I.

Introduction

BBC World Service, international radio and multimedia arm of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The BBC World Service produces radio programmes for broadcast around the world in 43 languages, including English, all of which are also available on the Internet. With a regular weekly audience of more than 150 million (excluding countries where research is not possible), it reaches more people than any other international broadcaster. In addition to short wave, radio output is increasingly available on FM. The World Service is responsible for a major monitoring service that scans information and comment from the media in 150 countries and in more than 100 languages. Unlike the domestic services of the BBC, which are funded by licence fees, the World Service receives a direct grant from Parliament for its international broadcasting operations, totalling £180.9 million in 2001-2002. It is, however, an integral part of the BBC, sharing the same standards and with the same editorial independence. The World Service aims to provide authoritative, impartial news and information. It provides a forum for the exchange of ideas across cultural, linguistic, and national boundaries, promotes interest in the English language, and offers a showcase for British talent across the world. Education and training initiatives are run through the BBC World Service Trust, a charitable foundation.