NHK WORLD Japan Monthly Focus: A Museum of Memories

NHK WORLD Japan Monthly Focus: A Museum of Memories

27 February 2023

NHK WORLD Japan Monthly Focus: A Museum of Memories

 

A Museum of Memories

March 10 Fri.
14:30/20:30/3:10/10:10 (UTC)

March 15 Wed.
19:00 (UTC)

The Rikuzentakata City Museum was severely damaged in the massive earthquake that struck northeastern Japan in 2011 and only recently reopened. On display is a small selection of the 460,000 or so items that curator Kumagai Masaru has restored after becoming the only staff member to survive. The figure of a bird that Kumagai received from local elementary school children has inspired him and strengthened his conviction that such preservation is a valuable contribution to the local rebuilding effort.

DOSUKOI Sumo Salon

Playoffs

March 11 Sat.

1:10/13.30 (UTC)

DOSUKOI Sumo Salon delves deep into the world of Japan’s national sport. In this episode, we offer an analysis of playoffs, including a look at which wrestlers are at an advantage, those in the lead or those lagging behind; some surprising upsets in three-man playoffs; and the most impressive tie-breakers.

DOSUKOI Sumo Salon

Tsuppari Thrusts

March 11 Sat.
7:10/19:10 (UTC)

In another in-depth episode, we offer insight on tsuppari hand-strike thrusts with former boxing world champion Yamanaka Shinsuke. Join us to learn all about this move and meet a master and disciple devoted to perfecting it.

Journeys in Japan

Tuesdays
0:30/5:30/10:30/15:30/21:30 (UTC)

Explore a different side of Japan. Meet the locals and discover traditions and cultures not usually found in guidebooks!

  

Bento Expo

Fridays
1:30/6:30/12:30/17:30/22:30 (UTC)

Bento connects the world! Discover a universe of bento from Japan and around the world, with step-by-step instructions and delicious tips and tricks!

  

 

Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau appointed Senior Advisor on External Affairs at USAGM

Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau appointed Senior Advisor on External Affairs at USAGM

27 February 2023

Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau appointed Senior Advisor on External Affairs at USAGM

USAGM CEO Amanda Bennett announced that Elizabeth Kennedy Trudeau will serve as a senior advisor on External Affairs. 

“I’m thrilled to welcome Elizabeth to the USAGM team,” said Bennett. “Her expertise and experience are unmatched, and I know we will benefit greatly from her leadership in this area.” 

Ms. Trudeau is a senior member of the Foreign Service and most recently served as the Acting Assistant Secretary for Global Public Affairs at the State Department. She previously served as the Principal Deputy Assistant to the Secretary of Defense in the Office of the Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs. Prior to Ms. Trudeau’s appointment at the Pentagon, she served in Belfast, Northern Ireland as the U.S. Consul General and in Lahore, Pakistan, where she also served as the U.S. Consul General. Prior to her role in Pakistan, she served as the Department of State’s Director for Press Operations and as a Department spokesperson in Washington, DC.

Ms. Trudeau’s other assignments include serving as the Counselor for Public Affairs at the U.S. Mission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Brussels, Belgium; a seconded senior advisor and chief of staff to the Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy on NATO’s International Staff, also in Brussels; and spokesperson and press attaché at the U.S. Mission to South Africa in Pretoria, South Africa. She also served in Tunis, Tunisia, and Nairobi, Kenya. Prior to joining the Foreign Service in 2004, Ms. Trudeau was the director of communications for a private charitable foundation, and before that served as the director of development at a local non-governmental organization. 

Ms. Trudeau will serve on a detail to USAGM from March 13, 2023, to March 12, 2024. 

[Source: USAGM press release]

 

CEO Bennett condemns Iran’s sanctioning of RFE/RL president

CEO Bennett condemns Iran’s sanctioning of RFE/RL president

24 February 2023

CEO Bennett condemns Iran’s sanctioning of RFE/RL president

U.S. Agency for Global Media CEO Amanda Bennett responded to the addition of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) President and Chief Executive Officer Jamie Fly to Iran’s sanctions list with a message of support for the people of Iran and a condemnation of the actions of their government.  

“This action by officials in Tehran is clearly part of their strategy to limit Iranian citizens’ access to uncensored information and intimidate those who seek the truth,” said Bennett. “The people of Iran have shown great courage in their fight for freedom. Despite the Iranian regime’s escalating attacks on the free press, independent journalists, and the open exchange of ideas, USAGM will not be deterred in our mission to provide audiences in Iran with independent, fact-based journalism.” 

These sanctions come in the wake of the Iranian government’s deadly crackdown on demonstrators protesting the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, detained by Iran’s “morality police” for allegedly wearing a head scarf, or hijab, improperly, and follow a summer of unrest over poor living conditions and economic woes sparked by U.S. sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. 

Fly is one of more than two dozen people and entities added to Iran’s sanctions list in response to new measures taken by the European Union and the United Kingdom against Tehran. RFE/RL’s Radio Farda was sanctioned in December 2022. The most recent sanctions ban those on the list from entering Iran and make it clear that their property and assets in Iran will be subject to seizure. The RFE/RL president described his inclusion on the sanctions list as “a badge of honor,” adding, “I am proud of the journalists at Radio Farda who are exposing government lies and cruelty, and reaching ever-growing audiences who want the truth. Nothing will halt our work.” 

According to a USAGM survey conducted in early 2021, RFE/RL and Voice of America together reached 19.0% of Iranian adults on a weekly basis across all languages and media platforms, with a measured unduplicated weekly audience of more than 12 million adults in Iran. 

Audiences in Iran continue to access RFE/RL and VOA programming, despite the government’s intensified efforts to block access to the internet, thanks to circumvention tools supported by the Open Technology Fund (OTF). Following the Mahsa Amini protests, the number of monthly active users of OTF-supported circumvention tools grew from 6 million to over 30 million users. That means 1-in-4 Iranians use these tools to access the internet and over 90% of USAGM’s Iranian audience uses OTF-supported Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to access USAGM’s content. 

[Source: USAGM press release]

France 24 in English strengthens its presence in Singapore

France 24 in English strengthens its presence in Singapore

16 February 2023

France 24 in English strengthens its presence in Singapore

The international news channel France 24 strengthens its presence in Singapore thanks to a new distribution agreement with the telecommunications operator StarHub. This agreement makes France 24 in English accessible to all StarHub subscribers (channel 724).

Already available via Singtel (channel 159), France 24 in English now reaches all Singaporean television households.

[Source: France 24 press release]

Christina Wayne joins MBC GROUP as MD of MBC STUDIOS

Christina Wayne joins MBC GROUP as MD of MBC STUDIOS

6 February 2023

Christina Wayne joins MBC GROUP as MD of MBC STUDIOS

MBC GROUP, the largest media company in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), announces the appointment of Christina Wayne as Managing Director of MBC STUDIOS.

MBC STUDIOS is the in-house premium content production arm of MBC GROUP, a media conglomerate that operates more than 17 free-to-air satellite TV channels, two radio stations, and Shahid – the world’s leading Arabic streaming platform – amongst other offerings.

In her new role, Wayne will continue MBC STUDIOS’ ongoing work in expanding the reach of its content to audiences around the world, leveraging the continuous trend for non-English-language television content to reach more global markets.

She takes over the role from former managing director, Peter Smith, who is moving on to pursue other ventures. He will, however, remain as an advisor to MBC GROUP.

Sam Barnett, Group CEO of MBC GROUP, stated: “We’re incredibly excited to be welcoming Christina Wayne to the role of Managing Director at MBC STUDIOS. Christina brings with her a wealth of international expertise in content development and production where she has worked across a multitude of territories and languages, and led on the development of Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning series.

“We look forward to her building on the team’s successes as we continue to expand our horizons in international content even further.”

He continued: “Additionally, I would like to extend my gratitude to Peter Smith for his invaluable contributions to the growth of MBC STUDIOS during his four-year tenure, spearheading the production of numerous flagships, including ‘Rashash’, ‘Rise of the Witches’, and ‘Devil’s Promise’. Peter departs with a solid and successful team with an exciting slate of projects.”

Newly appointed Wayne commented: “I am absolutely delighted to join MBC GROUP and MBC STUDIOS and have heard great things about the incredible team Peter and the rest of MBC have built. This is a very exciting venture for me, and I cannot wait to get fully involved in one of the world’s most exciting territories for content production.”

CAREER BACKGROUND

Prior to joining MBC STUDIOS, Wayne was the Principal Creative Executive and Head of Canada and Australia for Amazon Studios, a role she held since September 2019, and where she oversaw creative on scripted series across more than 20 countries.

She also presided over local original workshops across all territories, with a focus on interconnected series and formats.

A member of the Writers’ Guild of America since 1997, Wayne – who began her career in entertainment as a screenwriter and director – has also held positions with Assembly Entertainment, Cineflix Studios, and AMC. As senior vice-president of scripted series and miniseries for AMC, she shepherded the development and production on award-winning series including “Mad Men”, “Breaking Bad”, and “Broken Trail”.

[Source: MBC press release]