text:
- Kim's recent writings:
The Battle for the Soul of U.S. International Broadcasting.
- US International Broadcasting: Success Requires Independence and Consolidation.
- In International Broadcasting, Even the Static Must be Credible.
- America Calling China: A Strategy for International Broadcasting.
Netflix, over-the-top (OTT) international broadcaster.
Posted: 26 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
FierceOnlineVideo, 23 Oct 2013, Josh Wein: "Netflix CEO Reed Hastings ... seemed interested in tempering expectations around the company's international growth prospects. When BTIG Research's Rich Greenfield asked if Netflix could become bigger globally than HBO--Greenfield said HBO has roughly 114 million subscribers today--Hastings said it would probably take longer than five years to achieve that. 'I don't know when we'll catch them,' he said. But Netflix's management clearly sees a massive international opportunity. Later during the same conversation, Hastings pointed out that most Internet companies see about 80 percent of their revenue come from outside the United States. Long term, that's where Netflix should be too, he said. On this point, he still hedged a bit, saying Netflix's revenue makeup may settle in closer to 30 percent domestic, 70 percent international, given the fact that the company started so focused on renting DVDs to Americans. ... Expanding overseas is expensive. Netflix has lost an average of $64 million a quarter pushing into new territories since the end of 2010, according to its financial statements. Though the actual figure has swung quarter-to-quarter, in that time Netflix's international streaming business has never turned a profit. Content costs will increase as well as the global rights Netflix needs to enter new territories surely do not come cheap."
Award to Radio Australia reporter for documentary on Papua New Guinea land rights.
Posted: 26 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Al Jazeera may launch an Australian sports channel.
Posted: 26 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Obituary: Agustin Alles Soberón, former news director of Radio Martí, interviewer of guerrilla Fidel Castro.
Posted: 26 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
RT (Russia Today) "coverage of domestic issues often features unique angles."
Posted: 25 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
@BBCMonitoring, 18 Oct 2013: "Chief of Russia's international channel RT denies claims of mass lay-offs at RT Arabic TV, blames disgruntled ex-staff for 'untrue' claims"
Via Satellite, 16 Oct 2013, Mark Holmes: RT (Russia Today) "migrated all of its channels to HD broadcast in December 2012. Today, RT's new production facility has HD broadcasting capability for 8 simultaneous HD feeds – enough to accommodate all of the network's current channels and potential future expansion, including new channels. The company is also looking to take advantage of OTT projects around the world. 'We believe it is a promising distribution channel and we are actively working with OTT platforms. RT applications are available in the app stores of the world's largest OTT-platforms such as Roku, Samsung Smart TV, Google TV, LG, etc. We also have plans to collaborate with the largest OTT satellite platform projects.'" -- I'm not exactly sure what an "OTT satellite platform project" is, given that OTT is usually used to distribute individual programs "over the top" of the Internet.
Al Arabiya, 20 Oct 2013, Bakir Oweida: "I tuned in to the English-speaking Russia Today television channel, waiting for what I thought was a commercial— accompanied by soft and dreamy music which seemed somewhat romantic to my ears—to end, only to discover that I was the one who was dreaming. Rather than a commercial, it became apparent that this was a disclaimer that Russia Today was undergoing 'scheduled maintenance' between 8.00 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following day. I recovered from the surprise, only to awake to another one. This was strange as I have never heard of any TV channel suspending broadcast in order to carry out so-called 'scheduled maintenance.' It appears that the festive mood of Eid prevailed that day, and I thought to myself: 'Perhaps the channel's staff in Moscow are taking the day off to celebrate Eid!'"
YouTube videos of text and images received from a 50-year-old shortwave broadcast transmitter in North Carolina.
Posted: 22 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
The image (MFSK64) was received and decoded by Merkouris in Greece. VOA Radiogram is transmitted from the IBB's Edward R. Murrow shortwave transmitting station in North Carolina.
South Korean military to develop "equipment to broadcast radio, TV across the whole of North Korea."
Posted: 22 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
NK News, 18 Oct 2013, Ji-min Kang: "I still vividly remember listening to South Korean radio in secret with my friends, something that enabled us to learn about new emotions and feelings. What a little joy of freedom that gave me! Imagine taking out that small radio and listening to it while everyone is sleeping. I will never be able to forget the nights of longing for the world that seemed to have no pain and no sorrow."
Radio Free Asia, 22 Oct 2013, Andrei Lankov: "In North Korea, radio and TV are boring and finding fun books to read is difficult. Given the lack of other options, it is not surprising that North Koreans find watching South Korean dramas on the sly much more fun. However, it is true that North Koreans wonder if what they see on dramas authentically depicts the lives of South Koreans. As North Koreans well know, the quality of life and living conditions shown in North Korean movies are ridiculously glamorized. Consequently, many North Koreans believe that South Korean dramas show a more glamorized version of life than the reality."
UN General Assembly, 17 Oct 2013, statements to the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization): "KIM JU SONG (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) stated that public information challenges were characterized by control of communications technology by a few countries. Certain countries were in pursuit of their hidden political interests, taking advantage of monopolized modern mass media. By imposing their 'values' on developing countries, they were causing social disorder and chaos, even going as far as to create regime change. The United States and its followers were 'adhering' to psychological warfare, using mass media, including Radio Free Asia, slandering 'invidious' countries and aiming to bring those down through 'internal disintegration'. He said that priority should be given to establishing a new international communication and information order, based on impartiality and objectivity, and respect for the principles of sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs. The high-handedness of specific countries that clamoured for free dissemination of public information while imposing their will on others should be brought to an end."
Google developing peer-to-peer tool "to ensure Internet access in places like Iran, North Korea, China, Cuba, and Syria."
Posted: 22 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
CNET, 21 Oct 2013, Seth Rosenblatt: "Google wants to ensure that people who live in conflict-ridden regions and under governments that routinely restrict Internet access can still get online, and to further that goal it has built three new tools to provide protection. The tools were announced Monday at the Google Ideas Summit in New York, with the hope that they could become key weapons in the struggle to ensure Internet access in places like Iran, North Korea, China, Cuba, and Syria, said Jared Cohen, the director of Google Ideas. 'This is a company of activists and white-hat hackers,' Cohen told Time."
Mashable, 21 Oct 2013, Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai: "Called uProxy, it is meant to be an easy-to-use, peer-to-peer gateway to the open Internet. With uProxy installed, somebody in Iran could use a friend's Internet to connect with him or her. ... uProxy, which was seeded by Google Ideas, but mainly developed by researchers at the University of Washington, isn't the first tool of its kind. There are numerous projects and kinds of software that promise to circumvent firewalls and censorship, like the open-source project Lantern, whose developers contributed to uProxy through Brave New Software."
Shanghaist, 22 Oct 2013, Eric Crouch: "Due to the peer-to-peer nature of the uProxy project, the service would be extremely hard to block; the utility exists outside of a centralized HTTP server that could be blocked, or a specific network protocol like TOR that can be individually targeted. UProxy is currently in an invite-only beta and—at the rate that China's censors have been cracking down lately—will hopefully be released into the wild very soon."
See also Google Ideas, 21 Oct 2013, with video.
Broadcasting Board of Governors will likely establish special committees on shortwave, CEO at 23 Oct meeting.
Posted: 22 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Broadcasting Board of Governors press release, 18 Oct 2013: "Kenneth Weinstein was sworn in today as the newest member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, the independent federal agency that oversees all U S government-supported civilian media. On September 23, the Senate unanimously approved the President's nomination of Weinstein to the board. ... Weinstein has served as President and CEO of the Hudson Institute since 2011 and has held several other positions in the organization since 1999, including Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Senior Fellow, and Director of the Washington office. He also served as the Director of the Government Reform Project at the Heritage Foundation from 1996 to 1998. ... Weinstein succeeds former Governor Dennis Mulhaupt. He joins Shell and fellow board members Ryan Crocker, Matt Armstrong, Susan McCue, and Michael Meehan."
Report: CNN won't submit to editing requirement in Vietnam, may be taken off cable and DTH systems.
Posted: 21 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
China will limit foreign program formats on TV channels and require more "morality-building" content.
Posted: 21 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Reuters, 21 Oct 2013: "Despite the government's controls, popular foreign television shows are widely available as illegal downloads or on pirated DVDs. In response to consumers' shift toward watching downloaded content on mobile devices, many domestic television broadcasters have moved to make shows available online or have signed distribution partnerships with domestic video websites like Youku Tudou Inc's Youku.com. China committed to opening its domestic media sector to foreign competition during negotiations to join the World Trade Organization. Even so, it has maintained heavy restrictions on imported movies and television shows in order to provide room for state-controlled domestic producers."
Shanghai Daily, 21 Oct 2013, Li Qian: "'It is really a headache on how we can make up for the seven and a half hours of time. Many TV stations are used to airing TV dramas, shows and films,' a TV station staff, preferring to remain anonymous, told [Southern Metropolis Daily] ... Wu Chaoyang, publicity director of Shanghai's Dragon TV, told the newspaper the television station has always tried to localize overseas programs and now has four and a half hours of news programs daily."
What is the role of "satellite broadcasters" in a country where satellite receivers are not officially allowed? Chinese provincial and local television stations achieve national coverage by way of satellite, and they compete nationally for audiences. The channels are viewed mostly via cable systems, and sometimes via black-market satellite dishes. IPTV multichannel systems are also becoming more common.
CCTV wants more abroad what other international channels are not allowed in China: access to audiences.
Posted: 21 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
CCTV, 16 Oct 2013, Wang Xinye: "China's largest Television network China Central Television has hosted a forum with its international partners to discuss further promoting its international brand. The two-day forum started on Wednesday in Beijing when CCTV's international partners gathered to express opinions on the development of CCTV's brand promotion in overseas market. China Central Television is becoming more and more recognizable globally. CCTV has 37 channels that are watched by 700 million viewers. It is the only television station in the world that broadcasts in six UN working languages with 314 million viewers overseas. CCTV is now carried by cable companies in 171 countries."
-- The forum was, presumably, the World Media Summit in Hangzhou. Did the forum discuss the lack of reciprocity, i.e. that international channels do not enjoy the same access to Chinese viewers that CCTV enjoys in "171 countries." See items about the World Media Summit in this previous post.
"Future vision" for BBC Worldwide includes consolidated TV channel brands, more video on BBC.com, phaseout of global iPlayer.
Posted: 20 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Does the BBC's goal of a global weekly audience of 500 million by 2022 include only news output or all BBC content globally distributed? The "long-form video player" on BBC.com mentioned above seems to indicate feature and entertainment in addition to news programming.
The television iPlayer is being phased out internationally even as the "iPlayer Radio app will go global in 2014," per the previous post.
The Guardian, 18 Oct 2013, Mark Sweney: "Davie said that BBC Worldwide has too many different websites and digital propositions, and there needed to be more focus to compete against rivals such as Hulu, Netflix and Amazon. ... 'It is purely a branding question: if you want content you go to BBC.com,' he said. 'It has been too fragmented and [globally] it is a ferocious market dominated by US and Asian players – like Hulu, Netflix and Amazon – and we have to have scale and a real competitive edge.'"
informitv, 18 Oct 2013: "The global iPlayer was launched as a pilot in 11 Western European countries in July 2011, initially on the Apple iPad and subsequently the iPhone and iPod Touch, and viewable on an Apple TV using AirPlay. It provided access to a catalogue of premium programmes from the BBC library for a monthly subscription of €6.99, of which 30% presumably goes to Apple. The trial service was extended to Australia and Canada but not the United States, where it faced opposition from pay-television operators carrying the BBC America channel."
Polish Radio will eliminate the last of its shortwave output.
Posted: 20 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Public diplomacy mixed with broadcasting: South Africa's Ubuntu Radio.
Posted: 19 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
humanipo, 18 Oct 2013, Brandon Gregory: "New internet-based South African radio station Ubuntu Radio officially went live last night, aimed at enhancing communication on South Africa's foreign policy and broadcasting African stories from an African perspective. 'South Africa has a good story to tell and we have done extremely well over the past 20 years. Our foreign policy has evolved, but that story is not being told,' said Clayson Monyela, head of public diplomacy for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO). Monyela said the radio station will serve as a source of reliable, recent and trusted news and conversations on the topic of foreign policy."
SouthAfrica.info, 18 Oct 2013: "The station will also extend its reach by exchanging content for broadcast with identified media partners, including SABC's Channel Africa."
Pretoria News, 18 Oct 2013, Tebogo Monama: "Monyela said although the station would be focused on foreign policy and government updates, it would not be propaganda. 'The media do a decent job in telling stories. This will be an additional platform that gives us the opportunity as government to highlight stories that are not getting attention. Other countries have done this successfully, albeit differently. We don't believe we have competition, but hope other stations will listen to us to find out what South Africa is thinking.' ... Monyela said Ubuntu Radio would be working closely with SABC international radio station Channel Africa. 'We have signed a memorandum of understanding to exchange programmes with them. We are hoping that digital migration will clear the airwaves and we can be available on FM. We are finalising an application that you can download and listen to on your phone or tablet.' The station is mostly talk-based and Monyela said the department would avoid featuring only diplomats and government employees. Some of the presenters are brand specialist Thebe Ikalafeng; Metro FM presenter Kgopedi oa Namane; actress Florence Masebe; and SAfm presenter Richard Nwamba."
ITWeb, 18 Oct 2013, Mariné Jacobs: "'We will have news bulletins. We will be playing music, especially on weekends, and we will be playing African music unapologetically. ... Manyolo notes. He emphasises that while the format of the station is talk, listeners will not be 'lectured' or be exposed to government propaganda. 'People can call in and ask questions, voice their opinions, agree or disagree with us. But for the first time we will be able to dictate the time and pace of these discussions and articulate the thinking of SA on foreign policy.'"
South Africa is thus emulating US international broadcasting. Ubuntu Radio is now duplicating some of the work of Channel Africa, and scarce broadcasting and talent resources will be divided between the two. Furthermore, Ubuntu Radio is an attempt to mix public diplomacy with other content, including something that they claim will be "news." A political faction in Washington wants USIB to more like Ubuntu Radio. Instructively, Ubuntu Radio will show us how many listeners will be attracted to a radio station that is essentially an infomercial for the government and its foreign policy.
At 2355 UTC on 19 Oct 2013, I'm listening to African music on Ubuntu Radio, which, despite frequent breaks in the audio stream, is excellent.
Al Jazeera's possession-based approach to football broadcast rights in North Africa.
Posted: 19 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Digital TV Europe, 17 Oct 2013: "Al Jazeera Sport this week threatened to take legal action against Algerian public broadcaster ENTV for having retransmitted coverage of a World Cup qualifier football match between Algeria and Burkina Faso to which it did not hold the rights. Al Jazeera secured the support of the African Football Confederation (CAF), which lodged a protest over Algeria's 'audiovisual piracy'. The CAF said it reserved the right to pursue those responsible in the courts. ... The Algerian press has focused on the refusal of the Algerian government to allow the Qatari broadcaster to open an office in Algiers as a possible factor in Al Jazeera's decision not to make the broadcast available."
Details of Al Jazeera-AT&T legal dispute to remain secret during appeal.
Posted: 19 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
France 24 expands DTH satellite distribution in India.
Posted: 19 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
House of Commons committee calls for investment to counter China/Iran jamming/blocking of BBC World Service content.
Posted: 17 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, 17 Oct 2013, excerpt from "The FCO's human rights work in 2012": "The right of access to information, across borders, is fundamental. As we have pointed out on numerous occasions, the BBC World Service makes a huge contribution to the projection of the UK, its values and strengths, across the world. It would be astonishing if that work were to be diminished purely because the BBC lacked the resources to protect its broadcasts from interference by states where tolerance and freedom of expression are not entrenched. We urge the BBC, as the future funder of the BBC World Service, to recognise in future funding plans the need to provide the resources necessary to afford that protection."
VOA faulted for insufficiently duplicating RFE/RL on the Malala story.
Posted: 16 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
If all the output of USIB were available in one website, then the "very good" RFE/RL coverage of Malala Yousafzai's visit to the White House would have been available to the website's visitors. But the BBG Watch/CUSIB/Lipien multiplex has always resisted consolidation of US international broadcasting, or even the establishment of the Global News Network combined website for USIB. With the drain on resources caused by duplication in USIB, fewer stories can be reported, and each less thoroughly so.
But, wait, CUSIB "does not accept the myth that these different missions duplicate each other," according to an op-ed by its executive director Ann Noonan. Meanwhile, Ted, co-founder of CUSIB, documents, above, an instance of duplication: both RFE/RL and VOA covering the Malala visit. In fact, Ted criticizes VOA for not doing a more thorough job of duplicating RFE/RL's coverage of the same story.
While we ponder that, consider that Ted writes about even more duplication, in the form of USIB entities and private US media outlets ("AP, CNN, MSN, The Washington Post, The Huffington Post") all providing English-language of Malala's visit.
And so Ted's essay raises an interesting question. Should USIB compete with private US media in providing English-language news to the world? Won't this cut into the audience share of these private media companies, thus reducing their chances for profitability? Keep in mind that the International Broadcasting Act of 1994 states that US government funded international broadcasting shall "not duplicate the activities of private United States broadcasters."
As recently as three decades ago, thanks to its global network of shortwave transmitters, VOA was the only US media outlet capable of providing timely English-language news to the entire world. With the advent of the Internet, all US news organizations with a website have global reach. Some have more newsgathering resources, at least in English, than any of the the individual USIB entities, and a few have more than all of USIB combined.
USIB should be pleased that the US private sector media have the English-language world covered, and at no cost to the US taxpayers. This frees up USIB funds for non-English languages, most of which could never support a commercially viable US-based news service.
English web content from USIB would continue, consisting of 1) the centrally produced material distributed to USIB language services, 2) reports from correspondents, 3) reporting from and about Africa, which is by far VOA's largest English-language target, and 4) some stories from USIB language services translated into English. Even with all this, USIB may not have a comprehensive "go-to" English-language website on a par with CNN, the New York Times, and a few other major players.
Nevertheless, USIB can still have a large presence in English-language media. When USIB is finally consolidated into a single nonprofit corporation, it should have a for-profit subsidiary corporation. The for-profit would engage in various media projects that make money, while avoiding competition with US private-sector efforts. The profits would be channeled into the non-profit activities of USIB.
One such profit-making activity would be to translate the unique reportage of the many USIB non-English services into English, then selling that content, as text and/or as videos, to English-language media in the USA and elsewhere. US media and their audiences would benefit from greater international news coverage. USIB would derive additional income. This could be the making of a win-win.
Radio Exterior de España will close its Costa Rica shortwave relay, but expand shortwave from Spain.
Posted: 15 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Yet another Western Hemisphere shortwave transmitting facility closes, following Radio Netherlands on Bonaire, TDF in French Guiana, Radio Canada International in New Brunswick, WYFR in Florida, International Broadcasting Bureau in Delano, California, and Bethany, Ohio, CVC in Chile, BBC on Antigua, and others.
A review of four books about Cold War (mostly RFE/RL) broadcasting.
Posted: 15 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
On Guam, a shortwave transmitting site rededicated rather than dismantled.
Posted: 14 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
South Africans win top prize in CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards.
Posted: 14 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Al Jazeera America: "foreign gaze for domestic consumption," "focusing on the failures of the United States."
Posted: 14 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Washington Times, 9 Oct 2013, Christopher Harper: "An engaging ad on AJAM television told me to check out the website. A graphic titled 'Government Shutdown' led with a video package of President Obama complaining: 'Congress needs to stop "governing by crisis."' ... Much of the website included stories more than a week old and not one focused on the Republican point of view. Al-Jazeera's television coverage wasn't much better. ... Almost as an afterthought, [host Sheila MacVicar] at one point laid a little of the blame at the feet of the Democrats — but only after attacking the Republicans throughout the show. ... Everyone should know where AJAM stands — right under the thumb of the Qatari princes. The agenda is to get a seat at the political table through the network, which aims at focusing mainly on the failures of the United States rather than its successes, with a bias now made plain for all to see."
Christopher Johnson press release, 11 Oct 2013, via BroadwayWorld.com: "Even if Al Jazeera America musters a sizable audience, it could have a harder time attracting advertisers than its competition. ... At this point in time, funding is not a problem because Al Jazeera America has a strong financial base. It is better equipped than other news outlets to circumvent a shortage of ads the lifeblood of any media business due to the fact that the station derives patronage from the very rich government of Qatar."
Nashville Scene, 10 Oct 2013, Steven Hale: "For news junkies, Nashville reached peak Itness when Al Jazeera America, the new American wing of the Arab news organization Al Jazeera, announced it would be placing a bureau in Nashville."
BBC's iPlayer Radio app "will go global in 2014."
Posted: 14 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Open source but no longer available to the public: World News Connection disconnected.
Posted: 13 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Advocacy group for US international broadcasting advocates keeping things much the same.
Posted: 13 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Ann Noonan has written a thorough and well-thought-out essay. However...
To CUSIB and others who insist there is no duplication in US international broadcasting, the facts are overwhelmingly against you. The truth (and isn't US international broadcasting all about transmitting the truth?) is that duplication is so prevalent in US international broadcasting that one cannot help tripping over it...
The story about Cambodia's statue to former King Sihanouk was reported by RFA, 11 Oct 2013 and by VOA, 11 Oct 2013. About a Spanish court hearing charges of genocide in Tibet against former Chinese president Hu Jintao, see RFA, 11 Oct 2013, and VOA, 11 Oct 2013. About additional charges for Greenpeace activists in Russia, see RFE/RL, 9 Oct 2013 and VOA, 9 Oct 2013. Malala Yousafzai meets President Obama at the White House: VOA, 11 Oct 2013 and RFE/RL, 12 Oct 2013. It took about five minutes to find these.
Peruse the websites of the USIB entities during a week to see dozens more instances of duplication, during a year to see hundreds. Duplication is a form of waste in federal spending. The new realities of the federal budget leave very little room for waste.
But, for the sake of conversation, let's be taken in by CUSIB's claim that surrogate stations report only about the target country, and VOA reports only about the rest of the world. Does this mean that there is one audience interested only in the former, and another only in the latter? Audience research amply demonstrates what should be obvious: no. Audiences want to know both what is happening in their own countries and in the rest of the world. And this means that, if there is no duplication, audiences would have to put up with the inconvenience of tuning to two US international stations, different times, different frequency, to get all the news. But, fortunately, or unfortunately, depending how you look at it, there is duplication, so audiences in many countries can tune to VOA to get all the news from one station. The USIB news service would be better, however, if the surrogates' and VOA's reporting were smushed together into one handy media outlet.
In the internecine conflict among the USIB entities, CUSIB seems to be pro-surrogate and anti-VOA. It damns VOA with incomplete descriptions. "VOA Cantonese, Mandarin and Tibetan services provide news and opinions from the United States as mandated by the U.S. Congress in the Voice of America Charter." This conveniently omits the 800-pound gorilla, which is that VOA Mandarin and Tibetan have broadcast a great deal of news about their target countries, and were doing so even before RFA was a gleam in the eye of those who precipitated the false premise that VOA was not providing such news.
"VOA cannot be a successful surrogate broadcaster." VOA is a surrogate broadcaster, and has been for decades. It provides news about its target countries that is not being provided by its target countries' media. This includes to Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Venezuela, and other countries where there is no nominally surrogate USIB entity (yet).
"Voice of America's identity and success abroad are tied to being identified with the United States." Actually, VOA's success abroad comes from providing credible news. "Being identified with the United States" can sometimes be a strain on that credibility. So, gee, thanks, CUSIB, for pointing this out.
Given the USIB has the largest budget of any many-language international broadcasting service, then it can be "BBC like" by having the largest audience. CUSIB, BBG Watch, and fellow travelers want to Keep Everything The Same As Before, and that includes keeping USIB in the second tier, allowing BBC to bask alone at the top, even though the BBC has a smaller budget for international broadcasting. I will never be satisfied with this state of affairs.
USIB should aspire to compete with the BBC. It can do so only by consolidating its resources into one corporation, with a single, powerful, memorable, global brand. It must have an unambiguous commitment to independent, credible journalism, leaving public diplomacy to the public diplomacy branches and bureaus in Foggy Bottom. And just as the BBC world services derive advantages from working with the domestic BBC (and vice versa), so, too, should USIB partner with US domestic media.
For one example of the benefits of consolidation, consider the recent Alhurra video of the car chase near the US Capitol. It was widely used by media in the US and throughout the world. This generated great publicity for Alhurra, but people were wondering: who is Alhurra? If USIB had one strong brand, Americans would probably be more familiar with that brand and the work it does. And all of USIB, all around the world, would have benefited from that publicity.
VOA Radiogram, in government shutdown mode, continues replay of earlier show.
Posted: 12 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
CNN International claims ratings success among upscale Asians.
Posted: 12 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
BBC World Service renews rebroadcasting agreement with Geneva's English-language WRS.
Posted: 12 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Voice of Russia will launch web portal to mark 100th anniversay of World War I.
Posted: 12 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Deutsche Welle's new DG appeals to President Rouhani to "end the blockade against dw.de/persian."
Posted: 11 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
New NY Times Chinese website is devoid of hard news, and so far unblocked in China.
Posted: 11 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Wall Street Journal, 10 Oct 2013, Colum Murphy and Andrew Browne: "'Speaking of the new site, Arthur Sulzberger Jr., chairman of New York Times Co. and the newspaper's publisher, said: "It's not focused on politics, or foreign policy or business news … It's lifestyle.' Mr. Sulzberger said the Chinese government had told the Times it should offer broader content to Chinese audiences. "We agreed with that," he said. The Times is hoping the website could pave the way for the unblocking of the publication's English and Chinese news websites. ... Mr. Sulzberger said he has been working in both Beijing and Washington to get its news sites unblocked."
Quartz, 10 Oct 2013, Gwynn Guilford: "It's the kind of stuff ... that attracts big-spending luxury brands targeting China's well-heeled. This is, after all, a country that consumes one-third of the world's luxury goods, as Want China Times reports. ... By forcing the Times to focus on a more consumer-oriented way of reaching Chinese readers, the country's censors may have done the company an unintentional good deed."
Xinhua, 11 Oct 2013: "Media professionals around the globe spoke highly of the 2nd Presidium Meeting of the World Media Summit (WMS), held in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou Thursday, saying it would help boost the development of journalism and strengthen media cooperation. David S. C. Liu, a senior advisor to The New York Times, voiced his hope that the WMS would reach out further still and win global influence. He said more efforts were needed to publicize and promote the WMS Global Prizes for Journalism, adding that the prizes would eventually be among the most influential awards in the world."
China Media Project, 11 Oct 2013, David Bandurski: "[T]he World Media Summit, this ostensible back-slapping affair offering an opportunity for media leaders to talk media strategy, is fundamentally about China projecting its influence over global media agendas. ... I want all of you participants at the World Media Summit right now to pick up your complimentary Xinhua News Agency fountain pens and write this on the back of your hand: 'I am not here because China really wants to talk about the future of global media. I am here because China wants to channel the future of global media.'"
PC Advisor, 9 Oct 2013, Stefan Hammond: "The Chinese authorities can't have it both ways. They can't provide a truncated Internet and expect every type of multinational to sign up for office space in the Shanghai FTZ [free trade zone]. By restricting Net access, they are de facto restricting the types of businesses that will set up shop in the new zone. Technology is changing business at an unprecedented pace. Many businesses will examine their Net shackles and decide to locate elsewhere."
Sweden's first-ever English-language sitcom coming to NBC.
Posted: 10 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Report: "Civil war" within BBC Arabic (updated).
Posted: 10 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Broadcast, 3 Oct 2013, Jake Kanter: "National Union of Journalists general secretary Michelle Stanistreet ... said the problems with BBC Arabic were 'the tip of the iceberg' across the global news division. She claimed the BBC is trying to introduce a similar programme of change at the Afghan service, where there is at least one 'very serious' bullying and harassment case being investigated."
Update: The Telegraph, 9 Oct 2013, Sam Marsden: "Said Shehata, 43, claims that he suffered 'discrimination, victimisation and unfair treatment' from his managers and editors as a result of his religion. He brought his case after missing out on a permanent job as a senior broadcast journalist at BBC Arabic, the oldest and largest of the Corporation's non-English language services, while nine Muslim colleagues were chosen. The successful candidates included an employee who was responsible for a television news bulletin that wrongly announced the death of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez two months before he actually died, the hearing in central London was told."
BBC Worldwide invests in factual content, with "series that connect audiences from London to Tokyo."
Posted: 10 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Seenit.co.uk, 9 Oct 2013: "The BBC has announced that its longstanding co-production deal with the Discovery Channel is to end 'by mutual agreement.' The £150m partnership has produced a number of widely acclaimed shows, including such as Life, Frozen Planet, Blue Planet and Wonders Of The Solar System. However, in June industry magazine Broadcast reported that Discovery wanted to end the deal because it believed the BBC was deriving the larger share of benefit from the deal."
"Connected TV is becoming more international." With obvious implications for international broadcasting.
Posted: 09 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
This has implications for international broadcasting. In the past couple of decades, an attractive 24/7 television service has been necessary to gain access to the finite number of channels on cable and direct-to-home satellite systems around then world. The connected TV phenomenon, also known as OTT for "over the top" of the Internet, means that audiences watch individual programs on demand rather than by appointment on channels.
Many international broadcasting organizations, including almost all of the entities of US international broadcasting, do not have 24/7 channels. It is more within their wherewithal to develop individual programs, which can be distributed through connected TVs. On the other hand, this will introduce more competition in the international broadcasting realm. And connected TV distribution mechanisms have gatekeepers of their own. In fact, because it is distributed via the Internet, programming via connected TVs can be blocked. International broadcasting via satellite is not usually (except by Iran) jammed.
The international broadcasting of food.
Posted: 09 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
World Screen, 9 Oct 2013, Kristin Brzoznowski: "The Asian Food Channel, part of the Scripps Networks Interactive bouquet, has scheduled a new cooking program, Tea Twist, which features the Malaysian chef Nik Michael Imran. The original six-part series will air on the channel in 12 territories. The show was produced in collaboration with Unilever Malaysia. It features the chef creating thirst-quenching recipes using Lipton Tea."
Al Jazeera Plus will launch early 2014. I have no idea what its purpose is but, hey, its "main office will be in San Francisco."
Posted: 09 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
C21Media.net, 9 Oct 2013, Julian Blake: "Ahmad said AJ+ is part of Al Jazeera's mission to 'give voice to voiceless and tell stories that matter – but in a form that the online consumers are used to.'"
It is time to jettison, perhaps to permanent orbit around one of the moons of Saturn, the phrase "voice to the voiceless."
Huge Al Jazeera America billboard is compensating for something: very low ratings.
Posted: 09 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
The Blaze, 8 Oct 2013, Eddie Scarry: "The advertisement appears to scale an entire building near Alta Loma Rd. in West Hollywood. This photo was sent to us by a source and billboards of similar size were posted around New York City."
Focusing on the "core brand," International Herald Tribune nears name change to The International New York Times.
Posted: 09 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
AFP, 24 Sept 2013: Publisher Stephen Dunbar-Johnson "said in a letter to readers that the daily 'will be marking the occasion with special content in the newspaper and online'. 'On October 14, we will publish a 24-page special report looking back at important news stories from our illustrious 125-year history, featuring reprinted archive pages and a multimedia timeline,' he said."
New York Times, 25 Feb 2013, Christine Haughney and Eric Pfanner: "The New York Times Company said on Monday that it was planning to rename The International Herald Tribune, its 125-year-old newspaper based in Paris, and would also unveil a redesigned Web site for international audiences. Starting this fall, under the plan, the paper will be rechristened The International New York Times, reflecting the company's intention to focus on its core New York Times newspaper and to build its international presence. ... Mark Thompson, president and chief executive of The New York Times Company, said in a statement that the company recently explored its prospects with international audiences, and noted there was 'significant potential to grow the number of New York Times subscribers outside of the United States.' He added: 'The digital revolution has turned The New York Times from being a great American newspaper to becoming one of the world's best-known news providers. We want to exploit that opportunity.' ... The renamed paper will remain based in Paris, where it was founded 125 years ago as the European edition of The New York Herald ... . It will also keep its sizable office in Hong Kong where the Asian edition is edited. ... [T]here also would be investments in other locations. ... The announcement is part of the company's larger plan to focus on its core brand and build its international presence, [a] Times spokeswoman said."
Financial Times plans single global print edition which "will derive from the web offering – not vice versa."
Posted: 09 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Financial Times, 9 Oct 2013, Lionel Barber memo to staff: "Our plan is to launch a single edition, global print product in the first half of 2014. The new FT will be redesigned and updated to reflect modern tastes and reading habits. ... In future, our print product will derive from the web offering – not vice versa. The new FT will be produced by a small print-focused team working alongside a larger integrated web/day production team. ... Last year, our online subscriptions surpassed our print circulation for the first time. Today, we have more than 100,000 more digital subscriptions than print sales."
Presumably the digital Chinese-language edition of FT will continue.
BBC director general Tony Hall sets a global audience goal of 500 million by 2022.
Posted: 08 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
BBC Media Center, from transcript of speech given by Tony Hall, BBC Director-General, at the BBC Radio Theatre in London on Tuesday 8 October 2013: "The iPlayer would be the best online TV service in the world – and the front door to many people to the whole BBC. Globally we'd reach more people: half a billion would be coming to our news, culture and information service. We would be recognised the world over for what we do in music, the arts and the world of ideas. We would be Britain's catalyst for creativity, helping the UK's amazing array of arts and science institutions to reach new audiences across the globe."
Reuters, 8 Oct 2013, Belinda Goldsmith: "In his first major speech since becoming director general six months ago, Tony Hall said the BBC had to cut costs by 20 percent by 2017 but also needed to find an additional 100 million pounds a year in savings to invest in the future. He did not give details on where the savings would come from but said he aimed to simplify the management structure by, among other things, cutting back on the number of boards. The BBC has been accused of being overly bureaucratic and top-heavy, wasting the license fees it receives from all British households with a television."
Peter Horrocks, director of BBC Global News, email to staff, 8 Oct 2013: Tony Hall's "speech ... recognises the major role the BBC plays in enhancing Britain's standing and reputation overseas. For eighty years we have led the world as a trusted news provider; and now we will redouble our efforts to maintain this position, rather than ceding it to the new competitors like China and Russia. ... This new figure of 500 million is a stretching target but I am confident we can achieve this goal and firmly help the BBC meet its global ambitions for both this Charter and the next one."
Will the 500 million include the audiences for the international commercial channels and programs distributed by BBC Worldwide? This would make the goal easier to achieve.
Tony Hall makes the obligatory mention of social media, but how "social" can a broadcaster be with an audience of 500 million? Check the number of followers versus those followed by the most popular Twitter account, and it becomes apparent that the mass media use the social media as a mass medium.
US international broadcasting has a budget larger than that of BBC World Service, so in theory, it should set its sights even higher than the half billion projected by the BBC. The BBC, nevertheless, will probably continue to have the larger audience, for these reasons: 1) an unambiguous commitment to independent news, with no attempt to fold in public diplomacy, 2) much less overlap, duplication, division of resources, and internecine conflict among competing entities, and 3) partnership and cooperation between domestic and international units.
Euronews will soon be available on X-Ray Specs. Oh, sorry, on Google Glass.
Posted: 08 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Prime Minister Netanyahu as international broadcaster fell short as public diplomacy.
Posted: 08 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Brookings, 8 Oct 2013, Suzanne Maloney: "I might be tempted to join in the merriment at Netanyahu's expense, but I think there is a serious lesson to be learned in this ruckus about the difficulties of conducting public diplomacy in the context of an adversarial relationship — difficulties that are compounded by the absence of direct contact between states such as Iran, Israel and the United States. Crafting effective messages and communicating them to a country with which we have only the most superficial understanding is an inherently risky business."
Latest in the bring-back-USIA-and-put-USIB-back-under-it occasional series.
Posted: 08 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
The subhead of this article is "Public Diplomacy Is Still Being Undermined by Bill Clinton's Budget Cuts." But make no mistake: Senator Jesse Helms was the prime mover of the elimination of USIA.
USIA worked so closely with, and was so subordinate to, the State Department and its embassies that it was a de facto branch of the State Department. Restoring USIA is not the panacea that will restore popularity to the United States. It would merely restore a bureaucracy and several suites full of senior level plum jobs, many of which would just so happen to be populated by the senior fellows of the think tanks who call for the revival of USIA.
As for US international broadcasting, I've written before that, as a VOA broadcaster, I miss USIA about as much as a Lithuanian misses the Soviet Union. Under USIA, VOA was sometimes pushed toward one editorial line, then pushed towards another editorial line. It was sometimes loosely controlled, and sometimes tightly controlled. Many VOA managers were rotated USIA foreign service officers, some who embraced the journalistic mission of VOA, and some who did the opposite.
Under USIA, VOA was not consistently independent. Without independence, an international broadcasting effort cannot achieve credibility. Without credibility, there will be no audience. The audience for international broadcasting is seeking real news, not public diplomacy.
The lack of an audience does not concern Mr. Schadler. He derides the BBG for being "fixated on 'audience size'." Implied here is that the BBG should be fixated on sending a certain message to the world, regardless of how many people are listening. We see many real-life examples of this communication strategy. They are the people walking the streets, some with shopping carts, engaged in animated conversations, but talking only to themselves.
Obituary: Jack Payton, executive editor of voanews.com.
Posted: 07 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
New documentary on October 1993 crisis helps Voice of Russia "become more multimedia oriented."
Posted: 05 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Radio France International Hausa revamps and opens new office in Lagos.
Posted: 05 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
DW-TV expands from 20 to 24 hours a day in Spanish.
Posted: 05 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
NHK World now available in Africa on Canal+ Afrique satellite package.
Posted: 05 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
CNN International is among Turner Broadcasting channels on Verizon FiOS TV in the USA.
Posted: 05 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
BestMediaInfo, 4 Oct 2013: "CNN International yesterday announced the appointment of Sumnima Udas as the network's Delhi-based correspondent. Working from the country's capital, Udas will be responsible for covering key political, economic, social, environmental and general interest stories from India. ' ... With her new appointment as Delhi correspondent we look forward to strengthening our presence in this diverse and dynamic region,' said Ellana Lee, Vice-President and Managing Editor, CNN International Asia Pacific. Udas joined CNN New York in 2001 as a news assistant and moved with the network to Hong Kong in 2006 as a show producer. She has been CNN's producer in Delhi since 2010. ... She is fluent in English, Hindi, Urdu, Nepali and French and grew up in ten countries including Pakistan, Italy, Switzerland, Jordan, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Myanmar."
Emmys for BBC World News and CNN International coverage of Syria.
Posted: 04 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
BayouBuzz.com, 2 Oct 2013: "Nick Paton Walsh, a Beirut-based correspondent for CNN International, topped five contenders to take home the award for outstanding writing for his reports out of Syria and Afghanistan."
See also all winners of news and documentary Emmys.
Bibi speaks some Persian in BBC Persian interview.
Posted: 04 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Fox News, "On the Record," 3 Oct 2013, Greta van Susteren interviewing Israeli prime minsiter Benjamin Netanyahu: "VAN SUSTEREN: So you just spoke to the Iranian BBC, is that correct? NETANYAHU: The Persian language broadcast of the BBC, yes. VAN SUSTEREN: That's unusual. NETANYAHU: First time. VAN SUSTEREN: Why did you do it? NETANYAHU: Because I wanted to say things to the people of Iran. And I said, Look, you were once a great civilization. We once had a great friendship. You know, Cyrus the Great was a great Persian king who enabled the Jewish exiles on the rivers of Babylon to come back to the Holy Land. That's 25 years ago. He said, Go back to the land of Israel, rebuild the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. That's a bond. We had a great bond through history until the ayatollahs took over. ... That Persian -- that BBC Persian language interview that I just had, they jam it in Iran! So there's no freedom in Iran. There's no democracy."
Reporters sans frontières condemns harassment of Iranian relatives of VOA Reporter.
Posted: 04 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
RFE/RL, 4 Oct 2013: "Journalists with Radio Farda, RFE/RL's Prague-based Persian Language Service, experienced over a dozen incidents of online harassment earlier this year. In addition they, like Sigarchi, were subject to pressure to stop reporting for Radio Farda as a result of intimidation tactics targeting their family members in Iran."
Online anonymity tool Tor is torn among the different goals of different federal agencies, including the BBG.
Posted: 04 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Freedom House report: "worldwide decline in internet freedom in the past year."
Posted: 04 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
In Iran, a softer line on web censorship?
Posted: 04 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
BBC News, 1 Oct 2013: "The Iranian authorities have not yet reconciled themselves with the concept of an unfiltered internet. They use the technology to counter and contain whatever they do not like about it: filtering, painfully slow connections and an ambitious but so far incomplete intranet project. The latter, designed to cut Iran off from the World Wide Web and replace it with a 'national information network', represents the worst nightmare of Iranian web users. ... For now, anti-filters, known as VPNs, are the best friend of Iranian web users. Even though social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter are not legally banned, VPNs are. The only problem with VPNs, as far as Iran's web users are concerned, is that there are not enough of them."
Chinese crackdown on mobile news apps that allow access to foreign news outlets, eg NY Times.
Posted: 04 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Radio Netherlands Worldwide, 1 Oct 2013: "Trying to jump the Great Firewall of China? There's an app for that. At least there was, until Apple took it down. Apple removed OpenDoor, a censorship circumvention tool, from its app store last month with no explanation or notification. To one Chinese Internet expert, it signals that Apple has taken their willingness to self-censor to a 'whole new level'. ... OpenDoor is a browser app that reroutes its user's traffic through its own servers to circumvent any blocks imposed by the user's Internet Service Provider or the Great Firewall (GFW). Judging by its Facebook page, the tool is popular wherever the Internet is restricted: users from Iran to Pakistan sing its praises. A large chunk of its users are Chinese. OpenDoor's lead developer, who wishes to remain anonymous, states that the tool has been downloaded about 800,000 times, and that approximately a third of the downloads stem from China." See also BBC News, 3 Oct 2013.
The Atlantic, 2 Oct 2013, Kentaro Toyama: "China's censorship infrastructure is incredibly efficient: Objectionable posts are removed with a near-perfect elimination rate and typically within 24 hours of their posting."
Alhurra's big scoop: Exclusive video of car chase near US Capitol.
Posted: 03 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
USA Today, 3 Oct 2013, Roger Yu: "Alhurra TV, an obscure U.S. government-funded news organization that broadcasts to the people of the Middle East, took an unexpected turn on the domestic stage Thursday when it captured on video a dramatic car chase near the White House. Few in the U.S. have heard of the news outlet, since its Arabic-language programming is available here only on its website, Alhurra.com."
ABC News, 3 Oct 2013, Alana Abramson: "All the major U.S. networks were in the nation's capital when it went on lockdown today after a suspect attempt to ram barriers at the White House with a car, but only one little-known station managed to get video of the suspect's car chase just moments before it was all over — Alhurra TV, a U.S. government-funded Middle Eastern news station."
See the video at YouTube, 3 Oct 2013, Alhurra channel.
"Domestic news, foreign owners." CCTV and Al Jazeera in the USA.
Posted: 03 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Mid-2014 start date for Bahrain-based pan-Arab news channel Al-Arab.
Posted: 03 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
RT (Russia Today) joins other international channels on "Slovakia's leading cable network."
Posted: 03 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
BBC world services to launch "Unreliable Source." Oh, sorry, "Outside Source."
Posted: 03 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
In the past few years, BBC World Service has introduced guests in the studio during news programs, and happy talk among the presenters, sometimes in incomprehensible accents. All when I know there is news going on around the world that, for some reason, is not being reported. Now there will be "ample opportunity for the audience to comment." This has the potential to be truly dreadful.
I would like BBC World Service to do what it used to do: report the news from around the world. In the 1970s, BBC World Service had half-hour news programs, perhaps a bit stodgy, but always packed full of the important news from around the world. These news programs did not waste my time. Packing broadcast journalism with audience comments and the latest widgets does waste my time.
By the way, "11am" GMT is either 6 or 7 am in the eastern USA, depending on whether it's daylight or regular time. Public radio stations in the United States are not likely to cede time to BBC during those prime morning hours. Americans would have to listen online, although shortwave might be easier.
Top job in French international broadcasting depoliticized, un peu.
Posted: 03 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
MTV Russia will relaunch as a Viacom-owned channel.
Posted: 02 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Should be easy for Doctor Who: 50th anniversary simulcast to at least 75 countries.
Posted: 02 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Peter Limbourg is the new director general of Deutsche Welle
Posted: 02 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Deutsche Welle press release, 29 Sept 2013: "Starting on October 1, Rainer Sollich will be the new head of Deutsche Welle's Arabic online and television programming. Already responsible for the Arabic online content produced in Bonn, Sollich will now also direct DW's Arabic television production in Berlin. Mustafa Isaid, former head of DW's Arabic TV programming, is moving on to take up the position of editor in chief at Sky News Arabia in Abu Dhabi. Sollich, 46 years old, led the merger of the radio and online sections of the Arabic service after 2007. His journalistic expertise covers the Middle East and North Africa, as well as issues concerning Muslims in Germany and Europe and the Euro-Islamic dialogue. He has worked as a journalist in Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Yemen, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Israel and the autonomous Palestinian territories."
VOA Radiogram transmits images of $60m diamond and of Willis Conover, then shuts down during the shutdown.
Posted: 02 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
USIB entities continue to broadcast news during shutdown.
Posted: 02 Oct 2013 Print Send a link
Politico, 2 Oct 2013, Hadas Gold: "In a statement to Foreign Policy, BBG spokesperson Lynne Weil pushed back on critics who say the media activities are not more essential than other offices experiencing furloughs. 'The fact that the Office of Management and Budget signed off on this indicates how high a priority our broadcasting activities are,' Weil said. 'They're deemed foreign relations essential to national security according to a legal determination. The mission of the agency is to inform, engage and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy.'"
Poynter, 1 Oct 2013, Andrew Beaujon: "Reached by phone, Voice of America Director of Public Relations Kyle King said, 'VOA has enough staff on hand to continue with all our programming.' (King said he had been furloughed and planned to be in for only four hours Tuesday.) ... The BBG's operations plan for the shutdown estimates that essential personnel 'represent approximately 59.8% of the BBG workforce or an estimated 964 staff.'"
VOA News, 1 Oct 2013: "The shutdown will not affect Voice of America broadcasts, but it has closed national parks and other services such as federal tax offices, help for veterans, and food aid for the poor."
@VOAStevenson, 1 Oct 2013: "VOA is still open for business, thank you. Tune into Daybreak Asia at 22, 23 and 01 hours UTC!" ow.ly/poMRn #notshutdown
Inside VOA: "The Voice of America Public Relations office is closed due to the partial government shutdown."
Miami New Times, 1 Oct 2013, Kyle Munzenrieder: "[C]ontroversial and ineffective government-sponsored broadcasts to Cuba through Radio and TV Martí will continue with little change. In fact, the stations are ironically producing stories about the government shutdown. Meaning, the federal government is paying to report on the fact that it can't pay for things right now."


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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Gordon can't play 99% of games the next 2 season, win MVP next year and throne will still not be satisfied. It's no use in wasting the time.
"I'm not going to allow my putative owner to answer that question, this is an NBA related press conference. Paul Tagliabue and Roger Goodell have collectively sung their praises of Tom and if uh ESPN has a problem with that tell Mr. Skipper to call me at my office."
Gordon can't play 99% of games the next 2 season, win MVP next year and throne will still not be satisfied. It's no use in wasting the time.
My Anthony Davis website: http://thebrow.uphero.com/
It'd be a good start. But he's gotta cure world hunger and perfect a non-polluting fuel source then.
I know a lot of people are mad at Gordon for being injured, but that doesn't make him "mentally weak." That doesn't even make any sense. If anything, Gordon is a mentally strong player who exudes confidence, swagger, and the willingness to take (and make) shots at the end of the the game.
Gordon and Demps did the smart thing which was to rehab correctly until he is healthy enough to play. It's that simple. They did the right thing, so get over it.
"I don't know if people know I dislocated my pinkie finger. And [Tyreke] told me, 'You wanna go home or you wanna be here?' I want to be here. And he said, 'All right, then go tape it up and let's play. Let's go. We not stoppin' at no stores. Straight gas. That's what we do, just keep going.'"
1st I had that opinion well before Harden was dealt so making that connect couldn't be anymore false. The point is why would a GM play hardball with his franchise player? People are bringing up Wade. Even with his injury history anybody think Riley would let Wade hit the open market just to save what was what about a million and a half per season?
I won't sit here and pretend that I know what offers where on the table for Gordon. However there were teams interested. However I predicted that at last one team would offer Gordon a max deal. It was a weak FA class and players that were in Gordons' talent range had been given max deals in recent years.
Hopefully Gordon can remain healthy and lead this team to respectability. We are most likely stuck with him for better or worse. However I don't ever recall saying Demps was an idiot. He's made a ton of quality deals as our GM. However that doesn't mean I should think every transaction is a good one.
Last edited by da ThRONe; 12-28-2012 at 09:58 AM.
If it were your 6 million you would sing a different tune. Shrewd businessmen do not pay 6 million more simply to avoid drama. That is the line of thinking that will have your cap situation f'd up in a hurry
Last edited by GuardianAngel25; 12-28-2012 at 10:53 AM.
1. Hornets took risk to let him see what he could get on the outside market and had to pay more. They also risked making gordon feeling underappreciated, warnted or not.
2. Phx took a risk when they signed him because they knew the Hornets could match, so in order to create larger odds for them to receive Gordon, they had him make the statement and probably overpaid by a bit.
3. Gordon took risk to alienate Hornets fans if they matched by making the statement , but ended up with 6 million dollars more.
I'm not mad at anyone for this, but DeThone's point is if Dell would have just offered him 500k more per year, which is pretty insignificant in concerns to this deal the hornets could have avoided 3 risk: Overpaying by more than 500k, making Gordon feel somewhate underappreciated and Gordon losing the fans. This is where he has a point. I think DaThone has some more radical views that i don't agree with, but this one he absolutely has a point and is right on this issue. Was all of this melodrama worth 500k a year? Worse yet is it cost them more than the initial 500k. Part of a discussion is being able to be shown facts and understand if you're right or wrong, and if either party is unwilling to budge from your initial assessment, then the discussion is worthless.
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September 24, 2013
Mike Sheffey
As my bio states, I am a Spanish major...and I love it! If you're considering majoring in a foreign language, here are some helpful tips:
So I urge you to consider a major (or even a minor) in another language. You won't regret it: They're easy to double major with and you'll emerge a better person!
Mike Sheffey is a senior at Wofford College double majoring in computer science and Spanish. He loves all things music and photography. Mike works for an on-campus sports broadcasting company as well as the music news blog PropertyOfZack.com. He also works with several friends to promote concerts and shows in Greensboro, NC. He hopes to use this blogging position to inform and assist others who are seeking the right college or those currently enrolled in college by providing advice on college life, both in general and specific to Wofford.
December 30, 2008
Scholarships.com Staff
Recent economic hardships have derailed many families' college plans, prompting some to stop saving and others to start considering less expensive colleges. For students still determined to attend a prestigious university, another option has been gaining traction. According to an article in The Boston Globe, applications from American students are up at many of Canada's top universities, indicating a new surge in an already growing trend.
Since 2001, the number of Americans attending Canadian universities increased by 50 percent, and based on current trends in applications and increased recruiting efforts, growth is expected to continue. Americans choosing to study abroad in Canada are still eligible for federal student financial aid, even if they attend college abroad for all four years. And even international tuition in Canada ($14,487 on average) is cheap right now when compared to private college tuition ($19,337 on average) and even out-of-state tuition at some state colleges in the United States.
Studying in Canada also removes many of the traditional barriers faced by international students. Many Americans studying in Canada can cheaply and easily return home for holidays. Students are instructed in English at the majority of Canadian colleges and universities, signs around town will also be in English, and for the most part, accents are not even very pronounced. Despite their proximity to home, though, students still benefit from being immersed in another culture, and since many of Canada's top schools are situated in urban settings, Canadian universities also present an opportunity to experience life in a big city.
However, the bargain is dependent on exchange rates. When the American and Canadian dollars are approximately equal in value, studying in Canada becomes relatively more expensive, as does living in Canada. Also, while some college scholarships can be applied to tuition at Canadian universities, many stipulate that applicants must be attending college in the United States. While studying abroad in Canada is an option to consider when looking for ways to get the most educational value for your dollar, be sure to weigh all your alternatives. Regardless of where you wind up, though, there are scholarship opportunities and other ways to help pay for school.
March 26, 2009
One much-discussed aspect of the college experience is gaining exposure to new people and perspectives. Another statement that commonly turns up in the college search process is that different schools serve different groups of students--hence the importance of finding a good fit for you. Many of the most recognizable and commonly referenced differences are based at least in part on the race, gender, socioeconomic status, or country of origin of a college's student population. A college's mission and ideological and cultural base also play an important role, and exposure to ideological and religious diversity can also be a major component of the college experience.
One student at Brown University recently turned his experiences with such ideological diversity into a book, entitled "The Unlikely Disciple: a Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University." The author, Kevin Roose, decided to go on a "domestic study abroad" and enroll at Liberty University, a conservative Christian college, for a semester. What emerges is, at least according to early reviews, an interesting and balanced look at Liberty from an outsider's perspective, as well as an honest exploration of the author's reactions to his new environment.
If you're in the process of choosing a college, or you're just curious about how wide-ranging the student experience can be in America, this book sounds like an interesting read. Roose's story is also a reminder for current college students that you don't necessarily need to go to an exotic locale to be exposed to people with a cultural experience markedly different from your own. Though study abroad occasionally can sound like an expensive and protracted sightseeing trip, Roose's "domestic study abroad" is a reminder of the importance of seeing and experiencing a new culture and place and stepping outside one's own ideological bounds.
October 30, 2009
One alternative to the traditional job search has seen a marked increase in applicants over the last year, as recent graduates look for ways to bide their time in a struggling economy that has made the job market even more competitive. According to an article in Inside Higher Education today, the Institute for International Education (IIE), which awards fellowships through the Fulbright Program, received more than 8,500 applications for student Fulbrights for 2010-11. That's an increase of more than 1,000 applications since last year.
The Fulbright Program looks to strengthen relations between Americans and other countries, and gets its funding from an annual appropriation from Congress. There are about 1,500 of the student awards to go around, and those awarded the State Department-sponsored fellowships are able to study, conduct research or teach English in 140 countries. Grants are awarded in all fields and disciplines. While the IIE has been working harder to get the word out on the program, many college administrators think marketing tactics alone wouldn't explain such a significant jump in applicants, especially because the application process for the awards is fairly involved. "Some are putting applying for fellowships into the mix in a way they might not have if the job market were stronger," said Michael Pippenger, Columbia University's associate dean of fellowship programs, in Inside Higher Ed.
The Fulbright Program isn't the only alternative to employment that's seen an increase in applicants. Teach for America also saw applications rise about 42 percent last year, a record for the program that trains students to teach in low-income communities, and those numbers are only expected to increase this year. The group does say they increased their recruiting efforts, but the current state of the economy may have something to do with more graduates postponing the traditional job search.
Programs that emphasize cultural experiences, volunteerism, or service can also be good resume builders for when the job market picks up and you're ready to venture back out into to search for that perfect position. If you're able to, consider your options, whether you're looking at programs while you're still in school or for post-graduation. And don't forget that there's plenty of funding and free scholarship money out there for you to pursue such opportunities.
November 9, 2009
If you're inspired to consider a study abroad program after seeing all the news on the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall today, chances are you're twice as likely to follow through on the idea if you're female than if you're male. A recent study conducted by three University of Iowa researchers suggests that women, especially women at liberal arts colleges, are more likely to study abroad because of factors like their academic pursuits and backgrounds.
Explaining the difference exactly seemed difficult for the researchers, as they tried to dispel common wisdom that more women studied abroad because more women than men were interested in fields of study like the arts and foreign languages that more easily lent themselves to overseas programs. The research suggests it's more complicated than that. An article in The Chronicle of Higher Education that examines the study suggests that the women interested in foreign study were also more easily influenced by liberal arts programs, especially those exploring diversity issues, than men, and that women were also more influenced by outside sources such as professors and their parents when determining whether to study abroad.The study's results also found that:
So should you study abroad? Apart from the obvious of being able to get out of your comfort zone and learn more about a new country, the experience is a good way to pick up skills you may not have picked up otherwise. If you're somewhat proficient in a foreign language already, consider visiting a country where that language dominates so that you're able to come back home and boast that you're bilingual. Studying abroad could also be a good resume booster in a difficult economy if you go overseas with the intention to pursue a particular field of study that you're interested in, or be a part of a volunteer project, as community service looks good not only to employers, but to scholarship providers as well.
And if you're worried about how you're going to pay for your time abroad, or whether you'll need to take out more student loans to do so, there are study abroad scholarships available to help you cover those expenses, especially if you've shown that you have significant financial need.
November 17, 2009
More study abroad participants outside the kinds of majors that typically spend time overseas are going to places like Asia, Africa and Latin America, according to recent data from the Institute of International Education, with less growth in European countries that have traditionally been considered study abroad staples.
While Britain is still the most popular study abroad destination, the number of program participants there grew by only 2 percent over the last year, compared to 19 percent in China, nearly 20 percent in India, and 18 percent to countries in Africa, such as Ghana. An article in The Chronicle of Higher Education this week describes possible reasons for the trend. College students could be looking toward the future and are intrigued by technological advances in countries like India, as many of the new study abroad participants come from majors outside the usual liberal arts programs. (The number of math and science majors studying abroad increased by about 17 percent.) And signing up for a program in a developing country will cost a lot less than spending a semester in Western Europe.
Last year was a record year for study abroad programs, with more than 260,000 American students participating in programs across the world, an increase of about 8.5 percent over the year before. Why the increase? Looking at the kinds of programs that have seen increases could lead to some explanation. Study abroad programs in the health sciences increased by about 19 percent. At home, more undergraduates are interested in focusing on public health issues, which lends itself easily to study abroad programs. And economic problems in the United States have affected the global economies, making it less expensive to travel to many destinations.
The number of foreign students coming to study in the United States has also increased by about 8 percent over the last year, according to the Institute. The number of first-time international students rose even more, by about 16 percent. The increases were most apparent among undergraduate students, which is somewhat surprising as international students have traditionally come to study here for graduate programs.
If you're interested in studying abroad, don't assume you'll need to pay for a program out of pocket or increase your student loan debt. There are study abroad scholarships available to help you cover those expenses, especially if you've shown that you have significant financial need.
November 19, 2009
Yesterday, in a joint statement with the leader of China, President Obama announced plans to strengthen the United States' relationship with China through several efforts, including expanding study abroad programs in each country. China currently sends more students than any other country to American colleges and universities, and the President promised yesterday to make an even greater effort to facilitate the enrollment of Chinese students in U.S. schools. Meanwhile, Obama has pledged to greatly expand study abroad in China for American students, from 20,000 currently enrolled, to 100,000, matching the number of Chinese students currently studying here.
Many colleges and universities are trying to boost interest in study abroad, especially among student groups that are significantly less likely to participate. The current administration's emphasis on studying in China could interest more students in exploring the possibilities for studying in other countries, as well as their awareness of the study abroad scholarships and other financial aid that can help.
And for many students attending state colleges in the United States, attending college in another country might be starting to sound good, at least compared to the situation at home. Democrats and Republicans in Congress continue to debate over just what will happen with federal student loans next year, while state budget cuts are continuing to drive up college costs and reduce aid. The most dramatic examples of state cuts are taking place in California and Michigan, the states hardest hit by the recession.
Students in the University of California system found out that their tuition and fees are likely to increase by 32 percent next year, at the same time colleges are forced to scale back enrollment and financial aid due to a significant drop in state funding. The University of California's Board of Regents approved a fee increase that would raise costs by at least $2,500 by next fall, with students in some graduate and professional programs seeing even sharper fee increases.
Meanwhile, Michigan students are receiving bills from their colleges to the tune of thousands of dollars for the current semester, just as spring registration is under way. The state's Promise Scholarship, modeled after the much-lauded Kalamazoo Promise, was canceled this year due to lack of available funding. Students and schools had already budgeted for receiving the money this fall, and now that it's not available, colleges are billing students who lost their scholarships for the amount of their tuition the scholarship would have covered. Typically, unpaid bills prevent students from registering and graduating, though schools have said they'd do their best to accommodate students, provided the money will be paid.
November 23, 2009
The latest group of Rhodes Scholars was announced by The Rhodes Trust yesterday, with 32 Americans chosen to receive two to four years of study at the University of Oxford in England, all expenses paid. The Rhodes scholarships were created in 1902 through the will of Cecil Rhodes, who hoped to broaden leaders' minds by exposing them to different cultures, and the first group of Americans entered Oxford in 1904. It is now the oldest international fellowship offered, and the number of applicants who apply make it one of the most competitive academic and merit-based scholarships out there. This year, more than 1,500 students sought their college or university's endorsement into the program, and 805 received those endorsements, just the first step in the application process. The winners will enter Oxford next October. So how do you apply for the prestigious award?
A group of international students is also chosen annually, with 80 scholars joining the Americans this year. If you're interested in an international experience but aren't interested studying at Oxford, there are hundreds of study abroad opportunities available in nearly every discipline, and nearly every country. Broaden your horizons, and know there are also study abroad scholarships out there to help you fund your time abroad.
July 20, 2010
Derrius Quarles
If only money grew on trees. This is a feeling that can be popular among college students. As I write this entry from Accra, Ghana, I have the aforementioned feeling, but I also realize how salient and life-changing traveling outside one's country truly is. It is an experience everyone should be able to have at least once during their life. However, anyone who has ever done a study or volunteer abroad program during their undergraduate career will tell you how strenuous and tedious the entire process can be. Obtaining your Visa, getting the required immunizations and medication, and most of all, securing the money for the program tuition and fees. No matter where in the world you may be traveling, these fees can quickly add up and, on average, you will have to pay out at least $2,000 to participate in a volunteer abroad program, $5,000 for a summer study abroad program, and $10,000 for a semester abroad program. I think I speak for most college students when I say that college is expensive enough as it is, and $2,000-$10,000 is a substantial cost—a sum that cannot be casually given away. So, how can you get over the fact that money can't be found on tree limbs in order to go about funding such potentially life-changing international experiences? Well, the first thing you need to do is have an understanding of your options.
Just as there are a variety of undergraduate international programs, there are a variety of ways to fund such experiences. Depending on the description of the program you are doing including: length and time of stay, location, if you are taking courses, if you are performing research, etc your financial-aid options will change. In order to better help you visualize your options I will use a list to break international programs up into three types: Semester Programs, Summer Programs, and Volunteer Programs.
* Denotes aid that can be used for any program type
Semester programs have the largest amount of funding options. What makes them the most ideal type of program is the fact that you will be taking classes abroad at the same time you would be taking them at your home institution, which allows almost all of the financial aid that you have received from the government and from your school to be transferred over to the school located abroad. If you have been accepted into this type of program, you should contact your school's financial aid office in order to start the process to transfer both your governmental aid and institutional aid, including your Pell Grant and merit- or need-based scholarships and grants. Another fairly simple way to receive funds is to meet with the chair of your major's department and the director of international affairs to give them a description of the program you have been accepted to and to make your case as to why you should receive funding.
Summer programs have fewer options than semester programs, but they are less expensive. You will not be able to use any governmental or institutional aid that has been designated for the academic year; however, this does not mean you cannot receive funds from your school. Like semester programs, you can schedule meetings with your major's department chair and director of international affairs in attempts to receive funds. In addition to this, you can utilize the aid listed below in the *Aid that Can be Used for Any Program section.
Volunteer programs have the least amount of options for funding, but fortunately, they are also the cheapest type of international program. Options that can be utilized for these types of programs are listed below in the *Aid that Can be Used for Any Program section.
Most international programs are handled by some type of company that specializes in sending students abroad and providing needed services abroad such as insurance, transportation, housing, etc. These companies almost always have opportunities to apply for scholarships and grants. These opportunities will be very scarce so you must apply for them very early. In addition to these opportunities from the specific study abroad company, you can use outside scholarships you have received to fund your program. For instance, if you have received a scholarship from an organization in your hometown, you can ask the organization to allow you to use your funds for an international experience. Also, there are scholarships and fellowships that are specifically for students who want to study abroad, such as the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. Lastly, fund-raising can be the difference between having just enough to complete your international program and staying at home. You can raise funds by drafting a letter that describes your program and why it is important for you to go. This letter can be given to family members, professors, churches, businesses, etc., and should illustrate that you are passionate about going abroad. It should move people enough to give you a small or generous donation. Fund-raising can also be done via social networking sites.
Now that you are aware of your options, it's time to get your international experience funded. Even if you will not be going abroad in the near future it is best to plan early so that you will be able to take advantage of all your options. Though there may not be any money on the trees outside your dorm, you can still find money to see the world.
As if you needed more reason to study abroad, a recent study looking at 10 years worth of data shows that students who take educational experiences overseas have higher graduation rates once they're back on their campuses. Not surprisingly, the study also found that those students also have a greater appreciate of cultures outside of their own once they're back from their time abroad, and see the world in the a broader context.
The project comes from the Georgia Learning Outcomes of Students Studying Abroad Research Initiative, or GLOSSARI. It looked at data from 35 institutions of higher education and more than 19,000 students across Georgia since 2000. Study abroad students were compared to a "control group" of nearly 18,000 students who matched those students studying abroad when it came to variables like socioeconomic status and where they were in their college careers, among other characteristics. Among the findings:
This doesn't mean your grades will automatically improve once you study abroad, or that you'll get back on track to graduate on time if you head overseas for a while. But it may mean that even those students at risk of dropping out of college may benefit from study abroad.
Study abroad isn't always painted in a positive light. Some critics say it's a distraction from academics, and more of a vacation for college students than a learning experience. Sure, living in a foreign country for a semester or even just a summer probably has perks that have nothing to do with your job as a student. But there is value in the experience. You'll be forced to become more independent and hone new skills, have the opportunity to learn a new language, and even give your resume a boost. Have you studied abroad? What would you say to college students considering going abroad?
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Brown Angels: An Album of Pictures and Verse
Brown Angels: An Album of Pictures and Verse (Paperback)
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Join acclaimed author Walter Dean Myers in a heartwarming celebration of African-American childhood in words and pictures. Sharing favorites from his collection of long-forgotten turn-of-the-century photographs, and punctuating them with his own moving poetry, Mr. Myers has created a beautiful album that reminds us that "the child in each of us is our most precious part."
About the Author
Walter Dean Myers is the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, New York Times bestselling author of Monster, and winner of the first Michael L. Printz Award. The critically acclaimed author of Kick, Lockdown, Dope Sick, Game, Street Love, The Autobiography of My Dead Brother, Handbook for Boys, and Bad Boy, he is considered one of the preeminent writers for children. Walter's novel shooter is the inspiration for the film Case 219.
His latest picture-book collaboration with his son, Christopher Myers, We Are America: A Tribute from the Heart, is a love letter to the United States that reimagines what it means to be an American. Visit www.who-is-america.com to find out more!
Walter lives in Jersey City, New Jersey, with his family.
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2013 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
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The 28th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony honors: Rush, Albert King, Heart, Randy Newman, Public Enemy, Donna Summer, Lou Adler, and Quincy Jones. Special guests include Oprah Winfrey, John Mayer, Gary Clark Jr., Booker T. Jones, Don Henley, Kelly Rowland, Jennifer Hudson, Tom Petty,ĀDave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Usher, Tom Morello, Pearl Jams Mike McCready, Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains, Spike Lee, Harry Belafonte, Carole King, Chris Cornell,ĀJackson Browne, John Fogerty, and comedy legends Cheech & Chong,
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Mr Bongo Films
In 2004 we moved into 'world cinema', a venture that has grown to compliment the music that we love.
In keeping with the record label philosophy, we carefully select and source films from around the world and our catalogue now includes works by esteemed directors including Scorsese, Coppola, Has, Bertolucci, Rocha and Dovzhenko amongst others. We aim to unearth iconic, stylish, hard-to-find gems and cult classics and make them readily available to cinema lovers.
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Alert: The following services will be unavailable on Saturday, January 5, 2013 from 12 a.m. (midnight) to 6 a.m. CST due to system maintenance.
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You will need to provide DMV with proof of identity and proof of name change. You may also need to provide proof of name and date of birth, proof of residency and proof of legal presence.
A duplicate driver license will be issued to you for $14. A duplicate ID card costs $16.
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A replacement driver license will be issued to you. The fee is $14.
Certificate of title
Changing your name on your Wisconsin driver license or Wisconsin ID card changes your name with DMV. It is not mandatory that you obtain a corrected title, confirmation of ownership* or registration documents with your new name. When DMV issues a subsequent title, confirmation of ownership or registration to you, it will reflect the new name. You will need to mail in or bring in your current title or confirmation of ownership when requesting a name change.
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If you have a lien on your vehicle, check Lien look up and contact the lien holder to obtain the title, if the date processed is on or after July 30, 2012.
After changing your name on your Wisconsin driver license or ID card, you may, however, request a title, confirmation of ownership, or registration document with the new name. The fee is $5 per vehicle at the DMV service center, or no charge by mail, if only the customer name has changed.
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