ASIA

According to a report by Bakhtar News Agency Afghanistan’s Deputy Minister of Culture and Art at the Ministry of Information and Culture, Mawlawi Atiqullah Azizi, inaugurated the Moqadas Radio in Logar province.Logar is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan located in the eastern section of the country.It now hosts six private radio stations, including Moqadas, Pahand Melli, Zainat, Ittihad, Mahal and Radio Aynak  in addition to the Taliban-run National Radio.Muhammad Qasim Samadi, head of Moqadas Radio, said that the station which broadcasts on 89.1 FM was established with a budget of approximately $16,000 USD.Speaking at the ceremony, Azizi highlighted the importance of radio as the primary source of information for residents in distant regions. He urged the management of Moqadas Radio to align their programming with the policies of the Islamic system.Mawlawi Zia-ul-Haq Haqmal, Director of Bakhtar News Agency, in his remarks, reiterated the Islamic Emirate’s full support for media and called on media representatives to operate within the framework of Sharia and the policies of the IEA.Photo: Bakhtar News Agency […]

RØDE has released the third generation of their Wireless GO (Gen 3), the wireless microphone platform with an intuitive grab-and-go operation. With 32-bit float on-board recording, intelligent GainAssist technology and, for the first time in the history of the iconic RØDE Wireless range, a suite of limited-edition colours, giving creators yet another avenue for expression.KEY FEATURES OF THE WIRELESS GO:• Dual-channel compact wireless microphone system• RØDE’s state-of-the-art Series IV 2.4 GHz digital transmission with 128-bit encryption for crystal-clear, incredibly stable audio at ranges up to 260m (line of sight)• Over 40 hours of 32-bit float on-board recording for the recovery of clipped or quiet audio files• Intelligent GainAssist technology, flexible output gain control and safety channel for ensuring pristine audio when recording direct to camera• Universal compatibility with cameras, smartphones and computers for ultimate flexibility• Locking lavalier connectors for complete security and peace of mind

• Headphone monitoring with on-board level control• Automatic plug-in power detect for extended battery life• Easy configuration on a computer or smartphone via RØDE Central• Bright LCD display and intuitive controls for quickly and easily adjusting settings on-the-fly• Compatible with all RØDE Series IV devices, including RØDECaster Pro II and Duo, RØDECaster Video, Wireless PRO, InterviewPRO and more• Available in timeless black and iconic white, as well as a range of limited-edition colours, including red, orange, green, purple, pink, blue, cobalt, clay, lilac, stone, rose and moss• Designed and made in RØDE’s precision facilities in Sydney, AustraliaRØDE CEO Damien Wilson said:“The original Wireless GO established an entirely new category when it was released in 2019. It completely changed the game for creators, giving them a compact and simple solution to recording wireless audio without sacrificing the quality and stability that their craft demands. The Wireless GO II took this even further, adding a host of new features that quickly established itself as a new standard in the industry. And now, with the third generation of the iconic wireless mic system, the Wireless GO is more powerful, more colourful and more feature-packed than ever and ready to raise the bar once again. We can’t wait to see what you create.”RØDE has also released a dedicated charging and travel case accessory – the Charge Case+. This is a compact case for the Wireless GO (Gen 3) that keeps the entire system safe and secure when storing or taking it out on the road. It features an integrated battery that delivers two full recharges for up to 21 hours of use and allows simultaneous data access to the complete system for transferring recordings, adjusting settings and updating firmware.The Charge Case+ is available separately.The third-generation Wireless GO is available to order at your local RØDE dealer or via the RØDE website. […]

The first edition of the Global Media Peace Awards concluded with an online ceremony bringing together creators from across the globe on November 26.Organized by Executive Education HEC Montréal in partnership with the Pale Blue Dot Foundation, this initiative marked a significant step forward in using media as a vector for peace, resilience, and global understanding.This first edition aligns the school with an ambitious goal: mobilizing creative forces to address today’s challenges while integrating peace and tolerance at the heart of global discourse.It received 189 submissions across the Radio, Television, and Digital Media categories. The laureates were selected by a prestigious jury of internationally renowned experts.The radio jury was chaired by Dan Santa (Chairperson), Ph. D., director-International Relations, Radio Romania. Other members of the jury included Andrea Borgnino, Journalist, author, and radio host, Rai – Italy,  Irina Kornienko, Director of the Radio Culture Channel of the Ukrainian Public Broadcaster, Giedrius Masalskis, Head of Radio – The Lithuanian Public Broadcaster, Colleen Holder, Dir. Corp. Comms. & Productions, Parliament of Trinidad, and TobagoAde Irosadi, Head of LPP RRI- Indonesia and Flavia Voinea, Journalist, Manager of Bucharest FM Radio Romania Regional Network.The first prize in the radio category went to Azzura Meringolo Scarfoglio for “Help me! I am a little girl; they are shooting at me.” Hind’s last phone call from Gaza.Second prize went to Nguyen Vu Duy, Nguyen Thi Thu Hoa, Nguyen Pham Huan, Nguyen Quynh Hoa and Lai Thi Hoa for Coming Home.

Mohamad Chegeni won the third prize for Human Extinction. […]

The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) reports that Abdul Razzaq Seddiqi, the director of Radio Seday-e-Badghis (Voice of Badghis), has been released from Taliban custody after a month in detention.He was freed by order of the Second Zone Urban Court in the capital on Wednesday, December 4.Siddiqi was summoned to Kabul by the Taliban’s intelligence agency on October 31, where he was subsequently detained.The arrest followed accusations from the Taliban’s Directorate of Information and Culture in Badghis that he had reported on local issues, including the employment of women at a private company, which had been disseminated through international media channels. Local Taliban officials claimed that this reporting violated regulations set forth by the Taliban government.AFJC emphasized that Seddiqi’s arrest constituted a clear violation of Afghanistan’s media laws, and his freedom should never have been compromised.It pointed out that under Afghanistan’s mass media law, as enforced by the Taliban, journalists and media outlets are legally allowed to carry out their professional duties without interference. Article 4 of the law stipulates that “no individual or entity can prohibit, censor, or restrict the free operation of media or interfere with their publications.”Presently, at least six journalists remain imprisoned in the country, four of whom have been sentenced to two to five years in prison, according to AFJC.The United Nations, in a recent report on the state of media in Afghanistan, revealed that at least 334 journalists and media workers have been arrested by the Taliban over the past three years.

Photo: AFJC […]

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law overnight on December 3, accusing the opposition of paralysing the government with “anti-state activities“. A few hours later, following a resolution by the parliament to block it, he reversed the order and now faces an impeachment bid by the opposition.During the short-lived emergency, a six-point decree brought all media outlets under the authority of martial law. The commander of the martial law in South Korea, Army General Park An-su, announced the introduction of control over all media, following his declaration of the suspension of the work of the parliament and political parties in the country.The three major broadcasters—MBC, SBS, and KBS – officially halted their year-end award ceremonies, including the 2024 MBC Drama Awards, 2024 SBS Drama Awards, and 2024 KBS Drama Awards. KBS later decided to proceed with its scheduled year-end events following the lifting of martial law.As the country’s major networks continued to cover the latest developments, MBC News showed footage of a military officer covering their live camera while covering the declaration of martial law.According to the Korea Herald, in the tense first hours of martial law in South Korea, social media emerged as a lifeline for defiance, with politicians, journalists and ordinary citizens using it to document and disseminate real-time developments.The New York Times said that instead of silencing South Korea’s media, the martial law declaration empowered them. Journalists criticized the president’s attempt to place the press under military control, hardened by years of challenges to press freedoms by the country’s political leaders.A consortium of unions representing journalists and media industry workers condemned Mr. Yoon in a statement, calling his actions “anti-democratic,” “unconstitutional” and a denial of the “historical achievements of democracy and press freedom that the entire nation has fought for with blood over half a century.”In a LinkedIn post, Chun Young-sun, managing editor of Korea JoongAng Daily, the English-language edition of daily newspaper JoongAng Ilbo, said: “At no point did we consider stopping or limiting coverage. The idea that we would do anything but continue reporting never really crossed our minds.”

The Committee to Protect Journalists told CNN’s @Liam_A_Reilly that “it would have been disastrous for press freedom if martial law had come into effect.” However South Korean journalists and citizens “demonstrated in remarkable fashion how to hold the line against the erosion of democracy. This can be a critical lesson for many societies that are seeing backsliding in democracy and press freedom, including in the West.” […]

Indian network BIG FM is the Official Radio Partner for the 2024-25 Hockey India League (HIL). The partnership aims to expand the reach of hockey and ensure its presence across India, making the sport more accessible to fans nationwide.HIL kicks off on December 28, 2024, featuring a lineup of eight men’s teams and four women’s teams competing in Rourkela and Ranchi. This season also marks the debut of the Women’s Hockey India League.Sunil Kumaran, COO, BIG FM shared: “Hockey holds a special place in the hearts of millions, and this collaboration reflects our commitment to spreading awareness about the sport’s legacy and significance. Together, we aim to shine a spotlight on hockey’s incredible journey and inspire a deeper appreciation for the sport across the country.”Dr. Dilip Tirkey, Chairperson of the Hockey India League (HIL) Governing Committee, said: “Radio has a unique ability to connect with people in the remotest corners of the country, making it the perfect medium to promote hockey. With BIG FM’s engaging content and nationwide reach, we aim to make hockey a household conversation.” […]