UK launch for Current Time on Freeview

5 May 2022

UK launch for Current Time on Freeview

Current Time, a Russian-language 24/7 TV channel broadcasting from Prague, has launched on Freeview UK, channel 271, via the Channelbox platform.

Current Time is a Russian-language TV channel headquartered in Prague and produced by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) in cooperation with Voice of America. The channel was established as an alternative to Kremlin-controlled media and brings real news, robust debate, and fact-based, unbiased, balanced reporting on local, regional, and international issues to Russian-speaking audiences everywhere.

Current Time has been under attack from the Kremlin since the channel began. It was designated as a foreign agent in December 2017, less than one year after its formal launch.

Following the launch of the Ukraina24 news channel last month, Current Time will further bolster Channelbox’s extensive news lineup, which includes Euronews, France24 and many others.

Channelbox is a multi-channel platform available on Freeview channel 271 and accessible via TV sets connected to the aerial and the internet. Channelbox is also available via its mobile applications worldwide.

“Current Time is happy to welcome its new viewers in the United Kingdom. The partnership with Channelbox is particularly important now as Current Time continues to provide its Russian-speaking audiences worldwide with uncensored news and information about Russia’s war on Ukraine,” said Pavel Butorin, Director, Current Time.

“We are very excited to have Current Time on the platform and to expand its distribution in the UK and worldwide. It is more important than ever for Russian speakers to have access to independent media, which is not controlled by the Kremlin”, said Tanya Kronfli, Channelbox Head of content and business development.

About Current Time

Current Time is a 24/7 TV and digital network for Russian speakers, led by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in cooperation with Voice of America. The Current Time network’s roots reach back to August 2014 and the debut of the currenttime.tvwebsite, soon followed by its YouTube and Facebook channels and, in October 2014, the launch of its first, 30-minute news program. This was followed in February 2017 by the launch of Current Time’s 24/7 TV channel. In addition to reporting uncensored news and debunking disinformation through its Smotri v Oba (“Footage vs. Footage”) program, Current Time is the largest provider of independent, Russian-language films to its audiences. A sampling of Current Time’s best content can be found on the channel’s English portal.

About Channelbox

A free-to-air multi-channel platform available on Freeview devices connected to the Internet. Channelbox is accessible via Freeview channel 271 and mobile applications.

Keeping the media world informed – latest AIB global news briefing published

4 May 2022

Keeping the media world informed – latest AIB global news briefing published

One of the AIB’s roles is to keep its membership, and the wider media industry, informed about what is happening in our sector.

The latest global media industry briefing has been published. The regular AIB media industry briefing reaches around 27,000 people in the media industry and related sectors across more than 150 territories.

This edition has programme highlights from AIB members; updates on the Ukraine crisis; news about new appointments; updates on streaming services; and details of how to enter the AIBs, among other stories.

You can subscribe to the media briefing and have it delivered straight to your email inbox: https://aib.org.uk/sign-up-to-the-aib-industry-briefing/

It’s free, and it could put you ahead of your competition!

ABC releases online safety guidelines for journalists

4 May 2022

ABC releases online safety guidelines for journalists

A ground-breaking collaboration between the ABC and Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has seen the release of best practice guidelines designed to help protect journalists and newsrooms from online abuse.

Launched on UNESCO’s World Press Freedom Day on May 3, the guidelines align with this year’s theme of “Journalism under digital siege”.

The resources include tips for media organisations in supporting staff to manage and mitigate the risk of social media abuse. They include some of the practical steps the ABC is taking to prepare for and respond to social media abuse and continue the ABC’s leadership in the space following last year’s CyberSafety summit.

The ABC’s Managing Director, David Anderson (pictured), said the online abuse of journalists was a trend connected to the rise of disinformation, conspiracy theories and extremism.

“We have all felt and observed a rise in online hate and abuse directed at our media professionals, and we have seen the devastating cumulative impact of this daily bullying,” he said. “The ABC has made a significant investment in the structures and policies and processes to support journalists and staff. But all journalists need to know they’re not alone and that there are resources they can use for their protection.”

He pointed out that the growing incidence of abuse of journalists online is not equally distributed. Female journalists, Indigenous journalists, LGBTQIA+ journalists and culturally and linguistically diverse journalists more likely to experience online abuse.

Research conducted by the eSafety Office – the world’s first government regulatory agency committed to keeping its citizens safer online – has found that women with a media presence were 56 per cent more likely to receive online abuse, and for those with a public profile the threat was even higher. Through the nature of their work, journalists have become more accessible online, with 78 per cent of respondents believing that people think it’s ok to harass and abuse you if you have a public profile or are active online.

“It has been so rewarding to work closely with the ABC on this important issue because we know more and more journalists, particularly female journalists and those from diverse backgrounds, are becoming the targets of abuse online as part of their daily work,” eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said. “And this abuse of women online has devastating consequences, not only for their mental health, but also for the promotion and protection of their important voices in shaping public discourse.”

“This visible normalisation of targeted online harassment of female and diverse journalists has an incredibly powerful downstream impact on society. In fact, our Women In the Spotlight (WITS) research report showed a quarter of Australian women were reluctant to move into public-facing roles because of the fear of being targeted in such a savage and visible way.

“It is important to remember to #ReportandSupport, including reporting serious adult cyber abuse to eSafety at www.esafety.gov.au if the social media site refuses to comply.”

The ABC has also recently become a signatory to the Brussels declaration, a new global initiative in support of media professionals’ safety.

The resources can be found here: www.esafety.gov.au/educators/corporate-and-community-education/supporting-journalists-engage-safely-online.

Weather Channel blows into Spanish-speaking communities

4 May 2022

Weather Channel blows into Spanish-speaking communities

We all like talking about the weather (particularly Brits, we know!), and it seems that there’s a global appetite for watching the weather on TV.

The Allen Media Group television network The Weather Channel – which the company says is the #1 source for weather news and information on television – has launched a brand-new free television network The Weather Channel en Español. The company says this is the first 24/7 Spanish-language free-streaming weather news network in the United States. The Weather Channel en Español makes its debut on the 40th anniversary of the launch of The Weather Channel television network. The Weather Channel en Español has signed major sponsors including Ford, GEICO, General Motors, Toyota, Walmart among others.

The Weather Channel en Español features a variety of Spanish language weather content, including locally specific forecasting, storytelling that will help viewers understand the variation behind weather events, climate science, and its human impact. Also, the new free-streaming network will utilise the full resources of The Weather Channel. Viewers can expect the same exceptional quality and timely reporting they rely on from The Weather Channel, along with seamless collaboration among other Allen Media Group platforms such as Pattrn – The Weather Channel’s climate, environment and sustainability network.

“The Hispanic marketplace is indexing extremely well with streaming services and is severely underserved. Our launch of The Weather Channel en Español is historic, and is a recognition of the continued and significant growth of the U.S. Hispanic population and the constant need to keep the entire public informed and safe as multi-billion dollar weather disasters are on the rise – especially in communities where Spanish is spoken as both the primary and secondary language in millions of households throughout America,” said Byron Allen, Founder, Chairman and CEO of The Weather Channel parent company, Allen Media Group. “I am proud to say viewers of The Weather Channel en Español will be able to increase their safety and awareness of extreme weather events with the full support of the number one weather news network, and its vast resources, infrastructure, technology, and scientists.”

“I’m very proud to be a part of Allen Media Group’s significant investment in The Weather Channel en Español,” said Sussy Ruiz, Editor-in-Chief of The Weather Channel en Español (pictured). “The Weather Channel has been voted the most-trusted news brand in America for 11 consecutive years, and the fifth most-trusted brand overall. The full resources of The Weather Channel have been dedicated to ensure The Weather Channel en Español achieves The Weather Channel’s 40-year history of excellence.”

“The Weather Channel en Español represents the continued commitment of The Weather Channel to keep the entire public informed and safe when severe weather is about to strike,” said Nora Zimmett, President, News and Original Series for Weather Group. “In addition to vital weather and climate information, The Weather Channel en Español also provides cutting edge technology, comprehensive storytelling, plus compelling and engaging original programming.”

The first on-camera meteorologists to join The Weather Channel en Español are Albert Martinez, Henry Golac, Milmar Ramirez, Jessica Fernandez, Abel Hernandez and Lorena Lim.

Martinez brings over 13 years of experience to The Weather Channel en Español and is known as one of the most trusted names in weather coverage, particularly among the Hispanic audience. He is a 13-time Emmy® award recipient, 5-time Telly award recipient and one of the highest rated meteorologists in the industry. His experience includes extensive live and field reporting of climate change, science, and astronomy. In his new role as Senior Meteorologist, Martinez will be responsible for directing and managing all aspects of weather content for The Weather Channel en Español, including integrating his previous experience in augmented and immersive mixed reality as a Max Reality Ambassador for The Weather Company (IBM). Prior to joining The Weather Channel en Español, Martinez anchored as Chief Meteorologist for Univision Network’s Despierta America, Edicion Digital, Noticiero Univision, and PrendeTV.
Golac is an 11-time Emmy® award-winning meteorologist and is the 2021 Rocky Mountain Emmy® award recipient for Best Weather Anchor in Arizona. Most recently, Golac served as Chief Meteorologist at Telemundo in Arizona. Golac has also held various roles at Univision Orlando, Radio Exito 105.5 FM and America Teve Channel 41.
Ramirez is also an Emmy® award-winning meteorologist with extensive experience in Spanish-language reporting. Previously, Ramirez was an anchor at Telemundo and Univision in Dallas, where she presented the weather forecast, as well as planned and coordinated severe weather coverage.
Fernandez joins the network from Univision 23 Miami and previously held positions as a meteorologist at NBC KGNS 8 Gray Television in Laredo, Texas and WSVN Channel 7 Miami/Sunbeam Television. She earned a Professional Science Master’s Degree in Broadcast Meteorology from the University of Miami.
Hernandez brings more than 20 years of experience as a weather presenter in major Hispanic markets like New York, Miami, Dallas, and San Antonio. Hernandez has won multiple Emmy® Awards in various categories such as, best weathercaster, best weather anchor during severe weather and best video journalist for an environmental report in Texas.
Lim joins The Weather Channel en Español from Salt Lake City, Utah where she was a chief meteorologist for the Telemundo local station. Lim was responsible for forecasting and planning for significant weather events in the area, as well as coordinating and producing weather coverage for markets like Sacramento, Tampa, Denver, Las Vegas, and Arizona. Previously, she was the chief meteorologist at a local Oklahoma news station, and held roles as a forecaster and researcher at Cuba’s National Institute of Oceanography and the National Institute of Meteorology.

The Weather Channel en Español is 100% free and available across over-the-top streaming platforms and all mobile devices. The content is focused on the U.S., the Caribbean and Latin America. The Weather Channel en Español is also accessible via The Weather Channel app.

FRANCE 24 programme highlight | France/Portugal cultural season

3 May 2022

FRANCE 24 programme highlight | France/Portugal cultural season

FRANCE 24 programme highlight: Lisbon: How African music is breaking down racial barriers?

In February 2022, France and Portugal embarked upon a cultural season that will see nine months of arts events in both countries. To celebrate this international friendship, France 24 is exploring Portuguese culture in a special programme. The culture show Encore! is going on a musical journey to Lisbon to meet the country’s top artists.

This show zooms in on the new Afro-Portuguese scene, whose influences come from Portugal’s former colonies Angola, Cape Verde, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau and Sao Tome and Principe.

Presenter Eve Jackson meets award-winning Dino d’Santiago, a rising star of Portuguese music who mixes traditional and contemporary sounds. And DJ Marfox is in the mix, to explain how he brings new beats to the airwaves.

France 24’s team also takes part in a concert from the Batukadeiras Orquesta, a group of female drummers and Cape Verdean singers, specialising in Batuka – a rhythmic call-and-response style created in Cape Verde during the slave trade.

Watch on France 24 on Friday 13 May at 1015 GMT.

DW Freedom of Speech Award 2022 goes to Ukrainian journalists Mstyslav Chernov and Evgeniy Maloletka

3 May 2022

DW Freedom of Speech Award 2022 goes to Ukrainian journalists Mstyslav Chernov and Evgeniy Maloletka

Ukrainian visual journalist and novelist Mstyslav Chernov and photojournalist Evgeniy Maloletka are this year’s DW Freedom of Speech Award laureates. For the eighth consecutive year, Germany’s international broadcaster is awarding the prize. It recognizes outstanding promotion of human rights and freedom of expression.

“Mstyslav Chernov and Evgeniy Maloletka have a way of reporting that is painful to read and watch, but what really hurts is the truth that their reporting conveys: Russia brutally attacking Ukraine, and thereby Ukrainian civilians, under a fabricated pretence. While there are nuances to every story, there is no way facts can be negotiated. This is exactly what the Kremlin is doing: Distorting facts, spreading misinformation,” said DW Director General Peter Limbourg. “The Freedom of Speech Award for Mstyslav Chernov and Evgeniy Maloletka is to recognize their exceptional courage in standing up against propaganda and misinformation. It is to recognize that their fight for human rights and for the truth is a fight for democracy and free societies, for all of us, and it comes at a high price.”

The journalists, who both remain in Ukraine to continue their coverage of the war, welcomed the news about receiving the DW Freedom of Speech Award as an acknowledgment of their work.

The award ceremony will be held on June 20 as part of the DW Global Media Forum.

Bringing atrocities in Mariupol to the world’s attention

AP journalist and novelist Mstyslav Chernov and freelance photojournalist Evgeniy Maloletka are both from eastern Ukraine. Previously, their reports and footage from the conflicts in Crimea and eastern Ukraine have been published in various international media, including BBC, Deutsche Welle, The New York Times, Washington Post, Der Spiegel and others. As a war reporter in several conflict zones such as Iraq or Syria, Chernov has been wounded multiple times. Before the war, Maloletka had also been working on a project about the Hutsul community in western Ukraine, their traditions and daily life, and on the impact of the conflict in Donbass.

The Freedom of Speech Award now honours the reporters’ coverage of the war in Ukraine started by Russia on February 24, 2022. The report “20 days in Mariupol: The team that documented city’s agony” offers a unique account of Mariupol under Russian siege, with Chernov and Maloletka being the last journalists in the city before their evacuation. They documented the city’s first deaths at the city hospital of Mariupol and the attack on the maternity ward with pregnant women and children in it, as well as numerous bombings. During this work, the journalists themselves were under constant attack and took great risks only to find a steady connection to upload their footage of the siege, bringing it to the attention of the international community. They were evacuated by Ukrainian soldiers to avoid them falling into the hands of Russians, who had been hunting them down.

AP Senior Vice President and Executive Editor Julie Pace: “Mstyslav and Evgeniy were the world’s eyes and ears in Mariupol, producing courageous and compelling reporting as the only international journalists inside the besieged city. The harrowing realities of Russia’s war would have remained unseen without their bravery. We are extremely proud of their work.”

Limbourg: “The war in Ukraine is a war on human rights and European values, but also a war on truth and facts. Our laureates this year have documented the atrocities committed in Mariupol and have themselves become eyewitnesses. It is thanks to them, and other journalists working in war zones, that the world gets to see what is happening on the ground. It is only then that crimes can be prosecuted, and perpetrators be held responsible. The kind of commitment and strength shown by war journalists is extremely valuable, the work is demanding and dangerous, and it is too seldomly given credit.”

DW Freedom of Speech Award

Deutsche Welle provides independent news and information to people worldwide in 32 languages. DW promotes democratic values, human rights and the dialogue between different cultures. Since 2015, DW has been honoring individuals and organizations with the Freedom of Speech Award. The first laureate was Saudi blogger Raif Badawi, who had been jailed for ten years and was released in March this year. Other recipients include Mexican investigative journalist Annabel Hernández (2019), whose work focuses on corruption, impunity and drug cartels, and Nigerian investigative journalist Tobore Ovuorie (2021), who uncovered an international human trafficking ring.

Global Media Forum 2022: Hybrid event

The DW Freedom of Speech Award ceremony is the annual highlight of the Global Media Forum, Deutsche Welle’s international media conference. On June 20 and 21, 2022, media experts and politicians from around the world will convene at the World Conference Center Bonn in Germany to discuss this year’s theme “Shaping tomorrow, now.” Participants from all parts of the world can join in and be part of the numerous inclusive discussions, debates and workshops – in Bonn or online.

[Source: DW press release]