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Mandela remembered as champion of information revolution
“opportunity and challenge”
Nelson Mandela touched many and his passing offers a time for remembrance. International news media, with few exceptions, are devoting considerable time and space to reflect the deep sense of loss felt in much of the world. His struggle against apartheid and for a unified South Africa is a monumental legacy.
As South Africa’s president, Nelson Mandela was one of Africa’s first leaders to fully embrace the possibilities afforded by new media technologies. “As the information revolution gathers yet more pace and strikes deeper roots, it is already redefining our understanding of the world,” he said to ITU Telecom Africa in 1998. “Indeed, the speed of technological innovation could bring the ideal of the global village sooner than we thought possible. For the developing world, this brings both opportunity and challenge.” (See ITU statement here)
The ITU, like many international organizations, flies its flag at half-staff. (JMH)
State broadcaster bans foreign travel, including holidays
protecting State secrets
Uzbekistan is not noted as a paragon of media freedom. Reporters Without Borders ranked it 164th in the 2013 Press Freedom Index, just between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. Improvement is not expected.
Employees of State broadcaster National Television and Radio (MTRK) have been banned from all foreign travel, including holidays, reported Radio Liberty Uzbek service (December 4). The constraints are to prevent leaks of Uzbek State secrets. Fazliddin Khudoqulov, head of security, said anybody caught violating the ban will be dismissed.
Last year the State broadcasting chairman, Alisher Khodjaeva, banned employees from contact with representatives of international organizations, diplomats and, well, all foreigners. MTRK operates eight radio and television channels. (JMH)
Editing tune legitimate, dirty lyrics not
“capacity to cause offense”
Playing an edited version of a tune placing second on the BBC Radio 1 Official Chart Show was “legitimate” ruled the BBC Trust Editorial Standards Committee following a complaint from the public. A mere seven seconds of “Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead” from the classic film Wizard of Oz was offered rather than the full 54 second version on the program in April, which included a newscasters explanation. The tune’s chart position coincided with the death of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, a divisive figure in British culture.
The complaint submitted that the tune “was not political, did not contain a political message and did not refer to any individual” and playing the edited version was “a breach of the requirement for impartiality.” The tune “I’m in love with Margaret Thatcher” was played on the program without edit. Newly arrived BBC Director General Tony Hall intervened personally to prevent another political crisis.
“The song had become linked with a campaign in the wake of Lady Thatcher's death to display opposition to her premiership and did have the capacity to cause offence because it had been widely publicized as being a way of giving voice to anti-Thatcher feelings,” said a statement from the Editorial Standards Committee (December 3). “Although it was not linked with to any real person when written, the committee believed that the song had clearly and unarguably gained association with Lady Thatcher.”
Chart shows have been a fixture on radio stations since time immemorial. BBC Radio 1 has broadcast a singles chart show under various names since 1974. Since 2005 the Official Chart Show has included download data.
Also this week, UK regulator OFCOM determined digital station Karrang wrongly broadcast a Red Hot Chili Peppers tune replete with foul language. Station owner Bauer Media explained the error as a technical problem when music files were transferred from one server to another. But the regulators saw it differently as “seemingly no member of staff had been monitoring the output as broadcast and that consequently no apology for the language in the song had been broadcast at the time.” (JMH)
Disco up, rock down
“clear trend”
Rock radio fans in Poland were horrified Monday morning to hear “rhythmic hits” on FM frequencies once held by Eska Rock. Time Radio Group decided some time ago to make the switch, swapping the several Eska Rock FM frequencies for the Warsaw-only FM license of VOX FM, formerly Radio Plus. The new VOX FM plays disco music, targeting a different audience. Gone, too, is the old VOX FM morning show that occasionally provoked the ire of regulators.
“This is not a joke,” proclaimed gazeta.pl (December 2). Poland’s rock radio fans opened a Facebook page for the disgruntled. Some began telephoning regulator KRRiT begging for a reprieve only to find a deaf ear as music formats are outside their remit. (See Poland – Major Radio Broadcasters here)
The decision was just business. “Recently we’ve seen a clear trend of advertisers investing their budgets in programs aimed at older audiences, which resulted in the adjustment decision,” said Time Radio Group president Renata Krzewska in a statement. “We hope that VOX FM as a super-regional network will adequately answer the needs of customers.” (JMH)
Online news portal “even more beautiful”
but not for parties
Italy’s public broadcaster RAI has a new online news portal, rainews.it. The launch this past weekend gave RAI director general Luigi Gubitosi the opportunity to tout more new media ventures and explain how it all fits together. It is, he said “a single horizontal portal that brings together all online news production from the different channels.”
“State TV will become more and more a media company, paying more attention to the web, attracting younger audiences,” he continued, quoted by PubblicitaItalia (December 2). “Information content from all our programs will be designed as multimedia.” The new online news portal was approved by the RAI board in July and developed by the RAI online subsidiary RaiNet. Mr. Gubitosi also said RAI is “less and less influenced by the (political) parties.” (See more on media in Italy here)
“In a few months we were able to set up a video portal that we believe is easy for our users,” said the RAI statement. “We love it and we think it's even more beautiful than the BBC.” (JMH)
Timing the key to outdoor advertising
difference between stopping and blocking
Outdoor installations are a favorite advertising venue, perhaps because they are the antitheses of those online banner ads everybody ignores. Many have heard of the giant Louis Vuitton suitcase that briefly graced Red Square in Moscow last week. It wasn’t all that creative; just very large. In Russia, of course, size matters until it blocks the view.
Spanish agency Shackleton took advantage of another cultural affect last week. Promoting the annual Notodofilmfest, a festival for short films and videos, the agency blocked traffic, sort of. Automobile drivers on a busy street of Salamanca, in northwest Spain, one evening last week were treated to 30 second clips promoting the festival set-up on the fly as traffic came to a stop at red lights. A large portably screen was hoisted into the street and, most attractively, people on roller skates whirled through the cars offering soft drinks and popcorn, just like in the movies. (See more on creative advertising here)
“We found converting a traffic light to a drive-in a great way to get people to stop,” said Shackleton creative director Juan Silva, quoted by El Mundo (November 30).
One day after the 30 foot by 100 foot LV suitcase was installed on Red Square the mayor’s office and security service denied giving approval, demanding immediate dismantling, citing a law preventing anybody from obstructing the view of St. Basil’s Cathedral. Luxury goods seller LVHM set up the walk-in display for all the right cultural reasons. Rich Russians love to shop. Proceeds from entry ticket sales were destined for a children’s charity.
Grumpy Russians would have none of it. “The LV suitcase in Red Square is a very honest statement, I think,” said actor Maxim Vitorgan, quoted by Bloomberg (November 27). “LV has become a symbol of bad taste. So everything is logical. Here it is, the goal, the dream.” (JMH)
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