13 February 2004
The decision by the management of Ukrainian radio broadcaster Dovira to remove RFE/RL Ukrainian Service programming from its FM schedule with effect of 17 February 2004 has been condemned by RFE/RL President Thomas A. Dine as “a political act against liberal democracy, against free speech and press.
In a letter from TV and Radio Company Dovira First Deputy Director V. Reznychenko to RFE/RL Ukrainian Service Director Alexander Narodetsky, the privately-held Ukrainian network said the move to end radio re-broadcasting of RFE/RL programming was motivated by a decision that the RFE/RL programmes “have to be changed in terms of format.” The abrupt decision to end RFE/RL Ukrainian Service broadcasts surprised Service Director Narodetsky, who noted that his service had enjoyed a “very close and productive relationship with Dovira.” Dovira first began re-broadcasting RFE/RL programmes in 1998, and was named RFE/RL Affiliate of the Year in 2001. The Ukrainian Service worked closely with Dovira’s management to adapt its programmes to a more FM-friendly format.
In a press release issued on 11 February, RFE/RL states that Dovira has been the focus of official Ukrainian pressure to drop RFE/RL Ukrainian Service broadcasting since 2001. The station has stood firmly against the use by Ukrainian authorities of a variety of administrative levers, including allegations that it had breached licensing regulations by re-broadcasting RFE/RL Ukrainian Service programmes. Until the receipt of the termination letter, RFE/RL Ukrainian Service and Dovira management had been working together to resolve the dispute with the government and legislature.
In late January , Dovira was sold to Ukrainian Media Holding, a newspaper and radio holding company owned by Boris Lozhkin, and a new management team installed.
RFE/RL is a member of the AIB.
12 February 2004
In a sequence of events reminiscent of recent upheavals at the BBC in the UK, Olivier Mazerolle, head of news at the French state TV station France 2, has resigned after an inaccurate report on its flagship television news programme. The resignation followed a no-confidence vote in which two-thirds of staff rebuked him and anchorman David Pujadas, who has been suspended, for failing in their public-service mission.
Pujadas attempted to scoop privately owned TF1 to Alain Juppé’s reaction to his conviction on political corruption charges, saying on the strength of unnamed sources at the start of the 8pm bulletin on France 2 that Mr Juppé was about to announce his withdrawal from public life. A few minutes later, on TF1, Mr Juppé told the nation he was going to stay.
Jean-Jacques Aillagon, France’s minister of culture and communication, urged the broadcaster to take measures to avoid similar mistakes, saying the French “have a right to expect information of quality, information that is reliable”.
At Radio France, the state broadcaster, a majority of journalists continued a third week of pay-related strike action that has blacked out news across the public airwaves. The strike, since 11 February also affecting Radio France International, has centred on claims by public-service radio journalists that they should be paid as much as their colleagues in state television.
The crisis in both sections of the French public broadcasting service comes just as Mr Chirac is attempting to mobilise industry professionals to create a CNN à la française.
10 February 2004
The AIB Global Media Business Conference took place in London on Tuesday 29 and Wednesday 30 April 2003.
More than 150 people from all over the world attended the event, the first meeting of international television and radio broadcasters since the end of the Iraq war.
You can now order a CD of the proceedings, including the agenda, biographies, a range of the papers presented and edited audio highlights of the final two sessions.
10 February 2004
Harris Corporations Broadcast Communications Division has appointed Matt Gillon as the company’s Broadcast Center Manager. Gillon will be responsible for the handling of the day-to-day operations of Harris’ ordering center for over 360 broadcast equipment manufacturers and 30,000 products at the BCD headquarters in Mason, Ohio.
Harris Corporation is a member of the AIB.
10 February 2004
The next conference call for AIB Members will be at 1400 GMT (0900 EST/1500CET) on Thursday 8th January 2004.
The conference call allows members to exchange news and information with their peer group and to discuss the current strategy and plans of the AIB.
More details about the conference call have been circulated via e-mail to members.
9 February 2004
Al-Jazeera Channel has launched a Media Training and Development Centre. The centres purpose is to contribute to the development of Arab media in particular and international media in general. The centre is reported to be the first of its kind in the Arab world. It will look at media awareness, provide training, follow theoretical and practical media innovations, prepare studies and public polls on media products, and verify the level of audience interaction with media products. The work of the centre includes print, audio and electronic media. It also offers general programmes for improving media performance.
The centre is situated in Doha and unites experts in different media fields and specialities under its roof, together with a number of international media foundations specializing in media training, such as the British Thomson Foundation and the International Centre for Media Training [CIFAP] in France.
Al-Jazeera is a member of the AIB.
