Public International News Ariddia
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Public International News Ariddia (PINA) is the PDSRA’s response to the great international news networks of developed, capitalist nations. PINA is a State-operated company, based in a country in which private enterprise is outlawed. PINA recruits reporters knowledgeable in foreign politics, economics and cultures, and sends them abroad to report on the happenings of the world.
PINA’s resources are limited, but it has got reporters stationed in a number of nations, in constant contact with the company’s headquarters in Rêvane. PINA sends its reports to be shown on Channel Three in Ariddia, and they are also broadcast free of charge in all willing nations. For foreign audiences, PINA also reports on Ariddian news, and focuses on news throughout the Third World and communist nations.
Aims
PINA's stated aims are
- to offer an "Ariddian perspective" on events and issues of international concern
- to keep viewers constantly up to date on major events
- to cover a wide variety of events in an objective manner, and comment on them in depth, to generate debate and help viewers understand the root causes and issues of events
- to increase awareness of issues considered important in Ariddia, including social issues, the environment, animal rights, the ideology underlying capitalism and consumerism, but also events in "small" countries often ignored by other international media
- to focus on the cultures and societies of an extremely wide variety of nations and societies, to promote greater awareness, understanding and acceptance of diversity
Broadcasting
PINA has three media of expression. It is, above all, a television channel, broadcasting internationally. But it also has a website (www.pina.ari), which includes both written articles and a continuous live video feed, displaying the same as the television channel.
Television
PINA broadcasts 24 hours a day, and offers a 30 minute news update every hour. Every other half hour is used for in-depth coverage and analysis of current events and issues, and may for example be a report on indigenous culture in a particular country, a report on deforestation in some part of the world, a look at the evolution of social policies and their results in one or more countries, coverage of a specific cultural festival, a report on a new museum somewhere in the world, an in-depth look at the way animals are raised and slaughtered for use by the Allanean CBBC fast-food chain, an interview with a writer, musician or historian, a study of a specific branch of philosophy and its relevance in contemporary society, an analysis of political tensions in a particular part of the world...
Programmes may be in French, English or Wymgani. The news is usually read in French. Whenever one language is spoken, subtitles are provided in the other two languages. When a fourth language is spoken (usually by a person being interviewed), subtitles are in all three Ariddian languages.
A partial list of countries in which PINA is broadcast:
- Ariddia (PDSR of)
- Bashenk
- Bostopia
- Edward City
- Errinundera
- North-West Ariddia
- Ropa-Topia
- San Adriano
- Steweystan
- Uhuh-Ropa
- Uhuh-Topia
- West Ariddia
- add your country
- Pacitalia: Pacitalian television service providers have reached a tentative agreement with PINA to broadcast in the Democratic Capitalist Republic beginning 1st May, 2007 at 0600 AOTC+3.
Website
PINA's website is available in French, English and Wymgani, with each version being quasi-identical. More basic, far less complete versions exist in Arabic, Russian, Spanish and Dutch. The website is divided into several sections, including "Ariddian Isles", "Uhuhland", various geographical regions, "World", "Culture", "Environment", "Politics", "Sport", "In Depth: Recent Dossiers" and "Have Your Say".
Each section contains written news articles, usually accompanied by PINA's commentaries and analyses. Most also provide access to records of video feeds. The website aims at extensive coverage of major and "minor" events and issues from around the world, in so far as the channel's limited financial means enable.
A continuous live feed displays what the television channel is broadcasting, rendering the PINA channel de facto accessible to people in countries where the television channel is not available (as long as they have uncensored Internet access).
The "Have Your Say" section is divided into two parts:
- a "React & Interact" message board allows anyone to write their opinion on any topic covered by PINA. Moderators filter only flaming, off-topic comments, extremely offensive comments and gibberish. Users are asked to post in French, English or Wymgani.
- a "In Depth: Discuss" forum is more heavily moderated. Users are expected to contribute well-informed, well thought-out posts for serious discussions. Posts are reviewed by moderators. Here too, users are requested to post in either French, English or Wymgani.
Praise and criticism
Serge Rivage, Ariddian Secretary for Culture, has praised the channel, stating that it "contributes to the diversity of views in the world, and helps people round the planet understand and reflect on an Ariddian perspective". The Ariddian authorities in general have supported PINA, which has interviewed such key Ariddian politicians and diplomats as Aj Ud (former Prime Secretary), Nuriyah Khadhim (current Prime Secretary), Serge Rivage (Secretary for Culture), Julien Loisillon (Secretary for Housing and the Environment), Christelle Zyryanov (Ambassador to the United Nations) and Jane Ranomezanjanahary (Ambassador to OMGTKK), as well as Dr. Sergei Telkijski (spokesman for the Ariddian Red Star).
Others, however, have suggested that PINA, due to its limited financial means, should not overstretch itself by attempting to cover such a wide variety of events, and should focus on a core of key issues. Abroad, some have accused PINA of "leftist bias". PINA has responded that, while its analysis of events is obviously coloured by an Ariddian perspective, its actual coverage of events is objective and unbiased.
(Add comments from your nation here.)
Impact
It is difficult to measure PINA's international impact, but it is viewed as Ariddia's "voice to the world". In consequence, many foreigners may associate Ariddia with two things: PINA, and the founding of the football World Cup. PINA provides an "alternate" view on international events, focusing on aspects sometimes neglected by other international media, and providing constant commentary and analysis. But no thorough study has ever been attempted regarding PINA's impact on people's views internationally.
