19 December 2007
The Prime Minister has paid tribute to the BBC World Service as it celebrates its 75th birthday today.
In a recorded message aired today, the PM praised the broadcaster’s "integrity, truth and freedom of speech". The service is the world’s best known and most respected voice and is a credit to the whole country, he said.
The PM said:
"I am honoured to be asked to mark the 75th birthday of the world’s best-known and most respected voice in international broadcasting - the BBC World Service.
"The World Service’s reputation for integrity, truth and freedom of speech - values that motivate journalists around the world - is a credit both to the BBC and the UK as a whole. So I want to thank you publicly for the work you do."
The World Service began in 1932 as a way to reach English speakers in the furthest parts of the British Empire. It now broadcasts in 32 languages around the world and has a weekly audience of more than 180m people.
Image copyright: Reuters
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