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Estonian Public Broadcasting opens English-language news website
Estonian Public Broadcasting announced the opening of its English-language website, http://news.err.ee at 12:30 hours on the 10 August. Tiina Kaalep, of Estonian Public Broadcasting’s management, said that the lack of English-language news in Estonia has been a curiosity in its own right, which Public Broadcasting has made its mission to change. “Estonia must speak for itself about what takes place here, instead of allowing itself to be seen in a variety of forms through a keyhole from which generalizations are formed,” said Kaalep. “I must recognize here the Ministry of Culture which took the lead, without whose support this English-language website would not have been launched.” Commercial English-language media in Estonia have not fared well owing to the small market or have expanded their coverage to a pan-Baltic level which has diluted the coverage of individual countries. News.err.ee will offer print and broadcast news which its editors believe will most interest its readers and viewers outside Estonia. Some material will be translated from Estonian Public Broadcasting’s other news services, and original content will also be produced. The website’s mission is to provide a picture of what is happening in Estonia to those abroad, but also serve as a platform whenever it is important for Estonians to address an audience other than just their own fellow countrymen. News currently employs four editors: Erkki Sivonen, Ott Tammik, Kristopher Rikken, and Steven Roman. Scott Diel has helped staff the project and develop the site, in cooperation with Estonian Public Broadcasting’s Aivar Pau, Editor-in-Chief of Estonian Public Broadcasting’s web portals. “We’ve been very lucky to get the News team we have,” said Diel. “The majority are in their 40s, and they are experienced journalists with a solid background in current affairs in Estonia. They carry a variety of passports, but all speak Estonian.” For additional information contact: |
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