Online news in foreign languages and an English  podcast are just two of the latest initiatives to bring Danish news to foreigners

Danish media are increasingly gearing their output towards foreign visitors and residents by providing news in foreign languages.

National daily Jyllands-Posten has been providing English language content on its website since 2004 and Politiken newspaper’s website entered the English language news market earlier this year.

It has now been announced that international visitors and residents are to get more accessible news services from public service broadcaster DR and the City Council.

DR previously provided foreign language news on its website, as well as the daily News in English broadcast. Low audience ratings forced the radio broadcast off the air in 2001, while budget cuts led to the end of the on-line service in 2006.

Prompted by parliament, the broadcaster will now present the news in the six most common foreign languages in Denmark. Initially, it will offer a selection of DR stories translated daily into English, Bosnian, Turkish, Arabic, Urdu and Somali for international readers on the DR website and text television service.

DR Online editor Nicolai Porsbo said the new service also allowed the broadcaster to fulfill its public service obligation.

‘DR is for the whole population and we will reach a lot of people who are interested in following the news here, but who often experience a language barrier,’ Porsbo told Politiken newspaper.

Meanwhile the City Council has entered into partnership with The Copenhagen Post to launch a twice-daily radio news podcast in English for its international visitors and residents.

Part of the motivation is the fact that Copenhagen plays host to a number of international events this year, such as the recent World Outgames and the upcoming International Olympic Congress and UN Climate Change Conference, which are attracting thousands of foreigners to the city.

'Copenhagen Council, together with city residents, is making a big effort to accept the many international guests so they feel welcome and want to return again,’ said Mayor Ritt Bjerregaard.

‘With the daily radio broadcasts they can get a quick news update and we can keep our non-Danish speaking foreign residents informed.’

Jesper Nymark, chief executive of The Copenhagen Post, which will be responsible for the news content and production, welcomed the new venture.

‘It’s important to us that the Danish news is available in English to a wide audience, which is why we are delighted to cooperate with the city council on the podcast,’ he said.

‘We both recognise the value of new media and how easy it will be for the listener to just download the news to their mp3 player and listen to it on the go.’

From 1 September, the Copenhagen Podcast will be streamed from the websites www.kk.dk/english and www.cphpost.dk, as well as available for download.

Two daily updates will be available at noon and 4pm.