SNIPPETS
The Global Media Partnership

NOVEMBER 2008

• DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO:
• Media worker Mabutwa Miatsi, in Goma in the east of DR Congo, had nearly completed setting up a FM station and was about to begin broadcasting. However, rebels came close and the Congolese army fled the town causing wide uncertainty over what would happen next. Mabutwa asks for prayer – especially for the technical equipment and the Radio Station. Further south, IBRA has co-workers in Bukavu who have also asked for prayer.
• Visit www.ibra.se
• KENYA:
• TWR-Kenya is establishing a Network of FM Radio Stations in Kenya. Currently, they produce 32 different weekly radio programmes. Each week 133 programmes are dispatched by CD to ten FM radio stations and on the internet to Swaziland for broadcast on shortwave to East Africa.
• Seven FM frequencies have recently been awarded to TWR. This enables them to broadcast on FM in the areas around Nairobi and remote towns in the northern and eastern parts of Kenya. Some are home to refugees who fled from war-torn parts of East Africa.
• Visit www.twr.org
• SUDAN:
• The Beja tribe in Sudan (and parts of Eritrea and Egypt) is a so-called “non-reached group“. IBRA is now broadcasting radio programmes in Beja. IBRA’s representative in the area was given a mobile phone to contact listeners. In September someone rang and requested a visit and further information. The follow-up worker visited the person in his home, which resulted in the whole family becoming Christians.
• Visit www.ibra.se
• COUNTRY FACTS – NIGERIA:

ASIA

• INDIA:
• NRB International Strategic Partnerships Director, Ron Harris, and Colleagues from NRB have met with Gospel for Asia, led by Dr. K.P. Yohannan. GFA has Bible Colleges and Churches, and use printing and broadcasting to reach India and some surrounding countries. “We were impressed to learn GFA has radio programmes in over 100 languages”, Harris said. People recording these programmes often do so at personal risk. GFA also produces numerous TV programmes, including cartoons and music programmes.
• Source: NRB
• PAKISTAN:
• At the end of October, the first IBRA programme in Urdu was aired in Pakistan, telling how House Churches work through drama. So far, eight out of a planned 52 programmes have been recorded.
• Email: info@ibra.se

AUSTRALIA

• CHRISTIAN MEDIA AUSTRALIA (CMA):
• CMA has announced its 2009 Conference, from 6th – 8th May 2009 at the Holiday Inn, Gold Coast. The Conference will be sponsored by Compassion Australia. International Speakers include Jon Gauger, Special Projects Producer for Moody Broadcasting.
• An accredited Training Day will be held on May 5th, the day before the Conference. The group based training entitled “Work effectively in the screen and media industries ” is a pre-requisite for the Cert III in Media and is a part of the management training curriculum. The Training Day is supported by the Community Broadcasting Foundation.
• Source: Christian Media Australia
• SCRIPTURE UNION:
• Media Chaplain, Kevin Hooper, is settling into his role with Scripture Union Australia. He moved from Brisbane to the NSW Central Coast to take up the role of Business Development Manager. Kevin will continue his work as a voluntary media Chaplain, working with Christian Radio Stations.
• Contact: hooper7@bigpond.com or Telephone +61 412 303167.
• COMMUNITY RADIO:
• The number of Australians listening to Community Radio is growing rapidly. 57% of Australians now tune in, compared to 47% in 2006. Over 9.5 million people now listen. This 10% rise in listenership was revealed in the 2008 Community Radio National Listener Survey, conducted by McNair Ingenuity Research. President of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, Deborah Welch, said the results were particularly strong because overall monthly radio listenership had levelled off in recent years.
• Source: Christian Media Australia

EUROPE

• EXHIBIT AT FEB 2009 CONFERENCE BULGARIA:
• Organisations can exhibit at the FEB Conference at the Park Hotel Vitosha, Sofia, Bulgaria from March 19-22 2009.
• Lonnie Riley – who leads a faith Ministry in southeastern Kentucky will join other leading Speakers in Sofia. For more information contact the FEB Office.
• Register at www.feb.org/Registration%20Form%20Bulgaria.doc
• EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT:
• The European Parliament Prize for Journalism has been awarded for the first time this year, in four categories: Written Press, TV, Online and Radio. The award ceremony was held in the European Parliament on 17 October 2008, in Brussels. The criterion was to contribute significantly to the better understanding of major European issues. The winners represent, Denmark and the United Kingdom (TV), Finland (Internet), Germany and Austria (Written Press) and Romania (Radio).
• Source: European Parliament
• DAB:
• Senior figures from across UK Radio have said that Channel 4’s decision not to continue with its radio plans, will not seriously affect DAB progress. The BBC, Commercial Radio, Ofcom and the Digital Radio Development Bureau say they can now get on with finding a solution to DAB’s problems. BBC Director of Audio and Music, Tim Davie, said the corporation remained “positive about the future of digital radio and DAB.” His commercial radio counterpart, Radiocentre Chief Executive Andrew Harrison, added, “We now have clarity, which will enable us to move forward as an industry.”
• Source: The Radio Magazine
• GERMANY:
• Evangelische Rundfunk (ERF) will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2009. There will be special events on 11 Saturdays in 2009, each showing an aspect of ERF work and including a guided tour of its facilities in Wetzlar. Themes will include: “Music is in the Air “; “All about Radio “; “Radio and the Internet“; “How to make a Children’s Broadcast”; “Podcast, Satellite and the Internet ” and others.
• Email info@erf.de
• UK:
• A new crop of US Christian TV shows are flooding the British market. “The Uprising ” is on the Inspiration Channel and Online. It follows three born-again Christian skaters who go around “spreading the word” while showing off their skating tricks. The music is punk-indie, the screen shots MTV, most of the men are tattooed and they are described as “the essence of cool” – something Christianity is rarely associated with. Feedback from goths and punks is positive. Hoping to reach disaffected people through skating, surfing and preaching breaks with tradition - but there are rules! Inspiration Channel spokesperson Melissa Prince says, “ We do shows that involve extreme sports because that’s one way of appealing to people.”
• Source: thelondonpaper
• EUROPEAN STUDENT FORUM:
• A group of Students from all over Europe have spent a week in Brussels with the support of the European Union (EU). The students (from a variety of social and political backgrounds and countries) shared their experience and concerns about participating in Public Life. The theme “Our Responsibility in Europe’s Future” focussed on the EU, but also looked at the influence on society of Law, Economics and the Media. Some were already busy in political parties (from conservative to left-wing).
• The programme included a visit to the European Parliament. Participants and Lecturers agreed that Christians should be active in every area of society and that it was important for Christians to be involved in many political parties, to bring their own values in their sphere of influence.
• Source: European Evangelical Alliance
• UK:
• The Religious Education Council for England and Wales (REC) is hoping to improve press coverage of religious education by encouraging teachers to come up with stories for local Media. The REC helps to promote and support religious education (RE) in schools. It believes negative articles on religious issues in the media are damaging the perception of the subject. To combat this, it will provide Media Toolkits to primary and secondary school teachers to increase positive stories in Local Media.
• Source: PR Week
• POLAND:
• In partnership with telecoms company Netia, MTV Networks International (MTVNI) has launched a free music and entertainment video-on-demand web portal called SwitchZone in Poland. The portal, at www.s2o.tv gives Polish internet users access to over 200 hours of programming and 7,000 local and international music video clips, subtitled or dubbed into Polish. These include full-length programmes from MTV, VH1, Viva and Comedy Central.
• Source: C21 Media.net
• UK:
• Channel 4 and ITV will both be allocated slots on Freeview to provide High Definition (HD) services, Ofcom has confirmed. Following a Tender process, Channel 4 will be able to broadcast an HD simulcast of its main channel on Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT). At the same time Channel 3 licencees (ITV plc, Channel TV, STV and UTV) will transmit their peaktime schedule and, outside peak, offer on-demand services and sublet space to other broadcasters. C4 and ITV join the BBC in launching HD services on DTT, expected to start with the Granada region from late autumn 2009. Nationwide coverage will be available by the end of digital switchover in 2012.
• Source: Broadcast
• EUROPEAN COMMISSION ACKNOWLEDGES EVANGELICALS:
• Europe’s citizens were asked to express their views to the European Commission’s Policy Advisers about the state of European Society. The European Evangelical Alliance (EEA) suggested a vision for future socio-political priorities, from a Christian perspective.
• Several EEA arguments were included in the Commission’s report and were described as very significant. Evangelical views about “a new social vision” are being heard and carefully considered in strategic places, potentially making “a real difference to the future of Europe through increased influence and participation in EU decision making for a generation.”
• Source: European Evangelical Alliance
• UK -  A STORY!:
• ITV’s TELETEXT were running out of money – and it was decided that “Religion” would have to go - along with Health and Education. However, as the Horoscope page was being kept, the Religion Editor suggested the GODLINES slot should too – and after an intervention from Lord Grade (among others), an amicable arrangement was worked out.
• There are still 2 new Teletext pages every day on ITV (Channel 4 P179) referring viewers to a website which has the Calendar, Dates and Bible Commentary: www.godlines.net On its first day it registered 300 visits.
• Source: All Saints Art Centre
• POLISH WEBEVANGELISM PROJECT:
• EO from the Netherlands and TopMission from France have partnered with a Polish ministry, CCM Poland (www.ccm.pl) to launch 2 webevangelism websites: www.szukajacboga.pl (Polish version of ConnaitreDieu.com) and www.dlaczegojezus.pl (Polish version of WhyJesus?). These sites offer Polish internet visitors the opportunity to discover more about the basics of the Christian faith, helped by an online e-coach.
• The websites were launched in July 2008 and are attracting over 25,000 visitors a month to the Polish Knowing God website. On average, 30 people a week are starting the “WhyJesus? ” course in Polish.
• Contact Arjo de Vroome arjo.de.vroome@eo.nl
• UK:
• Time Team Presenter Tony Robinson has raised fears that the BBC could become a “Robert Mugabe-figure ” under new proposals for it to form partnerships with other public service broadcasters. BBC Director General, Mark Thompson, is currently in talks to share technology and commercial resources with Channel 4 and ITV, in a bid to lessen the financial deficits they face after digital switchover.
• Source: Broadcast
• FRANCE :
• Inspiration Network International (INI), is now available on the French IPTV platform, FREETV on Channel 528. “Inspiration has been active in the French market,” Kyle Young, International Director said. “Through the Inspiration Global platform, hundreds of hours of on-demand French content have been made available through Top TV (www.topchretien.com/toptv) since October 2007. The addition to the Iliad platform broadens the scope of service to the linear television market.”
• Source: Inspiration Network

GLOBAL

• TRANS WORLD RADIO INTERNATIONAL:
• After a 6 month search, International Christian Broadcaster Trans World Radio has announced the appointment of Mr Lauren Libby as its new President and CEO. Libby currently serves as senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer with the Navigators in Colorado Springs and will be commissioned by TWR on December 1st. He will be TWR’s fourth President.
• “I am pleased and excited about the appointment of Lauren Libby as the President of TWR,” said TWR’s Chairman Thomas J. Lowell. ”I sense that he is a man with a passion for serving the Lord and he brings to our organisation significant knowledge of radio – and experience in leadership of a mission organisation.”

LATIN AMERICA

• COICOM:
• COICOM, the Latin American Media Partner to FEB and NRB, has held its 17th annual conference in Panama City. Christian Media and Church leaders from over 20 countries of the Spanish-speaking world attended. The Conference featured 100 Workshops and Sessions. According to COICOM’s President Arnold Enns, this year’s presentations exceeded all expectations. “For the first time in history we had the opportunity of having representatives from every major missions movement and organisation come together to plan strategically towards working together to spread the Gospel”. COICOM drew in organisations such as Lausanne (Cape Town 2010), CONELA (Latin American Evangelical Alliance); COMIBAM (IberoAmerican Missions Co-operation) and many other Mission Organisations.
• Presenters from the U.S. included Pastor Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle; NRB Senior VP for Strategic Partnerships, Ron Harris; Drs Norman Mintle and Harry Sova from Regent University. At the close of the COICOM Convention, CBN News’ Stan Jeter, one of the founders of COICOM, was elected Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors.
• Source: COICOM
• CITY LIGHTS PROJECT:
• The City Lights Project, by TWR, will reach the urban population of Latin America with the gospel. Over half the world’s 6+ billion people live in urban areas, and that is expected to swell to almost 5 billion by 2030. “City Lights” links churches and individuals throughout the United States with Latin American churches and radio stations to bring the message into Latin American cities.
• Visit www.twr.org

NORTH AMERICA

• USA:
• Wayne Pederson has been named as the new President of HCJB Global Christian Radio. Wayne Pederson, formally Vice President of Moody Broadcasting, will replace David Johnson, who stepped down in June after serving for seven years. Pederson has been a member of the Board of Directors of HCJB Global for two and a half years.
• A native of Minnesota, Pederson has a degree in Psychology from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Theology from Free Lutheran Theological Seminary in Minneapolis. Prior to joining Moody Broadcasting as manager of WMBI, he was Executive Director of Christian Music Broadcasters, President of the Mission America Coalition and President and Chairman of the National Religious Broadcasters. From 1967 to 2002, he held various positions at Northwestern College, rising to the level of executive Vice President for radio. He and his wife Norma live in Chicago and have two married children.
• Contact: acoffin@inchristcommunications.com
• BILLY GRAHAM IS 90!:
• America’s Statesman Evangelist Billy Graham was 90 on November 7th 2008. Many friends from around the world, sent testimony tributes to be published in a Commemorative Book. FEB Chairman and Lobbyist Harvey Thomas, served with the Billy Graham Team for 15 years, working as Crusade Director in over 100 Countries. He wrote: “My 15 years with you and the Team provided a unique training and learning experience that gave me the confidence to be a Christian in the political and secular world.”

DIARY DATES

• THE UK CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING COUNCIL:
• The CBC Conference and Media Awards will be held in Manchester on 21st and 22nd November 2008. Speakers include Rt Rev James Jones, Bishop of LIverpool; Canon Ian Gooding, Chris Cole (God TV); Jon Bellamy (Cross Rhythms); Andrew Graystone (CMC/BBC); Gareth Littler (C4CB); Chip K (God TV/bandwithnoname) and Rev Dr Jonathan Oloyede (Global Day of Prayer).
• Visit www.cbc.org.uk
• FEB CONFERENCE 2009:
• THE FEB CONFERENCE is in SOFIA, BULGARIA at the PARK HOTEL VITOSHA from MARCH 19 - 22 2009.  Leading Speakers include Oystein Samnoen from Kids and Media in Norway, Paul Negrut  from Romanian Evangelical Alliance, NRB International Director, Ron Harris, European Evangelical Alliance Leader, Gordon Showell-Rogers, Andrew Flynn, Christian Vision, and Lonnie Riley from Eastern Kentucky, who has an extraordinary story of faith and ministry.
• Visit www.feb.org
• ASSOCIATION OF CHRISTIAN BROADCASTERS’ CONFERENCE 2009:
• The ACB hold their Conference from 10-12 March 2009 at the Willow Park Conference Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa.
• Visit www.acb.org.za

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE FEB WEBSITE: www.feb.org

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