{"id":27183,"date":"2017-07-16T07:22:12","date_gmt":"2017-07-16T11:22:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/?p=27183"},"modified":"2017-07-16T07:22:12","modified_gmt":"2017-07-16T11:22:12","slug":"radio-erena-a-symbolic-lifeline-to-eritrea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/radio-erena-a-symbolic-lifeline-to-eritrea\/","title":{"rendered":"Radio Erena: “a symbolic lifeline” to Eritrea"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

(Source: The Guardian<\/a>)<\/p>\n

[Radio Erena founder, Biniam Simon, writes:] \u201cYou have to understand: Eritrea is completely closed. No information is available there at all, about the outside world or what is going on internally. So if you\u2019re an Eritrean journalist, and you make it to a place where so much information is available, the first thing you think is: why not tell people all this? It was the obvious thing to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

[…]The station broadcasts a two-hour programme in Arabic and Tigrinya seven days a week, repeating it several times a day, giving listeners inside Eritrea multiple opportunities to listen (they may do so, in the privacy of their own homes with the shutters closed and the sound turned down, only when electricity is available \u2013 which it often isn\u2019t). As well as news about what the regime may be up to, it provides a detailed picture of what is happening to the refugees who are travelling to Europe \u2013 when a boat carrying 360 Eritreans capsized off Lampedusa in 2013, a correspondent was immediately dispatched to Italy \u2013 as well as features about diaspora success stories, footballers and athletes among them.<\/p>\n

It runs smoothly. There is always a lot to tell. Making sure it can be picked up in Eritrea, however, remains a constant struggle. In 2012, the government managed to block it \u2013 seemingly unbothered by the fact that in doing so, it also blocked its own television channel (both broadcast on one satellite frequency). It has also successfully jammed it on shortwave, and on at least one occasion has hacked into the Radio Erena website, destroying it completely. \u201cIt\u2019s a nonstop challenge,\u201d he says. \u201cWe\u2019re constantly fighting them, and it\u2019s getting harder and harder because they are now employing new experts from China and Indonesia.\u201d<\/p>\n

But if this is exhausting, it\u2019s also hugely encouraging: \u201cIt means that what we\u2019re doing is working. We know this because the government wants us to stop.\u201d[…]<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Readers: this is only an excerpt from this excellent article in The Guardian. Click here to read the full article.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Source: The Guardian) [Radio Erena founder, Biniam Simon, writes:] \u201cYou have to understand: Eritrea is completely closed. No information is available there at all, about the outside world or what is going on internally. So if you\u2019re an Eritrean journalist, and you make it to a place where so much information is available, the first […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[56,869,960,3,43],"tags":[6335,4109,870,2421,2420,787,4655,84],"class_list":["post-27183","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-broadcasters","category-clandestine","category-international-broadcasting","category-news","category-shortwave-radio","tag-biniam-simon","tag-clandestine","tag-clandestine-radio","tag-eritrea","tag-radio-erena","tag-the-guardian","tag-why-shortwave","tag-why-shortwave-radio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pn3uc-74r","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":26325,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/06\/radio-erena-provides-a-voice-for-the-voiceless\/","url_meta":{"origin":27183,"position":0},"title":"Radio Erena “provides a voice for the voiceless”","author":"Thomas","date":"June 10, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"(Source: Open Democracy) Eritrean radio station Radio Erena provides a voice for the voiceless Broadcasting from Paris, Fathi Osman's Radio Erena challenges the government's monopoly on truth and champions those who gave their lives for freedom of expression. Last night turned out to mark a double-celebration for Eritrean journalist Fathi\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Eritrea-Ethiopia-1024x497.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Eritrea-Ethiopia-1024x497.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Eritrea-Ethiopia-1024x497.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8328,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2013\/12\/radio-erena-would-like-to-reach-a-broader-audience-with-shortwave\/","url_meta":{"origin":27183,"position":1},"title":"Radio Erena would like to reach a broader audience with shortwave","author":"Thomas","date":"December 18, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"This is a fascinating video about how one Paris based clandestine radio station gets an independent voice into the only country in the world that rivals North Korea for a lack of press freedom: Eritrea. Radio Erena currently uses satellite to reach its audience, but would like funding to broadcast\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Clandestine"","block_context":{"text":"Clandestine","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/clandestine\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":51418,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2022\/01\/carlos-shares-shortwave-art-and-recordings-of-ethiopian-jamming-and-bbc-news-tigrinya\/","url_meta":{"origin":27183,"position":2},"title":"Carlos Shares Shortwave Art and Recordings of Ethiopian Jamming and BBC News Tigrinya","author":"Thomas","date":"January 5, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to\u00a0SWLing Post contributor and political cartoonist, Carlos Latuff, who has been exploring the world of clandestine radio, documenting the on-going conflict in Ethiopia via shortwave radio. The following are two examples of his radio log art, this time for documenting jamming of Dimtse Wegahta Tigray and BBC News\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Art"","block_context":{"text":"Art","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/art-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Carlos-Latuff-Shortwave-Art-2.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Carlos-Latuff-Shortwave-Art-2.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Carlos-Latuff-Shortwave-Art-2.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Carlos-Latuff-Shortwave-Art-2.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/Carlos-Latuff-Shortwave-Art-2.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":28445,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/bbc-world-service-new-shortwave-services-to-ethiopia-and-eritrea\/","url_meta":{"origin":27183,"position":3},"title":"BBC World Service: new shortwave services to Ethiopia and Eritrea","author":"Thomas","date":"September 20, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Note that, in terms of press freedoms, Reporters Without Borders ranks Eritrea the second most repressive country in the world, next to North Korea. (Source: BBC Media Centre) BBC World Service continues expansion with new services for Ethiopia and Eritrea Three new language services for Ethiopia, Eritrea, and the diaspora\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Broadcasters"","block_context":{"text":"Broadcasters","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/broadcasters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Ethiopia-Eritrea-Map.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Ethiopia-Eritrea-Map.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Ethiopia-Eritrea-Map.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Ethiopia-Eritrea-Map.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":21926,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2016\/10\/radio-eritrea-and-radio-ethiopia-jamming-intrudes-on-amateur-frequencies\/","url_meta":{"origin":27183,"position":4},"title":"Radio Eritrea and Radio Ethiopia jamming intrudes on amateur frequencies","author":"Thomas","date":"October 26, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Vlado (N3CZ), for sharing the following story from the South African Radio League newsletter: Broadcasters, jammers wreak havoc on amateur radio frequencies The ARRL reports the battle in the amateur radio 7 MHz band continues between Radio Eritrea and Radio Ethiopia, which is said\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Ham Radio"","block_context":{"text":"Ham Radio","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/ham-radio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"eritrea-ethiopia","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Eritrea-Ethiopia-1024x497.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Eritrea-Ethiopia-1024x497.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Eritrea-Ethiopia-1024x497.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14668,"url":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/2015\/09\/bbc-sets-plans-for-next-decade\/","url_meta":{"origin":27183,"position":5},"title":"BBC sets plans for next decade","author":"Thomas","date":"September 7, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Many thanks to SWLing Post reader, Bill, for sharing a link to this article which summarizes the BBC's plans for the next ten years. BBC director general, Tony Hall,\u00a0said\u00a0the corporation will become an \"open BBC for the internet age\". While Hall was quick to add that funding cuts would equate\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "AM"","block_context":{"text":"AM","link":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/category\/am\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"BBC-AT-WAR","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/BBC-AT-WAR.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/BBC-AT-WAR.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/BBC-AT-WAR.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27183","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27183"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27183\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27183"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27183"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/swling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27183"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}