News and features - Africa
By Samme Bogad
Sunday, 27 January 2008
Gundula Adolfsson and Yassin MahiSomaliweyn radio and TV has signed an historic international agreement with the English section of Swedish Radio International. The agreement will be mainly based on content collaboration over both news networks. Somaliweyn listeners will be able to follow the English programmes of Swedish Radio International live in Mogadishu, Somalia, and on the internet pages of the Somaliweyn's website.
Honorable Yassin Mahi, one of the top officials of radio and TV Somaliweyn, who is also the head of marketing and international relations at the news organisation, said the development followed lenthy discussions between the two broascasters. "This is an historic agreement for a local Somali radio to sign an agreement with an international radio, and this issue will have immense advantage for the Somali community," he said. As Gundula Adolfsson, head of Swedish Radio International's programmes, signed the agreement, Mr. Mahi spoke about the problems faced by journalists working in war ravaged."These independent journalist are working in a very awful circumstances such as constant fear and oppress." "These independent journalist are working in a very awful circumstances such as constant fear and oppress." Ingemar Lofgren a senior member of Swedish Radio International, praised Somaliweyn radio for the role it plays among the Somali society, and said this was a major step forward.The agreement comes as the director of Somaliweyn Abdurahman Hudeyfi, along with reporter Al-Bashir, are still being held at the headquarters of the national security department in Somalia.
http://www.mediahelpingmedia.org/content/view/300/1/
(Source: Alokesh Gupta, New Delhi)