James Glassman will speak at the Heritage Foundation, 15 May, noon. "As freedom and democratic progress are being challenged around the globe, how is U.S. International Broadcasting responding? James K. Glassman, President Bush's nominee as Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, gives his first public speech since becoming the chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors last June. His remarks will have special emphasis on Afghanistan, Iran, Cuba, Syria, Russia, and Tibet." Heritage Foundation announcement. And because Glassman's appointment to the public diplomacy post is being delayed by Senator Tom Coburn (see previous post and viz. the global challenges to "freedom and democratic progress" mentioned above), this could be interesting, despite the unfortunately hyperbolic title of the event: U.S. International Broadcasting on the Frontlines of Freedom. Posted: 11 May 2008 Permalink

Death of Richard M. McCarthy, who worked for USIA, VOA. Mr. McCarthy, 87, served in several Foreign Service, USIA, and VOA posts dating back to 1947. He was chief of VOA's Vietnamese and Thai services when he retired in 2003. "His scripts on American idioms were published in China and are still used in Voice of America broadcasts in Asia." Washington Post, 10 May 2008. As IBB audience research analyst for East Asia, I worked with Richard. In his final years at VOA (I think he worked beyond 2003, perhaps as a contractor), he was frail, but sharp as the proverbial tack, knew everybody's name. A very nice person. Posted: 11 May 2008 Permalink

Evidence that Alhurra is reporting real news? The Iraq-based Journalist Freedoms Observatory "reported that elected officials in a southern Iraqi governorate of Diwaniya are discussing banning an Iraqi journalist working for U.S.-funded satcaster al-Hurra. It said the members of the Diwaniya provincial council met Tuesday to discuss options for banning Maytham al-Shaybani from performing his work after he filed a critical report about public services in the province. The officials drafted a letter to the channel, which broadcasts in Arabic throughout Iraq, demanding that the correspondent be replaced." Variety, 9 May 2008. Posted: 11 May 2008 Permalink

International broadcasting and the aftermath of Burma's cyclone. "Only yesterday, though, when we started to hear from friends and acquaintances, and to listen to the BBC World Service, did we realize how widespread the destruction was." MSNBC, 9 May 2008. "At a temple in Mandalay, a group of three Burmese men gathered to listen to the BBC World Service as an alternative source of information to state-run media." Jeerawat Na Thalang, The Nation (Banglok), 10 May 2008. "With many here able to listen to foreign news bulletins on short-wave radio, stories of the junta's refusal to allow foreign aid experts into the country have infuriated the population." AFP, 11 May 2008. "The people in villages and towns of the Irrawaddy delta are looking up at the sky waiting for relief supplies, local sources told The Irrawaddy. It started after shortwave radio broadcasts said the US navy was ready to help supply aid." The Irrawaddy, 9 May 2008." Tobias Grote-Beverborg, managing editor of Asia programs, Deutsche Welle, Bonn, Germany: "The cyclone has upset the dictatorship's plans. The planned referendum … was supposed to be passed in the manner typical of a dictatorship, tacitly and closed off from the rest of the world. But now the eyes of the world are on Burma and foreign aid workers may end up as unwelcome election observers." USA Today Opinionline, 9 May 2008. "CNN correspondent Dan Rivers has returned from Myanmar where he was one of the very few international journalists reporting on the devastation from Cyclone Nargis. He talked with CNN International about evading the military government so he could continue filing reports." mediabistro.com, 9 May 2008. "Witnesses in Burma have been contacting RFA Burmese service staff with heartbreaking accounts of devastation, death, and a major humanitarian crisis." Radio Free Asia, 8 May 2008. See also RFA Unplugged blog. -- "Access to satellite television was limited and getting worse. On Jan.1, without warning, the government had raised the tax on satellite dishes from $6 a year to $780 — three times the average annual income. There were computers available, but access to the Internet was slow and users had to ply proxy servers to subvert the government’s firewall and reach e-mail providers. Even the telephones were finicky and said to be bugged. Those with televisions, computers and telephones were never guaranteed electrical power." Stephen Morison Jr, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, 11 May 2008. Burma's domestic shortwave transmissions, interrupted by the storm, have returned to the air. Victor Goonetilleke, DXAsia, via Radio Netherlands Media Network, 9 May 2008. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 11 May 2008 Permalink

BBC Arabic philosophy reads like philosophy. Hosam El Sokkari, Head of BBC Arabic, stresses "the importance of giving the political, social and cultural context behind news stories, saying that 'searching every stone' is important. He believes that by doing this journalists will know how to start, where to start, and how to reach their audience: 'Let the news guide your story and tell you who to reach.'" The Peninsua (Qatar), 10 May 2008. Rocket hits BBC headquarters in Baghdad; no one injured. Monsters & Critics, 9 May 2008. Posted: 11 May 2008 Permalink

Lebanon fighting silences regional broadcaster. Militants allied with the opposition on Friday forced the shutdown of all media operations belonging to the family of majority leader and billionaire tycoon Saad Hariri." This includes Future Television, "one of the leading Arab satellite stations gathering the highest audience ratings in the Gulf, Egypt and the Levant." Also Radio Orient, based in Paris, which "focuses on news from and about the Arab world, and Lebanon in particular, broadcasting in English and French as well as Arabic." The Daily Star (Beirut), 10 May 2008. Checking 11 May at 1500 UTC, the Future TV website is not opening. At the Radio Orient website, www.radioorient.com, this message: "Radio Orient informe ses auditeurs qu'un risque de perturbations et de coupure de l'écoute des émissions sur internet peut avoir lieu ces quelques jours. Vous pourrez continuer à nous écouter et visiter notre site web sur www.radio-orient.org. Nous vous demandons de nous en excuser." So, add a hyphen to the URL to receive Radio Orient. Posted: 11 May 2008 Permalink

Calling all Middle Eastern kids. "A flurry of global TV kids networks, including US giant Nickelodeon, are descending on the Middle East to be the first to take advantage of a lucrative young market, where over a third of potential viewers are under 12." Also: Jimjam, Kidsco, Boomerang, Disney, Cartoon Network, MBC3, Al Jazeera Children's Channel. Soon: Nickelodian Arabia. Emirates Business 24-7, 10 May 2008. Posted: 11 May 2008 Permalink

Getting to know a country through its local radio. "You can tell a lot about countries from their radio stations. Actually, you probably can't - would anyone claim that Britain is represented by its main commercial radio stations? But you can have a cheap laugh at their expense. Heading east through Europe is like a trip back in time. Get past Strasbourg and you find yourself in a land where 1980s synth-pop is king." Nick White, The Observer, 11 May 2008. Yes. If you drive though the United States, scan through the AM dial for the stations still orginating their own programming. Some of these stations can now be received remotely via internet radio. Example: WGTO, 910 kHz AM, Cassopolis, Michigan Posted: 11 May 2008 Permalink

Will the redesigned DRM website help bring us DRM receivers? The Digital Radio Mondiale consortium, seeking to replace analog on shortwave, medium wave, and longwave, has redesigned its website. "While it remains, as ever, the most comprehensive and accurate source of information about the DRM standard and global digital radio, the site now has a more user-friendly feel with exciting improvements in design, content and navigation." www.drm.org Does anyone else notice that the home page loads slowly? -- "It's especially pleasing to see Analog Devices, a U.S. company, as one of the new DRM members listed. The company is developing DRM receivers for various world markets." www.26mhz.us Posted: 11 May 2008 Permalink

Smith-Mundt: obviated by the internet? "Why is it that the U.S. government still operates its overseas information activities as if the Internet had never been invented? Or actually, it operates them with increasing impunity as if Smith-Mundt, the law that came into being in 1948 and was strengthened during the Vietnam War that separates information aimed at foreigners from information designed for American consumption, had been repealed years ago. Except it wasn’t. This artificial and meaningless firewall – supposedly to keep the executive branch of the U.S. government from 'propagandizing' the American people – should have been repealed once the Internet took hold." Patricia H. Kushlis, WhirledView blog, 7 May 2008. Decades before the internet, shortwave routinely sidestepped Smith-Mundt. Shortwave listeners in the United States could tune in VOA from transmitters in the United States and overseas. In the 1960s, one of my main sources of world news (sparsely reported by U.S. domestic news sources) was VOA's "World Report" at 2100 GMT. Posted: 10 May 2008 Permalink

RFE/RL closes its "Newsline." "RFE/RL announces with regret that due to financial constraints, this will be the last issue of 'RFE/RL Newsline.' In late June, RFE/RL will launch a redesigned English-language website (http://www.rferl.org) that will continue to cover developments in our broadcast region." RFE/RL Newsline, 9 May 2008. "Yesterday, the president of RFE/RL informed the analysts there that because of budgetary shortfalls, he had no choice but to fire them and thus end what has been the journal of record for developments in a part of the world that remains vitally important however much some may believe we can safely ignore it." Paul Goble, Window on Eurasia, 8 May 2008. "I've linked several times to the outstanding work done by RFE/RL analyst Daniel Kimmage on al-Qaeda's internet operations, including his definitive study of Iraqi insurgent media (with Kathleen Ridolfo) and his more recent report on al-Qaeda's internet media production network. There are very few people inside or outside the government who have worked harder or thought more deeply about how jihadists use online media, drawing on the original Arabic sources rather than from second and third-hand conjecture. ... So imagine my surprise to learn yesterday that ... Kimmage [has] been given notice.' Marc Lynch, Abu Aardvark, 9 May 2008. The latest edition of the very good RFE/RL Media Matters newsletter, 7 May 2008, does not have a similar closure announcement, so apparently it will continue. Posted: 10 May 2008 Permalink

RFE obit. "Andrzej Pomian, 97, a correspondent with Radio Free Europe who served in the Polish underground during World War II... In 1955, he emigrated to the United States, and the following year became the Washington correspondent for the Polish section of Radio Free Europe. In 1974, he went to Munich [then RFE/RL headquarters] on a three-year assignment." Washington Post, 8 May 2008. Posted: 10 May 2008 Permalink

Detained Chinese writer has a VOA past. "Zhou Yuanzhi, a writer and member of the Independent Chinese PEN Center, has been detained in connection with his writings and could face trial for inciting subversion, a development PEN called 'another troublesome indication that a crackdown on freedom of expression is underway in China ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games.' ... In 1992, after an article he contributed to Voice of America was censored by the National Security police, he was dismissed from his post as deputy chief of the Downtown Branch of Taxation Bureau of Zhongxiang City and expelled from the Communist Party of China." PEN American Center, 6 May 2008.
     "In a new interview with Radio Free Asia, Ching Cheong (程翔), chief China correspondent of the Singapore-based Straits Times, who was imprisoned for over 1,000 days on espionage charges and released earlier this year, gave his thoughts on the recent talks between Beijing and Dalai Lama envoys, Taiwan's relations with the mainland and nationalistic fervour among Hong Kongers." shanghaiist, 9 May 2008. Posted: 10 May 2008 Permalink

VOA, RFA "simply provide a source of news and ideas" to Tibet. "This is not to say that those inside Tibet are unaware of exile or foreign views and activities. One initiative taken by the U.S. that has had a major impact in Tibet and amongst the Tibetans was the decision to establish Tibetan language broadcasting services within Voice of America in 1991 and within Radio Free Asia in 1996. Here again, it is not a question of clandestine activities or of the secret coordination of unrest; these services simply provide a source of news and ideas in a society where people are starved of alternative sources." Phayul.com, 8 May 2008. Posted: 10 May 2008 Permalink

Compiling America's expertise in communicating with Islam. New book, Communicating with the World of Islam, includes a chapter by former secretary of state George P. Schultz that "summarizes the lessons learned from the broadcasting experiences of Radio Liberty, Radio Free Europe, the BBC, and the Voice of America during the cold war. The second section outlines current broadcasting efforts into the world of Islam and, in particular, countries of the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Egypt, and the Muslim communities of Europe." The editor of the book is A. Ross Johnson, former director of Radio Free Europe. One of the chapters is written by R. Eugene Parta, former director of audience research at RFE/RL. Hoover Institution press release, 8 May 2008. Posted: 10 May 2008 Permalink

Internet terrorist propaganda across national borders. Joe Lieberman, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee: "'Our committee investigation found that terrorists are skillfully using the Internet to spread their propaganda across national borders and cultural barriers, permitting anyone with the inclination and in Internet connection to immerse themselves in the hate-filled messages of radical Islam, to receive training, and weapons and tactics and to build in cyberspace the kind of group support that once required travel to overseas training camps,' ... Lieberman said the report's findings mean that America is vulnerable not just to attacks plotted by terrorists living oceans away, but also to terrorism conceived within U.S. borders from disaffected Americans who may have no operational ties to international organized terrorist groups." VOA News, 8 May 2008. See also the Committee report (pdf format), "Violent Islamist Extremism, the Internet, and the Homegrown Terrorist Threat." Posted: 10 May 2008 Permalink

Shortwave to Zimbabwe "jammed out of existence"? A Zimbabwean writes: "We no longer have SW [short wave] radio (which told us everything that was happening) because the government jammed it out of existence ..if we had reporters here, they would have an absolute field day." Famagusta Gazette (Nocosia), 10 May 2008. If foreign stations transmit on several frequencies from several sites, the jamming can usually be overcome on at least one frequency. The opposition stations, which tend to transmit on only one frequency, are easy pickings for jammers. BBC and VOA are becoming easier to jam as they cut back on shortwave frequencies and transmitting sites. Posted: 10 May 2008 Permalink

More international channels to India via DTH satellite. Doordarshan's "DD Direct has added Japan’s NHK TV earlier this month. With this, it is beaming three foreign channels including Korean Broadcasting Corporation and Deutsche Welle. 'We expect another 10 foreign channels to join our platform soon'" Indiantelevision.com, 8 May 2008. Posted: 10 May 2008 Permalink

DW deal with Pakistan university. "The Islamabad-based International Islamic University has signed an agreement yesterday with a German radio for assistance to the university's radio service. A representative of Radio Deutsche Welle and a senior university official signed the accord under which the German radio would provide educational and informative programmes for re-broadcasting." Gulf News, 7 May 2008. Posted: 10 May 2008 Permalink

Morocco bans Aljazeera news reporting. "Moroccan authorities have banned Al Jazeera television from broadcasting a news programme focusing on north Africa from its studios in Morocco, the Qatar-based Arabic network said on Tuesday." Reuters, 6 May 2008. "Moroccan authorities should immediately reverse this week’s decision to prevent Al-Jazeera from broadcasting its evening roundup of regional news and views from Rabat, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On Tuesday, the Moroccan National Agency for Telecom Technical Regulation notified Al-Jazeera that the frequency it had used for the Rabat-based program was being withdrawn because of 'technical and legal problems.' Al-Jazeera quoted the letter as saying that 'all terrestrial and satellite broadcasting authorizations have been cancelled' until further notice." CPJ, 7 May 2008. Posted: 10 May 2008 Permalink

Turkey uses pan-Arab channels to attract Arab tourists. "Turkey has already contracted with Al Jazeera TV, the premier Arabic and English broadcasting station covering the entire Gulf and Middle East, to run commercials promoting Turkey. ... A Turkish TV series called 'Gumus' that is running on Dubai-based MBC TV also grabbed viewers’ attention." Today's Zaman, 8 May 2008. Posted: 10 May 2008 Permalink

BBC Arabic TV looking to revive the glory days of BBC Arabic radio. "BBC Arabic TV channel will make use of the BBC Arabic Radio experience that has been offering Arabic Programs service for more than half a century and became an important news source for Arabs. The number of BBC Arabic Radio Yemeni listeners increased since the station was launched and came to be known in Yemen as 'London Radio.' In the 1960s and 70s, the BBC Arabic Radio was the most important news source and still is in areas of Yemen where modern media means such as satellite channels don’t exist." Yemen Times, 7 May 2008. Posted: 10 May 2008 Permalink

Senator Coburn versus VOA: the story that will not go away. A five page letter from Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) to national security advisor Stephen Hadley is posted at the MountainRunner blog, 2 May 2008. It details his complaints, reported in this previous post, about VOA broadcasts to Iran and about the Broadcasting Board of Governors. -- "Let me get this straight: We sponsor VOA because Iran doesn't have a free media that can criticize its own government; Congress is mad because VOA is criticizing the U.S. government, and VOA is mad that its employees are criticizing management." Sharon Weinberger, Wired Danger Room blog, 5 May 2008.
     Senator Coburn writes that members of the BBG lack accountability because they "report to no one, not even to each other." He recommends three people "qualified in strategic communication" for appointment to the Board. They are Cliff May, president of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy; Scott Carpenter of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy; and Enders Wimbush, senior vice president of the Hudson Institute.
     The International Broadcasting Act of 1994 created the bipartisan BBG, giving its members fixed and staggered terms, precisely to prevent to the type of interference in the content of U.S. international broadcasting now being attempted by Senator Coburn.
     Senator Coburn calls for U.S. international broadcasting to be used for "democracy promotion" in Iran. Democracy involves the people making choices about their nations. Those choices are informed by a free press. Yet Senator Coburn mocks the concept of international broadcasting citing multiple points of view to "let the Iranians decide for themselves."
     Instead, Senator Coburn writes: "The U.S. taxpayers should not subsidize content presenting a balance between the truh and the regime's malicious propaganda. U.S. broadcasts should be the balance by the regime and others." In other words, U.S. international broadcasting should be all pro-U.S., all anti-Tehran regime, sort of like Radio Moscow in reverse.
     But audience research shows that people tune to foreign broadcasts to get the objective, comprehensive, balanced news that they do not get from their state-controlled domestic media. Propaganda cannot be fought with propaganda.
     Actually, U.S. international broadcasting could thrive under the Senator Coburn's vision. It would transmit the messages that would make the administration and many members of Congress beam with approval. They would respond by maintaining the funds for international broadcasting. The only problem is that almost no one would listen to, or view, such a broadcasting effort.
     And so Senator Coburn's sustained tirade against U.S. international broadcasting has entertainment value. Here is the champion of fiscal responsibility advocating an international broadcasting strategy that would be an absolute, utter, complete waste of the taxpayers' money. Posted: 09 May 2008 Permalink

First Lady mentions RFA, VOA weather warnings to Burma. Laura Bush on Cyclone Nargis: "It's troubling that many of the Burmese people learned of this impending disaster only when foreign outlets -- such as Radio Free Asia and Voice of America -- sounded the alarm. Although they were aware of the threat, Burma's state-run media failed to issue a timely warning to citizens in the storm's path." White House transcript, 5 May 2008.
     "A full 48 hours before the storm crashed ashore, Burmese officials were provided with computer-generated plots of the storm's likely route that accurately predicted its landfall, trajectory and strength. Yet nothing was done to warn or to evacuate people from the path of a cyclone packing winds of 200 kilo-metres an hour with a three-metre-high storm surge. Even as traumatized Burmese began counting thousands of dead Sunday morning, the state-controlled television aired its regular lineup of soap operas. ... Burmese radio and television carried vague warnings, with little information about the approaching storm, and offered no instructions on how people should cope when it struck." National Post, 8 May 2008.
     Burma's government-owned broadcasting monopoly has no incentive to be competitive. Private broadcasters in the United States must be competitive, and they know that good weather reporting contributes to their appeal. This is because people are interested in weather, especially impending severe weather.
     It would be interesting to know to what extent the major Burmese-language international radio services provided the warnings about Cyclone Nargis missing from Burma's domestic broadcasting. (In Burma, 27% of adults listen to BBC weekly, 22% to VOA, 12% to RFA.)
     "Satellite images of the Bay of Bengal show a cyclone on track for Burma." VOA News, 1 May 2008. This story was probably used by VOA Burmese, which devours any VOA Central Newsroom stories about Burma.
     See also "Will international broadcasting sound the warning -- next time?," Radio Netherlands Media Network, 6 January 2005. Posted: 08 May 2008 Permalink

RFE/RL cyberattack postmortems. "RFE has taken steps to protect against similar attacks in the future, but [RFE/RL spokesman Martins] Zvaners would not get specific. 'Our network [administrators] are looking at ways to better protect our sites from future attacks,' he said." Computerworld, 6 May 2008. "One of America's biggest broadcasting networks was knocked out for two days last month by a cyber-attack from a hostile nation. But the biggest U.S. newspapers and TV news channels never reported it. This silence of the lambs of the American media in neglecting to cover the cyber-attack on eight of Radio Free Europe Europe/Radio Liberty's broadcasting web-sites is an even bigger story than the attack itself." Martin Sieff, Human Events, 6 May 2008. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 08 May 2008 Permalink

No more 15-minute delay for BBC in Pakistan (updated). "The BBC World Service will today announce it has been cleared to resume news broadcasts in Pakistan on an unrestricted basis, ending a long-running dispute that saw it accused of compromising its editorial independence. The BBC Trust is considering complaints from staff and union officials after it emerged the World Service agreed to the former Pakistani government vetting its news broadcasts. Under an agreement with a local FM service, BBC World Service executives agreed to allow the state regulator to listen to its BBC Urdu news bulletins 15 minutes before they were broadcast, prompting fears of censorship. ... A World Service spokesman said the BBC had 'always maintained its commitment to its editorial guidelines and impartiality. Pakistan is no different.' He stressed the bulletins could not have been altered. 'The bulletins are broadcast from the London control room straight to audiences in Pakistan,' he said." The Guardian, 5 May 2008. If there were a 15-minute delay, unwanted news stories could easily have been snipped by a digital audio editor. No BBC press release on this yet.
     Update: "BBC Urdu is relaunching its live five-minute news bulletins on local Pakistan FM partner stations on Tuesday 6 May 2008. ... Following the imposition of the state of emergency on 3 November last year ... the bulletins were taken off air." BBC World Service press release, 5 May 2008. No mention of any implementation of a delay, but according to this BBC news story: "The broadcasts were banned by Pakistan's television and radio regulator, Pemra, in 2005. The BBC World Service then agreed that the five-minute bulletins would be pre-recorded and uploaded to a website Pemra had access to before broadcast. BBC staff and unions say that might have led to censorship. The management say there was no interference." BBC News, 6 May 2008. So was this delay procedure actually implemented? This is a story to which we have not yet gotten to the bottom. Posted: 08 May 2008 Permalink

"Tri-media" BBC World News on mobiles in India. "BBC World News has inked content deal with six mobile service providers in India. The list includes BPL, MTNL, Airtel, Vodafone, Spice Telecom and Idea Cellular. ... 'It is part of BBC World News’ positioning as a tri-media news service, delivering international news and information across multiple platforms - TV, online and mobile.' ... The news content for mobile will not be updated as frequently as the TV channel." Indiantelevision.com, 6 May 2008. The fourth medium, radio, is a separate entity: BBC World Service. Posted: 08 May 2008 Permalink

How RFE, VOA, and BBC "defended the honor" of Polish Radio. Interview with Krzysztof Czabanski, Board Chairman of Polish Radio: "80 years ago it was obvious in Poland that work for the good of the state, i.e. the common good, was something very noble. Polish Radio was not founded to bring money but to open souls and minds. However, that tradition of service and mission was disturbed and today one cannot speak about a single tradition of Poland’s public service broadcasting and one cannot compare the pre-war radio with the post-war one. I always stress that the Polish Radio sections abroad in Free Europe Radio, in the service of the Voice of America and in the BBC defended the honour of Polish Radio. And the post-war Polish Radio was first of all a propaganda tube of one party." Sunday Catholic Weekly, 8 May 2008. Apparently meaning that the RFE, VOA, and BBC Polish services maintained the "common good" purpose fulfilled by Polish Radio itself before the German occupation and after the fall of communism. Posted: 07 May 2008 Permalink

iPhone as shortwave replacement? "I am a huge fan of Internet radio. Well, let me put it this way ... I used to have this hobby when I was younger -- trying to tune in distant AM stations on a regular old AM radio. I used to also have a shortwave radio. Now, as always, I just love hearing local radio from outside of where I live. ... And now, iTunes has even better radio streaming than ever. ... And that got me wondering ... with a 3G iPhone and a faster Internet connection, is iTunes radio streaming something we might end up seeing or having access to on the next iPhone?" Scott Kleinberg, RedEye (Chicago), 4 May 2008. His menu shows Deutsche Welle radio, maybe more. Posted: 07 May 2008 Permalink

New UK, US services offer limited international content, for now. "Freesat, the BBC and ITV free digital satellite joint venture, is finally launching today with the service promising to feature up to 200 channels by the end of the year." Media Guardian, 6 May 2008. The www.freesat.co.uk website shows that international channels are, for now, limited to Aljazeera (apparently the English version) and EuroNews. Also, BBC World Service radio. -- In the USA, the new AT&T Mobile TV service has no international content, except for some CNN International video. See AT&T Mobile press release, 4 May 2008 and the AT&T Mobile TV website. Posted: 07 May 2008 Permalink

Arab Satellite Charter discussed at Arab Broadcasting Forum. "Salah Negm, the BBC's Arabic service news editor, said he feared the charter's potential censorship measures and that its recommended punitive measures of confiscating TV stations' equipment and closing down facilities were a bad omen. 'All news organizations have their editorial principles,' he said. Negm added that if the Egyptian-controlled birds that carry countless Arab stations decided to disconnect channels deemed offensive, the stations could probably turn to European satellites whose footprints cover the Arab world." Magda Abu-Fadil, Huffington Post, 5 May 2008. "How could entities such as the Brookings Institute and its Saban Centre - known for holding and promoting policies that hardly deviate from that of the US administration, if not its most rigid qualities - become themselves mediators for [Arab media] freedoms, which if genuinely granted would prove most harmful to the US administration and its interests in the Arab world?" Ramzy Baroud, OhmyNews, 7 May 2008. See previous post about the Charter. -- At the Forum, Agnès Levallois, head of Arabic programming at France 24, discussed "the France 24 charter that our Arabic channel employees sign and that guarantees these values of honesty, independence, analysis, respect, listening, team spirit, humility and a modern outlook as well as demanding approach." AMEInfo, 7 May 2008. Team spirit? Posted: 07 May 2008 Permalink

I'd love to see the skeptical scowls of the dyspeptic old bureaucrats at these government briefings. "With support from the Richard Lounsbery Foundation, the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs is partnering with Dancing Ink Productions LLC to launch a project called 'Understanding Islam through Virtual Worlds.' The project will culminate in a series of activities in virtual worlds tailored to bring together Muslims and non-Muslims. It will also produce a range of audio, video, and transcript products, along with a policy recommendation paper which will include a list of specific recommendations for the U.S. government on how to use virtual worlds to promote international understanding. The paper will be distributed through government briefings." Carnegie Council announcement, 6 May 2008. You know, I was hoping to make it through life without having to learn what a "virtual world" is, but, per this item, journalistic obligations require me to look it up. Wikipedia says: "A virtual world is a computer-based simulated environment intended for its users to inhabit and interact via avatars." Avatars? On second thought, screw journalistic obligations. I'd rather not know what a virtual world is. Posted: 07 May 2008 Permalink

Aljazeera English reports from, but is not seen in, Baltimore. "People living in such far-flung places as Malaysia, North Africa, Qatar, and Latin America got a taste of what Baltimore was about--from the crime and grime to the hope and prayer of a powerful Bethel AME service. The interview and footage was part of a two-part, 23-minute story on Baltimore ... aired by Al Jazeera English, the Doha, Qatar-based 24-hour global news network that's trying to change the way the English-speaking world consumes its news. ... Unfortunately, it's not likely that most Baltimoreans--most Americans, for that matter--will ever see the Al Jazeera English story about Baltimore. It's possible that most won't ever watch the network at all. Because, even though it has a large and active bureau in Washington, and it's available in most other English-speaking nations in the world outside of North America, no major cable or satellite carriers in the United States includes Al Jazeera English's programming." Baltimore City Paper, 7 May 2008. Posted: 07 May 2008 Permalink

Aljazeera cameraman released from Guantánamo (updated). "An Al Jazeera cameraman held at the U.S. military prison in Guantanamo Bay for six years without charge has been released." Reuters, 2 May 2008. Sami al-Hajj profile, Aljazeera.net, 1 May 2008. "The Al Jazeera cameraman released from Guantanamo Bay after six years detention will work for the broadcaster again." Press Gazette, 2 May 2008. Update: "Why now? Perhaps his guards feared he would die, giving his case the kind of publicity in the west that it has been given only by his employer, the Arabic satellite television station, al-Jazeera." Richard Norton-Taylor, The Guardian, 5 May 2008. Posted: 07 May 2008 Permalink

Telesur's take on the Santa Cruz referendum. "In Venezuela, the state-run media, as well as the regional public TV network Telesur, provided heavy news coverage of the Santa Cruz [Blovia autonomy] referendum, which was portrayed as illegal, unconstitutional and destabilising." Inter Press Service, 6 May 2008. "Ilegal referendo autonomista." Telesur, 6 May 2008. Posted: 07 May 2008 Permalink

Jalipo, platform for international channels, sold. "Over the Top TV provider Jalipo has been sold to the ROK Entertainment Group for 600,000 ordinary shares – a valuation of $16.8 million (€10.82) based on ROK’s current share price. ... London-based Jalipo launched its online marketplace a year ago with a mix of live and on demand content. ... Channel partners include BBC Worldwide, Euronews, Al Jazeera English, Bloomberg, France 24 (in French, English and Arabic), Rotana Europe, Deutsche Welle, Luxe, Mezzo and TeleSur." Broadband TV News, 6 May 2008. Posted: 07 May 2008 Permalink

Internet: threat to other media? At the Arab Broadcasting Forum in Abu Dhabi: "'I have never supported the argument that the internet is a threat to any media,' said Hosam Al Sokkari, head of the BBC Arabic. 'The public will continue to read and watch. Broadcasters will continue to broadcast. The challenge is how the media can use the internet as a platform for the dissemination of news.'" Gulf News, 5 May 2008. The internet is already a formidable platform of news. We already have some evidence of young people spending time on the web rather than watching television. On the other hand, web surfing and listening to radio can be done simultaneously and may be very compatible. -- Also at the Forum: Jean-Francois Dumas, president of Influence: "We know that 81 per cent of all Africa-related news comes from the Arab media." Gulf News, 5 May 2008. Posted: 05 May 2008 Permalink

Zimbabwe: where people still crowd around shortwave radios. "In the five weeks while [the Zimbabwe Election Commission] were 'verifying' those two and a half million Presidential votes, the country has come to a virtual standstill: lives and businesses have been on hold and we have waited and waited and waited. ... We have scrambled for precious newspapers and crowded around short wave radios for any information." Cathy Buckle, Moneyweb, 4 May 2008. Posted: 05 May 2008 Permalink

Breakaway republic claims jamming by the republic from which it broke. "Throughout the length of the Dniester river, Moldova has placed a series of jamming devices which interfere with the radio- and TV signals that broadcasters in Pridnestrovie distribute to their customers. The new jamming equipment was installed and turned on in the last week of April. ... It is believed that the new Moldovan jamming serves a double purpose: On one hand, it prevents Moldova's citizens from finding out what is going on in Pridnestrovie straight from the source, and from hearing Pridnestrovie's viewpoint in the long running conflict between the two sides. On the other hand, and as an extra bonus, it also interferes with the broadcasting capability in Pridnestrovie domestically, and prevents a number of PMR households from picking up Pridnestrovie-based free-to-air TV and radio channels easily." Tiraspol Times, 5 May 2008. Posted: 05 May 2008 Permalink

The Americans are "so good" at radio drama -- if you can find any. Re Othello on BBC Radio 3: "Why is British radio so lazy about this and American radio so good, not just with drama, but with opera, too? Anyone unconvinced that it can help the listener should tune in to the Los Angeles production of David Mamet’s play The Shawl, about a strange seance, this coming Saturday on the BBC World Service. Susan Lowenberg’s five- minute introduction to the author, his work, his distinctive dialogue and the cast is a model of its type. Radio 3 should hire her at once." Paul Donovan, The Sunday Times, 4 May 2008. Posted: 04 May 2008 Permalink

Satellite television at the language lab. "The World Languages and Cultures Center at Oklahoma City Community College now offer 12 internatonal satellite channels, including RAI International (Italy), ESPN in Spanish, and Aljazeera in Arabic." OCCC Pioneer, 5 May 2008. Seems to be using a Hauppauge product Posted: 04 May 2008 Permalink

You can still build a shortwave radio kit, "One of my first boyhood projects was building a radio. I did it from scratch, but there are easier ways today. A Tennessee company called Ten-Tec offers a $39 kit that lets you make a shortwave radio. You get everything you need, along with instructions. This project is suitable for kids, but soldering is required so supervision is a good idea. Check it out at the top of this page: http://radio.tentec.com/kits . That radio won't be fancy. But the same Web page offers increasingly difficult radio kits." Bill Huisted, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 4 May 2008. Posted: 04 May 2008 Permalink

One-person shortwave relays (updated). While serving in Borneo with the air force during World War II, from 1944 to 1945, Australian Frank Rourke "would quickly dictate information received through Radio Australia, then use the local broadcasting system. 'I liked to give to the boys a bit of news from back home.'" Sun Coast Daily (Maroochydore), 25 April 2008. "In the 1990s New York Transfer [News Collective] began to break the longtime U.S. embargo on Cuba. [Kathleen] Kelly began transcribing and translating into English the shortwave broadcasts of news from Cuba and distributing them through New York Transfer. This caused a stir at the time... " Workers World, 24 April 2008. That was just before the advent of cut and paste, and the availability of several English-language websites in Cuba. Update: In the 1970s, PBS senior correspondent Elizabeth Farnsworth "worked for a radio news service in Berkeley, gathering short-wave reports from all over the world. She is grateful for the experience. "I was sitting in that room editing the work of reporters at different battlefronts." San Francisco Chronicle, 3 May 2008. Posted: 04 May 2008 Permalink

An example of the hypodermic theory of communication. "The hardest job facing Africom is image-making. In the words of a senior American official, 'It's open season on U.S. foreign policy. We have to convince people that this is not some diabolical George Bush plot.' At a remote camp, General Ward watches U.S. soldiers vaccinating cattle -- a month-long project to help farmers displaced by a vicious civil war rebuild their lives. 'When our uniformed folks are working with the uniformed folks of these nations, the people can also see that their militaries are here trying to help them, as opposed to not,' General Ward says. 'And those are all very good messages.' 'That's soft power at work.'" CBS News, 1 May 2008. Posted: 04 May 2008 Permalink

iGoogle: new medium of international broadcasting? (updated) "CNN International has launched a video player which can be added to customisable Google homepages. The CNN Google Gadget is the first video-centric gadget to be offered by an international news organisation. ... Casey Harwood, senior vice president in Europe for CNN owner Turner Broadcasting said it would increase the reach of the broadcaster's news content. ... The Gadget links to CNN's YouTube site which carries more video news." Digital Spy, 2 May 2008.
     Update: I couldn't find it at the CNN International website, even on their Tools & Widgets page. I also didn't find it when searching among the iGoogle gadgets, but Andy Sennitt did find it here.
     It's selected videos from CNN International, but not a live stream. A live stream online would be great, because most Americans don't get CNN International on their cable systems, and most Americans need more exposure to world news. If a video stream is too expensive, an audio stream would be almost as good,
     Meanwhile, Stephen found this Google CNN TV Gadget. It works with Google Desktop 5 or above, rather than iGoogle.
     I think I'll skip the various Google desktop gewgaws, and just bookmark www.cnn.com/world. Posted: 04 May 2008 Permalink

IFJ questions India's policy re foreign television channels. "The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is pleased to note that a dispute arising from a putative ban on Pakistani television channels broadcasting into Jammu and Kashmir in India has been resolved for now. “We nevertheless urge India’s Government to explain the circumstances under which it decreed what seemed a ban to much of the world,' said IFJ Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park. The restrictions snowballed into a political controversy as cable television operators retaliated by blocking all Indian and international channels in the Kashmir valley on April 25. ... India’s Government has said that all channels that broadcast into Indian territory need to be registered in accordance with cable TV regulatory law. The Pakistani channels in question have reportedly disregarded requests to register accordingly. ... The IFJ is also informed that the registration of broadcast channels in India is a far from transparent process. The Al Jazeera English service, for instance, has been waiting since January 2007 for registration under India’s cable TV law." International Federation of Journalists, 2 May 2008. Posted: 03 May 2008 Permalink

Seeking asylum in Canada was probably not foreseen in "Washington's public diplomacy strategy." "Three weeks ago, the Afghan exchange students on a U.S. State Department program started to go missing. Since the second week of April, six have fled to Canada to make asylum bids just weeks before they were to have been returned to their Afghan villages. ... The Youth Exchange and Study Program is a tool of Washington's public diplomacy strategy after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks." Toronto Star, 3 May 2008. Posted: 03 May 2008 Permalink

Another harrowing tale of shortwave during World War II. Sybil Kathigasu, heroine of Japanese-occupied Malaya, "helped the Resistance keep shortwave radio sets illegally and listen to broadcasts from Britain and the outside world." New Straits Times, 1 May 2008. Posted: 03 May 2008 Permalink

Counter extremist propaganda with what? "The State Department ['Country Reports on Terrorism'] report offers little in terms of strategic thinking or assessment of progress in the ideological war against ... terrorist groups. For example, one of its few metrics for measuring the progress of U.S. public diplomacy in the Muslim world is the number of websites that link to the State Department’s 'Identifying Misinformation' website. The United States has had only marginal success countering these ideological messages thus far, and the report acknowledges the United States and international community’s failure to counter Al Qaeda’s messaging machine. It asserts, 'The international community has yet to muster a coordinated and effectively resourced program to counter extremist propaganda.'" Caroline Wadhams and Colin Cookman, Center for American Progress, 2 April 2008. Well, BBC World Service counters extremist propaganda by being the global fact-checker of record when information from dubious sources is encountered. U.S. international broadcasting could serve in a similar role if its resources could be combined, and its independence assured. Posted: 03 May 2008 Permalink

He thinks Armenia needs a public diplomacy strategy. "Public diplomacy is an active effort by many countries. It offers relevant information, historic documentation, and news reportage to international decision makers. It enlists scholars, legal and foreign affairs experts in advocacy efforts. It targets legislatures, government agencies, universities, mainstream and specialized media. And in the Armenia effort, it can urge citizens of Armenian heritage to actively promote host government support and assistance to Armenia and the Karabakh independence cause." Jirair Haratunian, ArmeniaNow.com, 2 May 2008. This would be public diplomacy's idea of "news reportage," i.e. "relevant" to the needs of the sender rather than the audience. Posted: 03 May 2008 Permalink

WLIW provides details about its BBC world news replacement (but not its final title). "New York public television station WLIW New York will launch a new international news program this fall, YOUR WORLD TONIGHT (working title), pairing expert commentary from leading analysts with news reports from around the globe. ... The half-hour newscast is expected to launch this October on WLIW and Thirteen/WNET, and will be offered to all public television stations nationwide. ... 'After collegial discussions with the BBC about our differing views on content and distribution, we mutually decided to end distribution of the BBC World News when our contract expires in October.' ... YOUR WORLD TONIGHT (w.t.) will feature news reports and contributions from around the globe, and will be anchored by an American journalist who will help place world developments in context for an American audience. ... Working with these news services, YOUR WORLD TONIGHT (w.t.) will deliver reports that approach international news in its 21st-century paradigm, going past the borders of the First World to consider the trends and impulses behind rising powers like Brazil and India as well as the accelerating merger of economic, political and non-governmental power in nations and regions across the globe." WLIW press release, 30 April 2008. "The BBC has been accused of a retreat from public service broadcasting in the US, after losing a distribution deal for its nightly half-hour news bulletin with the public service network PBS in New York. ... Discussions between WNET and the BBC broke down partly because the US channel wanted to combine BBC content with US content to produce a tailored programme for US viewers. ... Another sticking point was the BBC's desire ... to prevent the half-hour bulletin from airing at the same time as BBC World News America, the new hour-long news programme shown on BBC America at 7pm east coast time each day." The Guardian, 2 May 2008. "There's no doubt the Beeb wants to make money in the US - and anywhere else it can. The question is whether it can do that without undermining its public service tradition outside Britain." Caitlin Fitzsimmons, The Guardian organgrinder, 2 May 2008. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 02 May 2008 Permalink

Critics critique the BBC Somail Service. "Incompetence continues to undermine the BBC Somali Service despite assurances from Jerry Timmins, BBC World Service head of Africa and Middle East region, who promised that standards at the BBC Somali Service would be improved. ... Prominent Somali broadcasters have left the BBC Somali Service citing partiality and gate-keeping on the part of the Somali Service editor." Ahmed Ali Jegan, Somali Press Review, 2 May 2008. Posted: 02 May 2008 Permalink

Iran: radio conference and DW co-production. "The inaugural International Conference on Radio will be held in Tehran for five days as of May 18, the secretary of the International Radio Festival said on Wednesday. Referring to the exchange of programs between the Islamic Republic and the other foreign countries, Sanaz Hajizadeh observed that Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting is developing cooperation with radio stations from Russia, Armenia, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. 'IRIB Radio and Deutsche Welle are going to produce a joint program in near future,' she said." Islamic Republic News Agency via Radio Netherlands Media Network, 1 May 2008. Posted: 02 May 2008 Permalink

Not as easy a selling Toyotas. Poster ads for NHK World television are now seen in Metro stations and on buses throughout the Washington area (and probably in other U.S. cities). Each shows a sumo wrestler squatting, with the caption: "Anything big going on? All, day, every day, direct from Japan." And the channels on which NHK World is seen on area digital cable systems, as well as on MHz Networks (WNVT digital terrestrial, channel 56). Posted: 02 May 2008 Permalink

Global expansion of the Pentagon's news-like websites. "The Pentagon is setting up a global network of foreign-language news websites, including an Arabic site for Iraqis, and hiring local journalists to write current events stories and other content that promote U.S. interests and counter insurgent messages. The news sites are part of a Pentagon initiative to expand 'Information Operations' on the Internet. Neither the initiative nor the Iraqi site, www.Mawtani.com, has been disclosed publicly. At first glance, Mawtani.com looks like a conventional news website. Only the 'about' link at the bottom of the site takes readers to a page that discloses the Pentagon sponsorship. ... Pentagon officials say the sites are a legitimate and necessary way to promote U.S. policy goals and counter the messages of political and religious extremists. ... The Mawtani site is named for the Iraqi national anthem and means 'my homeland.' It is available in Arabic, Farsi and Urdu — but not in English — and is supervised by the Pentagon's Iraq command. The U.S. Southern Command is building a similar site for Latin American audiences. The Pacific Command, which covers Asia, is interested in setting up a news site." USA Today, 1 May 2008. It's a great huge war of words -- among the U.S. bureaucracies: Mawtani.com will compete with RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq, which competes with Radio Sawa, which competes with Alhurra, which competes with the Arabic page of America.gov. The Iraqis will be bemused, if not persuaded. Mowtani.com is a site that both pretends to be news and pretends to be Iraqi. Iraqi web users, who also have access to bbcarabic.com and arabic.cnn.com, won't be taken in by this. As I have written before, put the news here and the public diplomacy there, and make sure each is clearly labeled and straighforward about what it is. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 02 May 2008 Permalink

BBG chairman takes the blinkers off Applebaum op-ed. "Anne Applebaum's fine April 22 op-ed, 'Radio to Stay Tuned To,' recognized the work of the diligent and courageous journalists at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). As chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), let me provide additional context. RFE/RL is one of five international broadcasting networks funded by U.S. taxpayers and supervised by the BBG, a bipartisan board..." James Glassman, letter to Washington Post, 1 May 2008. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 02 May 2008 Permalink

Forty-seven years of Radio Havana. "In 1961, Cuba inaugurated the international short-wave radio station Radio Havana Cuba, in an effort to counter the information blockade against the Revolution. The radio station has broadcast in seven languages all these years in an effort to take the Cuban message and solidarity with different peoples of the world." ahora.cu, 30 April 2008. Posted: 01 May 2008 Permalink

New chairman for TV5 Monde. "Alain de Pouzilhac has been named chairman of French-speaking channel TV5Monde, the worldwide network's board of directors said after a meeting late Tuesday. Current CEO Francois Bonnemain stepped down from his duties, leaving France 24's de Pouzilhac to head a new organization banding together TV5Monde, RFI (Radio France International) and France 24 as part of President Nicolas Sarkozy's 'exterier audiovisual' strategy." Hollywood Reporter, 30 April 2008. Posted: 01 May 2008 Permalink

Three-way discrimination case against Aljazeera. "A potential £1m discrimination case brought by a former al-Jazeera English executive has been adjourned until September after a day of legal wrangling. Jo Burgin, the head of planning at the channel until April last year, is suing for sex, race and religious discrimination. ... The tribunal chair apologised to the al-Jazeera executives present at the hearing, including al-Jazeera English's managing director, Nigel Parsons, and al-Jazeera English bureau chief, Sue Phillips, who was today promoted to the post of director of foreign bureaux and development." The Guardian, 1 May 2008. See previous post. Posted: 01 May 2008 Permalink

Quite an assignment. "Al-Jazeera has moved to bolster its global strategy with the promotion of its top London journalist Sue Phillips to the position of director of foreign bureaux and development. Phillips, who has been London bureau chief since the launch of Al Jazeera English 18 months ago, will move to Doha, Qatar, to take up the new role at the troubled digital news channel from the beginning of June. Her brief is to integrate the al-Jazeera Arabic and al-Jazeera English bureaux across the world." The Guardian, 30 April 2008. Posted: 01 May 2008 Permalink

BBC World Service has a UK public diplomacy monkey on its back. "Ian Hargreaves has been appointed as the new Strategic Communications Director for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. ... As the FCO's Strategic Communications Director, Ian will have responsibility for communications and public advocacy issues, organising the FCO's public diplomacy network both at home and overseas. He will also coordinate the FCO's wider public advocacy tools, working closely with the British Council and the BBC World Service." FCO press release, 30 April 2008.
     BBC World Service director Nigel Chapman said just a few days ago, at the Arab Media Forum, that World Service is different from Alhurra and France 24 because "BBC has maintained an independent and fearless news coverage over decades."
     And, so, statements about senior FCO officials "working closely" with World Service must make World Service officials turn pale. This behooves World Service to issue a statement clarifying its relationship with the FCO, similar to its response to the Carter Review on 15 December 2005.
     BBCWS might also ask FCO to modify its phraseology. Better to say: "Ian will consult with BBC World Service, funded by the FCO, on its selection of language services, while content remains the exclusive responsibility of the BBC." Posted: 01 May 2008 Permalink

VOA reports on Zogby Arab nations survey. A University of Maryland/Zogby International poll in six Arab nations "also looked at some of the public diplomacy efforts the U.S. has launched since the terrorist attacks of 2001, including new radio and television broadcasting services designed to reach large Arab audiences. The survey showed that across the Arab world, viewership of the U.S.-sponsored Al Hurra television service remains at just 2 percent, while the Arab-run Al-Jazeera TV network enjoys a 53 percent share of the Arab audience." VOA News, 29 April 2008. Actually, those are the percentages of respondents who watch the station "most often" for international news. For viewing at least five days a week, it's Aljazeera 60%, Alhurra 9%. See previous post. Posted: 30 Apr 2008 Permalink

The audience for VOA and RFA Tibetan -- in Philadelphia. "The leadership of the Tibetan Association of Philadelphia, known as TAP, is consumed by the fight for a free or at least autonomous Tibet. News arrives in phone calls and e-mails from family members overseas, and via the Voice of America and Radio Free Asia." Philadelphia Inquirer, 30 April 2008. Posted: 30 Apr 2008 Permalink

Obit: deputy director of the "other" RFA. "Public television pioneer James Day, who created San Francisco's PBS station KQED died of respiratory failure April 24 in New York. He was 89. ... Prior to entering public television, Day was Director of Public Affairs and Education for NBC's San Francisco station, a Civilian Radio Specialist with the Allied Occupation of Japan, and Deputy Director of Radio Free Asia." Variety, 29 April 2008. Refers to the Radio Free Asia of the early 1950s. See previous post. Posted: 30 Apr 2008 Permalink

RFE/RL thanks Belarus online community for help during cyberattack (updated). "Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Belarus Service is lauding the country's online journalism community for rallying to the U.S.-funded broadcaster's assistance after its website suffered a crippling cyberattack. ... At the attack's height, RFE/RL websites were receiving up to 50,000 fake hits every second." RFE/RL News, 29 April 2008. The story provides no information about what the Belarus online community did to assist RFE/RL. -- "The broadcaster suggested the government of authoritarian Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko could be behind the attack. 'It's very hard to be certain in these cases but because the target was the Belarus service it does look like it's coming from the Belarus government,' said Diane Zeleny, spokeswoman for the broadcaster. 'For our listeners in Belarus, it's quite dramatic," Zeleny said. "They cannot reach us right now. This is a pretty massive attack.'" AP, 28 April 2008. "While a state-sponsored attack isn't outside the realm of possibility, there was no mention that it might be the grassroots work of Belarusian nationalists. Recent attacks against CNN.com, were the work of Chinese hacktivists who downloaded and installed DDoS applications as a way of registering their displeasure of the news site's recent coverage of demonstrations against the Olympic torch relay. 'Utilizing the bandwidth of the over 200 million nationalism minded Chinese Internet users can greatly outpace any botnet's capacity if coordinated,' researcher Dancho Danchev wrote. To that end, he said, Chinese script kiddies circulated programs such as anticnn.exe and Super DDoS. Attacks such as these were also waged last year against Estonia and are sometimes referred to as 'asymmetric' because a relatively small group of individuals with modest means is able to hobble much a bigger target. It's not hard to imagine that something similar is afoot in Belarus." The Register, 29 April 2008. See also editorial about the "plucky broadcaster," Wall Street Journal, 29 April 2008.
     Our friend Sergei wonders about the phrase "Kosovo in Serbia" in this sentence of the RFE/RL press release: "RFE/RL is taking countermeasures to restore service to affected RFE/RL Internet sites in Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Kosovo in Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Croatia, as well as Belarus." Sergei adds: "DOS attacks are very common in Russia and other parts of the former USSR. I believe every noticeable site has already experienced them, including the official sites for the United Russia Party, President Putin, Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, etc. So this is like finding a virus in an email attachement - nothing extraordinary. But I guess it's a nice excuse for heavy self-promotion." See previous post about same subject.
     Update: "State Department spokeswoman Jessica Simon said in an interview with RFE/RL that the attack was 'another example of the assault against free and independent media in Belarus.'" RFE/RL News, 29 April 2008. "So-called 'hacktivist' attacks have become increasingly common and more dangerous in recent years. ... The concept of hacktivism goes back more than 20 years, but a changing internet climate seems to be making the attacks more dangerous and effective." vnunet.com, 30 April 2008. Posted: 30 Apr 2008 Permalink

Why not just attach an antenna to American Eagle 4935 from Miami to Key West? "The US Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), International Broadcasting Bureau (BBG/IBB), as a result of findings of a market survey, intends to negotiate and award a non-competitive contract with Phoenix Air Group, Inc (PAG) Cartersville, GA. The contract will require PAG to provide air services for TV Martí’s airborne broadcasting platform called AeroMartí that is located at the Naval Air Station - Key West, Florida." Radio Netherlands Media Network, 28 April 2008 citing FedBizOpps.gov, 22 April 2008. -- "Cuba denounced the sustained US radio and TV aggression on Tuesday, and highlighted the recent support of the World Radiocommunication Conference. The conference, held in Geneva in November, concluded that broadcasting to Cuba from US aircraft is in violation of the Radiocommunication Regulations, said Ileana Nunez, Cuban ambassador to the UN." Prensa Latina, 29 April 2008. Posted: 30 Apr 2008 Permalink

Some international broadcasting anniversaries. News about international broadcasting history reported by the Radio Netherlands Media Network blog -- Radio Sweden (external service) turns 70 this year. -- Voice of Russia World Service celebrates 30 years on air. -- Radio Prague issues special QSL card for 18 May (anniversary) only -- Radio Nostalgia: LM Radio Museum and Sound Archive (cross-border station from Mozambique to South Africa). -- See also the Radio Netherlands 60th Anniversary page (actually last year). And a 1961 recording of Radio Nederland's "Happy Station" program at the RNW Historical Audio Archive (as noted by Mike Barraclough, May World DX Club Contact via DX Listening Digest, 26 April 2008). Posted: 30 Apr 2008 Permalink

"Dallas" as international broadcasting and public diplomacy. "The impact of 'Dallas' on people's worldviews reminds us that the 'vulgar' popular culture that left-wing highbrows and right-wing cultural conservatives love to hate is every bit as important as chin-stroking politics in fomenting real social change. Whether it's the junkie-rock band Velvet Underground inspiring anti-communist dissidents in Prague, or the movie 'Titanic' inspiring subversive haircut styles in Taliban Afghanistan (the theocrats' Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice regularly rounded up would-be Leonardo DiCaprios), throwaway cultural products influence far-flung cultures in ways that are impossible to predict or control, even (or especially) by the artists themselves. That lesson is more relevant than ever in an increasingly globalized world in which movies, music and more cross borders with impunity -- and the free West engages the semi-free East, whether in China or Iran. For all the talk of boycotts and bombs, if the United States is interested in spreading American values and institutions, a little TV-land may go a lot further than armored personnel carriers." Nick Gillespie and Matt Welch, Washington Post, 27 April 2008. "What is today’s Dallas? That is, what definitively American phenomenon is being broadcast to a world-viewership? Furthermore, what does today’s product say about today’s America? Unquestionably, the U.S.’s biggest cultural export is the multimedia spectacle of the current presidential election. In particular, it is the Democratic showdown between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton that holds the world’s attention." Abe Greenwald, Commentary website, 28 April 2008. Posted: 30 Apr 2008 Permalink

Actually, much dirt has already been dug. "Not far off is the day when nations employ 'oppo-researchers' to dig up dirt on other countries; to run negative ads; to poll-test their every press release; to switch the colors of their ministers' threads from dull gray to earth tone; to blow every statement, no matter how inoffensive, out of proportion; to, well, run their affairs just like our candidates run their campaigns." Lionel Beehner, USA Today blog, 30 April 2008. Posted: 30 Apr 2008 Permalink

Shopping malls and Leninism. "The century ahead will not be a struggle between China and the United States for global leadership. This is not a balance-of-power gladiatorial contest. There will, however, be a battle of ideas. Does the world want and need Leninism with its shopping malls? Do governments have to lock up dissidents in order to deliver prosperity? Or does the world want the sort of freedom that embraces politics as well as economics?" Chris Patten, Daily Star (Beirut), 30 April 2008. Posted: 30 Apr 2008 Permalink

So Alhurra didn't get this scoop? "CNN International's Nic Robertson is given exclusive access to film inside Camp Bucca in Iraq in a two-part exclusive showing today on CNN International at 9pm local time. Camp Bucca is the largest American detention facility in Iraq, with nearly 20,000 detainees; two thousand of whom are members of Al-Qaeda." Press release via ArabianBusiness.com, 28 April 2008. Posted: 30 Apr 2008 Permalink

No more XM abroad via AOL. "Around the globe, users of the free 'AOL Radio' on-line music streaming service will find themselves without the popular American XM satellite radio channels, after the agreement between the two firms lapses today. ... For Europeans, 'AOL Radio' provided ... the only chance to tune into some of XM radio's 80+ advertising-free music channels. ... And while XM's online-only subscription dubbed 'XMRO' would in theory provide the same level of service as AOL Radio with XM did, its user agreement is full of references limiting service to 'U.S. Residents' and requiring a 'U.S. mailing address', we suspect for music licensing reasons." The Inquirer, 30 April 2008. Posted: 30 Apr 2008 Permalink

BBC World News drops WLIW as U.S. distributor; WLIW developing competing news program. "BBC World News programming will have a new distributor to public-television stations this fall under an agreement struck between the BBC and KCET in Los Angeles. WLIW, a public station on Long Island, N.Y., currently distributes BBC World News programming to more than 200 Public Broadcasting Service affiliates. ... A month ago, a story in The Wall Street Journal indicated BBC Worldwide America chief Garth Ancier planned to 'renegotiate' the distribution terms of BBC World News programming on PBS to avoid undercutting BBC World News America, the flagship nightly news program on BBC America and on the BBC World News channel. The story quoted WLIW general manager Terrel Cass as saying he hoped to persuade the BBC to avoid making such changes." Multichannel News, 28 April 2008. "The New York public television stations WNET and WLIW plan to drop a BBC-produced nightly newscast in the fall and replace it with a new half-hour program focused on international issues that will be produced by WLIW, the station is expected to announce on Wednesday. The weekday program, with the working title 'Your World Tonight,' is also expected to replace 'BBC World News' on an undetermined number of the more than 200 public stations nationwide that carry the BBC program. WLIW has distributed the BBC show to public television since 1998." New York Times, 30 April 2008. Posted: 30 Apr 2008 Permalink

BBC distribution deal in India. "BBC has inked a distribution deal with multi-system operator Hathway Cable and Datacom. As per the deal, BBC World News and BBC Worldwide’s Global Channels BBC Entertainment and CBeebies will be available across 28 cities in India through the Hathway distribution network." Indiantelevision.com, 28 April 2008. Posted: 30 Apr 2008 Permalink

London calling Quebec via Vermont, but maybe not for long. "French-language news-talk radio station CHLT-FM, located in Sherbrooke and owned by Toronto-based Corus Entertainment, has asked the CRTC to change its frequency from 102.1 FM to 107.7 FM. That's right next door to [Vermont Public Radio's] station WVPS, which broadcasts at 107.9 FM. CHLT has also asked for an increase to its power so it can cover a greater area. According to VPR president Mark Vogelzang, a stronger signal for CHLT, combined with its proposed new frequency, could block the Vermont station's signal in areas like Granby, Cowansville, Knowlton, Lac Brome, Magog, Ayers Cliff and Stanstead. ... 'Our Canadian listeners have been listening to Vermont Public Radio, National Public Radio and the BBC World Service on this frequency since 1980.'" Montreal Gazette, 29 April 2008. Posted: 30 Apr 2008 Permalink

And, of course, hearing VOA was out of the question. CBS News video journalist Richard Butler, kidnapped from a hotel in Basra, Iraq, in February and held by Shiite militants for two months, said one of his captors "brought me a cheap little radio, which unfortunately, partly due to the fact that it was cheap and nasty and partly due to the fact that BBC World Service is suffering budget cuts like the rest of us in the news media, I wasn't able to get much on it." CBS News, 28 April 2008. Posted: 30 Apr 2008 Permalink

EuroNews censored (or censoring itself) in Russian? Interview with Tanya Lokshina of Human Rights Watch Russia: "How is the situation for foreign TV channels? EuroNews, which can be received via satellite, has recently started to broadcast in Russian. Lokshina: EuroNews is indeed broadcasting in Russian but the news format is quite different from the one you used to know from Brussels or their European appearance in general. Although not being dominated by propaganda, their news reporting is at least censored. Moreover, satellite TV can only be accessed by those who are willing to pay, meaning that in the provinces there are only very few people actually able to see this programme." EurActiv.com, 29 April 2008. Posted: 29 Apr 2008 Permalink

Reprieve for TV5 Monde as France reorganizes its international broadcasting. "The Honourable Josee Verner, Minister of Canadian Heritage, Status of Women and Official Languages and Chair of the Conference of Ministers Responsible for TV5MONDE, was delighted today about the agreement in principle reached by all the partner governments to ensure the future of TV5MONDE. ... This agreement in principle recognizes, among other things, the independence of TV5MONDE and the importance of preserving this important tool for the promotion of the French language and the values of the Francophonie. It opens doors to increased broadcasting of programs from Canada and other countries of the Francophonie on TV5MONDE and makes provisions for cooperative relationships and partnerships with the information channels France 24 and RFI." Canadian Heritage press release, 29 April 2008. See also RadioCanada.ca, 29 April 2008. And La Presse Canadienne, 29 April 2008. See also TV5 Monde website. See previous post about same subject. Posted: 29 Apr 2008 Permalink

DW-TV sways an opinion in Canada. "I saw a program on Deutsche Welle Television in which they built an overpass at a busy intersection in Europe in a matter of a few days. The piles were drilled earlier and a prefabricated steel structure was installed. In the morning, traffic was crossing over the road. Is this not possible in Canada?" Ed Gunther, letter to Edmonton Journal, 28 April 2008. Posted: 29 Apr 2008 Permalink

Another internet radio review. "When I was a boy, I wanted a shortwave radio. I was fascinated by the idea of listening to radio programs from around the world. I didn't get one until I was an adult, by which time the reason I had wanted one was diminished: In recent years, most of the national radio services around the world have stopped or cut back on their shortwave broadcasting, opting instead to broadcast via the Web. Britain's BBC is a prime example. Some years ago its World Service stopped broadcasting directly into North America via shortwave. Meanwhile, although radio broadcasters have embraced modern times, with some 10,000 around the world now streaming their programs online, radio makers haven't caught the hint. Why don't more radios feature an Internet connection? The appeal is obvious, if only because tuning in to a broadcast on a computer isn't as easy as flipping on a radio on the nightstand or in your kitchen. This is why I was excited to try the Aluratek Internet Radio Alarm Clock. Priced at $199, the Aluratek is a basic clock radio that can pick up both traditional FM signals as well as Internet broadcasts via an Ethernet cable or your Wi-Fi wireless router." Arik Hesseldahl, Business Week, 29 April 2008. See previous post about internet radios. Posted: 29 Apr 2008 Permalink

Application for domestic shortwave DRM experiment in Alaska. "Digital Aurora Radio Technologies of Delta Junction, AK has applied to the FCC for authorization to experiment with statewide DRM in the 5, 7 and 9 MHz shortwave bands. ... 'The ultimate goal of this project is to provide a terrestrial digital radio service to the citizens of Alaska,' the company said. 'In general, the population of Alaska is underserved with respect to the ability to have a high quality, reliable public radio audio service. This is especially true for sparsely populated areas of the state.' ... A unique element of the proposed station is its use of government surplus over-the-horizon (OTH) radar transmitters." 26MHz.us, 29 April 2008. Benn Kobb is tracking such experimental license applications in his new radiospectrum.info. Posted: 29 Apr 2008 Permalink

Shortwave noise news. The American Radio Relay League wins an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals concerning a Federal Communications Commission ruling about Broadband over Power Line (BPL). BPL transmits on shortwave frequencies via unshielded electrical lines, causing interference to broadcasts and amateur radio communications in the shortwave frequencies. ARRL, 25 April 2008. "The Universal Powerline Association [UK] wants to collaborate with service providers, network equipment manufacturers and network operators on the development of the PowerMAX Powerline Communication Standard (PLC). PowerMAX is intended to transport data at 400Mbps+ via electricity cables... Because of its sensitivity to radio interference, PLC remains controversial. It uses a high frequency carrier signal to transmit data along electricity cables. These cables are ill suited to the transmission of high frequency signals because they have very high attenuation at high frequencies and also radiate part of the signal's energy. This can cause interference with radio systems operating on the short wave band – typically 2 to 32MHz. It is not only radio hams who would suffer – the interference can affect emergency services radio and also the new DRM radio broadcasts." heise online, 29 April 2008. Posted: 29 Apr 2008 Permalink

CNN and BBC on mobiles in Kenya. "Kenyan mobile service provider Safaricom and pay-TV operator DSTV have launched the first Kenyan commercial mobile TV service, available on selected handsets. The service will initially serve up 10 local and international channels including ... CNN and BBC World." Telecompaper, 29 April 2008. Posted: 29 Apr 2008 Permalink

New platform for international television, until the internet tanks. "With horror stories about the Internet coming close to overload and sites like the Beeb's iPlayer clogging up the broadband connection, we thought we'd let you know about another way of grinding things to a halt. Online site Zattoo is now offering up ... eclectic fare including The Poker Channel and Al Jazeera TV." T3, 29 April 2008. Posted: 29 Apr 2008 Permalink

Domestic dissemination in the news (updated). "Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Gartner, chairman and principal owner of the Iowa Cubs baseball team, will deliver the keynote address at The University of South Dakota's 121st spring commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 10." Press & Dakotan, 26 April 2008. Gartner is notable in our business for his Gartner v. USIA. See previous post for details. -- Author John Stauber on Pentagon campaign to sell the Iraq war: "Now, the Pentagon might contest that, but we've had various laws on the books in our country going back to the 1920s. It is illegal for the U.S. government to propagandize citizens in this way." PBS NewsHour via The Nation, 12 May 2008 issue. See previous post about same subject. Update: "It violates, for starters, specific restrictions that Congress has been placing in its annual appropriation bills every year since 1951. According to those restrictions, 'No part of any appropriation contained in this or any other Act shall be used for publicity or propaganda purposes within the United States not heretofore authorized by the Congress.'" PR Watch.org, 28 April 2008. Posted: 29 Apr 2008 Permalink

VOA (urgently) calling Americans abroad. "On Sunday evening [20 April] ... Studio 7 hosted by the Voice of America made a special announcement from the American Embassy in Harare advising all American citizens resident in Zimbabwe to move to safe areas as they expected that violence would break out at any moment, due to delays by [the Zimbabwe Election Commission] in announcing the [election] results." The Herald (Harare), 29 April 2008. Posted: 29 Apr 2008 Permalink

Review of Willis Conover memorial concert. "Last night, at the Voice of America auditorium in Washington, DC, [Quincy Jones] compositions and arrangements were brought back to life in a concert dedicated to the memory of VOA's long-time host of jazz programs, Willis Conover. ... Somewhere, Willis Conover was smiling." John Birchard, Rifftides, 26 April 2008. Posted: 29 Apr 2008 Permalink

VOA memories on T2A. Patricia Gates Lynch Ewell, known to listeners of the old VOA Breakfast Show as Pat Gates, and later U.S. ambassador to Madagascar, will be guest 30 April, 1800 UTC, on Talk 2 America, the online keyboard chat successor to VOA's radio program Talk to America. See Talk 2 America website. Patricia Gates Lynch will discuss her book Thanks for Listening: High Adventure in Journalism and Diplomacy. Posted: 29 Apr 2008 Permalink

Remembering (maybe) VOA 65 years ago. "Filipino World War II veterans would have received $3.2 billion worth of benefits from the United States had it not been for the Rescission Act of 1946, which effectively dashed promises held out as they fought alongside American troops six decades ago." Eighty-one year old "Representative Antonio Magsaysay-Diaz, himself a World War II veteran ... recalled hearing on Voice of America, the US radio network based in Washington, 'almost everyday' the promise made by Roosevelt during the war." Philippine Daily Inquirer, 28 April 2008. Although U.S. broadcasts to East Asia during World War II may not have used the name "Voice of America." See previous post. Posted: 29 Apr 2008 Permalink

The Wall Street Journal describes the RFA part of the U.S. international broadcasting elephant. Radio Free Asia's "reporting on the crisis in Tibet has reignited longstanding ill will with China over the U.S. government's Cold War-era broadcasting system, while also highlighting a question that hangs over the radio service's mission: Is it a news outlet or a propaganda tool? The Chinese government says the station has done "non-objective, unfair and unbalanced coverage of China for a long time," according to a foreign ministry spokeswoman. ... Dick Richter, RFA's founding president, who retired in 2004, says when he first heard the idea for RFA, he was suspicious. 'I thought this was going to be a broadcast station whose principle aim would be to appease the right wing Republican faction of the U.S. government and basically be a broadcaster whose principal aim would be to "kill the Commies,"' he says. 'But I said "that is not what we are going to do." The legislation says we have to be objective.'" Wall Street Journal, 29 April 2008. Also available at The Tibetan Times, 29 April 2008.
     Another article that misinforms by providing an incomplete picture of U.S. international broadcasting.
     It makes no mention that Voice of America also broadcasts to China and Tibet, in Mandarin and Tibetan, with much of the same news about China and Tibet that is broadcast by RFA. And so a big part of the story was missed by the WSJ reporters: why does the United States have two stations doing much the same thing?
     If they investigated this part of the story, they would have been told by some experts and senior officials in that VOA only provides information about the United States. This, of course, would be rubbish.
     Surveys show that audiences in China want news about China and news about the rest of the world. The "theory" of U.S. international broadcasting requires RFA to be deficient in its coverage of world news, and VOA to be deficient in its coverage of news about China. The theoretical structure of U.S. international does not include a station that gives the audience the mix of news that it wants. Under the theory, that privilege is ceded to BBC World Service.
     I don't doubt that RFA tries to be a conscientious, objective news service. But because it is under pressure to fill its lengthy daily broadcast time with news and information only about the target country, it might have to run with a story that is not as well developed as they would like it to be. A full-service international broadcasting service could set aside that story about the target country for another day, to gather more facts, and run an international or U.S. news story instead.
     Also RFA, in broadcasting to China only news about China, with emphasis on the news that is ignored by the Chinese state controlled state media, could be perceived as the "Voice of Bad News About China," even given that each story is factually correct. This could chafe even dissidents in China. A full-service station could smooth that out, in part by including a few stories that show that things are also not always rosy in the United States.
     To compete with the BBC world services and with the increasingly competitive domestic media of China, the very good efforts of RFA, and the very good efforts of VOA, must be combined to form an excellent multimedia international broadcasting service. Posted: 29 Apr 2008 Permalink

Shop talk: VOA program discusses U.S. international broadcasting (updated). On 26 April, the topic on VOA's Press Conference USA was "U.S. International Broadcasting, and the challenges that lie ahead." Guests were two retired senior VOA officials: Alan Heil and Barry Zorthian. Audio available at the PCUSA web page.
     The program was introduced as "the need to take a serious look at why America is losing its friends in the world, and what can be done to reverse the trend." It would be miraculous if U.S. international broadcasting could reverse that trend. I would think that U.S. policies would have a greater role.
     Mr. Zorthian described "surrogate broadcasting" (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia) as "the presentation of a radio broadcast that the target audience would have had in its own territory if it had a free press. It's a substitute for a national radio network." On the other hand, according to Mr. Zorthian, "the Voice of America's mission, as defined by its charter, is to project the United States, its actions, it policies."
     VOA does that. But as anyone who listens to VOA would attest, VOA spends much of its time providing listeners with information about their own countries. I.e., it also has a significant "surrogate" role. VOA must do this to attract an audience.
     And so there continues to be a disconnect between U.S. international broadcasting as described by prominent persons, and U.S. international broadcasting as it really is.
     Later in the program, Mr. Zorthian said: "Let me point out that numbers of listeners are not the end goal. Sure it's great to have an audience and to have widespread popularity, but it's the makeup of that audience, and in the case of the Voice, reaching the people who want to know what the U.S. is doing. Most viewers want to see what is happening next door, but there are certain ones who want to see beyond that. And if we can get those viewers, they're the ones who tend to set the outlook of a country, and help determine the actions of the other country, that's what we want to reach."
     This view, shared by others, is that U.S. international broadcasting should be divided as follows: VOA will provide information about the United States, and the surrogate stations will have an audience.
     Much of the interview dealt with issues discussed in a new book edited by Mr. Heil, Local Voices/Global Perspectives: Challenges Ahead for U.S. International Media, published by the Public Diplomacy Council. See also Amazon.com.
     Update: "The book, Local Voices/Global Perspectives: Challenges Ahead for U.S. International Media, which explores these issues from the viewpoint of more than 20 contributors, is now available on the Web through [withheld]@GWU.edu or on amazon.com." VOA News, 29 April 2008. The text of the book is not available "on the Web." You have to *buy* the print version. And that thing with the "@" is an e-mail address, not a web URL. It's also going to be spam city, now that VOA has published the e-mail address in its website. The web links for information about the book are in the paragraph above. Posted: 29 Apr 2008 Permalink

"Credible voices, outside of the U.S. government." "The top White House terrorism expert thinks some gains are being made in the worldwide public relations battle against al-Qaeda, as the administration and its overseas allies press efforts to show that Osama bin Laden's network is killing Muslim civilians rather than defending its interests." Juan Carlos Zarate, deputy assistant to the president and deputy national security adviser for combating terrorism, said "'credible voices, outside of the U.S. government,' had to carry the messages." Washington Post, 29 April 2008. See Zarate speech transcript at the Washington Institute for Near East Studies, 23 April 2008. Posted: 29 Apr 2008 Permalink

Turkey will add a public diplomacy bureaucracy. "Turkey plans to establish a Public Diplomacy Agency to undertake public relations operations parallel to Turkish foreign policy." Much of its effort will be directed to the EU membership process. Today's Zaman, 28 April 2008. Posted: 28 Apr 2008 Permalink

Another VOA jazz alumnus. Indian author Max Babi is fascinated by literature, but "his love for jazz is not far behind. He's conducted workshops, set up jazz clubs, and is a founding member of the seven-year-old Pune Jazz Club. 'My lonesome childhood (being a bookworm) was peopled by the short-wave radio where I discovered the Voice Of America Jazz Hour.'" Business Standard, 27 April 2008. Posted: 28 Apr 2008 Permalink

Test of the transmission technologies: RFE/RL hit by "mass cyberattack." "An attack of unprecedented scale and intensity is under way against the Internet sites of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Belarus Service and more than half a dozen other RFE/RL language broadcasting sites. ... RFE/RL President Jeff Gedmin compared the situation to the Cold War days when RFE/RL radio broadcasting to Communist countries was jammed. ... RFE/RL is taking countermeasures to restore service to affected RFE/RL Internet sites in Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Kosovo in Serbia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Croatia, as well as Belarus." RFE/RL press release, 28 April 2008. See also RFE/RL News, 28 April 2008. Interview with RFE/RL Belarus Director Alyaksandr Lukashuk: "We went back to our old methods, calling our correspondents over the phone, taking their messages, recording them here, and making [shortwave] radio programs. ... RFE/RL: Since you have been off the air for so long, how did you get the word out for people to tune in to their shortwave radios again? Lukashuk: That was a problem. That is why we used other friendly sites to advertise our radio programming." RFE/RL News, 28 April 2008. And, hence, shortwave. Shortwave is the only medium of international broadcasting granted immunity from interdiction by the laws of physics. This is because shortwave signals travel better over long distances (e.g. from the listener to the distant foreign station) than over short distances (e.g. from the listener to the jamming transmitter in his/her own country). The internet is more vulnerable to interdiction because its information is usually transmitted via landlines in the target country, and thus subject to the regulation and interference of the government of the target country. Shortwave is the failsafe, but if we reach the point where not enough broadcasters have shortwave transmitters, and not enough audiences have shortwave radios, the shortwave communication system breaks down, and the dictators win. Posted: 28 Apr 2008 Permalink

The non-history of VOA relays in Cyprus. "1960: The Voice of America radio station has expressed the desire to set up a transmitting site on Cyprus." Famagusta Gazette (Nicosia), 27 April 2008. VOA did not get its Cyprus relay, and settled on a medium wave relay in Greece, farther from the Levant. This is probably one of the reasons VOA Arabic did not compete well with BBC Arabic or Radio Monte Carlo-Middle East, each of which did have Cyprus medium wave relays. Spurred by the efforts of then BBG member Norm Pattiz, VOA Arabic successor Radio Sawa did get a Cyprus medium wave relay (981 kHz) in 2002. This transmitter allows Radio Sawa to be heard in Egypt and other Arab countries where it is not allowed FM relays. See my commentary, Radio Netherlands, 23 June 2005. Posted: 27 Apr 2008 Permalink

Who's Radio Farda's daddy? Azerbaijan's Trend News Agency, 26 April 2008, describes Radio Farda as "Czech Radio Farda." Presumably because it is located in Prague along with the rest of U.S. funded RFE/RL. Posted: 27 Apr 2008 Permalink

Will BBC collaboration help US public radio revive its audience? WNYC's “'The Takeaway' is designed with it partner, Public Radio International, and collaborators including The New York Times, the BBC World Service and the Boston public station WGBH, to be a stark counterpoint to the taped interviews on NPR’s venerable 'Morning Edition.'" New York Times, 27 April 2008. See also The Takeaway website. Posted: 27 Apr 2008 Permalink

Expanding EuroBoredom to 400 million households. "The European Commission will today (25 April) launch a comprehensive audiovisual media strategy to 'increase coverage of EU affairs' and help people engage in a proper debate on EU policies. ... A frequent complaint among Brussels commentators is that the EU news agenda is too 'boring' to stimulate widespread public and media attention. ... The Commissi