Dear All,

I am posting this message on the website so that everyone can jump in and give their perspective in digital format on GEO TV's FTP server:

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Diplomatic License” is a weekly current affairs program of GEO English – GEO TV Pakistan’s English-language 24-hour news channel which will be launched shortly. GEO English will be available on the territories where GEO TV is currently available.

“DL” will cover the top stories of the week related to Pakistan. A panel of foreign journalists based in Islamabad will analyze the stories.

The program is about Pakistan. It’s about news. It’s about media. It’s a perfect platform for anyone who wants to be heard and has something interesting to say. And that means YOU.

We would like students, parents, professionals - Pakistanis / non-Pakistanis, in-land/ abroad - to contribute to the program by sending their observations and comments by using digital format (recording on Webcam / Camcorder / PD-170) and posting the video on the FTP server link given below.


1) THE TOPICS:

Following are the topics on which we would like feedback or observations on:

· Extremism in Pakistan (recurring suicide attacks, law and order, etc.)

· Terrorism (Waziristan and Tribal Belt neighbouring Afghanistan, Ally or Menace in War on Terror)

· Political Islam

· Democracy

· Gender-related issues (women's rights)

· Earthquake-rehabilitation work

· Development of people (general impression on the state and progress of the people)

· Media coverage of Pakistan (what is news?)


2) QUESTIONS:

If you have a question on how a particular story was covered by any media organization (or movie) you can send us a copy of the story (email hardcopy / link / post video on FTP server) as well as your recorded query. We will try our best to get a response on the story from the relevant journalist / organization. The following is a list of organizations for reference:

AP, APTN, BLOOMBERG TV, NEW YORK TIMES, NEWSWEEK, TIME MAGAZINE, VOA, ABC NEWS, NBC NEWS, NEWSDAY, GETTY IMAGES, CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, AFP, BBC, BBC URDU SERVICE, REUTERS, REUTERS TV, FINANCIAL TIMES, LE MONDE, GUARDIAN, SKY NEWS, RADIO FRANCE INTERNATIONAL, LIBERATION, TIMES (LONDON), LLOYD’S LIST, DAILY TELEGRAPH, HAMSA PRESS, DAILY MAIL, THE HINDU, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA, PROTHAM ALO (DAILY), NOVOSTI, ITAR/TASS, VOG, EUROPEAN PRESS PHOTO AGENCY, ARD GERMAN TV, DW-VOICE OF GERMANY, CHINA RADIO INTERNATIONAL, XINHUA, GUANGMING DAILY, PEOPLE’S DAILY, KYODO, YOMIURI SHIMBUN, ASAHI SHIMBUN, NHK TV (JAPAN), THE AGE, ABC TV/ RADIO (AUSTRALIA), ASIA TIMES ONLINE, ABU DHABI TV, AL-JAZEERA TV, AL-JAZEERA INTERNATIONAL, WAM (EMIRATES NEWS AGENCY), ERTU (EGYPTIAN RADIO & TELEVISION UNION), AL-MAJALLA, UNI PLUS, AZ-ZAMAN (LONDON), RADIO BAHRAIN, MIDDLE EAST NEWS AGENCY, AL-ARABIYA TV, QATAR NEWS AGENCY, KUWAIT NEWS AGENCY, OMAN RADIO, KUWAIT TV, ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN BROADCASTING (IRIB), ISLAMIC REPUBLIC NEWS AGENCY (IRNA), NTV (TURKISH TV) etc. etc.


PTV, PBC, ONLINE, COSMOS, APP, PPI, NNI, PPA, INP, INN, TNN, SANA, CNBC, GEO TV, ARY TV, AA TV, EXPRESS NEWS, DAWNNEWS, TV-ONE, KHYBER TV, APNA TV, PUNAB TV, KTN, SINDH TV, ATV, RAVI TV, BUSINESS PLUS, DAILY THE NEWS, DAILY DAWN, DAILY NATION, DAILY KHABRAIN, DAILY JANG, DAILY NAWA-E-WAQT, DAILY TIMES, etc. etc.


HOW TO:


Keep the following in mind while recording on Webcam or Camcorder:

Find a quiet place to record your comment, so that background noise doesn’t cause a problem.
Think about what is behind you in the picture. A plain backdrop is usually the best.
Secure the camera on an even surface so that it doesn’t wobble or shake.
Frame the picture so that you have your head and shoulders in frame with about a quarter of the frame left empty at the top, for head space (the more of your face we can see the better!)
Make sure that your microphone (often part of the webcam) is directed towards your face (if possible!)
Think about what you want to say beforehand, but don’t worry about getting it all word for word, it’s good to be as natural as possible.
Make your point quickly and politely. No personal attacks, obscenity, vulgarity, profanity (including expletives), commercial promotion, impersonations, incoherence and shouting.
Don’t worry about getting it right first time. You can always re-record as many times as you like.
If you find it difficult to look into the lens of the camera and talk, find a spot to focus on just above the camera and talk to that.
Record on your camcorder, webcam software OR Quicktime if possible, and choose the option to save file as an .MPEG (although any recording software will do, we can convert most files).
Once you start to record count 5 seconds in your head while looking at your spot, before you start to talk, and when you have finished count 5 seconds before stopping the recording. This will give us clean in and outs for edit.
Start your piece by saying your (real) name, who you are and where you are from.
Speak clearly and not too quickly.
Around a minute is the optimum length.
Leave your contact number at the end.
The comment / observation/ question will either be approved or not. We will not be editing the video unless for brevity.
The video should be posted on the FTP server address given below. You can also mail camcorder DV to the GEO TV address given below.


(Edited Source: Hints and Tips for Video Blogging as given on Al Jazeera English’s program Listening Post webpage:

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/98A2DC7C-A006-44E3-BCCB-AA8C...)



WHERE TO POST:
The video should be transferred to our FTP server as follows:

Click “start” bar on your PC and select “run”. A “run command” prompt will be displayed.
Type ftp://210.2.170.113:1021
When prompted for username and password, type dl (d for diplomatic, l for license) as username and password.
Drag and drop or Copy and paste the video files in the open window.

OR

DV can be sent to:


Noorilhuda

Producer, Diplomatic License

Geo News (English)

Jang Building, 40, Blue Area,

Fazl-e-Haq Road,

Islamabad, Pakistan

Tel: +92-51-2877761

M: +92-300-5257868

E: nooril.huda@geo.tv


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Let us hear what's improtant to YOU.


Looking forward to great feedback,


Thank you,



Regards,

Noorilhuda

M: +92-300-5257868