BBC Swahili celebrates 65 years for its Blue Sapphire anniversary

1 July 2022

BBC Swahili celebrates 65 years for its Blue Sapphire anniversary

BBC Swahili launched on 27th June 1957 and is celebrating its 65th anniversary. Special programming will be available throughout the anniversary week to recognise this impressive milestone.

“This is London. Today, for the first time ever, BBC London sends greetings to all the residents of East Africa, in their own language. Asalaam Aleikum,” presenter Oscar Kambona said in the first broadcast.

From then on, the Swahili Service, initially primarily a radio service, went on to become a source of dependable news for millions of listeners across East and Central Africa.

In recent years, the service has evolved as the media environment changed, spawning a TV service, digital offer and engaging audiences on various platforms including social media.

During the anniversary week, in a series of special programming, the Swahili Service will broadcast live from various locations including from DR Congo, Rwanda, and Zanzibar. It will explore key issues that matter to our audiences in the region – cost of living, climate change, security, health, politics, culture, among others. The broadcasts will also feature Deputy Prime Minister of DR Congo Eva Busaiza, Vice President of Zanzibar, Othman Masoud Sharif, and other key news makers.

Audiences can follow the action by visiting online, Twitter and Instagram using #bbcswahilli65

In DRC, highlights of the coverage will focus on:

A look at an initiative to counter misinformation known as Kijiji cha Amani, in Bukavu, formed to counter fake news and how successful it has been
A discussion with women leaders on politics and development in the DRC with an Interview with the first female Deputy Prime Minister in the country , Eva Basaiza, about her achievements & challenges

In Zanzibar, the highlight will be an hour-long debate on Thursday 30 June focusing on The Role of Swahili in today’s digital world translated to Je! Upi mchango wa lugha ya Kiswahili katika dunia ya leo?

The Editor of BBC Swahili, Caroline Karobia, says: “The blue Sapphire anniversary for Swahili service is being celebrated at a time that evolving technology has had a great influence on media and broadcasting. We are excited to be at the heart of these changes which have revolutionised our engagement with audiences in radio, TV and digital platforms.”

Director of BBC World Service, Liliane Landor says: “This is a Service which has remained a trusted source of news for millions in the region and the diaspora. 65 years is an impressive milestone. It is also a moment to reflect on the rapidly evolving media environment and audiences demands. BBC Swahili will continue to tell important, original and impactful stories that matter to our audience and I’m hugely proud of all its achievements.’’

About BBC Swahili Service

Swahili Service is one of 42 language services operated by the BBC World Service/International Services, reaching 24.9 million people every week.

It broadcast two radio programmes each day – Amka na BBC and Dira ya Dunia.; digital services and one current affairs television programme.

Since its launch, the Swahili Service has covered major events in the eastern Africa region including the independence struggles in (then) Tanganyika, Uganda, Kenya, DR Congo, Rwanda and Burundi; Rwanda genocide, DR Congo wars, evolution of political freedoms in the region and others.

USAGM condemns censorship by Turkish broadcasting authority

1 July 2022

USAGM condemns censorship by Turkish broadcasting authority

USAGM Acting CEO Kelu Chao spoke out against the Turkish government’s June 30 blocking of online news by international broadcasters including Voice of America.

VOA’s Turkish programming, and all of 32 language services of German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle, were censored on Thursday when the Turkish authority responsible for media control RTÜK restricted access to their websites.

“With the attempted blocking of Voice of America and Deutsche Welle, RTÜK has made an alarming choice to pave the way for internet censorship. Audiences in Turkey deserve access to fact-based news about the world around them. Despite this latest attack on press freedom, USAGM will not be deterred in its mission to support the free flow of information to people in Turkey and across the globe,” said Kelu Chao, USAGM’s Acting CEO.

“We oppose this move as a thinly veiled effort to censor unfavourable press coverage,” said Acting VOA Director Yolanda López. “Upon learning that our site is now blocked, we firmly object to this latest action in Turkey’s efforts to restrict VOA’s ability to deliver accurate and objective news to its Turkish-speaking audience. Through circumvention tools and other means, VOA will not be deterred.”

In February 2022, RTÜK had called on VOA to obtain a license that would have allowed the Turkish government to censor editorial content.

News of Turkey’s actions spread quickly on social media in Turkey yesterday. Options to circumvent this censorship are in place and related information is available to audiences on social media.

France 24 Observers: “The Smugglers of modern-day Iran”

29 June 2022

France 24 Observers: “The Smugglers of modern-day Iran”

From the France 24 Observers: an in-depth investigation into smuggling networks of Iran.

With more than 36% of its economy coming from the informal sector, a significant proportion of consumer products sold in Iran are smuggled (alcoholic beverages, clothing, electronic products, food supplements, vehicle spare parts, etc.)

The goods are transported by three types of smugglers: The “Kulbars” are active in the West, bringing consumer goods across the mountains from neighboring Iraqi Kurdistan. The “Soukhtbars” haul gasoline and diesel across the desert plateaux in the east, to Pakistan. And The “Shootis” transport all kinds of goods from city to city across the country in cars that have been customised to carry heavier loads at high speed.

Ershad Alijani, journalist for the France 24 Observers and RFI’s Persian service, has been following these three groups of smugglers since 2019.

« The Bloody Silk Road – The Smugglers of modern-day Iran », seldom-seen images offer an immersion into the depths of a world that is little known, even in Iran.

« The Bloody Silk Road – The Smugglers of modern-day Iran »

Saturday July 2^ndat 10.45am on France 24* (Paris time)

From July 4^thon RFI’s digital platforms in Persian

[Source: France 24 press release]

Premium content from MBC GROUP’s Shahid exclusively onboard Emirates’ ice

29 June 2022

Premium content from MBC GROUP’s Shahid exclusively onboard Emirates’ ice

Emirates partners with Shahid, the world’s leading Arabic streaming platform, to offer premium content exclusively onboard its award-winning inflight entertainment system, ice.

Shahid is part of MBC GROUP, the largest and leading media company in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

This partnership makes Emirates ice the only channel to offer access to highly popular titles by Shahid Originals, aside from the streaming service’s own premium-subscription online platform.

From July 2022, all Emirates customers can enjoy an extensive selection of over 135 hours of Shahid content from 15 shows with something to appeal to all members of the family. Programme subtitles also make the content accessible to an even bigger international audience onboard Emirates.

The newly added content from Shahid adds to the extensive collection of Arabic content already available on Emirates with over 420 channels of audio and 170 channels of films and TV shows.

In total, Emirates’ award-winning ice inflight entertainment system, with over 5,000 channels, offers an unmatched breadth of content in 40 languages to cater to its global customer base, with more than 4,000 hours of movies and TV, and close to 3,500 hours of music and podcasts.

Patrick Brannelly, Emirates’ Senior Vice President Retail, IFE & Connectivity said: “We are excited to welcome the world’s leading Arabic streaming service content onboard – so passengers can catch up on all their favourite entertainment inflight, just as they do at home. We look forward to growing the partnership and making even more of their popular shows and movies available to our customers in the future.”

Natasha Matos-Hemingway, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer (VOD) at MBC GROUP added: “We are extremely proud to partner with Emirates, an award-winning airline who, like us, is always striving to give the best to their customers. Emirates is our first airline partner, and their global footprint enables us to reach viewers from many new markets and broaden the reach of our shows and brand – there is no better match for our ambitions.

“We are excited to offer Shahid’s content for Emirates’ customers to enjoy, just in time for the busiest travel season of the year.”

Shahid’s biggest original production Rashash, which has been hugely popular in the Arab region, will be streamed for the first time by an airline on-board Emirates. In addition, Emirates customers can enjoy a broad range of exclusive Shahid Original titles and other hit MBC GROUP titles including: Anbar 6, Hell’s Gate, Dor Al Omor, Nemra Etnein, Al Shak, Al Jedar Al Rabea, Rahn El Tahqiq, 2020, Bi Saraha Ma’a, Dofa’at Beirut, Aghani Min Hayati, Kaf w Dafoof, and Salon Zahra. Content originates from territories including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Kuwait, Egypt, and Lebanon.

In addition to entertainment, Emirates ice offers a range of other practical features, such as checking the status of the flight while en route; a real-time view of the sky during take-off and landing from cameras that are fixed on the aircraft’s nose, tail and underbelly; a helpful travel guide about Emirates’ hub Dubai; EmiratesRED; the world’s first inflight TV shopping channel; and a range of personal development content including LinkedIn Learning.

Prior to their flight, Emirates customers can browse through over 5,000 channels of on-demand movies, music, TV shows, box sets, and documentaries, and create their very own playlist on The Emirates Mobile App, and sync it on board for a more personalised travel experience.

For more information, visit Emirates/inflight-entertainment

[Source: MBC press release]

VOA Spanish programmes win Gabriel, Chesapeake Bay Emmy Awards

29 June 2022

VOA Spanish programmes win Gabriel, Chesapeake Bay Emmy Awards

Voice of America’s Spanish broadcasting service won a first place 2022 CMA Gabriel Award in the Single Story – National Release: Radio – Spanish language category for its special radio feature “Impacto cambio climático en la sobrevivencia regional” (“Climate Change – Impact on Regional Survival”).

Supported by VOA Spanish correspondents in Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, senior editor Gioconda Tapia Reynolds, producers John Burnett and Héctor Contreras, and coordinator Judith Martin Rodriguez, explored the issue of climate change in four Central American nations seriously affected by natural disasters, including drought, hurricanes, storms and floods and their deadly effects on agricultural production.

“What an honor for the VOA Spanish service to win two such prestigious awards,” said Acting Latin America Division Director Sandra Thomas-Esquiv e l. “These two stories – so different, yet both so compelling – really showcase the depth and variety of quality program offerings VOA Spanish produces for its audiences.”

VOA’s Latin America division also received a 2021 National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter Emmy Award in the category of News Feature – Light Feature (Single Report and Multiple Reports). VOA Spanish TV reporter Iacopo Luzi won an Emmy for “Cuando las cigarras se convierten en un postre de chocolate” – (“When cicadas become a chocolate dessert”). The story attracted the judges’ attention for its creative presentation of the subject. For some, cicadas are a plague. However, Luzi found a local business owner who decided to create a recipe to eat the insects and saw the recent “invasion” of the Washington Metropolitan area by cicadas as a business opportunity.

Initiated in 1965 and administered by the Catholic Media Association, the Gabriel Awards honor excellence in film, broadcast, and cross-platform media productions released in the United States and Canada.

The National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter is one of the largest of The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences with more than 1,500 members. It oversees The Emmy Awards regionally, including all media outlets in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia.

[Source: VOA press release]

RFE/RL condemns Ihar Losik’s addition to Terrorist Watch Registry

29 June 2022

RFE/RL condemns Ihar Losik’s addition to Terrorist Watch Registry

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) condemns the Lukashenka regime’s addition of imprisoned RFE/RL Belarus Service journalist Ihar Losik to a terrorist watch list.

Losik was arrested by Belarusian agents in June 2020 and tried on fabricated charges including “organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order” and “preparation for participation in riots.” After a five-month trial held behind closed doors, Losik was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison in December 2021. Since his arrest, Losik has faced severe physical and psychological pressures, and has undergone weeks of hunger strikes to protest his detention and charges.

“This escalation is an egregious abuse of the state’s authority and underlines the Lukashenka regime’s contempt for journalists who expose the truth,” said RFE/RL President and CEO Jamie Fly. “We continue to demand Ihar’s immediate release from prison so he can be reunited with his wife and daughter.”

Losik’s addition to Belarus’ terrorist watch list is the latest escalation in the country’s assault on free press in the region. Earlier this month, Andrey Kuznechyk, a journalist with RFE/RL’s Belarus Service was sentenced to six years in a maximum-security prison on the bogus charges of creating or participating in an “extremist organization.” Belarus Service journalist Aleh Hruzdzilovich also received a sentence of one and a half years in a penal labor colony in March for “taking part” in mass protests that he was covering on assignment.

Additionally, RFE/RL was added to Belarus’ registry of “extremist organizations” in December 2021, RFE/RL’s bureau in Minsk was raided and sealed by Belarusian security forces in July 2021, and numerous other journalists on assignment to report on the disputed August 2020 presidential election were harassed, detained, and stripped of their accreditations.

RFE/RL’s Belarus Service, known locally as Radio Svaboda, with a monthly average of over 33 million visits to its websites and 59 million page views, was first established in 1954 and is a leading provider of news in one of Europe’s most restrictive societies, defying the government’s virtual monopoly on domestic broadcast media.

[Source: RFE/RL press release]