Global Media News

Television in Turkey

Up until 1990, all television and radio stations were owned by the state under TRT (Turkish Radio and Television Corporation.)

According to the CIA, private owned television in the country includes 635 broadcasting channels. This is an outstanding success rate for Turkish media in a span of less than 30 years. As of 2012, 96% of homes had television in Turkey, which for that year, was 2% more than the United States!  The wide variety of broadcast channels makes Turkey the 7th largest television producer worldwide. You'd be surprised to learn what the population is watching. 

Türkan Ayvalıoğlu, a 36 year old female, shares her preference of television during an interview with Marc Guillet. "I love all CSI series. Also Dexter, ice skating, American fantasy television series ‘Game of Thrones’ and everything on Animal Planet." Her favorite actor? Jack Nicholson!  

Another response from Barış Erdoğru, male age 40. His favorite shows include, " Dexter, The Big Bang Theory, Breaking Bad, Spartacus and CSI."

Hmm..Notice the trend here?

On the contrary, Semra Özbek Akgöl, female age 37,  strictly watches Turkish television. "I don't like foreign shows," she states.

Out of the eight participants in Guillets interviews, more than half are in favor of international television shows. Don't let that discourage you from exploring Turkish entertainment.  Here are a few notable televisions series in Turkish culture today. 

• Magnificent Century, with four seasons, has over 200 million viewers. 
• Ezel, a Turkish crime drama, rated 8/10 on IMDB.
• Karadayı, a drama series featuring a wrongful imprisonment.

  

 

 

Al Jazeera Journalist Released From Egyptian Prison, Two Others Remain

    According to Wadah Khanfar, writing for theguardian.com, Peter Greste, journalist for al-Jazeera, was released from an Egyptian prison after 400 days.  Khanfar and his two fellow journalist were arrested due to the lack of freedom of press in Egypt under dictator Hosni Mubarak.  Despite the fact that Khanfar was released, his two fellow journalists are still being detained in the Egyptian prison.  Mohamed Fahmy, one of the two detainees, has been asked to revoke his Egyptian citizenship because he has dual nationality in Canada, and will make is easier to be deported.  The court has discriminated against Baher Mohamed, the third journalist, because he was given three extra years more than the other two journalists, making him imprisoned for ten years, rather than seven.

“They were arrested while conducting their professional duties, but the court imprisoned them for allegedly spreading lies and distorted the image of Egypt.”

    Under Egypt’s dictatorship, there is no freedom of press, making it very difficult for journalists to report on any news.  Egyptian citizens are fearful of their dictator and have no voice to help detained journalists be set free.  These men were doing their jobs and it’s saddening to see that journalists may be jailed or killed for reporting the news. 

BBC.com reports that there are campaigns running to urge the release of the other two journalists.  Greste spoke with a fellow journalist on the phone while he waited at Cairo's airport for departure.  Sue Turton, an Al Jazeera journalist who was also charged 10 years in an Egyptian prison, explained Greste was of course excited, but after his excitement the seriousness set in.  

"She said one of her colleagues managed to talk to Mr Greste on the phone as he waited at a departure lounge at Cairo's airport. She said "he was joking, and obviously he's elated. But his second sentence straight after that elation was - we've still got to get the other two out"."

Although the fate of these two journalists is unclear, the hope for their return is still kept alive.  The campaigns continue to pull in, and will hopefully make a difference.  

Global Media News Webcast #2: African Media! February 12, 2015

 Global Media News for February 12, 2015

This week on Global Media News:  Sub-Saharan Africa!  

Media news about Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, & Ethiopia:

• Nollywood & Nigerian Entertainment Media
• How are Gays Represented in Nigerian Media
• Press Freedom in Ethiopia: Will the May 2015 Election be Fair?
• Kenyan TV: Making the Switch to Digital
• Kenyan Sports Fans Have a New Channel!
• Mobile Kenyans:  The Smart Phone Majority!
• Google Nigeria: Sharing Data Journalism Tools for Media
• What's Microsoft  Doing in Ghana?
• Internet Censorship in Sub-Saharan Africa

Global Media News is a weekly webcast covering media news from around the world.  GMN is a production of  Media Studies students from the SUNY College @ Old Westbury.   We scour the web for news about the world's media.

Listen to our next webcast from the New Media Newsroom  streaming live on Thursday, February 19 @ 11am EST.

Can't listen live? Our next webcast of the season will be posted by 2:00pm, Thursday, February 19, 2015.

Subscribe Now!

Ugandan Magazine Advocates Gay Lifestyle

A Ugandan Magazine was recently published to support gays and help tell their story. The publisher, Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera is openly gay and hopes to raise awareness about gay experiences. Tabloids make it difficult to supports homosexuality because they expose LGBT people in a country where homosexuality is illegal. "Politicians have stoked anti-gay sentiment by proposing laws that appeal to conservative Christians – the latest of which seeks to criminalise the “promotion” of homosexuality". (Agence France-Presse)

Along with many of her followers, Kasha has experienced violence and hate. She decided to create the magazine entitled Bombastic after she received hundreds of Facebook messages about harassment of LGBT people. Kasha developed the idea of producing the magazine concerning the lack of media support in Uganda, towards gays. She wanted to give people the LGBT people a platform in a country that shames them. Many people that have spoke out about gay rights have been threatened and attacked. The media is a major factor to the violence and harassment against gays. Magazines, television broadcasts , and newspapers exploit the LGBT community by plastering their photos on publications. Her dear friend, David Kato had been eaten to death with a hammer, in broad daylight after his name was published by a tabloid. “They would target me a lot, they would cook up stories – how I’m getting married … I’m training people to become lesbians,” Nabagesera said.

The people of  Uganda ad many other African countries are afraid to speak out because they fear or their jobs, homes, families and life. She wanted to be the voice for those afraid to weak out. After printing 15,000 copies of Bombastic Kasha sent them everywhere. “We took lots of copies to parliament, government offices, everywhere,” she said. Kasha further sought to promote Bombastic using a website, driving major traffic. 

One hundred thirty-eight volunteers including mainstream media help distribute the magazine. Awareness was being raised about the trouble Ugandan media causes for the LGBT community, although some burnt and dismissed them. Kasha was told "“the president’s wife refused even to open it”. “It is our wish, our hope, that if people read just one story it changes their attitude,” she said. Kasha's goal is to gain more support for gay rights.

Reference:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/09/uganda-gay-magazine-homophobia

http://www.dougcooperspencer.com/black-lgbtq-people-in-history.html

Kenya Media - Attitude Toward Foreign Media & Broadcast Media

Kenya Media - Attitude Toward Foreign Media & Broadcast Media

 

Kenya is a diverse media scene that is supported by a large middle class that sustains a substantial advertising market. A handful of major players dominate the industry. One of them is the Nation Media Group which has extended its operations to neighboring countries. Television is the main news source in cities and towns. The spread of viewing in rural areas has been slower, hampered by limited access to mains electricity. The main satellite pay-TV platforms are South Africa's MultiChoice and its Kenyan rival Wananchi Group, which operates Zuku TV.

Before founding one of the Nation Media Group (NMG), Kenya individuality rose into a “three tier system” to categorized media in its sectors. One of the media was television. Television has not made an impact in Kenya's countryside (Mytton; Ochieng; Bourgault; De Beer et al).  Although electricity remains an important factors in Kenya yet complicated in that region, many manages to use batteries and solar system to receive their broadcast.

 

It is mention that Kenya requires foreigners to have work permits in order to work internationally in media or local media houses, and for those who hold any international license can begin to work in Kenya as long as they do not report on Kenyan politics. It is reported that Kenya deal is the fourth broadcast-related acquisition in Africa by Times Media Group in about seven months. In addition, it is reported that about 32.26% stake in Ghana’s Multimedia Group for R144m. Times Media plans utilized Radio Africa Limited (RAG), which is one of Kenya’s top three media groups in East Africa. RAG includes the media in broadcast which includes Kiss FM, Classic FM, Radio Jumbo and Kiss TV.

 

            According to a source, Radio Africa has sold a 49% to Times Media Group (TMG) to increase the company's financial revenue and offset debts. TMG will now become a shareholder in Radio Africa to lead multi-media house in the East African region. Moroever, TMG has print as well as electronic media and the Internet which attracts a regular readership quite in the region. On the financial front, the Group's performance over the years has been outstanding even in the leaner economic periods in the country and shows continuous growth and profits for the company as well as the shareholders.

Kenya’s media industry has witnessed growth in recent years with the creation of more newspapers, magazines, radio stations and TV channels. Although few Kenyans can claim to own a small radio station, magazine or shares in a listed media house, the real kings are few.  According to chief executive Patrick Quarcoo, he stated TMG "will be good to the company, for the staff, and the shareholders.”

 

Global Media News Spring 2015 Premiere!

Global Media News: North African Media!

Global Media News is a weekly webcast covering media news from around the world.  GMN is a production of  Media Studies students from the SUNY College @ Old Westbury.   We scour the web for news about the world's media.

This week on Global Media News:  North Africa!  

Media news about Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Algeria & Tunisia:

• Egyptian Press Freedom:  Two Al Jazeera Journalists Still in Prison
• Bassem Youseff:  Poltical Satire on Egyptian Television?
• Revolutionary Rap from North Africa
• Social Media in Libya since the Overthrow of Gaddafi
• Moroccan Media Reform:  Free Press or Censorship?
• TV News in Algeria: Khabar Broadcasting Corporation

This is our first webcast of the season!   See you next week!

Listen to our next webcast from the New Media Newsroom  streaming live on Thursday, February 12 @ 11am EST.

Can't listen live? Our next webcast of the season will be posted by 2:00pm, Thursday, February 12, 2015.

Subscribe Now!

Revolutionary Rap in North Africa

    

    Ever since its inception in New York, Hip Hop/Rap has become a voice for the voiceless, speaking out against social injustices. Urban youth were let down by America and created an art form with which to strike back and claim an empowerment that would help their voice span the globe.

    This is the case in North Africa as many rappers have emerged as a result of corrupt politics, conflict, and revolution. Though their lyrics are not in English, their message is clear: "We want change." Revolution has occurred in places like  Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria and Libya, but some artists feel there has not been any change. They've used their lyrics encouraging people to become more politically conscious as well as call out corrupt government officials and institutions. Rap has now become the unofficial soundtrack for revolution.

    Among these rappers is "El Général" who in 2010 released a song called "Rais Le Bled" which translates to "Head of State" in English. The song spoke out against former Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. El Général was arrested in 2011 for this track, and released after three days of interrogation. Social media helped his cause as it does many rappers of the region. The track was released on YouTube and was able to circumnavigate the world. This is the case with the majority of North African rappers who don't need to professionally record and produce their music, lest they be censored by the powers that control media distribution. Using Hip Hop and the internet in tandem have made it an unstoppable force, helping these artists to gain international fame. With that fame, comes their message and themes of political consciousness. These rappers have actually been able to develop an American fan base, and visit New York to perform in the home of Hip Hop.

    In some ways, American Hip Hop has devolved from political activism to promoting consumerism, lavish lifestyles, violence, drug use and sexual promiscuity. It's because of this modern mainstream music that Hip Hop is  berated for having an adverse effect on those who listen to it, primarily modern youth; Parents groups will say Hip Hop has no place as an art form, or even as music. They'll say that it influences listeners to act out the lyrics they hear in songs and take after the rappers that sing them. Hopefully in this case, Hip Hop's detractors are correct. If music can influence listeners that much, then perhaps revolutionary lyrics can shake modern day youth out of apathy and into a role of self-empowerment and self-advocacy; to fight for the future they will one day be responsible for.

What Role Did Social Media Play in the Defeat of Qaddafi ?

Social Media is known for giving people an outlet to express themselves and their views to friends and strangers all over the world. Websites like Facebook, Twitter and others alike allow people to share like and comment on topics that we either agree or disagree on, but no matter what it allows you a chance of being heard whether it be through photos, videos or words.

Colonel Muammar Qaddafi was the leader of Libya for 42 years. Under Qaddafi, Libya was a dictatorship which was run according to his "Green Book" that shared his political ideology that he expected his people to read and follow. In February 2011 people in Libya started protesting because they were tired of the way he ran their country. Protests that started out peaceful soon turned deadly and the government started to fight back and killing innocent protestors.

Not only through traditional methods of protesting like marches and car burning which was going on in the country. Soon people took a new approach and used social media and foreign news media to reach out and expose what was going on.

"While Al-Jamahiriya, the Libyan state-owned television channel, was broadcasting nonstop patriotic songs, poetry recitations and rowdy rallies supporting the Libyan leader, Col. Qaddafi on Tuesday, Al Jezeera, the Arabic satellite channel based in Doha, was showing images of angry Libyan demonstrators throwing shoes at a giant street screen carrying live pictures of Colonel Qaddafi’s speech."

 Protesters turned to twitter, web posts and uploading videos and pictures to show millions of people around the world what they were going through and how they aren't stopping until change is made. As a country they came together to fight back against Quaddafi even though he tried to continue to use his heavily controlled media outlets to support himself. Up until his death on October 20, 2011 social media allowed us to look at this country with a different view. To see with our own eyes a civil war against a government with total control of its people rights and views. It allowed them to come together to be the change for the better of a country.

Recent Articles: Media News from Africa

Good Sources:

Looking for media news stories about Africa?  Try  allAfrica.com's  Media Section

Check out this newsletter about digital media in Africa from Smart Monkey TV:  Digital Content Africa

Try Smart Monkey's "Film & Media" section for more stories about media in Africa

Some recent media news from Africa:

Tunisia:

Roy Greenslade, "Tunisian blogger jailed for 'insulting military high command," The Guardian, January 6, 2015.

Egypt:

Leslie T. Chang, "The news website that’s keeping press freedom alive in Egypt," The Guardian, January 27, 2015.

Patrick Kingsley, "Al-Jazeera journalist Peter Greste deported from Egypt," The Guardian, February 1, 2015.

Kenya:

Jackie Christie, "BBC Sema Kenya takes a bow," BBC Media Action, January 21, 2015.

Lesotho:

Michael J. Jordon, "Op-Ed: The Toothless Watchdog – why the Lesotho media’s election coverage matters," Daily Maverick, January 28, 2015.

Somalia:

Warsame, "Somalia and Press Freedom on January," National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), Mareeg Media, February 2, 2015.

Tanzania:

April Reino, "Tanzanian authorities suspend newspaper, citing formality," International Press Institute, January 28, 2015.

 Africa:

Bree Feng, "China Strives to Be on African Minds, and TV Sets," Sinosphere, New York Times, January 7, 2015.

Russell Southwood, "African radio changes wavelength – The rising wave of digital streaming offers new opportunities,"  Digital Content Africa Newsletter, Smart Monkey TV,  January 2015.

Kenyan rapper calls for others to "Keep it Real"

An article from Nigerian Entertainment Today features Kenyan rapper Mwafeeka Mwaf taking to social media to express his discontent with the lyrics of another well known African rapper, Ice Prince. In a song titled 'N Word', Ice makes it a point to rap about his lavish lifestyle which includes driving Bugatti cars.

Mwaf's post on Facebook instructed Ice to stop copying the styles and themes of Western rappers like Jay Z and Lil Wayne, who due to their success and fame  can actually afford Buggatis. The reason for Mwaf's anger being that Hip Hop should be a means of expressing oneself through song, not who one would like to be. He believes Ice Prince's lyrics do not accurately represent Africans. 

Western consumers of Hip Hop are now more used to the mainstream commercialized brand of the genre which depicts rappers as having wealth and fame. The origins of Hip Hop seem to be quite the opposite, using beats and rhyme to illustrate financial and socioeconomic strife. According to Mwaf, these roots of Hip Hop should maintain the same cultural integrity in Africa's musical entertainment industry.