6 January 2010
Statement released by the BBG:
The Broadcasting Board of Governors condemns the latest efforts of the Iranian Government and its associates to interfere and censor the free flow of objective news and information to the Iranian people. By monitoring satellite signals, BBG’s technical experts have determined that on December 27, the Government of Iran engaged in the intentional jamming of satellite transmissions of the Voice of America’s (VOA) Persian News Network and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s (RFE/RL) Radio Farda.
These efforts continue a pattern by the Iranian Government to block the broadcasting of objective and balanced news and information to the Iranian people, efforts which the Government of Iran has amplified since the June 12 Iranian elections. As Iranian citizens once again demonstrate against the current government, Iran has stepped up its measures to ensure that the Iranian people are deprived of the international reaction, as well as of accurate news about the protests taking place in various cities in Iran.
The latest actions of the Iranian government in jamming commercial satellites appear calculated to intimidate the commercial satellite providers that are targets of the jamming into complicity with the actions of the Government of Iran and deprive the Iranian people access to free press and information.
“Private industry is an essential partner in freedom of the press. We urge our satellite partners to stand united in the face of these authoritarian acts or risk even greater human rights losses,” BBG Governor D. Jeffrey Hirschberg said after the Iranian Government’s latest efforts to jam U.S. International Broadcasting signals.
“This type of intentional, harmful interference is not only a violation of the rules of the International Telecommunications Union to which the Government of Iran has subscribed, but is also a flagrant violation of the internationally recognized right of the people of Iran to receive news and information without government censorship.”
Calls to the Iranian Mission to the UN for comment have not been returned.
The BBG condemns censorship in any form and vigorously affirms the right of all peoples of the world to receive news and information freely and without restriction. The BBG also strongly urges satellite owners and service providers not to allow themselves to become unwitting instruments of censorship of the free press under the guise of avoiding harmful interference. The people of Iran, like the peoples of all countries, have the right to know about their country and the world.
2 December 2009
Verizon is delivering more international content to its FiOS TV subscribers with the launch of three new channels from World TV that feature Korean, Mandarin and Greek programming. With the additions, FiOS TV subscribers now have access to 35 international channels covering 21 languages a collection that cable cant match. The three new channels will be available in all FiOS TV markets by the end of the week.
International programming on FiOS TV offers a world of diverse channels in a growing variety of languages, said Terry Denson, vice president of content strategy and acquisition for Verizon. We are introducing our first Greek channel, along with new Korean and Mandarin channels, and delivering an expanding international offering with the amazing picture-and-sound quality that only FiOS delivers.
Verizon FiOS TVs new international programming consists of:
YTN (channel 1761), the CNN news channel of Korea, which joins a new Korean package that also includes MBC (channel 1760) for $24.99 per month.
Phoenix North America (channel 1797), a Mandarin channel offering news and entertainment, including programs like Phoenix North America News and Experience America; the channel joins CCTV4 (channel 1795) and CTI (channel 1796) in a new Chinese Mandarin package for $15.99 per month.
Antenna (channel 1789), FiOS TVs first Greek channel, featuring comedies, dramas, news, current affairs programs, game shows, entertainment programming and more for $14.99 per month.
The three new channels come from World TV, a division of content management and delivery company GlobeCast, which signed a distribution deal last year with Verizon for top-tier international channels, including Russian channel RTR Planeta, Romanian channels Pro TV and RSC1, Portuguese channel RTPi, and more.
Verizon is currently offering new customers who subscribe to Verizons better or best bundled package of FiOS TV, FiOS Internet and phone service the option to add one International TV package free of charge for three months.* Customers can select a package in any one of the following languages: Chinese, Filipino, German, Hindi, Korean, Punjabi, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish or Vietnamese. Total savings on the International TV package, if selected, range from $29.97 to $104.97, depending on the bundled packages selected.
FiOS TV offers a broad collection of programming, with more than 500 all-digital channels including more than 126 HD channels and more than 18,000 monthly VOD titles. FiOS provides next-generation interactive services including an advanced interactive media guide; news, entertainment and social TV widgets; remote DVR management; multi-room DVR; and more.
2 December 2009
The Associated Press will join 10 other news agencies to create a single Facebook page to interact with news consumers across the globe during the United Nations climate conference in Copenhagen.
The Facebook fan page, called The Climate Pool, will bring the news agencies together in an unprecedented collaboration to spark a global conversation about climate issues. The purpose of the Facebook hub (http://www.facebook.com/TheClimatePool ) will be to engage readers in direct communication with the world-class journalists covering the U.N. conference 7 18 December 2009.
Participating in addition to AP are Agence France-Presse, ANP of the Netherlands, APA of Austria, APcom of Italy, Canadian Press, dpa of Germany, Kyodo of Japan, Lusa of Portugal, Press Association of the United Kingdom and RIA of Russia.
The climate project is based on a model for interactivity AP has used to solicit feedback and questions from the public during a major news event. The model features a blog format, which is used to give readers a behind-the-scenes view of the event and to link out to important coverage across the Web. Twitter also is used to attract followers for the blog and related coverage.
Following the AP’s experience with the model during last summer’s Senate confirmation hearings for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, several agencies from around the world came together to design a similar project for Copenhagen under the auspices of MINDS International, a global news agency network.
“The climate summit in Copenhagen will affect the lives of billions of people, and it is likely to grip the attention of news consumers all over the world,” said Wolfgang Nedomansky, managing director of MINDS. “The Climate Pool will provide a unique outlet for Internet users to discuss climate change with some of the world’s most experienced journalists covering the conference.”
“This format created a great deal of excitement around the Sotomayor hearings, and we’re excited to share the experience this time with our global news agency colleagues,” said Jim Kennedy, vice president and director of strategic planning for the AP. “We are looking forward to engaging in a truly worldwide conversation.”
The Climate Pool page will be produced in English and will incorporate blogposts and multimedia content from the participating agencies, along with links to coverage of the talks from the agencies and the media outlets they serve around the world.
The AP has also launched a Twitter feed (www.twitter.com/AP_climatepool) to solicit followers interested in commenting on the talks or posing questions for the expert journalists covering the conference and climate issues.
23 November 2009
The International News Safety Institute on Monday expressed horror over the massacre of at least 36 people, including more than 12 journalists, in the Philippines. It was the blackest day in the history of journalism in the Philippines, already one of the deadliest nations on earth for the news media.
Gunmen abducted and killed the group of people in Maguindanao province in the southern Philippines on Monday, apparently to prevent a woman filing her husband’s nomination to run for provincial governor in elections next year, according to the military. Some of the victims were beheaded and bodies mutilated, local officials said.
“This is a horrific event for all in the world news community, but it goes beyond an attack on journalism and press freedom — it is an appalling assault on democracy itself,” said INSI Director Rodney Pinder. “INSI sends its heartfelt condolences to friends and colleagues in the Philippines news community and to the families of all the other victims.”
Reuters reported the dead included Genalyn Tiamzon-Mangudadatu, who was on the way to file the nomination of her husband to contest the governorship of Maguindanao province against Datu Andal Ampatuan, the head of a powerful local family. She was accompanied by several members of her family and local journalists. The convoy was ambushed at about 10.30 AM. by about 100 armed men, some reportedly in police uniform, who took everyone off to a remote location where the killings took place. According to some reports most were shot, but some were run over by vehicles.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) said the victims included at least 12 journalists covering the political development.
According to a global survey of news media casualties carried out by INSI between 1996 and 2008, the Philippines ranked 4th worst in the world with 76 dead, after Iraq, Russia and Colombia.
At least four journalists had been killed this year alone, before today’s mass murder.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo condemned the latest violence and ordered the police to hunt down the killers.
INSI is a non-governmental organisation devoted to the safety of journalists and other news media in dangerous situations around the world.
Any questions on this news release should be address to Rodney Pinder, email rodney.pinder@newssafety.org or tel: +44 7734 709267
23 November 2009
Al Jazeera Children’s Channel (JCC) closes the year 2009 by winning international awards and recognition in the UK, India, and Egypt.
JCC’s film “Wailing Wall” won the Special Jury Award at the 11th Osian’s Cinefan Awards 2009 in New Delhi. The documentary gives an insight into the life of children and adults living close to this dividing line in Palestine.
In November, JCC won the AIB Editor’s Award which was presented by the Association for International Broadcasting at the AIB International Media Excellence Awards in London, UK. The award recognizes JCC’s innovative and inspirational approach to providing ‘edutainment’ for the children of the Arab world, promoting education and creating a progressive mindset.
Premiering in childrens drama, JCC’s TV family series “Ana Wa Ekhwati” (Me and my siblings) bagged gold award for Best Picture and Sound in the TV drama category and won silver award for Best Children Drama at the 15th Cairo Arab Media Festival.
Malika Alouane, Director of Programming at JCC said: “We at JCC are delighted and feel rewarded to receive these recognitions. These awards feed our motivation and make us more ambitious to present the best and most unconventional content that can create a better mindset and contribute to educating our children. These values come from the heart of our mission as part of Qatar Foundation for Education Science and Community Development”.
19 November 2009
RT TV channel is launching FreeVideo, the first English-language video agency in Russia. It means RT can give its 260m audience and media partners all over the world an opportunity to access a unique source of information about Russia.
“FreeVideo”, the first English-language video service in Russia, is a selection of exclusive news stories, interviews and RT programs in high definition format, which can be accessed daily at http://freevideo.rt.tv and on the website of the RT TV channel (www.rt.com). Now any internet user and media resource can watch RT news reports and download them free of charge.
The video database is updated every day, and archive videos are kept available too. It is easy to find any given video story – all you need to do is use the video services convenient search engine.
Due to the opportunities provided by “FreeVideo”, RT is attracting the attention of the global community to Russia and introduces a Russian point of view on events that are happening around the world.
In July RT expanded its presence on the Asian market. The channel signed an agreement with leading satellite company Globe-Cast to be included in the Big TV news package. Big TV is the fifth largest subscription TV operator in India. This move brings RT a potential twenty million new viewers in the country.
RT is also available in 100 of the regions major hotels. In future, the channel plans to broadcast to at least 300 hotels. In Hong Kong, RT is now available to two million viewers who subscribe to the standard package of the CABLE TV operator.
