Andy Pryce

BBC Persian TV

It is great to hear that BBC Persian TV will launch on 14 January.

This has been a long standing British goal, supported by our Government. The intention is to provide ordinary Iranians with accurate, impartial news and information analysis that will help inform them and, over time encourage the natural process of change in Iran.

The BBC Persian Service has long broadcast by radio and enjoys a strong reputation. The Iranian Government have already denounced the service - although this does not stop them investing heavily in foreign langauge broadcasting, both English and Arabic.

The TV channel is part of the BBC's multimedia Persian service. 

Posted at 09:16 13 January 2009 by Andy Pryce  |  Comments[1]

Credibility and the World Service

The BBC world service attracts a weekly global audience of 233 million people. Thirteen million unique users visit its website every week. Its budget is about $470 million a year.

The World Service has garnered a global reputation as THE source of news. From Mandela on Robben Island to the 16 million who listen to its Arabic service today, the world's public have heard unbiased news from impeccable sources. Credibility is the one of the key reasons for the World Service's reputation remaining impeccable.

The British Government does not commission stories or sway the BBC's line. Governments of different political stripes have, from time to time, found themselves on the wrong side of the World Service's independent reporting. This independence and reporting of the facts has ensured continued credibility for the organisation. Public Affairs Officers or Diplomats like myself can no more tell the World Service what to report than we could tell Al Jazeera to spike a story on civilian casualties. The Arab "street" or Soweto slums have become more and more media savvy. It would be a waste of money for the UK to pay for and serve up lukewarm propaganda.  
 
It is always interesting to compare and contrast how different governments go about their business. The UK devotes significant resource to both the BBC World Service (which is managerially and editorially independent) and British Council (which is operationally independent from government).

There is a wide ranging debate underway in Washington on how the US Government should go about influencing overseas. There seems to be a wide range of suggested approaches. Some in Congress had expressed concern about the reporting of Voice of America. Some seem to want more independent public diplomacy initiatives, others do not. The Department of Defence recently signed a $300 million a year contract for the production of supportive media in Iraq. What do readers think that the UK and US can learn from each other approach and ideas?

Posted at 16:10 14 October 2008 by Andy Pryce  |  Comments[6]