7 November 2008
For the first time, journalists across the globe will have free access to BBC journalist training guides on the use of language previously only available to BBC reporters.
The guides, which have been developed into six languages by BBC World Service and BBC College of Journalism, focus on language; in particular its usage and style when reporting and writing for TV, radio and online.
The language used in each guide has been fine-tuned over many years by BBC journalists reporting in Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, French, Russian and Urdu and are available to journalists and the public alike on BBC websites bbcarabic.com, bbcchinese.com, bbcpersian.com, bbcrussian.com, bbcafrique.com and bbcurdu.com.
The guides are based on knowledge and experience built up by more than 75 years of BBC World Service broadcasting. They are based on the ethics which underpin the BBC values which include accuracy, impartiality, objectivity, fairness and editorial independence.
The guides give a range of advice on the use of language including the use of impartial language, identifying loaded words, advising on how to unify new terminology and pronunciation. Where relevant the guides instruct on nuances of language when broadcasting to two or more countries with the same language.
Editor of BBC College of Journalism, Kevin Marsh, said: “This is the colleges most exciting project to date. The guides draw on the rich experience and expertise of BBC journalists built up over many years, and we are delighted to be able to share this knowledge, in six languages, with journalists across the world. The guides underline how, in the end, journalism is all about language. In order to discuss the values of journalism, one must first understand the role language plays in expressing those values.”
7 November 2008
Al Jazeera Satellite Network has announced the launch of the Public Liberties and Human Rights Desk, which will be headed by Sami Al Haj, the Al Jazeera cameraman who was recently released from Guantanamo Bay after six and a half years of detention.
The primary focus of the Desk will be to promote respect for human rights and public liberties by monitoring, documenting, broadcasting and raising awareness for these key issues in the world as a whole and in the Arab region in particular. The Desk will work closely with Al Jazeera’s news division and establish a specialized database on human rights and public liberties issues.
“This important Al Jazeera initiative will promote respect for public liberties and highlight the need for basic human rights for all individuals throughout the Middle East and the rest of the world. Broadcasting and promoting those values will create an incentive for their respect and fulfilment among all those reached by Al Jazeera’s media network,” said Wadah Khanfar, Director General of Al Jazeera Network. “The Al Jazeera Public Liberties and Human Rights Desk is a groundbreaking project that builds on Al Jazeera’s tradition of reporting events and stories that too often are not told. We’re very pleased to have Sami Al Haj lead this initiative for advancing public liberties and human rights that follows Al Jazeera’s tradition of expanding the boundaries of journalism.”
Sami Al Haj, the newly appointed Head of the Al Jazeera Public Liberties and Human Rights Desk added, “I am truly honored to be part of this historic project. My years at Guantanamo made me appreciate in a very profound manner how basic human rights could be violated and the fundamental importance of public liberties. These experiences are etched deeply into my soul. I firmly believe that through the dedication of the Al Jazeera and the newly established desk, we can promote the fundamental values of human rights and create an incentive for others. Al Jazeera will have an unmatched platform to promote these ideas and to foster a dialogue on the media’s role in advancing human rights.”
Day to day tasks will include the monitoring and documenting of achievements and violations in the field of human rights, keeping track of all regional and international developments pertaining to the systematization of human rights and public liberties protection, documenting different experiences, producing reports and media programming on human rights and public liberties as well as working on capacity building in the field of human rights and public liberties.
Additionally, the Public Liberties and Human Rights Desk will contribute to research and studies in the field of human rights and public liberties.
The initiative will be formally launched on 1 November 2008, as Al Jazeera celebrates its the 12th anniversary.
22 October 2008
With three times the number of entries over 2007, a
greater number of international judges and a shortlist that showcases
the very best in international TV, radio and online, plus marketing and
technology, the 2008 AIB International Media Excellence Awards have
become one of the key competitions in international media.
We’ll be presenting this year’s winners with their Awards on
Wednesday 12 November at LSO St Luke’s in central London at one of the AIB’s
renowned diners pensant (dinner debates). The evening is much more than
simply an awards ceremony. Two high-level media experts will be in
conversation with the AIB between courses sharing ideas, knowledge and
strategies with our international guests. The fast-paced Awards ceremony
will be a true celebration of excellence – no-one will know whether
they’ve won until the evening.
Book your places at this great event where you’ll have
the chance to meet colleagues, clients and potential clients in fantastic
surroundings with excellent food and drink. Bring along guests to this unique
evening that’s a true celebration of success as well as offering unrivalled
networking and the chance to enjoy yourselves, too.
Reserve your tickets online
here,
or download the PDF booking form
here. The ticket price includes the champagne reception, three-course meal
(catered by Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant) and wines. Places are
going fast – one-third of the seats have already been booked as at 29
September. Don’t miss out!
29 September 2008
The shortlist for the 2008 AIB International Media Excellence
Awards has now been released. After an immense increase in the number of
entries for this year’s contest, the shortlisting team has been working round
the clock to sort the best work submitted to the AIB for our international panel
of judges.
The field has been narrowed down to just under 70 individual entries and
these are now being sent to judges for them to evaluate. It’s going to be a
tough contest as the quality of all the entries is astonishingly high, as well
as being truly international with every continent represented in this year’s
celebration of media excellence.
The complete shortlist appears below – and that’s all the information the AIB
will be releasing until the night of the Awards on 12 November. That’s
when the winners will be revealed at a gala evening, incorporating the AIB’s
renowned diner pensant (dinner debate), at
LSO St
Luke’s in central London.
Tables have already been booked for the Awards event which will bring
together producers, editors, journalists, parliamentarians and senior media
executives from all over the world. Don’t miss out on this occasion to share in
the success of the international media industry, and to learn from the two
leading media personalities who will be “in conversation” during the evening.
And we’ll have some other surprises to make 12 November a night to remember.
Download the booking form
here,
or reserve your places online
here.
Shortlisted entries 2008
Canal 13 Artear SA
Climate Refugees
Caldecott
Productions International
The Mud
Al Jazeera Satellite Channel
Caesar
Al Jazeera English
The Promised Land
TV2 Norway
The Serena Attack
Strix Television
AB
Class of 07
TV3
Undercover
Ireland: The Drugs Trade
BBC Northern
Ireland
Spotlight “The
Pitbull Sting”
VRT
Corrupt Romania
ABS-CBN
XXX
WDR Cologne, Arte
Dirty Gold
Ruth Evans
Productions
Ground Zero:
Rebuilding Southern Sudan
Ruth Evans
Productions
Kenya – Healing
the Rift
Tinderbox
Productions
Where next: A
Solider’s Journey
Like It Is
Productions
Race and
Reconciliation
BBC World Service
Benazir Bhutto:
The Investigation
BBC Russian
Service
Uranium Train
SW Radio Africa
Healthbeat
CBC Radio-Canada
Seisme en Chine
NDTV
Myanmar Cyclone
South African
Broadcasting Corporation
Hambani
Makwerekwere
France 24
Crackdown in the
heart of Burma
NDTV
Benazir Bhutto
Assassination
BBC World Service
The Assassination
of Benazir Bhutto
BBC World Service
The World Today:
Chinese Party Congress
BBC Russian
Service
BBC Russian
Service: Presidential Elections in Russia
Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty
Afghan Parade
Attack
Radio New Zealand
International
Death of Sir
Edmund Hilary
Deutsche Welle
Youth without
Frontiers
Chellozone
Zone Reality –
Psychic Private Eyes
Arte G.E.I.E
Carnets de Voyage
– Inde
TVN SA
Kosovo:Between
independence
Times Global
Broadcasting Co. Ltd
Line of Duty –
Battling Siachen
Russia Today
Russian Glamour
Rockhopper
A sporting chance
BBC Bristol
Forgiving
BBC African
Service
African
Perspective: Adebayor’s Tour of Hope
BBC World Service
Pain (The
Wednesday documentary)
Deutsche Welle
When the Gods Roar
CBC Radio-Canada
The Poetry of the
Woods
Radio Mirchi
Don’t Pee in
Public
WDR
Radio Peelings
BBC World Service
The Amazon Paradox
BBC World Service
The Bangladesh
Boat Project
Deutsche Welle
Mission Europe
Tim TV
Know your Nation
3FM
3FM Serious
Request 2007
BSkyB
Lost
VRT
The Food Crisis
RTE
Sunday Game
Al Jazeera
Iran Nuclear
BSkyB
Skysports Premier
League Football House style
Reality Check
Studios
NASCAR Hotpass
Reality Check
Studios
NFL Network
SBS Australia
SBS World News
Australian Graphics Package
Sveriges Radio
The Programme
Guide
Discovery Networks
Europe
Lemur Street
TVN
TVN – You can
Dance
Russia Today TV
New Year Promo
Link Research
The Prague Steps
VT Communications
Global Media
Network and Media Management Centre
Thomas Grass
Valley
Thomson LDK 8300
Camera
Reality Check
Studios
NASCAR Hotpass
SPE Networks –
Asia Pte Ltd
Animax ‘Technomax’
Host
Sky One
Ross Kemp
Times Global
Broadcasting Co. Ltd
Arnab Goswami
VRT Television
Martine Tanghe
BBC World Service
Owen Bennett-Jones
Radio Mirchi
Sunil Grover
National
Geographic TV
National
Geographic Weekend
Bloomberg
Television Europe
Emerging Africa
Week
Sveriges TV
The Truth about
Marika
Discovery Networks
Europe
Animal Planet
International
18 September 2008
Join the AIB at stand 11.F02 at this year’s IBC in Amsterdam, 11-16
September. We’ll be highlighting our recommended hotspots to visit during the
event, and offering some much needed relaxation during the exhibition. Drop by
and see us.
