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News media coins new word
Not pretty
In any language, new words enter common usage when they offer unique meaning, making complex ideas simple. The English language is often praised for creating and popularizing expressive new words, to the delight of journalists. Occasionally a new word seizes the moment and appears almost overnight around the world.
From Ukraine now comes a new word that has found resonance, for more than one reason, among journalists: titushki. It’s a noun; burly guys in track suits, usually unidentified and for hire, who beat up media workers. The Ukrainian news portal LigaBiznesInfo (December 11) discovered the word popping up in media reports about recent violence against journalists, from Gazeta Wyborcza in Poland and France 24 to RFE/RL and Norwegian public broadcaster NRK as well as appearing on the Spanish Wikipedia site.
The word derives from the name of one fellow, Vadim Titushko, who beat up two Ukrainian reporters in May and struck an ugly pose for nearby photographers. Ukrainian media began using the term when Mr. Titushko appeared on YouTube. Of course, titushki beat up protesters as well as journalists and are paid, according to various reports, up to US$200 a day.
News channel moves back, and forward
Listeners “very loyal”
Spain’s public radio broadcaster RNE (Radio Nacional de España) has undergone considerable change in recent years, from management and personnel to programming and, certainly, funding. Next April news channel Radio 5, marking 20 years on the air, will return to “the classic all-news format,” said RNE director general Alfonso Nasarre, reported El Mundo (December 9). When the switch is made, Radio 5 Todo Noticias (all-news) will replace Radio 5 Información.
Though details are vague, it seems Radio 5 Todo Noticias will reappear as a rolling-news service, as it was when launched in 1994. “The Radio 5 listener is very loyal,” added Sr Nasarre, “and demands to be informed.” Gone will be the long-form programs introduced during the last series of changes. (See more on media in Spain here)
RNE Radio 5 was among several all-news radio channels launched by European public broadcasters in the late 1980’s to mid 1990’s. France Info, part of French public broadcaster Radio France, took up the rolling news format in 1987 and recently adjusted the format to allow more long-form programs. All-news radio channels, being labor-intensive, are very expensive.
In the most recent EGM audit of Spain’s national media, Radio 5 and culture channel Radio 3 showed improved audience reach year on year though, on aggregate, the RNE audience tumbled 17%. Sr Nasarre became RNE general director in July, the 10th general director since 1996. (JMH)
On the digital path, publisher acquires TV news channel
Merges with newspaper
For many years in the hallowed halls of big German media house Axel Springer there’s been a certain lust for television. Try as they might, it just never happened. Much has changed since the failed 2005 bid for ProSiebenSat1.Media. Axel Springer has been recast as a digital content business.
And now, subject to compulsory approvals, Axel Springer is acquiring N24 Media, operator of the N24 news channel and news producer for ProSiebenSat channels. With it will be a further leap into digital content as N24 merges with daily national newspaper Die Welt. Like all good transactions, Axel Springer is acquiring considerable talent. Former Spiegel editor and N24 partner Stefan Aust will transition to the merged content producer as chief editor. The joint statement announcing the deal emphasized that it was not about cost savings. (See more on media in Germany here)
“We successfully developed N24 over the past three and a half years,” said N24 principal Torsten Rossmann, quoted by Handelsblatt (December 9), “and laid the foundations for a strong brand presence online and (with) mobile. For the next step and a sustainable future, we need a strong partner. We found it with Axel Springer and their clear commitment to journalism and digitization. I look forward, together with our new colleagues, to the digital future of journalism.”
Last week German competition authorities approved the first phase of Axel Springer’s sell-off of regional newspapers and magazines to Funke Mediengruppe, which, when completed, will net Axel Springer about €1 billion.
News agency, broadcasting service to disappear
Efficiency is just another word for control
Consolidation has many faces and when it happens in Russia these days the face is one. Russian President Vladmir Putin, using Presidential Decree posted on the official presidential website (December 9), abolished State-owned news agency RIA Novosti and with it international broadcasting service Voice of Russia (VoR). Two weeks ago private broadcaster ProfMedia sold all radio and television assets to Gazprom Media, an off-shoot of State controlled energy conglomerate Gazprom. (See more on media in Russia here)
Created by the decree will be an “international news agency “ under the name Russia Today, conspicuously the name of the State funded international television channel that broadcasts in English, Spanish and Arabic. The decree also abolishes the State Television and Radio Fund, which finances Russian State Television and Radio Company (RTR), moving those assets to the other State news agency ITAR TASS. President Putin named RTR deputy director Dmitry Kiselev CEO of Russia Today. Provisions of the decree take effect immediately. Mr. Kiselev is well-known in Russia as a Channel One commentator with strong anti-gay and, recently, anti-Ukrainian views.
In an accompanying statement, President Putin’s chief-of-staff Sergei Ivanov explained the decision as “more efficient use of public funds allocated to State information sources, reducing rather than increasing their size.” Through a wide variety of agencies, the Russian Federation has funded a plethora of broadcasting and publishing outlets. “The world is not easy to explain,” added Mr. Ivanov, a former KGB general, quoted by Interfax (December 9).
RIA Novosti, the current agency formed shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, is generally well-regarded internationally for objective reporting. RIA Novosti employs about 2,300 people, 200 as photojournalists. The fate of editor-in-chief Svetlana Myronyuk is unclear.
Likewise the fate of Russia Today chief editor Margarita Simonyan, on the job since the international channel launched in 2005. Russia Today, the TV channel rebranded RT, co-locates with RIA Novosti in Moscow. ”I learned about it on the radio,” said Ms Simonyan, quoted by lenta.ru (December 9). RT is mostly known for its YouTube channel, filled with conspiracy theory fodder.
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