Hot on the heels of the announcement that the Associated Press is expanding its facilities in Pyongyang, Reuters has now also announced that it will be setting up a satellite dish for video and text distribution overseas. From the Reuters press release:
The new agreement will provide Reuters access to news video from North Korea via satellite for timely distribution to broadcasters and publishers around the world. The Reuters News Agency will be the first international news organization to have a full time satellite dish in North Korea, delivering clean news video content in addition to the text and pictures covered by a previous agreement – a significant benefit to broadcasters across the globe.
“We know the world’s broadcasters are seeking more news from North Korea, and this agreement will ensure our clients have a regular supply of up to the minute video stories from Pyongyang and across the country,” said Chris Ahearn, president of Reuters Media.
The agreement with KCNA covers both breaking and feature news video, and marks a significant expansion by Reuters in delivering news from one of the world’s most important datelines. As part of the arrangement Reuters will also be providing editorial training and KCNA will facilitate regular visits to North Korea by senior Reuters journalists.
North Korea Tech blogger Martyn Williams notes that Reuters has already been broadcasting video from the state-run KCNA since July 7th of this year. While some may get excited at the prospect of North Korea opening up its news coverage to a larger international audience, and allowing foreign journalists to operate within Pyongyang, from the North’s perspective it is probably a great way to generate foreign currency and get its propaganda to the outside world. In the past year, Pyongyang has also launched a new media campaign involving Twitter, Youtube and several attempts at a Facebook page.
Source: Reuters / North Korea Tech