AFRO-NETS> The MEDIA BEAT - 16 - January 10, 2000

[Warren Feek <wfeek@coastnet.com>]

The MEDIA BEAT - 16 - January 10, 2000
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Selected articles from news media coverage of communication, develop-
ment and change trends, programmes and policies. Articles compiled by 
The Communication Initiative:
http://www.comminit.com

This selection of news media articles and links can also be found 
with other current and past articles in their summarised, full and 
archived forms at: 
http://www.comminit.com/news.html 

This may be particularly useful for those articles that are periodi-
cally removed from their host server.

NB Because the length of some URL's means that they run to two lines, 
it may be necessary to copy and paste to the address bar on your 
browser.


A. COMMUNICATION TRENDS

1. Infotech Revolution - India

The Times of India - December 7, 1999 Business Times Bureau TV is 
used more widely than personal computers. There are 1 billion colour 
televisions worldwide against only 200 million PCs, representatives 
of leading TV companies said, at a seminar organised by the electron-
ics components industries' association. 
http://www.timesofindia.com/071299/07home7.htm

2. Internet & Environment - USA

Cool Companies - December 10, 1999 By reducing the amount of energy 
and materials consumed by business and increasing overall productiv-
ity, the Internet stands to revolutionize the relation between eco-
nomic growth and the environment, according to a new report by the 
Center for Energy and Climate Solutions. 
http://www.cool-companies.org/ecom/pr.cfm

3. Compulsory Education - Seychelles

Seychelles Nation - December 9, 1999 Education Minister Danny Faure 
has said that the reform process underway in the country's educa-
tional system is being well monitored and further adjustments could 
be brought to buttress it. "Structure alone will not deliver on the 
objectives set, so we need to focus on the people operating in these 
structures", said Minister Faure. 
http://www.seychelles-online.com.sc/nation/allothers/miscelleneous_archive2.htm

4. Something Old, Something New - China

Far Eastern and Economic Review - December 2, 1999 - by Charles Bick-
ers Instead of using hi-tech gimmickry, hot new Web sites are doing 
things the old-fashioned way: relying on marketing blitzes in tradi-
tional media. 
http://www.feer.com/9912_02/p46tech.html

5. Nocturnal Namibia Welcomes The World!

WRN - December 20, 1999 NBC National Radio in Namibia has started 
transmitting World Radio Network (WRN), the respected international 
radio service, as an overnight sustaining service for a three-month 
trial. 
http://natradio.imlt.org.na/

6. Investors Jostle For E.Tv Stakes - South Africa

Business Day - January 4, 2000 - by Janet Parker Media and empower-
ment companies are set to scramble for stakes in e.tv, following the 
Independent Broadcasting Authority's decision to grant amendments to 
its licence conditions. One of the amendments will allow e.tv parent 
Midi Television greater flexibility to change the shareholding in the 
television channel and to attract new investors. 
http://www.bday.co.za/00/0104/news/news1.htm

7. Niamey Gets New FM Radio Station - Niger

PANA News Agency - January 3, 2000 Niamey has a new private radio 
station, Tambara FM, raising the number to five. Its objective is to 
promote women's and children's concerns in Niger. The new radio, 80 
percent of whose staff will be women, also envisages having a regular 
news service. 
http://www.africanews.org/PANA/news/20000103/feat9.html

8. Telephony Connections - Czechoslovakia

Business Wire - December 29, 1999 Ursus Telecom Corporation announced 
today it has entered into an agreement with SPT Telecom a.s., to in-
terconnect and terminate international traffic for their customers 
using carrier class Internet Protocol (I/P) telephony. 
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/991229/fl_ursus_t_1.html


B. REPORTING DEVELOPMENT

9. Global Revolt Against Poverty - UK

Guardian Unlimited - December 31, 1999 - by Charlotte Denny and Larry 
Elliott Millions of campaigners around the world won a pledge to 
write off $100bn owing by the poorest states. Although much remains 
to be done before Jubilee 2000 signs off at the end of next year, the 
groundswell of grass roots support has changed government thinking on 
a complex and difficult issue. 
http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,3946146,00.html

10. Women To Upgrade Farming Practices - India

The Earth Times - January 3, 2000 - By Jason Topping Cone The govern-
ment of India has received a grant of $6 million from the United Na-
tions Development Programme to support a microcredit system for women 
farmers across three states. 
http://www.earthtimes.org/jan/economicdevelopmentunaidsjan3_99.htm

11. Fighting Hate On The Net - USA

BBC World News - December 15, 1999 - By US affairs specialist Jona-
than Marcus Black and Jewish groups are buying Internet addresses 
containing racist terms to prevent them being used by extreme-right 
wing groups. 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_566000/566205.stm

12. Global Environmental Journalism Award - UK

Queen Noor, who has consistently campaigned for humanitarian and en-
vironmental causes, will present the award at Reuters headquarters. 
"The winning articles were informative, investigative and well writ-
ten," she said. 
http://www.iucn.org/reuters

13. Educate Women On Drug Abuse - Ghana

The Independent - December 15, 1999 - by Kwei Nii Amasah The Presi-
dent of the 31st December Women's Movement Nana Konadu Agyemang 
Rawlings has called on lady Pharmacists to intensify education on 
women on the potential hazard posed by drug abuse and self medica-
tion. This effort, she noted requires the combined responsibility of 
women's organizations, religious groups, opinion leaders, policy mak-
ers, medical professionals and all who can dispel the clouds of igno-
rance. 
http://www.africanews.org/west/ghana/stories/19991215/19991215_feat15.html

14. Human Rights Group - St. Lucia

CANA News - December 15, 1999 St. Lucia has been selected as the 
headquarters for the Organisation of Human Rights Defenders, Auditors 
and Reporters, which was formed in Trinidad and Tobago last week. The 
group will assist Caribbean Community states in preparing reports on 
human rights conventions and protocols, and establish effective human 
rights reporting mechanisms so they can meet their international hu-
man rights reporting obligation. 
http://www.cananews.com/news.htm

15. Children and Drug Control - Dominican Republic

DR1 Daily News - January 3, 2000 The National Department of Drug Con-
trol has mustered the support of several Dominican Major League play-
ers to present a show for Dominican children at the Olympic Stadium. 
http://www.dr1.com/daily/news010300.shtml

16. Newspapers Receive Canadian Grant - Ethiopia

The Reporter - December 27, 1999 The total contribution of 66,000 
birr was made to buy space in the four private newspapers to print 
articles on democracy, human rights and good governance, the Ambassa-
dor from the Canadian Embassy said. 
http://www.africanews.org/media/stories/19991227/19991227_feat1.html

17. DANIDA Continues Support In Journalism - Nepal

Kathmandu Post - January 4, 2000 The Danish Cooperation Agency 
(DANIDA) is continuing its support on journalism training in Nepal 
through the Nepal Press Institute, according to a press release is-
sued here today. The project would be continuation of the training 
and the training-related activities underway in Nepal with DANIDA 
support since 1995. It also has provisions for expanding research and 
publication in the media, training journalists and the construction 
of two training centres. 
http://www.nepalnews.com.np/contents/englishdaily/ktmpost/2000/jan/jan04/local.htm#3

18. Education Ministry Tackles Reading Among Young People - Guyana

The Guyana Chronicle - January 4, 2000 The Ministry of Education, 
concerned about the inability of young people to master the art of 
reading, is moving to make Reading and English Language a prominent 
feature in the education system. Towards achieving the goal, Chief 
Education Officer, Mr Ed Caesar said the ministry has invested heav-
ily in acquiring grammar books to be used at both the primary and 
secondary levels. 
http://chronicle.guyana.net.gy/archive/News/news04.htm

19. Nutrition - Bangaldesh

The Daily Star - January 4, 2000 Minister for Science and Technology 
Lt General Noor Uddin Khan yesterday said that the main objective of 
the coordinated nutrition project is to eliminate malnutrition and 
create consciousness about the matter among the people. 
http://www.dailystarnews.com/200001/04/n0010410.htm#BODY6

20. Hi-tech Library - Malaysia

Sarawak Tribune - January 3, 2000 - by Aden Nagrace KUCHING - Several 
educational programmes will be introduced to ensure proper and cor-
rect use of the sophisticated facilities that are made available at 
the newly-opened State Library, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar 
Haji Hamid Bugo said yesterday. 
http://www.jaring.my/tribune/tribune/monday/news7.html

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