Archives for June 2010

It's always interesting to read listeners' responses to the subjects we cover on Over To You - and every now and then we have an item that really seems to capture your imagination.

One such example was the interview we broadcast last week with the BBC's Director-General, Mark Thompson.

If you heard last week's programme, you'll know that Rajan's interview with him covered a number of topics - the role of the BBC in the 21st Century, whether more coverage should be directed to certain parts of the world than others and the future for radio.

And you weren't slow to send us your own thoughts on some of these issues, so we've tried to use a good cross-section in this week's programme.

Some listeners expressed their concern that in the future they might find themselves listening to radio programmes on devices other than radios - a computer or mobile phone for example. 

Robert Hyman emailed us from Norway. "Call me old fashioned," he said, "but I don't have a computer in each room of my house, and prefer radio from a radio".

I wonder how many other people feel the same?

Put your hand in your pocket?

There were also some interesting comments about ways of making up for possible cuts in BBC funding that might be necessary in the future.

These included a suggestion from Dimitri Tsamados that listeners might like to make donations in appreciation of the services provided by the BBC.

And Saeed Salehi suggests charging for different services.

It would be fascinating to know how many people would agree with these ideas - or whether the audience would disappear to listen to free services elsewhere.

Reporting from Kyrgyzstan

Also in this week's programme, Rajan talks to Firdevs Robinson, Editor of the BBC's Central Asia region, about the dangers and difficulties of reporting the recent ethnic violence in Kyrgyzstan - a part of the world that is notoriously dangerous for journalists.

There are tensions between the Kyrgyz community, and the ethnic Uzbeks who make up 15% of the country's population.

And interestingly, the Central Asian service includes both Kyrgyz and Uzbek staff - who, understandably, have their own views of the conflict.

Reconciling the different positions has been a challenge, as Firdevs Robinson tells Rajan in this week's Over To You.

Cathy Packe is the Producer, Over to You

Over To You is your chance to have your say about the BBC World Service and its programmes. It airs at 00:40, 03:40 and 12:40 every Sunday (GMT).

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Seventy years ago the BBC broadcast a speech that was to alter the course of history. It was made at Broadcasting House, the BBC's headquarters in central London, by the French wartime leader General Charles De Gaulle and it was an impassioned rallying call to his countrymen to resist the Nazi occupation.

President Sarkozy was in London this week to mark the event and he met the BBC's director general, Mark Thompson.

BBC's future

In the 21st century both men have issues on their minds that are very different from those of their predecessors in 1940. But it's an apt time to focus on the current role of the World Service in the new globalised era.

And who better to do that with that on this week's Over To You than the DG himself, Mark Thompson.

In an extended interview that I recorded with Mr Thompson this week, he lays down his approach to a broadcasting environment where competition is intense and budgetary cuts are inevitable - but in which the role of the BBC is essentially the same: to offer impartial and independent news and current affairs around the world - often in places other broadcasters can't reach or fear to tread.

So how might you be affected by cutbacks which - given the world economic climate - seem likely to affect the World Service? Are TV language services the way forward? How much of a priority is radio - and in particular the English network? Or are we all multi-media consumers now?

Do listen to the interview and follow up on Mark Thompson's comments. At the end of the interview he told me that he's keen to know what listeners feel, so post your comments here, or email Over To You ([email protected]), and we'll be passing on your views to him.

Football fatigue

And also on this week's programme: the one activity which I suspect bridges all political divides and famously temporarily halts wars, is the biggest source of your correspondence this week.

Actually for many of you , it's the biggest source of your displeasure. "Too much World Cup on the World Service", some of you are screaming over the incessant barrage of the vuvuzela!

Let us know whether you agree - or are you enjoying all the football-related coverage and wanting it to go on and on?

Rajan Datar is the Presenter, Over To You

Over To You is your chance to have your say about the BBC World Service and its programmes. It airs at 00:40, 03:40 and 12:40 every Sunday (GMT).

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Well there's no avoiding it now.

The World Cup is finally underway, and for the next month, those involved will be pulling out all the stops in an attempt to be the best on the planet.

But by "those involved", I don't just mean the players, although they'll have the highest profile. I'm thinking also of the commentary teams - which is why on this week's programme Rajan talks to two of the people involved in bringing the matches to the World Service audience.

Richard Connelly needs no introduction to fans who listen regularly to the sports output.

He talks to Rajan about a deal the World Service has reached with football's governing body, FIFA, to do live commentary across Africa, in English and Swahili, on all the matches in which the six African teams are playing.

Alongside Richard in the commentary box will be Stanley Katsande, whose regular job is as a commentator and analyst for the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.

For the duration of the World Cup, though, he'll be one of three African sports journalists working alongside the WS commentary team.

On Over To You this week, he talks to Rajan about what he'll bring to the broadcasts - and what he's already learned from his new BBC colleagues.

And Rajan also talks to Mark Coles, who takes over at the end of this month as presenter of "World of Music" - and faces the rather daunting task of stepping into the shoes of Charlie Gillett, the programme's previous presenter, who died in May.

Mark tells Rajan about his love of world music, and about the ideas he has for his new programme.

Cathy Packe is the Producer, Over To You

Over To You is your chance to have your say about the BBC World Service and its programmes. It airs at 00:40, 03:40 and 12:40 every Sunday (GMT).

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Too much football and feminism on the BBC World Service?

Those are accusations - from different Over To You listeners, I must stress - that we address in this weekend's typically eclectic edition of the programme.

The first of these protests is only going to increase in intensity, I suspect, over the course of the next few weeks.

Who will you be cheering for? The World Cup starts on 11 June. Picture: Getty

Listener Simone Ubertino in Burundi thinks there is too much hysteria surrounding the World Cup - and he also points out that just because Africa is hosting a global sporting tournament, it doesn't mean the continent's other rather pressing problems will disappear.

Perfect timing, then, to announce a new spin-off from the World Have Your Say team, dedicated exclusively to - yup, you guessed it - the World Cup.

Actually producer Ben Sutherland can't be faulted for his enthusiasm - and for his reassurance that non-football lovers will be also be engaged by the daily show.

Listen to the programme and see if what you think.

Me, well I have to confess, I don't need Ben's programme to get me excited about the forthcoming spectacle, but even I felt compelled to ask him whether, as nations drop out, there will still be the same level of global interest towards the end of the four week competition.

First ladies, feisty opinions

Meanwhile Veronique Edwards has been interviewing five "First Ladies" of Africa for a special insight into the lives and views of the wives of Presidents from Ghana, Zambia, Namibia, Uganda and Sierra Leone. They are an interesting cross-section: some politically involved, others dedicated professionals in the worlds of teaching and medicine.

But listener Kenneth from Maseru in Lesotho felt the interviews were bowing to feminism - an agenda he is clearly not keen on. Listen to Veronique's response on the programme.

Massive scoop

And this week the BBC got a scoop by interviewing President Ma of Taiwan on that country's delicate relationship with China - which incidentally doesn't recognise Taiwan as a country and, officially at least, still wants to annexe it to China, but seems to be quite happy to enter into a landmark free trade agreement with it later this month.

The question from us for the head of BBC Chinese, Raymond Li, who anchored the webcast in which listeners' questions were posed to the President: was there any thought of pulling punches or fearing reprisals from Beijing's twitchy censors, during what is, after all, a crucial period in negotiations between the two countries ?

And don't miss the first special contribution written for Over To You by World Service Writer-in-Residence, Hamid Ismailov.

It's about the relationship between the broadcaster and the audience - you'll have to listen to find out if it mentions football or feminism... A clue: he's currently in Africa, so one or other of those topics might well feature...

Rajan Datar is the Presenter, Over To You

Over To You is your chance to have your say about the BBC World Service and its programmes. It airs at 00:40, 03:40 and 12:40 every Sunday (GMT).

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