted in accordance with the regulation, “blocking their websites by the independent judiciary would not have been applied.”

“If these broadcasting websites form companies in our country and start their licensing process in accordance with our laws, RTUK will request from the judicial authorities to terminate the access ban,” RTUK said in a statement.

“RTUK supports pluralism, free press, and free reporting by media outlets. However, like every democratic country, Turkey is a state with the rule of law. RTUK, which is a guide to the sector, is in favour of the legal dissemination of news content under certain guarantees,” the regulator added.

Ruling also blocks alternate domain

VOA Turkish moved to a different domain name months after RTUK blocked access in June 2022. Monday’s court ruling blocks access to content under that domain name, as well.

The on-demand broadcast license requested by RTUK is commonly acquired by streaming platforms such as Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video to operate in the Turkish market.

The law enables RTUK to impose fines, suspend broadcasting for three months or cancel broadcast licences if the licencees do not follow RTUK’s principles.

Press freedom advocates say that obtaining a broadcast licence from RTUK would allow the regulator to censor news content.

Gurkan Ozturan, who coordinates the Media Freedom Rapid Response alliance at the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), views the court ruling against VOA Turkish as a “development that gradually diminishes media freedom and increases the pressure that media outlets face.”

“It is quite possible that unwanted news content will be subject to content removal orders after obtaining a licence,” Ozturan told VOA.

He also noted that RTUK’s involvement in news content has increased in recent years.

“We have seen that RTUK has ruled to ban access with arbitrary decisions on the basis of moral values, especially over LGBTI+ news content and all kinds of content in digital media,” Ozturan added.

Source: VoA English News

Pacific Break returns in 2023!

30 August 2023

Pacific Break returns in 2023!

The Pacific’s biggest music competition returns to the ABC in 2023, kicking off on 21 September.

This year, the search for the Pacific and Timor-Leste’s best original talent launches with an exclusive concert in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Headlining the show is PNG-born Australian artist Ngaiire who will travel from Australia to Port Moresby to perform. Joining her on stage is last year’s Pacific Break winner Danielle as well as ABC Radio Australia music host and DJ Hau Latukefu who will broadcast a special edition of his weekly music show In The Fale: Live From Moresby.

Pacific Break offers unsigned artists living in the Pacific and Timor-Leste a career-changing opportunity with the winner flown to Australia’s largest international music festival WOMADelaide in March 2024. Throughout the six-week campaign, featured artists have their music and videos featured on ABC Radio Australia and ABC Australia programmes and on ABC Pacific digital and social accounts.

ABC Head International Services Claire M. Gorman said, “It’s great to see Pacific Break returning this year. It’s an important springboard connecting Pacific artists with audiences across the region, and we welcome artists from all genres and all the corners of the Pacific to enter their tracks for consideration.”

This year’s winner will be decided by a panel of judges made up of Ngaiire and ABC Radio Australia music hosts Hau Latukefu (In The Fale), Sose Fuamoli (On The Record) and Rick Howe (Island Music).

According to Ngaiire, “There is so much raw talent in the islands. I feel like the world is going to turn towards what’s happening in Pacific music at some point and Pacific Break is playing an integral part in laying the groundwork. I’m really happy to be a part of the initiative this year helping to find the next winner and even more excited that I get to come home and celebrate it with a live performance with my band.”

The free launch concert will be co-hosted by the Australian High Commission in Papua New Guinea and held at Port Moresby’s Lamana Gold Club. Ngaiire and Danielle’s performances will be recorded and available for audiences to listen on ABC Radio Australia and online through ABC Pacific.

The ABC first held Pacific Break in 2008 when Vanuatu group 26 Roots took out first prize with their track Broken Promises. Last year, PNG singer Danielle made history, becoming the first female artist to win the competition. Other past winners have included PNG hip-hop artist Sprigga Mek as well as Emmanuel Mailau (PNG), III Kings (Solomon Islands), BSQ (Fiji) and Jaik Berg (Cook Islands).

Entries will open on 21 September until midnight on 2 November with the winner announced on ABC Radio Australia morning show Nesia Daily on Thursday 9 November.

Find out more about Pacific Break by visiting www.abc.net.au/pacificbreak

MBC GROUP signs agreement to launch and operate satellite TV channel dedicated to celebrating the richness of Saudi culture

18 August 2023

MBC GROUP signs agreement to launch and operate satellite TV channel dedicated to celebrating the richness of Saudi culture

His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Culture for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, signed an agreement with Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim, the Chairman of MBC GROUP, to launch and operate a brand-new satellite television channel dedicated to celebrating the richness of Saudi culture.

The establishment of the new channel – which is set to broadcast a diverse range of programming focused on the Kingdom’s rich history, in addition to current events and offerings – is in line with the cultural objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, cementing the Kingdom’s position as a regional hub for culture.

Airing on MBC GROUP’s TV satellite network, as well as its streaming platform, Shahid, the channel – whose name will be unveiled in the coming period – aims to appeal to a wide-ranging audience including those who enjoy compelling storytelling such as documentaries, as well as more general entertainment.

Launching this September 2023, the channel – which also aims to further establish the presence of Saudi content within the global creative landscape – will focus on content that reflects the Kingdom’s rich heritage, majestic civilisation, and exciting culture. Ground-breaking programming is set to include expertly produced content on arts, literature, history and heritage, poetry, film and theatre, design, fashion, and dining and hospitality. Documentaries scheduled to feature include ones centred on the lives and memoirs of prominent Saudi figures, while other programming will comprise theatre performances and productions, Saudi arts and culture talks and showcases, as well as talk shows with renowned academics in their space.

In addition to the new channel, the agreement also incorporates the launch of a new digital media platform dedicated to similar content in the Saudi cultural space. Aimed at audiences who prefer to consume most of their content online, the platform will continuously publish articles, podcasts, and videos such as short documentaries.

Reflecting the ever-changing needs of both local and global audiences, both the upcoming channel and digital platform welcomes the involvement of Saudi talent and creatives, with MBC GROUP spearheading the transformation of their content into important cultural assets.

The establishment of the channel is in line with the cultural objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, cementing the Kingdom’s position as a regional hub for culture. This aligns with the aspirations of a new generation of audiences, content creators, and others, who are passionate about showcasing their country to the rest of the world. More information on both offerings will be released in due course. MBC GROUP is the largest and leading media company in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. [Source: MBC press release]

RFI and France 24 condemn the suspension of their broadcasts in Niger

4 August 2023

RFI and France 24 condemn the suspension of their broadcasts in Niger

One week after the coup d’état in Niger, the broadcasting of RFI (Radio France Internationale) and France 24 have been interrupted in the country according to multiple sources on the ground. France Médias Monde deplores this decision taken outside any conventional and legal framework, further depriving citizens in the region of their access to free, independent and verified information.

This incident follows previous cases of censorship faced by RFI and France 24 in Mali and Burkina Faso in recent months. The group reaffirms its steadfast commitment to the freedom of information, and the safety of its journalists.

In Niger, RFI operates through 7 FM relay stations, in addition to shortwave broadcasts of its programmes in French, Hausa, and Fulfulde, as well as several satellites (free-to-air on SES 5, Eutelsat 16 An and SES 4 satellites). A network of 44 partner radios also broadcasts their programmes in French, Hausa, and Fulfulde.

In 2022, 1.9 million listeners tuned in to the radio service each week in the country (18% of the population), and RFI was the top international radio station among opinion leaders. Additionally, the channel was followed by a quarter of the Nigerien population each week 2022.

Currently, RFI and France 24 remain accessible in Niger through direct satellite reception with the following channels:

SES-5: RFI broadcasts in French, Hausa, Fulfulde, Mandenkan and Kiswahili, France 24 broadcasts in French and in English.
Eutelsat 16A: RFI and France 24 broadcast in French.
Arab-Sat/Badr: France 24 broadcasts in French, English and Arabic; RFI broadcasts in French.

Furthermore, RFI’s programmes in French, Hausa, and Fulfulde continue to be broadcast on shortwave. Additionally, RFI and France 24 can be accessed on YouTube, their respective apps, websites, and social media platforms.

How to continue watching and reading France 24 in Africa

How to continue listening to and reading RFI in Africa

NHK WORLD programme focus: Re-assessing Ukraine’s lost nuclear deterrent

31 July 2023

NHK WORLD programme focus: Re-assessing Ukraine’s lost nuclear deterrent

Re-assessing Ukraine’s lost nuclear deterrent

NHK WORLD PRIME: Ukraine’s Nuclear Dilemma August 5 Sat. 0:10/6:10/12:10/18:10 (UTC) In 1994, Ukraine’s leaders gave up a formidable nuclear arsenal. But the country is now mired in war. We follow one young man who asks his fellow citizens if they’d have been better off keeping what is often dubbed the ultimate deterrent. His grandfather advocated disarmament as a government minister. So did William Perry, the US defence secretary tasked with overseeing the dismantlement process, who reflects on his work now that Russia threatens to use the most destructive weapon of all.
100 Cameras: Aomori Nebuta Festival August 4 Fri. 14:30/20:30/3:10/10:10 (UTC) August 9 Wed. 19:00 (UTC) The Nebuta Festival is the most exciting event of the year for the people of Aomori. Giant parade floats, or nebuta, are skillfully maneuvered through the city streets. After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the festival was held once again. We received special permission to film the local community as it eagerly prepared for the festival. What amazing behind-the-scenes material did our 100 cameras capture this time? We uncover the touching and poignant stories of the local people.
J-MELO Sundays 15:10/20:10/3:30/9:30 (UTC) Japan’s exciting music scene! Pop, rock, traditional and more! Live performances, artist interviews, plus all the latest news!

BBC News launches week-long focus on Artificial Intelligence

17 July 2023

BBC News launches week-long focus on Artificial Intelligence

Throughout the week starting 17 July, BBC News is taking a closer look at Artificial Intelligence (AI) – exploring how AI is already affecting our lives, and looking at the ways it could impact all our futures.

Every day BBC News will launch new thought-provoking and informative journalism to help audiences understand what AI is, what it can do, and how it is shaping the world we live in. BBC News will speak to leading experts in the field and deep dive into issues around jobs, security and technology.

It kicks off with an exclusive interview with Ian Hogarth – the recently announced chair of the UK’s AI Foundation Model Taskforce.

In the interview, Hogarth talks to Zoe Kleinman about the importance of tech innovation in Europe, saying that we need to scale up companies in Europe instead of selling them on to be grown by larger global companies, citing the sales the sales of Skype to Ebay and Deep Mind to Google.

He also warns about AI and calls for greater understanding of the risks – telling the BBC “we’ve got to think about how to protect British jobs” and explore how we “really hold these [AI] companies to account in an appropriate way”.

They also discuss the environmental cost of the energy the data centres will need which will add up to “a tremendous carbon footprint”.

An interview with Deep Mind founder Mustafa Suleyman, also out on Monday, explores security, the culture of risk taking in the UK to facilitate significant tech innovation, and the potential impact of AI on the way we live. He told the BBC:

“[AI] is going to be hugely product productive and beneficial for our civilisation. And clearly that also means that some people are going to struggle to make the transition. The question is one of values, how do we compensate those people who need to retrain and rescale and give them opportunities to improve and get back into the workplace. And to me, that’s a question of government subsidisation and support and ultimately, of taxation.”

The full interviews can be found on www.bbc.co.uk/news

Across the week, audiences will be able to learn more across all BBC News platforms – including podcasts on BBC Sounds, news and investigations on the BBC News website and TV packages on the news bulletins and channel, as well as special content for iPlayer.

As AI increases in its capabilities and scope of work, BBC News will look across how it is currently affecting our working lives, and how it could change the job market and affect business. It will also look at the role of AI in education, and how it is already being used in sport and being used to create music and media.

The week also starts with a visual guide to help you understand AI, answering all the questions you need to understand the basics of what AI is, and what it does – from the different types of AI, to how it learns, and how it can understand images.

This follows on from the BBC Sounds ten-part series with Spencer Kelly – Understand: Tech and AI, which aims to demystify the technology in our lives, explore key topics and answers big questions such as ‘Can AI be controlled?’ and ‘Will AI take my job?’

Upcoming highlights will include Click with Marc Cieslak: Marc will create Click’s own AI ‘Gogglebox’, and an iPlayer special on AI Moments that Made your Jaw Drop.

More news and content will be launched every day this week, with range of BBC global platforms sharing the focus on AI including:

BBC Future – BBC.com’s science section will be publishing articles including the A-Z guide of artificial intelligence terms, how to spot an AI cheater and how AI companies are buying up the rights to actors, musicians and personalities.

BBC Worklife will also be looking at the effect AI can have on your personal and professional life, including how AI can make you feel terrible about yourself – but it shouldn’t and how AI could save Gen Z’s professional futures.