ASIA

Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) and Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) International hosted the 2024 edition of the Pacific Media Partnership Conference (PMPC) in the Brisbane on April 29 and 30.The PMPC is an opportunity to harness the collective wisdom and experience of the region’s most experienced broadcasters and the resources of the world’s biggest broadcasting union to map a path forward.  Attendees worked together on a host of practical issues with workshops, masterclasses, expert guests and working groups, plus formal and informal networking.On the agenda were discussions on story sovereignty, journalism in an age of social media, emergency broadcasting, and what the region needs in its next generation of media leaders.Delegates issued the following communique at the end of the conference:In the lead up to World Press Freedom Day on May 3, this meeting of Pacific broadcasters in Brisbane calls on governments and organisations across the Pacific to acknowledge the important work done by journalists and to commit to helping their local newsrooms provide timely and accurate information. Accurate and factual information empowers audiences and informs decision making. It enhances community understanding and development. World Press Freedom Day is an opportunity to reflect on the important role of media freedom in supporting the public good with facts. This year, UNESCO has dedicated World Press Freedom Day to highlighting the importance of journalism and freedom of expression in the context of the current global environmental crisis. It notes misinformation and disinformation about environmental issues can undermine public and political support for climate action, effective policies and efforts to protect vulnerable communities. Withholding information is as threatening to democracy and good governance as misinformation. This meeting of Pacific broadcasters appeals to all those in positions of power and authority, who lead governments, institutions, businesses and community organisations – to actively support journalists in their work so that the media can fulfil its role in supporting the development and protection of our communities. This meeting of Pacific broadcasters also calls for support in addressing the following priority areas as part of a shared Pacific vision: Sustainable financial models for national broadcasters
The urgent digitalisation of media archives documenting cultural heritage.
Investment in training and development and support for the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation’s initiative to establish a regional Multimedia Training Hub at its Suva headquarters.
The importance of strengthening and coordinating emergency broadcasting to ensure support in the event of a major disaster.
 The broadcasters noted the value of continuing to gather annually at the ABU’s Pacific Media Partners Conference (PMPC) and commended the ABU for their ongoing commitment to Pacific members. The broadcasters look forward to the PMPC in 2025, to be hosted by FBC in Fiji and the ABC’s commitment to continue to support this valuable annual event. The conference makes a substantial contribution to information sharing, professional development, coordination, collaboration and solidarity amongst Pacific media in these uncertain and challenging times. […]

MBC LOUD FM, Saudi’s Arabia’s first English commercial radio station, announced its new season line-up of  weekday programming.The Byron Cooke Show with Sana KWeekdays from 6 to 10amFeaturing high-energy entertainment and vibes, this brand-new breakfast show that’s “Made for Saudi” promises to get listeners ready for the day ahead with the latest news, sports updates, traffic reports, and the juiciest showbiz gossip during “Sana Spills”. It is also home to the biggest cash contest in Saudi with the “MBC Loud 10K Pop Quiz” every weekday at 7.10am.On Air with Ryan SeacrestWeekdays from 10am to 1pm and 7 to 10pmA twice-daily ticket to all things pop culture brings listeners closer to the biggest Hollywood stars, gossip, and live performances from chart-topping artists including Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodriguez, and Dua Lipa.Non-Stop Hits with HarryWeekdays from 1 to 4pmThe live and local show features Andrew ‘Harry’ Harrison whose dynamic presence and knack for spinning the biggest hits keeps listeners entertained. Stay updated with the latest news, sports, traffic, tech trends, and E! News on “The Feed”.“The Drive” with Jay R and DanahWeekdays from 4 to 6pmFeaturing segments such as “Would you Rather Wednesday”, “Danah’s Diary”, and “Jay R’s P.O.V.”, this interactive, Live and Local show guarantees an entertaining commute while keeping listeners in the loop with the latest traffic updates, news and sports stories.The BenchwarmersWeeknights from 6 to 7pmSport enthusiasts have their prime time sorted with “The Benchwarmers”, featuring Jay R and Alex as they dive into the biggest sports stories, with special insights on the Saudi Pro League, boxing, the English Premier League, NBA, F1, and much more. […]

Pajhwok Afghan News agency celebrated its 20th anniversary last week at its headquarters in Kabul.Pajhwok was founded in 2003 and is Afghanistan’s largest independent news agency with eight regional bureaus and a wide network of reporters all over the countryIn addition to 24-hour general news reporting, it also publishes special investigative reports about important topics relating to Afghanistan, including political corruptionPajhwok founder and editor-in-chief Danish Karokhel thanked Pajhwok followers and readers for supporting the agency, saying this support enabled the organization to complete its 20-year journey successfully.“We once again renew our promise with the people that we will present the real picture of the events and our country and convey the voice of our suffering people to the authorities and the world with full trust.”Abdul Qadir Munsef, responsible for managing the agency, told a ceremony marking 20th anniversary of the outlet that Pajhwok completed its 20-year journey with full professionalism. He said during this period Pajhwok remained committed to religious and cultural values, national interests and journalistic principles.He asked Pajhwok employees to further strengthen their resolve in this way, consider the mentioned values and principles and convey the facts to the people and the voice of the people to the government and officials with full accuracy, impartiality and trustworthiness.Independent Journalists’ Union head Hujjatullah Mujaddadi said Pajhwok carried out its activities in the past 20 years with impartiality and observing all principles of journalism.He said despite ups and downs during this period, Pajhwok’s leadership and workers refused to bow down to pressure from any side and continued their work in a professional manner.Committee for Protection of Journalists head Abdul Qadim Ghaus said Pajhwok indeed was the first and only private news agency that started its work in a standard and professional manner and covered news to its readers from different regions of the country.“In the history of Afghanistan’s media, Pajhwok emerged the only private news agency that worked on what the people needed and what the society of Afghanistan needed and continues its professional work until today.”Hundreds of Pajhwok followers and readers also commented through posts published on its 20th anniversary and praised the agency.Mohammad Nasim Shakir wrote: “Pajhwok is one of the best standard and professional news agencies in Afghanistan… the only neutral media for raising the voice of Afghans.”He said journalists who gave priority to the voice of the people and exposed the powerful and usurpers and officials for the sake of national interests. The agency reported inhuman actions.”Hamtullah Mohmand wrote: “Congratulations. Pajhwok is a reliable address in Afghanistan, which works mostly in the research field.”Sarwar Khairy wrote: “I congratulate the Pajhwok family on their 20th anniversary. Pajhwok brought about a revolution in the media of Afghanistan 20 years ago and it was able to report with full impartiality and journalistic principles. I wish more success to Pajhwok.” […]

According to a Media Prima Audio (MPA), its stations had a total weekly listenership of 5.6 million unique individuals, an increase of over 100,000 listeners compared to last year in the latest listenership results from the Nielsen Consumer & Media View (CMV) survey.The survey covered the period from January to December 2023 and evaluated ‘Last Week Listening’ among individuals aged 15 and above across Peninsular Malaysia.Hot FM remained the country’s leading radio station for the third consecutive year, with nearly four million weekly listeners.Fly FM maintained its position as the second most popular English-language station in Malaysia, with 2.15 million weekly listeners.Kool 101, another Malay-language station, has experienced remarkable growth. Since rebranding, it has attracted 234,000 listeners in just six months by capitalising on current and trending social stories.Eight FM, the Chinese-language station under MPA, continues to attract 506,000 weekly listeners.Nazri Noran, CEO of Media Prima Audio, said: “We are dedicated to excellence in creating content for multiple platforms. As we embrace the digital era, our focus is on crafting exceptionally engaging content that resonates with fans across all our brands, reaching them wherever they engage with us.” […]

According to reports by Committee To Protect Journalists (CPJ)  and Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC), three radio journalists were arrested by the provincial directorate of the Taliban-controlled Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Afghanistan on April 21.The journalists – Ismail Saadat of Naz FM Radio, Wahidullah Masum of Iqra FM Radio, and Ehsanullah Tasal of Wolas Ghag, were detained after being summoned and questioned about broadcasting music and talking to female callers during the holiday of Eid al-Fitr earlier this month.On April 23, the department of virtue and vice in Khost province confirmed this through a message in the joint group of this department and journalists on WhatsApp: “Media were advised multiple times not to include background music in programs or to make phone calls in entertainment programs with women as it is forbidden. Those who violated this order were sentenced to prison by the department and will be charged for not implementing the laws of the Islamic Emirate (Taliban) and will be introduced to the court in the future.”The Taliban outlawed playing and listening to music when they retook control of Afghanistan in August 2021.Last month, the Taliban police chief in Khost Province banned women and girls from phoning broadcasters, the AFJC said, adding that female listeners sometimes called in to ask questions on educational programs.Afghanistan is the only country in the world where girls are banned from high school.“The detention of Afghan journalists Ismail Saadat, Wahidullah Masum, and Ehsanullah Tasal is only the latest example of the Taliban’s ruthless suppression of the press since the group returned to power in 2021,” said Carlos Martinez de la Serna, CPJ’s program director, in New York “The Taliban must immediately and unconditionally release all detained journalists and allow the media to operate without restrictive measures like bans on women callers.”  AFJC demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the journalists and called for the cancellation of directives that severely restrict media freedom in the country.Photo: AFJC […]

Content from BPRMuch has been written about how radio has reinvented itself over the years, most notably how it transformed because of the introduction of television, with radio moving from a medium people primarily consumed in the evening to a medium mainly consumed during the morning and workday.Radio’s enduring attribute has been its ability to wrap around the lives of people, listening being something that does not prevent a person from doing other things unlike reading or watching. No other form of media has moulded itself to the way people live, like radio has.For decades radio has been principally “socialised” as a source of information and entertainment at the beginning and end of the working day. This is where radio has performed best and been most securely anchored to the daily routine of adults.The last few years has however created a “decoupling” of the way radio is socialised. First, there are more audio and entertainment choices diluting usage, second, the way people work and think about work and life has changed for many. This has created a much more complex matrix of listening behaviour and motivation. It would be fair to say that during the last four years all the listening balls were thrown into the air, and we are now starting to see where they are landing.All the evidence points to a resocialisation of radio amongst many adult listeners which presents both challenges and opportunities. Some key issues include:
More people using more radio stations for shorter periods.
Many people, no longer starting their day with radio.
More people using radio on weekends.
Fewer people listening to radio every day.
More people starting their radio listening day after 9am.
The most telling finding however is that relative to all the other listening choices adult listeners have radio is increasingly distinguished by its combination of music, personality, information, and localism. Importantly, most adults prefer this listening “mix” as a backdrop to their daily lives and get annoyed when their favourite radio station does something to screw it up and they have to find satisfaction in something else. The majority of adults who move from radio to other audio are “pushed”.  The good news is that they become equally disenchanted with other audio after a while and return to radio.What defines “localism” however has changed. It is not just local news, name-dropping suburbs, and community service announcements. It is now much more about conveying a sense of shared experience with the listener.Understanding the resocialisation of radio in your market and why people behave the way they do is more than critical, it defines your future.By Wayne Clouten, BPR […]