ASIA

In a speech at the PTS Symposium 2023 held in Taipei, Taiwan, in May, Kristian Porter – the CEO of the Public Media Alliance (PMA) spoke about how public service media (PSM) can and should maintain their values while adapting to the digital era.PMA is the largest global association of public media organisations, of which PTS and Radio Taiwan International are members.He started by noting that public service media, faces its fair share of challenges regarding digital transformation, which include: keeping pace with new technology; audience fragmentation and changing news consumption habits; adapting to ever-evolving and commercially-owned algorithms; a lack of transparency over these algorithms; hate speech and online harassment; AI; data use; mis- and disinformation.He said that public service media now reach most of their audiences through cross-platform services but they must also ensure that they don’t lose sight of their core values.“Accountability, accessibility, impartiality, independence, pluralism, reliability, universalism: these are the values which we at the Public Media Alliance consider to be most important to PSM.”“Together these contribute to the trust the public has in you. But adhering to these values in the digital world means that public media also need to be open to a rapid change of direction if needed… and to accept that things can change very quickly, especially when using third-party platforms to reach audiences,” he said.According to him, the presence of trusted public media on social media platforms, in some form, is a critical tool in countering the mis- and disinformation that can proliferate there. But all third-party platforms, whether it’s Instagram, LinkedIn, or Facebook are often opaque in their data handling. And public service media is right to question their practices.He gave the example of Twitter’s mislabelling of independent public media as “government-funded”, which lacked accuracy, nuance, and had the potential to sew distrust in some of the world’s most trusted media brands. This further highlights the lack of accountability the platform now has in pointing users to sources of trusted news and information and the need for public media to be vigilant in how and why they use third-party platforms.“These examples demonstrate that public service media have an additional responsibility compared to other outlets. While in a plural, democratic media environment public media have to compete alongside commercial media, they are also beholden to a source of public funding, and a set of specific values – values that promote trust. Meanwhile, the values of third-party platforms can quickly change and go against public media principles.”“The decisions public media make, the reasons why you use a third-party platform and the reasons why you stop using one, and the steps you take in your digital governance and transformation, should ideally be informed by these values.”Porter then spoke about online presence also makes journalists a target. Doxxing, phishing and  hacking and online abuse are also on the rise. Public media must lead the way in ensuring that their staff are aware of the dangers of reporting, and being present online, but they must also offer facilities to assist those facing abuse.“Online safety is also linked to media literacy. More than ever, public media must complement their digital content with media literacy campaigns and explainers, to demonstrate exactly why their information and news offerings are trusted, are accountable, and can be relied upon. Process and transparency is important, and it sets you apart.”Finally, he spoke about the challenges facing public media in this digital era being more shared and more global than ever before. And where there are shared challenges, there are shared solutions.“Public media share a core set of values, we’re a global family. Collaborate to protect them and share best practices.”Read the full speech here. […]

Isentia, the leading provider of media intelligence and insights, announces the appointment of Raushida Vasaiwala as Sales Vice President for the APAC region. Leveraging her exceptional expertise in martech and background in media and business management, Raushida brings a unique blend of strategic sales acumen and creative prowess to the role. Her appointment strengthens the Isentia leadership team, as the organisation brings new insights to clients, revolutionising the accessibility of audience intelligence for organisations of all sizes.“We are thrilled to welcome Raushida as Sales VP for APAC. Her deep understanding of martech and her passion for blending creativity with technology will play an invaluable role in delivering our audience-led strategy, and her track record of building strong client relationships and delivering growth will accelerate the expansion of our APAC client base. With Raushida’s expertise, we are poised to empower organisations to unlock the full potential of audience intelligence,” said Joanna Arnold, CEO of Access Intelligence.Vasaiwala also expressed her enthusiasm about joining Isentia: “I am honoured to join Isentia as the Sales VP for APAC. The opportunity to shape the future of audience intelligence and its impact on business is truly exhilarating. Isentia’s dedication to innovation and vision of democratising access to audience intelligence perfectly align with my values and aspirations. I am eager to collaborate with the talented team at Isentia to deliver exceptional value to our clients and drive growth in the APAC market.”Isentia is undergoing a transformative journey to champion an audience-first approach for marketing and communications professionals. Isentia’s expansion of its product offering includes the integration of media intelligence into the Pulsar platform, a robust social listening platform. This integration aims to democratise audience intelligence, enabling organisations of all sizes to access and leverage data-driven insights for informed decision-making and achieving their goals.Audience intelligence plays a crucial role in the realm of PR and communications. It enables a deep understanding of audience behaviours, preferences, desires, and sentiments across various digital channels. These professionals can craft effective strategies, tailor messages, and measure real-time impact by leveraging this insight.Raushida’s appointment aligns with Isentia’s vision to redefine audience intelligence and its accessibility in the APAC market. By leveraging martech expertise and digital audience insights, Isentia aims to empower organisations to make data-driven decisions and gain a competitive edge in their respective industries.In addition to leading this transformation, Raushida will drive sales initiatives, forge strategic partnerships, and foster growth in the APAC region. Her unique perspective and expertise in martech will be instrumental in positioning Isentia as the go-to platform for organisations seeking comprehensive audience intelligence. […]

RØDE has released the RØDECaster Duo, a compact version of the RØDECaster Pro II, condensing an entire broadcasting studio into a power and easy to use console. It allows anyone to record a professional production, a step forward in the democratisation of creator technology with a small desktop footprint.[embedded content]Key features of the RØDECaster Duo:
Compact integrated audio production studio for podcasters and content creators
Ultra-low-noise, high-gain Revolution Preamps™ (-131.5dBV EIN, 76dB gain) for world-class audio quality with stunning clarity and transparency
Two high-quality Neutrik® combo inputs for connecting microphones, instruments or line-level devices
Integrated wireless receiver for connecting RØDE Series IV wireless devices (including the Wireless GO II and Wireless ME)
3.5mm TRRS input for connecting headphones and headsets
Seven individually assignable channels with four broadcast-quality physical faders and three virtual faders
Studio-quality APHEX® audio processing for superior sound quality and unmatched flexibility in any recording application
Six programmable SMART pads for triggering sounds, voice effects, MIDI commands and mixer actions – with eight banks for 48 unique actions
Dual USB-C interfaces for connecting two computers or mobile devices
Advanced Bluetooth® connectivity with wide-band speech for ultra-high-quality phone call integration and audio streaming, wireless monitoring, and more
5.5-inch high-definition touchscreen and rotary encoder for easy navigation and control
Designed and made in RØDE’s precision facilities in Sydney, Australia
“We created the all-in-one podcasting console category with the original RØDECaster Pro in 2018,” says RØDE CEO Damien Wilson. “And in 2022, we changed the game again with the RØDECaster Pro II, the most powerful audio console of its kind. We are thrilled to now offer the same features and processing power in a more compact form factor for creators who need fewer audio inputs but don’t want to compromise on audio quality.” […]

Suria FM’s announcer DJ Lin has won the Most Trusted Radio Presenter in Malaysia award presented by Readers’ Digest as part of its Trusted Brands 2023 campaign.She has won for the third consecutive year.The winners were chosen after independently surveying a representative sample of consumers across Asia to discover their views on products and services in over 50 categories across a broad range of industries.The opinions of around 8000 individuals were collected, representing five of the region’s key markets: the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Taiwan.Each of these 8000 participants completed an online questionnaire that required them to name the brands that they trust above all others and rate them based on six key attributes.DJ Lin said she is grateful for the award as it is proof that she is still relevant even with many emerging talents in the radio industry.” I am honoured as well as surprised to receive this prestigious award for the third time. It is hard to describe (my feeling) because I have been in this industry for 24 years, yet Malaysian listeners continue to vote for and support me as Most Trusted Radio Announcer,” she said in a statement. […]

The 2023 program for Radiodays Asia has been released covering everything from AI to Gen Z.Keynote speaker Valerie Geller will discuss connecting with your radio audience and making listeners stay and come back for more.Christian Schalt, Chief Digital Officer at RTL, Germany, will talk about how AI is transforming radio’s value, how broadcasters can leverage AI in all areas of their business, and the risks associated with this rapidly developing technology.CADA’s Emily Copeland will reflect on the challenges and opportunities that come with catering to a young audience overlooked by traditional media.Richard Fidler, talk about why this in-depth conversational format is still so incredibly successful as a programme as well as a podcast.James Cridland brings cool tools for your radio station from the podcast world.Andrea Ho will demonstrate practical strategies for diversity and inclusion in radio environments and how to attract more listeners by bringing more balance to your teams.Guy Perryman, producer and presenter at Inter FM in Tokyo, takes us inside the world of radio in Japan.Deb Hishon, Media Measurement Director, ANZ at GfK, will explain Radio 360, the world-first hybrid measurement system used for Survey 3, 2023.Also covered will be uncovered reporting in closed countries, the balance of talk and music, how to engage with Gen Z and beyond, using podcasts to break news stories and Paul Amos from Xtra Insights will offer ideas that have worked well in Australian markets.Radiodays Asia is on September 5 & 6 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. […]

Selling Radio Direct with Pat BrysonAfter the RadioDays Prague convention, my friends and I spent a few days exploring Prague. It rained. And rained. Did I say it rained? Nonetheless, we soldiered on, tramping around Prague in search of the multitude of statues created by David Cerny and positioned around Prague in the most unusual places. Day one we walked 7.8 miles! (That’s 12.55 kilometers.) Ditto the following days.On day three, it rained in the morning, then cleared up. We trooped on, determined to find the last of Cerny’s statues. As we located it late in the day, the sky darkened again. And in the words of a Garth Brooks’ song, “the thunder rolled”. The skies opened and it began a deluge. Umbrellas up: not much help. We were soon soaked from the knees down. No Ubers available. Cold, wet, hungry, and miserable were we.We noticed a hotel just around the corner. We made a dash for inside. And we were met by the gentleman in the picture. He immediately registered our plight and took our umbrellas and our coats. We started for the bar, but he suggested we might be more comfortable in the inner lobby and ushered us there: soft sofas, warmth and WINE! Although we weren’t staying for dinner, he brought us towels to dry off, nibbles, and did I mention wine?Here’s his story. He’s from Tajikistan. He’s been in the Czech Republic for 9 years studying. He works as a waiter to pay his way. When it was time to leave, he offered to call a “Post” for us, the local equivalent of Uber, which he said would save us money. Someone at his front desk called a taxi instead. We didn’t mind: time to go to the hotel and crash. However, when we arrived at our hotel, he called one of us to apologize that the wrong car picked us up. He was concerned they overcharged us.Why is this young man in my newsletter? Because of his customer service. I must admit that we didn’t find much service worthy of mentioning while in Prague, but he was the exception. He was a stranger in the land and recognized us as the same. He saw our needs and took care of us. He made us feel special. He went above and beyond in serving us. He went the extra mile.Every time I experience exceptional service, I am reminded how important it is for us to treat our clients with such. We need to surprise and delight them so that they would write about us as I have this young man. Satisfied customers will spend money elsewhere: loyal customers will not. Loyal customers will recommend you to their friends and business associates.Treat each client as though they were the most important thing you have to do today. Find ways to go the extra mile. I guarantee you won’t find traffic jams on that mile!Happy Selling!What people are saying about this new book:“If I was going to write a sales book, this is what I would want to have written. I’ve studied radio sales for 50 years, and this brings all that wisdom into one place-a real resource for new and experienced radio salespeople”Glenn SmithManaging Director, Radio Bay of Plenty – Whakatane, New Zealand […]