Al-Quds Educational TV to Start Transmission Soon to Gaza Strip, West Bank

Text of report by Palestinian newspaper Al-Hayat al-Jadidah on 25 June

Officials at the Modern Media Institute at Al-Quds University said on 24 June that it is likely that the local transmission of Al- Quds Educational TV will shortly cover all the Palestinian territories in preparation for becoming a satellite channel next year.

The news was announced during a reception organized by the officials of the institute and the TV channel and was held in the hall of the Red Crescent Society in Al-Birah. Many people attended the reception, which was held to celebrate the recent achievements and partnerships made in support of the plans for the international educational TV in Palestine and for serving the local society.

The celebration was attended by high-ranking national, Arab and international personalities as well as religious and diplomatic figures, notably PLC members, political forces, officials from public institutions, civil society organizations, the Egyptian ambassador to the PNA, in addition to a large number of people from the Ministries of Information and Education, the Syndicate of Journalists, and a large number of journalists and media people.

The celebration included a speech delivered by Lucy Nusaybah, manager of the Modern Media Institute, in which she welcomed the audience and talked about their achievements and aspirations. She noted that based on these achievements, a new phase of work started on 24 June at the level of local society and educational media through the Modern Media Institute, for development on all levels.

Ms Nusaybah thanked the international and local partners as well as the audience who shared with the university family, the institute, and the TV their joy in their achievements. She also valued the efforts of the previous working teams, their support, and their resolve to perform excellent work upon which others have built in achieving success.

Dr Rashid al-Jayusi, head of the centres and institutions, delivered a speech on behalf of University President Dr Sari Nusaybah and the administration in which he affirmed the important role that media currently plays. He added: “The university accords the media its due importance and this motivated us to seek its development. Today we celebrate together both these achievements on the one hand, and the development of the academic side through the Modern Media Institute on the other. This is achieved through the university at the level of local society first and then at the national level in order to double the scope of modern media.” Al- Jayusi also explained the most important aspects of expansion and development and the expected positive effects. He particularly thanked Institute Manager Lucy Nusaybah for her efforts and administration.

Dr Mahmud Kamil, head of Al-Quds Educational TV, stated that the television is now able to cover all the Palestinian territories in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and that next year it will become a satellite channel.

It is worth noting that Mistress of Ceremonies Khulud al-Sayih, head of programmes at Al-Quds TV, opened the ceremony in which a videotape was shown explaining the work done and the achievements realized. She also welcomed the audience and expressed the pleasure of the family and the teams of the institute, university and TV for celebrating the success and achievements with the distinguished audience.

Al-Quds Educational TV was launched as a local TV station in 1996. It used to transmit PLC sessions live. This created problems for the TV station and it had to stop its transmission at certain periods. The TV workers were harassed and attacked by anonymous people. The area covered by the TV was small and transmission was not clear.

The head of the TV station revealed an important aspect of the development, achievements, and ambitious plans for improving transmission professionally and technically and at a standard that is acceptable worldwide. This was included in the 2008 development plan. He pointed out that 11 local programmes were produced and that they dealt with people’s concerns in Jerusalem, educational issues, and social issues. The TV, in cooperation with the BBC, also produced a programme dealing with people’s customs in Britain. All this was mostly achieved by the station’s efforts and funding. However, he added that the development plan he is currently preparing required seeking national expertise to support their counterparts in the TV station. He praised the resolve and perseverance of the TV staff.

He added that Al-Quds TV is proud to be the first local TV station where there is a special technical unit for ensuring picture quality, the quality of production, and the viewers’ satisfaction. He also lauded the role of the national teams in the media field and said that they have not had a proper chance to develop, since the [Palestinian] TV stations are more like video libraries than real TV stations.

Originally published by Al-Hayat al-Jadidah, Ramallah, in Arabic 25 Jun 08.

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