Deutsche Welle (DW) will increase its focus on television, online and mobile services and decrease its shortwave broadcasts in a process starting this summer. Starting July 1, 2011, DW  will be making major changes in how and when its radio programming is broadcast in Asia and Europe, as well as German radio programming as a whole.

The measures will ensure the further development of Germany’s international broadcaster to a truly multimedia organization. DW will focus on modern modules that can be integrated into partner’s FM line-ups as well as being offered as stand-alone, on-demand services for the Internet and mobile devices. DW will thereby increase the cooperation with its partners throughout the world. With the exception of Africa and parts of Asia, linear shortwave broadcasts will be discontinued due to limited usage. The resources that have been saved will be reinvested in projects for the future – especially in the development of television services with regional languages and content, as well as an increase in online and mobile services.

DW will aim to use its available resources to offer two TV channels per region. This will give viewers the opportunity to choose between a channel with predominantly German programming and a channel with a focus on one of the regional languages – English, Spanish or Arabic.

Read the official press release here.

 

An article from Global Arab Network hihglights the role of women and new media in the changing Arab World. The article puts a focus Egyptian blogger Eman Hashim, who was the winner of Best Arabic Blog from the Deutsche Welle Blog Awards – The BOBs. The blog, called Violet Revolution, deals with Egyptian life, with a special focus and a first-hand account of political developments in Egypt, including the Egyptian revolution and its aftermath.

 

DW reporter Stefan Nestler is still onboard the research vessel "Sonne," currently sailing off the coast of New Zealand. His blogging stint has about run its course but you can still catch up on all the developments on the Methane Blog.

This blog is just one of many contributions to DW's future now project, which is exploring the science of tomorrow. Check it out and explore several different topics in four categories: environment, communication, mobility and health.

Also a great chance to check out the latest DW WebDoc Arsenic in the water about the current situation in Bangladesh.