27 September 2010
VOA Korean Service broadcaster Young-Ran Jeon was awarded the Gold World Trophy for National/International Affairs at the New York Festivals International Radio Programming & Promotion Awards Ceremony today for her report on North Korean migrant workers in Vladivostok, Russia.
VOA’s Korean Service broadcast Jeon’s report, “My Nation’s Command, My Only Dream: The Story of North Korean Migrant Workers,” as a three-part series in August 2009.
From July 11 to July 16, 2009, Jeon met with dozens of the estimated 5,000 North Korean migrant workers who perform hard labor in the Russian city. Several of them agreed to let her record interviews on the condition that she use pseudonyms in her report. This coverage provided rare insight into the hardships that they face in order to earn a higher income than expected in North Korea. Many work more than 10 hours a day because the North Korean government takes a large percentage of their salaries.
Kim Chul-woong (pseudonym) told Jeon that “I will go back to Pyongyang when I make a lot of money. You can have a wealthy life in Pyongyang if you have money.” Another migrant worker told her that “Here I can pocket as much as $1,000 a month.” Despite the long hours and the separation from their families, many North Koreans from all walks of life agree to spend five years or more to earn higher salaries so they can have a better life when they return home.
Jeon is a veteran broadcaster who has covered North Korean affairs for more than 15 years. Her trip to Vladivostok took six months of planning to establish contacts on the ground. North Korean government officials keep a close watch on North Koreans working abroad, so making contacts in Vladivostok under this kind of scrutiny was extremely difficult.
Listen to Jeon’s original series at http://author.voanews.com/korean/vladivostok.cfm. For reports on the Internet from VOAs Korean Service, go to http://www.voanews.com/korean/.
27 September 2010
euronews is the only media offering multi-lingual services on TV, mobile and on all main digital platforms. The formula is a success. Once again euronews confirms its leading position among the international news TV channels in Europe. For the sixth consecutive survey release, euronews ranks number 1 in weekly reach.
EMS-C-EMS study, released on September 27th, measures the media consumption of 46.4 million upmarket viewers in Western and Eastern Europe. EMS Digital Life, an extension to EMS ¡V looks into the digital consumption of 44.4 million internet users.
¡§EMS demonstrates that euronews has become a major brand in Europe, perfectly fitting the today¡¦s digital world. With multilingual and short format news, euronews has all the key assets to develop rapidly on all digital platforms. In summer 2010, euronews has enriched its digital offer by launching a new connected TV service with Panasonic Vieracast and an iPhone application. Both services contribute to the success of the brand and new languages such as Persian, due to be launched in October, will make euronews available to an even wider audience around the world.¡¨ said the Managing Director of euronews Sales, Olivier de Montchenu.
15m upmarket Europeans in contact with the euronews brand
Each month, more than 15m upmarket Europeans are watching, reading or interacting with euronews content on TV, online or on their mobile phone.
euronews TV is particularly successful in some of the most important markets in Europe. The channel ranks 1st in weekly reach in France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Belgium/Lux., Austria, Switzerland, Finland and Russia.
euronews is the perfect fit to the Europeans¡¦ need for information
EMS Summer 2010 release demonstrates once more that TV and Internet are the top 2 sources of information for current affairs, with 31% and 26% of Europeans turn to first to these media respectively. News is also the TV genre obtaining the highest opinion rating with 71% of upmarket Europeans enjoying it and being satisfied with the current TV offer.
Languages remain a crucial issue in Europe particularly in the Eastern part where a half of the population does not understand English enough to watch TV or read a newspaper. Therefore, addressing them in their own language remains vital.
euronews has the key assets to meet the needs of Europeans: euronews is the only service to provide news in 9 languages, with a 10th language ¡V Farsi (Persian) to be launched next month.
euronews digital strategy is a success
Beyond TV, EMS Digital Life shows that 4.9 million upmarket Europeans (10.9%) are watching and reading euronews content online or on their mobile phone each month. The euronews digital offer is fully integrated in the brand development and allows the channel to reach new audiences that would not watch euronews on TV on a regular basis. EMS shows that 2.7 million Europeans watching or reading euronews content online or on mobile actually did not watch any euronews programming on TV in the past month.
Services ¡V also available in 9 languages – include euronews.net, m.euronews.net, RSS feeds, live streaming and online Video on Demand.
euronews expanding with the growth in digital consumption
euronews has always striven to stay one step ahead of the game by adopting digital technologies as early as in 1999. The channel now benefits from the growth in 3-screen consumption.
EMS Digital Life shows that 43% of Europeans watch TV programming on a laptop and 8% on a mobile device (mobile phone, MP4, etc).
Watching TV & video programmes is particularly popular amongst smartphone users.
EMS Digital shows that in 2009, a quarter (26%) of upmarket Europeans owned a smartphone, Blackberry or an iPhone. A half of all smartphone users access the internet via a 3G connection or an or equivalent which is fast enough for streaming multimedia. 26% of smartphone users in Europe watch video clips, films or TV programmes on demand every week.
Again, euronews embraced the mobile phone market revolution at an early stage. Today, m.euronews.net is ready to provide content to all internet-enabled mobile phones and the TV channel is broadcast live on 26 mobile phone networks throughout Europe. In July 2010, euronews has launched an iPhone application dedicated to its iconic programme no comment.
(Source: euronews press release)
27 September 2010
Al Jazeera Childrens Channel (JCC) launched its new grid meeting the back-to-school season and crowning JCCs 5-year anniversary with an array of premieres that will enforce the diversity and positioning of the different slots.
JCCs grid reflects its maturing programming strategy and features many in-house productions along with international co-productions and acquisitions. These exciting new programs that include Saladin (a new 3D-animated series), a cookery show, a unique science program, a debate program, a sports magazine, and a first time quiz show will capture the hearts and minds of children and youth across the Arab world.
On September 17th, 2010, children across the Arab world watched the premiere of the long awaited 3D-animated adventure series Saladin. Saladin will take Arab children and their families on an epic full of adventure and humor. Over the past 3 years, JCC and Malaysias Multimedia Development Company (MDEC) have successfully worked together to bring to life this animated series inspired from the long history of heroism in the Arab region. The series is available in both English and Arabic and has thus generated considerable interest from the international market and content buyers from Russia, Turkey, Indonesia, China, America and several European countries.
JCC has also dedicated a slot to encourage healthy eating habits. Over the past two years, JCC has been collaborating with Fresh One, a British production company made famous by Jamie Oliver to produce a cooking show that promotes and emphasizes on the importance of a healthy and balanced diet. JCCs Al Tabaq Al Taer (Flying Saucer) is an entertaining easy to digest 26-minute series offering fresh and simple recipes and nutrition tips for children.
JCCs new grid will also mark the launch of PhysiaKawn (Discover Science), a major co-production between JCC and Japans Broadcasting Corporation NHK/NED. Beginning February 2011, PhysiaKawn will make physics visually fun through some easy to understand spectacular experiments. JCCs in-house productions include Anta Batal (Be a Champion), a weekly sports magazine, hosted by a fun sports enthusiast. Khair Al Kalam, a weekly debate show with teams debating the hottest topics affecting teens nowadays; and, Al Alam Soual a quiz show in which contestants answer general knowledge questions about different countries of the world.
JCCs Executive General Manager, Mahmoud Bouneb stated: Today, we proudly celebrate JCCs 5th anniversary and the launch of our new grid showcasing some remarkable content. Over the past years, JCC has not only matured but also learnt how to innovate on many levels; this growth has allowed us to take a leading role in the field of childrens media and in making a major impact internationally.
As a non-profit organization, our goal is not only to sell to the international market but primarily to produce and acquire quality programming suitable for Arab children, Bouneb added.
JCCs success is predominantly driven by the vision and guidance of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned. As a result of Her continuous support, JCC has become a major player and contributor in the children programming industry. We dedicate all of our award-winning quality programming and multimedia content to Her Highness and to JCCs loyal audience, Bouneb concluded.
Since its launch, JCC has developed its own corporate environment, and has evolved both its organizational structure and its technical facilities to manage two childrens channels and set up high production standards. Furthermore, JCC has enabled global partnerships in program-making for children that will help cement its presence in the 5 continents. Today, JCC operates with a professional diverse fabric of human asset representing more than 30 nationalities.
23 September 2010
The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) appointed of Carlos A. Garcia-Perez as the director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB). The OCB is the entity that supervises Radio and Television Martí’s Spanish-language broadcasts of news and information to Cuba.
“As we observe potential changes in the political and economic landscape in Cuba, it becomes even more important that Radio and TV Marti present a trusted source of objective news and information about events in Cuba, and related U.S. policies,” said BBG Chairman Walter Isaacson. “Garcia-Perez is a strong leader with a commitment to the editorial competence and professional journalism required of all BBG broadcasters.”
Garcia-Perez brings rich experience in international business and law having represented clients in the United States and several Latin American countries.
“I am honored to serve in this important position,” said Garcia-Perez. “Providing reliable news and information about Cuba, the U.S. and the world to the people of Cuba is more critical than ever.”
Carlos A. Garcia-Perez is a shareholder in the Litigation and Trial Practice Department of Goldman Antonetti & Cordova, P.S.C., one of the largest law firms in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. His practice is heavily concentrated in the areas of commercial law including litigation, distribution agreements, arbitration, and business acquisitions. Garcia-Perez also provided advice and counsel for commercial, real estate and financing transactions and disputes pertaining to trademarks, copyrights and contracts.
Garcia-Perez received his J.D. at Hofstra University School of Law, Hempstead, New York in 1988 and his B.A. in Economics and International Relations at Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1985.
23 September 2010
Al Jazeera Network calls on ISAF for the immediate release of two of its cameramen arrested over the last 72 hours. Al Jazeera views this escalation as an attempt by ISAF leadership to suppress its comprehensive coverage of the Afghan war.
The latest arrest of Al Jazeera channel cameraman, Mr. Mohamed Nader, occurred in Kandahar at 4am (Afghanistan time) September 22nd. An account by his wife states that she was woken when ISAF troops raided their home during the night when they stormed the house; the troops then proceeded to arrest her husband, Mr. Nader, forcibly removing him from his bedroom, and continued to search the house, in addition to taking possession of their valuables. A press release issued by ISAF confirms that they were responsible for the arrest and terms Mr. Nader as a Taliban facilitator. Al Jazeera strongly opposes this claim and stands behind the innocence of Mr. Nader.
Just over two days ago, Mr. Rahmatullah Nekzad, a freelancer working for Al Jazeera channel and AP, was arrested in the same manner in the Ghazni province by ISAF forces. The ISAF press release alleges that Mr. Nekzad is a suspected Taliban media and propaganda facilitator, which Al Jazeera believes is an alarming and unusual classification used by ISAF to intimidate the press. Al Jazeera also strongly opposes Mr. Nekzads arrest and stands behind his innocence.
The arrests follow a recent pattern of escalation by ISAF and coalition forces to target Al Jazeera journalists in Afghanistan. Recently, Al Jazeeras offices and bureau chief Samir Allawy in Afghanistan were also threatened and contacted on many occasions for Al Jazeera to change its editorial policy. The response from Al Jazeera is that it will continue to maintain its coverage on the basis of fair and impartial journalism in line with its Code of Ethics and will not bias its coverage in favor of any party or coalition despite pressures being imposed on it.
As part of their work cameramen and crew need to have contact with all sides of those involved in a particular issue, which in this case includes ISAF forces, the Afghanistan government as well as the Taliban. These contacts should not be seen as a criminal offence but rather as a necessary component of the work that journalists undertake.
Al Jazeera calls for the immediate release of both its cameramen as it sees these arrests as a curtailment of the freedom of expression that hinders the Al Jazeera Network from undertaking its newsgathering and journalistic work. It also calls upon officials from ISAF and the Afghanistan government to provide an immediate explanation for the arrests and holds them responsible for the safety of both of Al Jazeeras cameramen.
23 September 2010
After an EU-wide RFP German public broadcaster Suedwestrundfunk (SWR) chose Cologne based company Wellen+Nöthen as general contractor for the project tapeless production in Stuttgart. S4M Solutions for Media provides its Video Production Management System (VPMS) as central Media Asset Management System for the public broadcaster.
SWRs new building in Stuttgart will provide modern production technology for TV, Radio and the Internet concentrated under one roof in a 22,000 m2 location.
In this way SWR will be able to produce different TV formats in a future proof way. Surrounded by several production areas and technical service rooms like control rooms, Video- and Audio Editing Suites, the studios are the core of the new building.
As convenient Media Asset Management (MAM) System VPMS acts as a cross-functional control unit for broadcasting processes within the infrastructure of video server, editing and graphics. A key component is VPMSs web based Media Center that provides for easy and effective central controlling. The complete system is constructed for HD, controls single as well as mass ingest of tapeless media (XDCAM HD, P2, files of all kind), integrates seamless with SWRs Newsroom System and provides powerful interfaces to the according production planning, scheduling and file transfer systems.
With VPMS SWR decided in favour of a highly scalable and cross media solution that will also be able to meet the broadcasters future requirements.
Suedwestrundfunk (SWR)
Suedwestrundfunk (SWR), the joint regional public broadcasting agency of the German Federal States of Baden-Wuerttemberg and Rheinland-Pfalz, has three main locations in Stuttgart, Baden-Baden and Mainz. SWR ist he second largest member of Germanys association of public broadcasters (ARD). SWRs broadcast region includes more than 55.600 km² with about 14.7 million inhabitants.
S4M Solutions for Media GmbH
The Cologne-based company S4M Solutions for Media, a subsidiary of Arvato systems and RTL Television, develops and distributes specialized software solutions for the broadcast and new media industry. Customers in 30 countries around the world use S4M systems for commercial airtime sales, video content management, program planning, rights licensing, ratings evaluation, or production planning. S4M also offers customers professional consulting services based on its experience and knowledge of media and information technology.
