Deutsche Welle extends its radio transmissions for Belarus. From 1st August 2006 the transmission time will be increased by 30 minutes to 45 minutes in the context of a new morning programme.
DW Director General Erik Bettermann: “Against the background of the political situation in Belarus, it is our intention to set an example.” After the controversial presidential elections in March and in view of the desolate media situation in the country, it has now become even more important to provide the people in this state bordering on the EU with uncensored information from Europe. “We want people to be able to form their own opinions, and we are putting the emphasis on credibility and sustainability,” says Bettermann.
The Russian programme of DW RADIO has been broadcasting a 15-minute information programme to Belarus on short and medium wave every day since October 2005. The transmissions are in Russian and Belarusian. The new 30-minute offering can be heard via shortwave and satellite from Monday to Friday at 7.00 am (Minsk local time). In addition to which, texts and audio are archived on the Internet at (www.dw-world.de/belarus
This expansion means topics from the areas of culture, industry and commerce, education and youth can be included in the programme in future, “and more content can be delivered in Belarusian”, says programme chief Cornelia Rabitz. She says that the Belarusian programme, which is also broadcast over the Internet, is encountering more and more interest. “In the last six months we have succeeded in setting up a reliable network of correspondents in Belarus. This enables us to obtain and broadcast exclusive information from Belarus,” says Rabitz. The tried and tested infrastructure of DW ensures that the programmes are of a high professional standard.
(31. July 2006)
(Source: Md. Azizul Alam Al-Amin, Raishahi, Bangladesh)