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 News From You
We receive dozens of news tips and press releases each week from ftm contributors. We want MORE. And we want to share the raw information as quickly as possible. NEWS FROM YOU is the forum for adding what you know to what we know. Share what you know...or what your hear. We will apply the light-touch of the editors axe for clarity. We will also accept NEWS FROM YOU in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch and Portuguese...without translation. (We do insist on being able to understand what you contribute.) You also must clearly indicate that your contribution is for publication in NEWS FROM YOU.
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Week ending May 7, 2011
The Wall Street Journal today launched SafeHouse, a service that allows users to upload and submit tips, information, documents or files directly to the Journal. SafeHouse is a stand-alone site – https://www.wsjsafehouse.com – located on secure servers and managed directly by Journal editors. Users can submit materials along with their contact information or remain anonymous.
“The Wall Street Journal is the world’s most trusted source of news, and SafeHouse will enable the collection of information and documents that could be used in the generation of trustworthy news stories,” said Robert Thomson, editor-in-chief of Dow Jones & Company and managing editor of the Journal.
SafeHouse provides a single location for readers to submit information to the Journal on any topic via multiple available formats, including text files, audio recordings, photos and more. Information provided to SafeHouse will be reviewed and vetted by a senior Wall Street Journal editor assigned to manage the service.
If a user prefers to be considered a confidential source before agreeing to provide materials to the Journal, the user can fill out a secure online form, and a Journal editor will follow up directly.
Today the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) signed a new agreement with Radio Television of Kosovo (RTK), which allows the public broadcaster to make use of various EBU services including, but not limited to, access to television programmes. The agreement underlines the EBU's commitment to public service broadcasting in the region.
The signing ceremony took place today in Lucerne in the context of the Eurovision TV Summit. The RTK delegation was headed by the President of the RTK Board of Directors, Mr Rrahman Paçarizi and the Director General, Mr Sylejman Shaqiri. The EBU was represented by its President, Mr Jean-Paul Philippot, and Director General Ms Ingrid Deltenre.
Following the breakup of ex-Yugoslavia, the EBU was mandated in September 1999 by the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to set up and run RTK. The broadcaster first went on air for only two hours per evening, broadcasting from the badly damaged premises of the former Radio and Television Pristina. RTK was set up to supply impartial news and information, which all players believed was crucial for a successful transition to peace and democracy. RTK was formally founded as a legal entity in 2001.
Today, RTK broadcasts both on terrestrial and satellite networks and includes one television and two radio stations, Radio Kosova and Radio Blue Sky, as well as its web page, www.rtklive.com. RTK produces and broadcasts its programmes in five languages: Albanian, Serbian, Turkish, Bosnian, and Roma, appealing to all audiences with a wide range of programmes.
Mission-driven investment fund Media Development Loan Fund (MDLF) announced on 3 May - World Press Freedom Day - two major new investments in its work supporting independent journalism in countries without a free press.
Bank Vontobel and responsAbility Social Investments AG today launched the responsAbility Press Freedom VONCERT, a bond-like certificate enabling European social investors to invest directly in MDLF's work providing affordable debt and equity financing to independent news businesses in countries with a history of media oppression. In an innovative public-private partnership, the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation provided a partial guarantee for the VONCERT, which will raise CHF2.25 million of investment capital for MDLF.
At the World Press Freedom Day Conference in Washington, DC, Omidyar Network - a philanthropic investment firm dedicated to harnessing the power of markets to create opportunity for people to improve their lives, established in 2004 by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam - announced the expansion of its Government Transparency initiative to include support of journalism in the developing world, including a loan of USD2 million to MDLF.
"The responsAbility Press Freedom VONCERT provides the public with a simple way to invest in independent news businesses in transitional countries," said Harlan Mandel, MDLF Chief Executive Officer. "The investment by Omidyar Network underlines the fact that a free and independent press lies at the heart of government transparency and accountability."
The VONCERT will provide a 5-year loan to the New York-based MDLF and pay a return of 1.5% annually to investors. The certificate builds on the success of the Voncert responsAbility Media Development, which was launched in 2006 by Bank Vontobel, responsAbility Social Investments AG and MDLF and matures on 24 May 2011.
"The responsAbility Press Freedom VONCERT demonstrates the power of impact investments. If you can create an investment product to finance independent media, it is hard to imagine the limits," said Klaus Tischhauser, responsAbility Chief Executive Officer. Investors can subscribe till May 17, 2011.
"An open, civil society and responsive government require a free, vibrant press. The work MDLF does for journalism in developing democratic societies is vital to that effort. We are proud to support MDLF's work through Omidyar Network's government transparency initiative," said Stacy Donohue, Director, Investments, Omidyar Network.
Since 1995, MDLF has provided more than USD106 million in affordable financing to 77 news outlets in 26 countries, while only writing off 2% of the total loaned and invested. With a current portfolio of $41.8 million, MDLF backs up its debt and equity investments with strategic advice and management assistance.
"A vibrant and sustainable free press holds governments to account, exposes corruption and is the foundation of social, political and economic development," said Mr Mandel. "The needs are immense: more than 80% of people live in countries without a free press."
MDLF financing enables leading journalists to play a key role in developing democratic societies by helping them build self-sustaining news businesses. Loans are typically used to buy digital equipment, printing presses and TV and radio transmitters, helping independent news outlets grow their audiences, generate more revenue and stay clear of government and vested interest interference.
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