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KINGSPARK NEWS Club Number: 30119 2005-06 Rotary Year : Issue 21 : 2 May | ||
| This
is the biweekly bulletin of the Rotary Club of Kingspark Hong Kong Club Website: http://www.rotary3450.org/kingspark-hongkong | ||
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| Chief
Editor : Francis Wann Club Webmaster : John Wan | ||
| Editorial
(RTHK
on the Line) - By Francis Wann | ||
| District Website | RI Website | RI President | TRF | News Room | Global History Fellowship | ||
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RTHK on the Line
Mr Wong was of course referring to recent release of the Director of Auditor's Report which almost singled out Radio Television Hong Kong for a severe battering. From overspending to non-compliance of rules, and from governance to cost-effectiveness, the public broadcaster was under attack on all fronts. And if that wasn't enough, soon the department will be the subject of another independent government review which will make recommendations on structure, funding, governance, management, programming, monitoring, and accountability. It probably will also seek to clarify the corporation's future role as an independent broadcaster, with or without strings attached. It was only back in January when Joseph Wong defended the editorial independence of the future of RTHK, which was safeguarded in its framework agreement with the Government. He also reassured legislators that the review would be from a "macro-perspective" and would be of a higher level targeting at public service broadcasting policy, not RTHK. Not RTHK? You'd need to be intelligent enough to read between the lines. Director of Broadcasting Chu Pu-hing dutifully welcomed the Audit Commission's report, saying the criticisms had fuelled RTHK to work towards 100 per cent compliance with government directives and guidelines in future. Could he have done otherwise in his capacity? RTHK's reputation as a government watchdog does not come easy, and understandably on many occasions has become a thorn in the eyes of the power-that-be... The government has already sent out its initial signal - comply or perish, it's now up to individual journalists and editors to exercise their professional standards. The BBC is a widely respected broadcaster and its roles and obligations are set out in the Royal Charter which expires at the end of this year. Its review started in 2003 and has already produced its consultative Green Paper which outlined its thinking and has collected views which ended in May last year. Its White Paper was published only last month with firm proposals on the corporation's future. Despite its tremendous reputation, the BBC has also been the subject of ongoing monitoring. From time to time, it was criticized for inconsistency, omissions, dishonest reporting, and even conflict of interest. The most recent case was the court hearing of its report on weapons of mass destruction in Iraq about three years ago, and found itself in the dock. (www.bbcwatch.co.uk) Should we trust the media? Perhaps staff at RTHK should start reading the BBC's Charter and review and look for parallels and undertake their own feasibility studies. Freedom of speech is something we have to fight for. | ||
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Magazine Month
As there were only about a dozen of our members at the meeting, I think it would be appropriate to summarize here what I said, or what I think I had said, and take it from there. THE ROTARIAN has been around since 1911 as a medium to communicate with Rotarians and to advance the programmes and Object of Rotary. Subscription to the magazine is compulsory for Rotarians, except with special dispensation. We pay for the monthly magazine through our district dues. Any club that is delinquent in payment runs the risk of being suspended for RI membership. The magazine is certainly informative and an excellent source for anyone who wants to know more abour Rotary or some interesting topical issues. I encouraged the membership to use it as a source for short talks, for the "Rotary Information" sessions for example. A magazine is no good for anyone if it is not read, just as a club bulletin would not be serving its primary purpose if the membership routinely take it as read on publication but never read it. Kingspark News has gone through a few phases and some changes over the years. Today, it is about the only English speaking bulletin in the District published electronically on a biweekly basis. We are fast approaching the end of another year and once again our editor had threatened to convene an editorial meeting. A number of members had said they would contribute articles to the biweekly. Some wrote once or twice and stopped; others wouldn't even start or try to start. Indeed some prominent members who are active in the district had not seen it fit to write for their own club bulletin. Too busy, I suppose. Economist John Kenneth Galbraith who had advised many United States Democrat Presidents inclusing Franklin Roosevelt and Bill Clinton and who was John Kennedy's Ambassador to India died recently. He was 97. He had a sharp tongue and was never shy to voice his opinion on anything at any level. More relevantly, he believed in putting his thoughts on paper. He wrote something every morning, and had written a lot over the years. This is indeed food for thought for everyone: everyone can write if he has anything to say at all and is generously enough to share that with others. | ||
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Views in any article in Kingspark News reflect those of the authors. They are not necessarily the views of the Rotary Club of Kingspark or of District 3450. You are welcome to write to Chief Editor Francis Wann or Club Webmaster John Wan on any topic, particularly in response to articles published in Kingspark News. We would publish all contributions as long as the authors identify themselves, the contents are not offensive or abusive, and would not offend common decency or common sense. You need not be a Rotarian to write to us and you have a choice to withhold your name in the published version. Where the contents make reference to statements or policies of individuals or organizations, we would try to obtain a response from the latter for publication in the same issue if possible. | ||
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Chief
Editor : Francis Wann The Board of Directors President
: Dominic Ko | ||
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