ASIA

Palestinian radio presenter Abdullah al-Maghari hosts a programme titled “Hadith al-Nas” (Talk of the People) from his tent in Gaza’s Bureij camp as a way to amplify Gazans’ voices, share their concerns, deliver critical news amid war and be “closer to the people and their concerns”.As Israel has systematically destroyed media infrastructure in Gaza, Abdullah’s goal is to provide a substitute platform for people to express their struggles and stay informed about events around them.Amid power shortages, noisy surroundings, and the ongoing devastation of war, Abdullah’s show is constantly facing a challenge to survive. But he perseveres, taking calls from people and offering a vital platform for the voices of Gaza, delivering critical news, and addressing the struggles of life in the besieged enclave.“The show provides us with all the news after months of war and Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip. And with the internet and electricity not available all day long, it provides us with political and entertainment news for us and our children,” said one listener.Journalists like Abdullah who continue to work against all odds are frequently victims of propaganda campaigns that question their integrity, accusing them of working with combatants or having participated in October 7 attacks.Since October 2023 Israel has killed at least 222 Palestinian journalists and media workers in Gaza. Rights groups have confirmed dozens of the slain journalists were directly targeted by Israel.Last week, Palestinian journalists held a press briefing to share their experiences of covering Israel’s war on Gaza over the past year and a half. Palestinian journalist Abubaker Abed said: “We’ve been immolated, incinerated, dismembered, and disembowelled, and recently, we have been freezing to death. What more ways should you be seeing us killed in so that you can move and act and stop the hell inflicted upon us? Even the press vest we’re wearing right now marks us as a target. They do not protect us at all. Maybe if we were Ukrainians or of any other citizenship with blonde hair and blue eyes, the world would rage and rant for us. But because we are Palestinians, we have only one right, which is to die and be maimed.”Abed emphasised their determination to continue reporting on Israel’s onslaught on Palestinians despite losing loved ones and colleagues and being targeted by Israeli forces, adding: “There are no words to describe what we have been going through. You have seen our bodies, how they have become fragile, skinny and fatigued. But we never stopped. We never stopped to tell you the truth, to narrate our stories and to tell you that we are being genocided, to move your dead consciences, to help a population that has seen every sort of torture and tasted every type of death.”

In spite of their fellow journalists’ plight being livestreamed daily for months, Western mainstream media has largely remained silent on their continued targeting by Israel. […]

India media house TV Today Network has announced that it will shut down its radio business under the brand name Ishq 104.8 FM in the next six months, citing current market dynamics.On Thursday, the board of the company approved the proposal for the closure of the FM radio business, according to a regulatory filing.TV Today Network currently operates three FM radio stations in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata under the frequency 104.8 FM, which contributed 1.7 per cent of its revenue in FY24.“The Board of Directors of TV Today Network Limited at their meeting held today, i.e., January 09, 2025, has inter alia approved the closure of FM Radio Broadcasting operations of the Company subject to regulatory approvals, if any, and fulfilment of other compliances as may be required,” it said.While citing the reason for closure, the private news channel broadcaster said: “Given the state of the industry, its dynamics and evolution of FM Radio Broadcasting business, the Board of Directors considered it in the better interest of the Company to close this business instead of continuing the same.”The radio business turnover was at Rs 16.18 crore and registered a loss of Rs 19.53 crore in the financial year ended March 2024. […]

Malaysia’s Chinese-language radio station 988 FM has released a Chinese New Year song titled “YouYouYou” (Have a good year).Chinese New Year is a holiday that is celebrated for several days and is based on the lunar calendar. It is associated with one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac, and 2025 is the Year of the Snake.The music video for the track showcases 20 of 988’s deejays dressed in retro clothing as they take on the challenge of coming together for a Chinese New Year reunion dinner.[embedded content]It is a part of the station’s annual festive album which features three songs and music videos.The album was launched by Star Media Group CEO Chan Seng Fatt.The station also plans to have special radio programmes featuring interactive games and festive hits, zodiac forecasting with insights for the year and a heartwarming drama series with family tales. […]

Radio Taiwan International (Rti) launched a new book Shortwave Era: From the Cold War to Democracy, From Intelligence Broadcasting to the Voice of Peace, Let the World Hear Taiwan’s Voice last month.Shortwave Era chronicles Rti’s nearly century-long journey broadcasting Taiwan’s voice to the world in multilingual languages.It provides a detailed account of how Rti has used multilingual broadcasting to build international communication bridges, witnessing Taiwan’s significant interactions with the global community.  From World War II to the end of Cold War, Rti was not only an international radio station but also played a unique role on the special battleground, including executing intelligence missions through the “Teresa Teng Time” program and compiling “Communist Bandit Broadcasts” as part of classified intelligence operations.Rti Chairperson Cheryl Lai remarked that today’s Rti is like a “mini United Nations,” with colleagues from around the world sharing “Taiwan’s story,” which is also “the world’s story,” fully reflecting Rti’s international character and cultural mission.At the book launch, four Rti hosts shared moving stories. Japanese-language host Wang Shu-qing, with 45 years of experience, spoke of listeners as family, including one veteran listener who has been tuning in for over 60 years and still records the details of every broadcast. Mandarin host Tan Zhi-yi shared her experience of Chinese listeners visiting Taiwan and Rti hosting family reunion events for foreign migrant workers.Thai-language host Tao Yun-sheng mentioned how his programs provide essential information to newly arrived migrant workers in Taiwan, helping them overcome difficulties. Vietnamese host Vy Fann shared the story of a Vietnamese Chinese listener who had been tuning in to Rti for 40 or 50 years. Although this listener, who was like family, has since passed away, the deep bond remains.The book also includes many touching stories, such as one of a Malaysian listener who was isolated due to a rare illness, and how Rti opened a window for her to the wider world. […]

February 13 is World Radio Day (WRD) as proclaimed in 2011 by the Member States of UNESCO, and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 as an International Day.The theme for the 13th edition of the World Radio Day, Radio and Climate Change, celebrates the many opportunities that radio broadcasting brings for giving prominence to climate change issues.2025 marks a pivotal year for climate change. In accordance with the Paris Agreement, if humanity is to limit global warming to 1.5°C, greenhouse gas emissions must peak by that year at the latest, before they begin to fall.While the Paris Agreement takes on capital importance, radio contributes to the achievement of its international objectives by supporting populations in the face of climate change through the dissemination of fact-based information, listeners’ voices and dedicated radio shows.To support radio stations in their journalistic coverage of this issue, UNESCO is offering a networking experience and some useful resources to celebrate WRD2025.To benefit from the 2025 Opportunities and appear on the UNESCO map please click here.Your radio station will also have the chance to connect with a radio station in another locality or country. Thanks to these collaborations, you will be able to exchange programs, guests, sound archives, and even consider a longer-term relationship beyond February 13, 2025. […]

Long after the stills photographers had packed up their cameras, heading for the Bar, and the tv crews had switched off their lights, teams of audio sport specialists were still working, feeding match interviews and summaries to their live radio outlets and capturing long form analytical interviews about the game for their podcasts.For live events such as big sporting matches, radio and tv are still the media choice for audiences and advertisers.When important footy finals or cricket tests are in progress, audiences don’t want to be behind the play, they want to experience each exciting moment live, at the same time as their friends do. Broadcast media is still a primary medium for this sort of coverage. This was ably demonstrated today, the last day of the final Australia v India text match at the SCG, as I watched the other media pack up and and adjourn to the Members Bar, leaving the radio teams to continue working.ABC Radio’s Andrew Moore in his trademark pink Hawaiian shirt rolled through the team captains and big hitters across the ABC’s local radio network, bringing news of the win live to living rooms with the tv on but the sound turned down, to commuters on public transport and to holiday makers driving back home to start work again tomorrow.For the Triple M network, former Australian captain Mark Taylor was supported by a co-commentator and a team of three producers who were doing multiple jobs on their mobile devices from the field.One producer was reading listener text messages on his screen and selecting the best ones to show the commentators so they could react to listener messages, the other was doing a live feed to social media and the third was gathering player talent such as Steve Smith and Glenn McGrath for interviews.

The Triple M team is one group making the running on using new technology to take them beyond the typical soundproof commentary box full of standard production and mixing equipment, to a new style of untethered broadcasting using wireless mics, smart cameras, production apps and phone data.SEN was on the field with a wireless mic set up and multimedia support from a digital video SLR camera, for their live feed and podcasts.SBS Radio was there, harnessing the passion of its South Asian audience of cricket lovers to produce news and podcast content that is attracting interest beyond Australia.The Ashes may hold the weight of tradition, but could the Border-Gavaskar Trophy be cricket’s next crown jewel? On SBS Podcast’s Pace, Spin, and Spice, renowned journalist Bharat Sundaresan explored the Australia-India rivalry and the shifting power dynamics in the cricketing world. Sponsored by Kayo, SBS Spice is breaking new ground with English language content for young South Asian Australians. Some of the current best cricket podcasts are:Australia won the 2024/5 test series by 6 wickets, gaining the Border-Gavaskar trophy from India, who had held it since 2016.SCG Members Bar, spectators… and mediaReporting: Steve Ahern at the Sydney Cricket Ground. […]