Â鶹Éç World Service has been at the forefront of multimedia programme making ever
since Talking Point combined an international phone-in with a simultaneous
webcast and a television broadcast on Â鶹Éç World. In 2005, the idea of a global
conversation between peoples of different cultures, languages and backgrounds
achieved new levels with the launch of a new generation of interactive
programming.
‘Our new programme World Have Your Say isn’t just an hour-long radio programme,
it isn’t just a phone-in – it’s designed to be a 24-hour interactive
experience,’ says Phil Harding, Director of English Networks & News. ‘The
result has been to bring out a range of topics, voices and emotions that we
don’t normally get on the air.We’ve also joined up the various conversations
that are taking place in all Â鶹Éç World Service languages, so if the topic is
Iran we’ve been able to tap into what people are saying on the Â鶹Éç Persian
website and share that with our global audience in English and other
languages.’
Constant dialogue with audiences is giving news teams an early warning of
issues that may turn into major news stories. Investment in technology has
made it possible to process a sudden increase in online traffic much faster;
users can nominate the top comments of the day as the ones that most closely
reflect what they think and feel. People who comment are also invited to
give their details so news teams can contact them.The technological
investment paid off when publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad in
several European newspapers prompted outrage among some Muslims.
‘When a really big story like the cartoons row breaks, one that people
genuinely want to have their say about, we now have the infrastructure in
place to manage and publish all the thousands of comments that start
flooding in,’ says Myra Hunt, Head of New Media.‘We saw how the English
and Arabic areas suddenly took off, followed by other language areas, and
we were able to handle that huge volume of material.’
The impact of interactivity on journalism is growing. ‘There is a quiet
revolution going on; reflecting what people feel is subtly changing
the news agenda,’ Myra Hunt explains. ‘When a subject has really struck
a chord we ask whether it shouldn’t have a more prominent place in our
output.’
Closer to Audiences
The new daily bi-media programme in Spanish, Â鶹Éç Enlace, produced from the
Miami bureau, shows how interactive programming is deepening the
relationship with both radio and online audiences. By the end of the year,
over 30 FM partner stations were taking the daily programme, the topic of
which is proposed by online users. Many have been prompted by the programme
to visit the Â鶹Éç Spanish website, bbcmundo.com, and their interest in
social issues – ranging from teenage pregnancy to urban insecurity – has
broadened the agenda. ‘It’s fascinating how a Â鶹Éç programme has truly become
a forum for debate in Latin America,’ says Julia Zapata, Head of Â鶹Éç
Spanish American. ‘Â鶹Éç Enlace quickly became the subject of young bloggers
thanking us for finding a space for them. One even likened the magic of the
Â鶹Éç to the Brazil football team; he was so captivated by the idea.’
Interactivity is now a key part of many new and established programmes for
all parts of the world. In many African countries, where use of mobile
phones is growing rapidly and texting is relatively cheap, there is keen
interest in taking part in Â鶹Éç programmes through the use of new
technology. Texts and emails now feature constantly in regular output such
as Network Africa and Focus on Africa, commenting on breaking news and
raising issues for audiences to debate. Africa Have Your Say takes the idea
a stage further.
‘Africa Have Your Say is a very important programme for us, a place where
Africans across the continent are coming together to debate issues that
really matter to them,’ says Jerry Timmins, Head of Africa and Middle East
Region.‘We also hook up those contributions to the global debate, so what
Africans have to say is there for people around the world to read. ‘But the
striking thing about the whole programme schedule for Africa is that you
now continuously hear the audience taking part in all our programmes and
they help to shape the agenda,’ he adds. ‘Even our dramas are written by
members of the audience.’
Cartoon Row
Â鶹Éç World Service received a massive response to the row over the
publication of newspaper cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad.
Among those to comment were people from Denmark, where the cartoons were
first published, and the Arab world.
‘It’s not enough to just say this is
all about freedom of expression.
We respect freedom of expression
but we know there are certain boundaries
and limits.’
Afreen Parvez, Saudi Arabia.
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A year in review |
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Encouraging global debate |
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