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French International News Channel Cleared to Go by EC. "Russia Today" Set to Go, Too. RFE/RL and VOA in Russian Sights BBC Returns to Arabic TV, Vacates Eastern Europe More Easy Pickings in Russian Media From Vladimir Putin On Down Russian Officials Have Been Assuring the World Newspaper Congress There Is Plenty of Freedom of the Press In Russia. It’s Just That It Is Press Freedom Russian Style |
“We have about 50cable and satellite operators carrying us already, and generally we’ve got a very positive attitude in the professional circles internationally,” she added.
The resources required for a 24/7 television news operation are substantial, though it seems not an insurmountable entry barrier for RT or its fellow newbie TV news channel France24. “More than 700 Russian and foreign professionals of the television business are engaged in the channel’s production – correspondents, presenters, producers, translators and interpreters, cameramen, editors and directors,” said Ms Ermolina. “Russia Today has its own correspondents in the main Russian regions, CIS, Europe, the US and the Middle East. Russia Today has its offices in Vladikavkaz, Kiev, Tbilisi, London, Paris, Washington, New York, Jerusalem and Cairo.”
International news is tough and competitive. And the emphasis at RT is news.
“Russia Today is a news channel so we employ the best of our team to cover news,” said Ms Ermolina. “They work round-the-clock without any break to the schedule. Certainly, other teams work in roughly the same tough schedule. There is a unit responsible for documentaries and reports. Each of the RT programmes, like Spotlight, IMHO, In Context, Business Today, Technology Update, Sports and the Media Mirror has its own editorial staff with huge experience gained at the leading international and Russian media, including the BBC, Sky, CNN and ITV.”
“Our wheel follows the same common world standards that the BBC or CNN stick to. The ratio of features and live coverage directly depends of the news and events of the day. Sometimes there can be more lives, like, for example, during a G8 summit or the funerals of the first Russian president Boris Yeltsin. Sometimes these lives can go on for a few hours.”
France24, the bi-lingual news channel touted by former French President Jacques Chirac, launched last December, a year after Russia Today. Like RT, France24 calls on the considerable resources of others. RT is attached to news agency RIA Novosti and France24 is jointly operated by public broadcaster France Televisions and private broadcaster TF1 with support from news agency AFP. France24 counts a dedicated staff of about 400, including 180 journalists. (France24 on YouTube, too. See press release)
Russia Today has cooperative agreements with CNN, al-Jazeera, Sky News, Associated Press (AP) and Reuters. “Both our western and Russian colleagues often ask us to give them our exclusive video materials or interviews or just be their experts,” added Ms Ermolina.
It’s been a quick rise for Russia Today, full of pleasant surprises, according to Ms Ermolina.
“We did not expect to become so professional in such a short time. We’re not just the first 24 hour channel, we are talking about Russia in English, which is twice as hard. It’s a very nice surprise for us that our channel is interesting not only to experts on Russia but also to average viewers who’re fed up with the same TV programmes and the same manner of presenting the information.”
“People write to thank us for discovering a new Russia for them, a Russia they haven’t known before. Russia Today gives them an opportunity to make their news picture of the world larger – to learn that, for instance, conflicts like Kosovo also exist in other places – in South Ossetia or Transdniester. Or that the capitalization of Russian companies exceeds that of the big western ones. We do not ignore the problems we have in Russia but we also don’t conceal the achievements and successes of our country.”
Broad audiences are hardly the target for international television news broadcasters, particularly those with close ties to home governments. It’s opinion leaders they seek; first, last and always. The BBC and CNN have the clear lead. Offering the Russian or French or Latin American (Telesur) viewpoint adds to the grand diversity of television news. Succeeding, however that might be measured, depends on the degree to which those opinion leaders need a differing view.
Selling that point, basic market need, if oft forgotten or left as an after-thought. What would Russia Today have done differently? PR says RT PR Chief Julia Ermolina.
“We would have put more effort in promoting the channel and explaining its mission, especially inside the country. It was shocking to see quite positive reaction internationally and to run across some absolutely absurd comments in the Russian media. It's a standard reaction for a professional: whenever you have a spare coin, spend it to buy another camera or to send your reporter somewhere to do a story. It's hard to make yourself invest your time and money in PR. But, apparently, you have to do that. Unfortunately.”
Both Russia Today and France24 recently announced Arabic-language program launches.
South Africa shares its world-view
South Africa’s State broadcaster became the most recent addition to the bouquet of viewpoints offered to television viewers with the debut of SABC International. The satellite channel will counter the “half truths” told by “news agencies with headquarters in powerful nations,” beamed President Thabo Mbeki in a launch speech all too familiar....MORE
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A spate of international television news channels have launched over the past two years. To challenge, or at least to check, the existing global giants – BBC World, CNN – requires significant staff, studios, stringers and synergies. With all of that in place, the hardest job is getting those hard-produced programs to potential viewers.