BBC College of Journalism launches new foreign-language websites

On my first day as a news presenter at the BBC World Service, I realised that, in order to produce and present an impartial, balanced and accurate report, in addition to journalistic training I badly needed to know the in-house style of my department: which Pashto word to use; which pronunciation to go for; and how to translate a word accurately.

Ever since, it has been my dream to create a mechanism which will support journalists in the language they are broadcasting.

Three years ago, I saw the possibility of achieving that goal when the BBC College of Journalism accepted my proposal to create a set of websites about journalism for all of the languages in which the BBC broadcasts.

In partnership with the BBC World Service, 30 language sites were created, to serve as a reference point for in-house styles that had been developed in the different departments over many years.

Now the BBC College of Journalism is relaunching its Arabic, Persian and Russian sites with a wide range of new material.

Arabic

The Arabic website is publishing new films and guides to journalistic skills and the particular requirements of the Arabic language against the background of fast-moving events in the Middle East and North Africa. 

Taking as an example a recent investigative documentary by BBC Arabic exploring hidden torture in Tunisia, the site takes users through a series of key editorial decisions and dilemmas. BBC Arabic Service experts discuss how to identify and investigate a story. They talk about how to avoid legal difficulties, and the importance of authenticating material before using it.

Naglaa El-Emary, Editor of BBC Arabic, says:

"Investigative journalism within the Arab world is in flux. In the past, repressive measures by many governments meant there is little tradition of investigations as a genre. However, the wave of revolutions spreading across the region means there is an unparalleled opportunity for sources and stories that have never been heard before. There is a lack of rigorous journalism on these kind of stories and their coverage is patchy. BBC Arabic makes its values and its expertise in the genre available to journalists."

The BBC Arabic Service has been developing an in-house style for more than 70 years. Its style guide is published for the first time on the Arabic site.

It includes tips on classical Arabic language, which is used for broadcast, and the BBC's recommendations about impartiality in relation to the use of Arabic on air. 

Persian

The College's Persian website is publishing new guidelines for journalists on how to use social media - which now plays a major role in all BBC journalistic activity around the world. It is of particular importance in Iran, where there are many restrictions on traditional sources of information and means of reporting the news.

In an interview on the site, Liliane Landor, Controller Languages at BBC Global News, explains the rules governing BBC journalists' behaviour when using sites like Facebook and Twitter. She distinguishes between BBC journalists' use of social media personally, including for the acquisition of contacts, and the need to avoid expressing political views as a member of BBC staff.

Sina Motalebi, Head of Persian TV Output, says:

"It's neither a case of pride nor admittance of defeat that Persian TV has to heavily rely on social media and citizen journalists to cover Iran: it's merely a fact of life for a broadcaster which has no access to its main target area!

Our significant dependence on social media only means that our journalists need to exercise an even higher level of care to preserve the BBC's reputation, values and standards - including fairness towards our contributors and a duty of care for their safety."

The Persian website is also publishing key learning points to develop television, radio and online skills.

The language category of the site has a rich linguistic guide to the Persian language, including Persian grammar, the creation of new words and the art of translation.

Russian

New features of the Russian site include items on journalistic ethics as well as key advice on the impartial use of the Russian language.

Sarah Gibson, Head of the BBC Russian Service, says:

"The College material really enhances the Russian Service's offer to its audience. There is a great deal of interest in Russia in how the BBC works; its editorial guidelines and standards; and its approach to the multimedia world. Attitudes in Russia to the BBC can vary, but its journalism is highly regarded by many. Being able to make this material accessible to the journalists of today and tomorrow is a great demonstration of the BBC's commitment to journalistic standards."

This is the first phase of a programme that will eventually see the overhaul of all the College's 30 language sites.

The sites are available via the College of Journalism website, and can be accessed via the homepages of the BBC's Arabic, Persian and Russian services.

Najiba Kasraee is Project Editor for the BBC College of Journalism's international websites.