ASIA

The Taliban have banned girls from making phone calls to radio stations and television channels in Southeast Khost Province.According to AFJC, an official letter dated Saturday, February 24, signed by Abdul Rasheed Omari, the Taliban police chief in Khost province states: “Some private radio stations in Khost are promoting moral corruption, such as broadcasting school lessons or social programs involving many girls.” “Girls are engaging in illegal phone calls with the presenters of these programs during official and unofficial hours, leading to moral corruption in society and violating Islamic values.”The letter concludes with a warning to media officials that they will face summoning and prosecution if they allow girls to participate in phone calls to media outlets.Currently, there are 15 radios and three private TVs operating in Khost province, in addition to state radio and television stations.In another similar directive, Taliban authorities have also warned of barring female journalists and women at large from media platforms unless they comply with a dress code requiring that only their eyes be visible.AFJC said the warning was issued by Mohammad Khaled Hanafi, head of the Taliban’s Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Ministry, in a meeting with journalists in Kabul.The AFJC said in its statement that local media professionals in the country have dealt with stringent work conditions requiring them to strictly follow a set of media guidelines the Taliban introduced after reclaiming power in 2021.The Taliban have also prohibited teenage girls from receiving an education beyond the sixth grade, female aid workers are banned from working for nongovernmental humanitarian groups, including the United Nations, except in the health sector, and females are not allowed to visit public parks, gyms, and bathhouses.Due to the ban on schools for girls above the sixth grade, educational programs through media outlets have increased in across the country.AFJC has expressed serious concern over the impact of this ban on the freedom of the press and demands its immediate cancellation.Under the Afghanistan Media Law enacted by the previous government, which the Taliban government has recognized as still valid, individuals are guaranteed the right to freedom of expression, including the dissemination of information without government interference. However, there have been instances of Taliban officials intimidating and meddling in media operations.The Taliban have rejected criticism of their governance, saying it is aligned with the Islamic law of Sharia and Afghan culture. […]

According to an update by the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC), the Taliban has allowed Radio Nasim to resume broadcasting in Daikundi province after a five-month suspension.It had remained shut since September 27, 2023, when members of the Daikundi Intelligence Department raided the station’s office, confiscating equipment and detaining its head, Sultan Ali Jawadi, and two journalists. Although the journalists were released later that day, the head of the radio station faced charges and was sentenced to one year imprisonment for “propaganda against the Taliban” and “spying for foreign and infidel countries.”Najiba Wahedi, the lawyer representing the owner of Nasim Radio, confirmed that the radio station resumed broadcasting overseen by a committee comprised of local authorities, including the head of information and culture, a representative from the provincial government, and an intelligence representative, oversaw the reopening.Wahedi stated: “We were required to nominate a new chief editor. Following the official introduction of the new editor and a commitment to abide by the Taliban’s media guidelines, the radio was granted permission to restart its operations.” Mustafa Saleh, the head of information and culture in Daikundi, has confirmed that the radio station’s door was unsealed and operations have resumed following directives from the Ministry of Information and Culture.The new chief editor has verbally agreed to comply with Sharia law and the Taliban’s media policy and will sign a formal agreement to this effect.AFJC has urged the Taliban to immediately and unconditionally release the imprisoned head of the station.Photo: AFJC […]

The Russian Ministry of Justice has added Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) to its register of “undesirable” organizations, according to the Russian Ministry of Justice register, media reports, and a statement by RFE/RL.This is an escalation from its previous designation as a so-called “foreign agent,” and the designation bans it from operating in Russia. Anyone working for the organization now faces up to six years in prison and administrative fines. It also makes it a crime to distribute the outlet’s content.Since 2021, Russian authorities have labeled more than a dozen media organizations “undesirable.”The Russian Ministry of Justice added RFE/RL to its register of so-called “foreign agents” in 2017, making it the first media organization to be labeled as such, along with Voice of America.Authorities froze the bank accounts of the Russian branch of RFE/RL in May 2021 and a court declared it bankrupt in March 2023, following the broadcaster’s refusal to pay fines issued for noncompliance with the country’s foreign agent law.RFE/RL President Stephen Capus said the designation is the latest example of how the Russian government views truthful reporting as an existential threat.“Millions of Russians have relied on us for decades — including record-breaking audiences over the past few days since the death of Aleksei Navalny — and this attempt to stifle us will only make RFE/RL work harder to bring free and independent journalism to the Russian people,” Capus said in a statement.“Russian authorities’ drive to persecute Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty runs deep, but so does the outlet’s commitment to delivering unbiased information to the Russian people,” said Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator. “Russian authorities should immediately repeal their legislation on ‘undesirable’ organizations and stop banning any reporting that contradicts the government’s narrative.” […]

GMA Network’s AM radio station Super Radyo DZBB 594 kHz has launched a new lineup of news programs on “DZBB Primetime,” from 5 am to 10 am.Listeners can tune in to the early morning news program, Buena Manong Balita at 5 am. It Is hosted by Orly Trinidad and features daily news that plus on-the-ground reporting by a team of Super Radyo DZBB reporters.At 6 am, Melo del Prado Sa Super Radyo presented by Melo del Prado delivers the top stories of the day along with razor-sharp commentaries.Listeners don’t have to worry about missing the headlines, thanks to the multi-awarded Super Balita Sa Umaga, Nationwide at 7 am is presented by Melo del Prado and Joel Reyes Zobel.At 8 am Saksi sa Dobol B features news, discussions, interviews, and commentaries from anchors Joel Reyes Zobel and Rowena Salvacion.Completing the new DZBB Primetime is One on One: Walang Personalan at 9 am. Anchored by seasoned hosts Arnold Clavio and Connie Sison, the program is known for its casual and candid yet uncompromising news presentation.“The new DZBB Primetime line-up strengthens our commitment to keep our Kapuso listeners informed. With news always fast-developing, we have the responsibility to keep the information up to date,” says GMA First Vice President for Radio Operations Glenn F. Allona. “Our radio anchors’ commentaries provide facts and additional context for listeners. As a result, they don’t just hear or listen; they also understand.” […]

Content from BPRThere have never been so many ways for us to communicate with each other than in 2023.Mobile, email, text, What’s App, Zoom, Teams, Instagram, Facebook, Linked In…oh, and face to face.In the business of radio, we communicate internally with other team members and externally with our listeners and clients.But despite the technological revolution in communication platforms, are we in radio any better at actually communicating our message than we were ten years ago?I still hear poorly worded, confusing promos on air.I still hear positioning statements that conflict with the actual on-air content.I still get reports of executive emails that recipients didn’t quite understand.I still hear some Talk hosts giving their opinion in a rambling, convoluted way that doesn’t make sense.I still hear talk breaks on music stations that have so many “thoughts” in the one break that they all go missing in action to the listener.Successful communication of a message is not as easy as it seems. On one hand, there’s the ability of the person sending the message to do so in clear, concise terms and on the other, there’s the ability of the person receiving the message to comprehend what is being conveyed.Here are some common factors that contribute to poor communication:1. Lack of Skill or Education. Some people may not have been taught effective communication skills or may not have had the opportunity to develop them. This can be due to a lack of formal education or training in communication. It can also be a result of the family environment growing up.2. Lack of Confidence. Low self-confidence can hinder a person’s ability to communicate effectively. When we are unsure of ourselves, we often struggle to express our thoughts and ideas clearly, especially verbally but also in written form.3. Emotional Barriers. Emotions, such as anxiety, anger or fear, can interfere with effective verbal communication.4. Inadequate Listening Skills. Effective communication involves not only speaking but also listening. Poor listeners may interrupt, not pay attention, or fail to understand the perspectives of others, leading to misunderstandings. As programmers and broadcasters, it’s important for us to listen to the audience, so we understand what they like (and don’t like) and the way they like content to be presented. One of the key attributes of being a great interviewer is being a great listener (Sir Michael Parkinson).5. Cognitive Differences. Differences in cognitive abilities, such as processing information, can affect a person’s ability to communicate. Some people may struggle with organising their thoughts either in conversations or in written form. Cognitive bias also plays a part in poor communication skills.6. Lack of Empathy. Empathy is crucial for effective communication. People who lack the ability to understand and relate to others’ feelings and perspectives often have difficulty communicating effectively with others.7. Lack of Practice. Effective communication is a skill that requires practice and refinement. Those who do not engage in regular communication or social interactions may struggle to develop their communication skills. This applies to both verbal and written communication.8. Communication Technology. Overreliance on short form digital communication, such as texting and social media, can lead to miscommunication and misunderstandings.There are some simple ways to improve communication skills.
Listen….and listen again
Always factor in the people with whom you are communicating
In face-to-face situations, body language matters
Check that email before you hit send. And check it again.
Be concise. Be specific. Spell the message out in unequivocal terms.
Sometimes it’s better to pick up the phone.
Think before you speak. Don’t say the first thing that comes to mind.
Where possible, in verbal communications maintain a positive attitude and smile.
Effective communication is a vital skill in both personal and professional relationships. In radio, it is at the very heart of what we do. Unfortunately, the same issues surrounding poor communication that have been around for thousands of years are still with us, despite the wealth of communication platforms that exist in 2023.I’ll leave you with a quote from Dr. Andrew Grove, a former CEO of Intel Corporation: “How well we communicate is not determined by how well we say things but by how well we are understood.”By David Kidd, BPR […]

The Radio Days Europe ’24 conference schedule is packed from early morning til late night for the conference days, but if you fly in early, we continue our series of articles highlighting some suggestions  of how to spend an extra day in Munich, from well know radio industry locals.Morning show presenter Indra Willer-Gerdes together with Wolfgang Leikermoser are the morning show hosts from Antenne Bayern and they warmly welcome visitors to Munich.Here is Indra’s personal program for a wonderful time for anyone coming to Radio Days:Start the day with…A short jog through the English Garden, or go for a walk with a coffee to go as the English Garden is the largest connected park in the world and really beautiful! The northern part in particular is often deserted.https://www.muenchen.de/sehenswuerdigkeiten/top-sehenswuerdigkeiten/englischer-gartenLunch…At lunchtime go to the Viktualienmarkt to Fisch Witte, eat a snack and drink a glass of wine or two.https://fisch-witte.de/Sights, favourite places, insider tips…Afterwards, simply stroll through our beautiful city centre to the Town Hall and discover that Munich’s architecture is a bit like a fairy tale. A coffee in between…Make a detour to the Bar Centrale. There’s always so much going on here on Saturdays that guests stand in the street with their cappuccino and Aperol Spritz in hand – pure Italo feeling!https://www.bar-centrale.com/Dinner…If you want to go out for something to eat in the evening, I recommend Kull, a French bistro in New York style, just round the corner from Bar Centrale. Or a cheaper option a simple cuisine, but right in the heart of the Glockenbach district (there’s a lot going on here in the evening): Pizzeria Monaco.https://www.buffet-kull.de/https://www.pizzeriamonaco.de/index.htmlRound off the evening…If you want to party: there are parties for younger people around Lenbachplatz (e.g. 089 Bar), in Kunstpark Ost or in the Glockenbachviertel. Here you’ll find lots of small bars and restaurants as well as my favourite club: Paradiso.https://089-bar.de/ https://www.paradiso-tanzbar.de/Morning show co-host Wolfgang Leikermoser was eager to add his suggestions to the one day in Munich program.Start the day with..The perfect start to the morning begins with an oven-fresh Bavarian pretzel! You can recognise the really good ones by the fact that they are always a little puffy at the thickest part.Sights. favourite places, insider tips…While you’re here, you should definitely go to Nymphenburg Palace Park, a real work of garden art and beauty. Architecturally, this place is also emblematic of Bavaria’s splendour and magnificence.Above all, you can go for a wonderful jog here and enjoy a very long lap.For those who feel romantic, there’s also a real Venetian gondola perfect for lovers.https://www.gondel-nymphenburg.de/Lunch…Hungry again? It’s actually impossible to eat badly in Munich!If it’s not too cold, make sure you go to the Taxisgarten, a traditional and cosy beer garden where many Munich residents always sit. It’s been around for 100 years and the beautiful old trees have probably been there even longer.https://www.taxisgarten.de/You can round off the evening…In the evening, the best place to go out is near Stachus! There are lots of charming restaurants, bars and clubs there. You’re guaranteed NOT to meet me there, because as a morning show host I naturally go to bed a little earlier than one or the other.Have a great time in Bavaria!About Indra and WolfgangIndra Willer-Gerdes has been delighting ANTENNE BAYERN listeners as a radio presenter and weather expert since 2011. In the programme “Guten Morgen Bayern” on ANTENNE BAYERN, Indra, together with Wolfgang Leikermoser and the Guten-Morgen-Bayern team, ensures a good mood in the morning with Bavaria’s best music mix and lots of fun. In her private life, she likes authentic people, children, animals, spontaneous celebrations and Christmas. She dreams of seeing the Northern Lights one day, showing her children the wildlife of Africa and writing a book.Wolfgang “Leiki” Leikermoser began his career at ANTENNE BAYERN back in 1988 and has become one of the most recognisable voices in the German radio landscape. With his charismatic manner, he currently delights ANTENNE BAYERN listeners in the morning show “Guten Morgen Bayern” on ANTENNE BAYERN with Indra at his side. In his private life, Leiki enjoys steak with potatoes, self-irony and working classic cars, while he likes to spend his time with anything that drives – like cars, motorbikes and boats.As usual, radioinfo will cover the Radiodays Europe Conference in Munich this year, so watch for our reports next month.Last year’s conference reports are here. Previous conferences here.If you are getting excited about this year’s event and make a last minute decision to attend, good news. Registrations are still open, click here.Related article: One day in Munich at Radio Days Europe 24: Natalie Diel, Gong 96.3 […]