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Week ending February 17, 2007

RFE/RL - Attacks On Press Grow Despite World Economic Growth – February 12, 2007

from Martins Zvaners/RFE/RL

Two researchers for the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) told an RFE/RL audience last week that the organization's latest annual "Attacks on the Press" report documents an increase of such attacks, despite economic growth across the surveyed countries of Asia and Europe.

Nina Ognianova, Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator for CPJ, described the "culture of impunity" that has taken hold in Russia and many of the other countries of the former Soviet Union (FSU), where journalists are being prosecuted, imprisoned and even killed in "contract-style" murders. Ognianova said this attitude of impunity "is the leading threat to freedom of the press" in Russia, because it has already created a "chilling effect" among journalists trying to report on government corruption and human rights abuses.

An "institutional secrecy" surrounds the 13 murders of journalists that have been documented in Russia since President Vladimir Putin was elected, said Ognianova, whose organization met last year with many family members of the murdered journalists. According to Ognianova, the relatives complained that lawyers "can't get routine information" about the police investigations.

Speaking about the other FSU countries, Ognianova said that Russia, as the dominant political force in the region, has created a "domino effect" regarding the press and media--wherein other former Soviet states follow the lead of Russia in how they deal with journalists and media outlets. One of the examples cited by Ognianova was the case of RFE/RL Turkmen Service correspondent Ogulsapar Muradova, who died in September of "unexplained causes" in prison. Muradova had been convicted a few months earlier in what Ognianova referred to as a "sham trial in Turkmenistan" on charges of being a "traitor to the Motherland." CPJ Asia Program Research Associate Kristin Jones said that "media freedom had failed to keep pace with economic growth." Jones cited China as an example, where "the media is booming," but where 31 journalists are imprisoned by the state on "charges of leaking national security." Often "local authorities work with local business to punish local reporters" who may be reporting on violations or corruption, Jones said.

As hosts of the upcoming Olympic Games in 2008, "the Chinese know they have an image problem," Jones said, so they have eased restrictions on foreign journalists as of January 1, 2007. She said there is an effort underway, by a "few bold editors" in Beijing, to try to broaden this policy to the indigenous media as well.

In the rest of Asia, Jones said, "there has been a step back" for the media, with the military junta in Thailand suspending press freedom, more defamation lawsuits filed in Philippine as well as "an upsurge in state-sanctioned attacks," and continued instability in South Asia posing threats to journalists.

Make us a regular date: Valentine’s Day launch of BBC English Learning on largest Chinese web portal – February 12, 2007

from Lala Najafova/BBC World Service

Users of China’s largest web portal can now learn English directly from the site thanks to a partnership deal betweenBBC World Service andQQ.com – the first Chinese national portal to enter content partnership with the BBC. From Wednesday 14 February, users of QQ.com will be able to accessBBC Learning English content specially tailored for Chinese speakers.

BBC Learning English teaches reading, listening and comprehension. It explains various points of the English language through human interest stories and topics including UK lifestyle and culture.

The BBC will start English teaching on QQ.com with two popular features, Take Away English and Quizzes. Take Away English has been a hit with Chinese users as it offers MP3 audio and pdf text downloads, so the learner can quite literally take away the BBC’s English lessons. Topics range from the latest Harry Potter book and online gaming to Chinese football players, and include listening, reading, exercises and an audio glossary. Quizzes offers learners an interactive test of their English vocabulary and grammar and helps them with teacher feedback.

Looking ahead at what BBC Learning English has in store for Chinese online users, Alison Konieczny, Editor of BBC English Language Teaching China team, said: “We are planning to treat Chinese learners to two more features which will enrich their English vocabulary in fun and entertaining ways. Real English teaches words and phrases learners won't necessarily find in their dictionaries, and Word Master is an interactive game which tests and teaches vocabulary common in English proficiency exams.”

Alison added: "I can't think of a better day to launch our partnership with QQ.com than 14 February, which of course is Valentine's Day. It's a memorable day for a lot of people, and I hope Chinese learners will fall in love with our BBC pages and make us a regular date!"

BBC World Service’s Business Development Manager for China and North Asia, Raymond Li, added: “We are delighted to partner with one of the leading national portal sites in China to provide quality English learning content to many learners in China. Internet has become an increasingly popular and effective learning platform among young people, and the BBC has been building up successful partnership with China’s local portal sites over last few years. Our new partnership deal with QQ.com will help us reach more online learners in China, therefore bringing more benefit to them, too.”

Caitlyn Chen, Chief Editor of QQ.com, is also confident about partnership with the BBC: “QQ.com is committed to providing not only first-class services but also the most valuable information to our online users. Having the BBC as our partner will enable us to access the most advanced English learning materials in the world and provide online users in China with the best possible online environment for English learning. I am looking forward to strengthening this cooperation by launching more content to meet the interests and demands of online users.”