RADIO NETHERLANDS WORLDWIDE: Radio Netherlands Worldwide is launching an Arabic radio programme called 'Huna Amsterdam' (This is Amsterdam calling). The Arabic department is venturing into a thick jungle of satellite and radio stations with its programme of daily news and current affairs. Nevertheless, Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) believes it has something to add to the media landscape.
The Arabic media landscape has changed considerably since the 1990s. Government-controlled state radio and television has made way for hundreds of border-crossing satellite stations such as al Jazeera and al Arabiyya: an enormous boost for press freedom in the Middle East. Nevertheless, these satellite stations are also struggling with the limitations placed on press freedom and the need for self-censorship, as they are often financed by Arab governments.
New opportunities
Fourteen years ago, the emergence of satellite stations was the reason why RNW ended its shortwave radio broadcasts in Arabic. Now, RNW sees new opportunities, via the Internet, satellite, shortwave, mediumwave and FM.
There is a demand for independent, reliable news and analysis of events in this region. Radio Netherlands Worldwide's Arabic department will provide these using experts in the Western and Arabic worlds as well as the expertise that exists within its own editorial team. The 12 journalists in the team are from Morocco, Iraq, the Palestinian territories, Algeria, Libya, Sudan and the Netherlands. >>> By Nicolien Den Boer | October 27, 2008
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