Circom Report

CIRCOM Regional NewsmonthlylCR is the European Association of 380 Public Regional TV Stations in 38 countriesl April 2003/No 42

High participation for CR’s

conference in Grado, Italy

“Very high participation” is the message CR received from RAI for the attendance at this year’s CIRCOM Regional conference in Grado, Italy, May 21-24.

The deadline for of more than 300 delegates registration is April 19. expected to participate. Eight hotels with specially Grado, between Trieste & After nine years as CR Deputy General Secretary discounted prices ranging Venezia, is only 60 klm (half an from 50€ (single) to 140€ hour) away from the airport. Farewell by (double) are at the disposition

April 28 – May2 In South East Europe M.P. Urban She has been appointed Satellite TV channel The Ethnic Minorities France 3 European Project Coordinator could be launched Seminar in Budapest After nine years of hard work for CIRCOM The Ethnic Minorities Seminar in Budapest, Report as Deputy Secretary General Marie-Paule within 100 days Urban has to give up her position since she has organised with the help of the Council of For the next conference on the future of Europe, will be held at MTV premises, starting been appointed by France 3 as European Project the cinema and the audiovisual sector within Coordinator. on Monday, April 28th 2003 at 09.00 and it will “We shall miss her”, said CR President L. the European Union enlargement that will end on Friday, May 2nd 2003 at 14.00. Since Kongalides who added “we all appreciate her high take place in Thessaloniki, end of May, the deadline was on March 31, for any late level work and devotion to Circom Regional. At Eureka Audiovisual will put on the agenda registrations check the Circom site least we are happy that she has been promoted by the idea for the creation of a common http://www.circom-regional.org for the France 3 – a tribute to her skills and experience. satellite TV channel for South Eastern Schedule and the Registration Form for the The doors of CR will always be open for her”. Europe. Seminar. Hubert Schilling proposed by France 3, will take The Task Force Group is working on the over as Deputy Secretary until May, when the proposal how to launch the experimental European Board will designate his tenure. (More on p. 3) phase of the project within 100 days. BMC workshop in Already the Bulgarian multimedia Trieste training company “Interactive Technologies” has Budva, April 26-27 offered to participants, free of charge, fully booked editing, up-linking and space capacity A workshop in Budva (Montenegro) will be This years training workshop for young during the experimental phase. held April 26-27 by the Baltic Media Center. During the meeting a number of productions journalists, to be held in Grado prior to the annual will be screened and also a look into basic conference, is full. Once again, there were more applicants than places. Circom Regional intended CIRCOM Regional principals of making news stories. to restrict the number of places to 24 people, but such was the demand, that careful budget planning programs on EbS French channel with allowed an extra 3 delegates. 27 people from 13 countries representing 23 regional stations will be EbS, the European Broadcast Satellite, will a French perspective benefiting from the training which is sponsored by transmit the following CIRCOM Regional Circom Regional and the Council of Europe programs: President Jacques Chirac has set a deadline of Human Rights Media Division. • “The Enlargement – The New Teenage April 22 for media groups to submit proposals The generosity of Circom member stations has Europe” (TV Syd & CR), “The for a new channel that would promote meant that we will be joined by 13 leading Enlargement – The Last Straight Line” international affairs from a French perspective. professionals who have been released from their (BR & CR), “La Roue du Temps” (RTBF) The aim is for the channel, which would normal duties. These trainers and technicians, who on April 16, 17 and 19 will deliver the workshop for Circom Regional are initially start off in French, to target Arab, from France 3, ARD Berlin, Hesisscher Rundfunk • “The Enlargement – The New Teenage African and European countries, while later Frankfurt, HRT Zagreb, the Thomson Foundation, Europe”, “The Enlargement – The Last branching out into English and perhaps Arabic. BBC Wales and Nelson-media. Straight Line” (BR & CR), “Europeos No Le Monde put the cost at between €25m-30m The workshop will run for 10 days prior to the 21” (France 3) on April 23, 24 and 26 while Francois Rochebloine, chair of the annual conference and will then continue with a First transmission is at 21.00 CET, second at parliamentary committee on information, said it specially organised two-day workshop on video 05.30 CET and third at 12.00 CET couldn't be done for less than €100m. journalism, with journalists being introduced to the operation of DV cameras and editing equipment. 2 AIB Global Media Business The New Iranian conference in London, April 29-30 satellite service

Mark Byford, Director of BBC World Service and Global News division, Test transmissions of a new Iranian satellite TV service called Al-Alam started. will give the opening keynote speech at the 2003 AIB Global Media The director-general of the network said that Business conference. Byford joins a strong line-up of speakers from across Al-Alam is an international news network international media, including representatives from Discovery Networks, and its programmes will be broadcast in Radio Netherlands, Ipsos-RSL, InterMedia, Convera, Dalet A.N.N, German English and Arabic to North America, Asia and the Asia-Pacific regions via Hotbird 3, TV, CASBAA, Teletrax, Clifford Chance, LongAcre Partners and the BBC. Arabsat and Asiasat satellites from 2030 to Over two days, delegates from all World. 1500 GMT. He said that the objective of over the world will be able to learn To register, use the online launching this network was to interconnect about the issues currently facing the registration system at the Islamic world and to disseminate news among them, not to propagate the policies of international broadcasting industry www.aib.org.uk, or download the the Islamic Republic of Iran. and find solutions and strategies for PDF-format conference registration the future. An accompanying form here. Already registered are BBC World now exhibition will showcase the delegates from Germany, Sweden, technology and services that assist Switzerland, the UK, Canada, South in over 200 countries the international broadcasting Africa, New Zealand, Tanzania, It seems to be ever upwards for BBC industry function from day to day, Czech Republic and Taiwan, World, the BBCs international television and reveal some of the future trends representing public and commercial service. The BBC reports good progress in in broadcasting. broadcasters, suppliers of services Africa. Via TVAfrica BBC World now reaches The Official Conference Partners and equipment, regulators and an extra seven million households across the continent. TVAfrica, the largest free-to- are BBC World Service and BBC consultants. air, pan-African television network already syndicates the overnight re-broadcasts of BBC World to its terrestrial affiliates to a new China’s CCTV is now total of fourteen African countries; Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana, Namibia, available on BSkyB Botswana, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and Lesotho. China wants to have it both ways to be a modern commercial BBC World can now be received in over state, and to preserve its unique Communist-based identity, which is 250 million homes worldwide, in over 200 countries. The total has increased by 42 per a difficult balance to strike. cent in just 15 months. Things are going Looking outwards, China's CCTV English-language channel is now especially well in India and Europe, and available on Britain's BSkyB and France's TPS. This is a big step BBC World is available on the two dominant forward for China’s drive to gain understanding, as BSkyB is the satellites in the Middle East; Nilesat and Arabsat. Further distribution will come from a largest and only service provider for direct broadcasting satellite new satellite television channel, Eurasia TV, television, with more than 200 channels and programmes for over 6 which will cover 21 countries including million subscribers in Britain, while TPS is one of the two largest Russia, the Commonwealth of Independent service providers for direct broadcasting satellite television in France, States (CIS), most of Eastern Europe and China. with 1.2 million subscribers. But at the same time, China carrying our content. The key is News channel does not want too much foreign to have overseas television influence in its colossal stations carry the true picture by ABC News

broadcasting market (population about China." ABC News is to launch a 24-hour news over 1 billion). The Chinese have The Chinese issued a complete channel only available to broadband internet very recently made it clear that list of approved foreign subscribers. The channel - described by there will not, as many in the broadcasting organisations: ABCNews.com VP Bernard Gershon as "baby steps towards the first internet news global industry had believed, be a News; BBC World; Bloomberg; network" - will draw on ABC News' great deal of opening up of the CNBC; CNN; Phoenix Infonews; broadcast content and offer live coverage of market. CCTV Vice-President Movie, music & sport; Cinemax UN debates and White House briefings. The Zhang Changming said the key HBO; Phoenix Movie; Star Movie; service will form part of video streamer RealNetwork's SuperPass bundle of issues with regards to China's TV Channel V; MTV; ESPN; Star subscription channels costing $9.95 per industry were how to improve Sports; General entertainment; month. cooperation with foreign AXN; Discovery; Hallmark; JETV; broadcasters and allow Macau Asia; Macau Five Star; EBU reality show blasts off

Westerners to "understand" Macau Travel; National The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) China's situation and views. Geographic Channel-Asia; NOW; is putting together an international "Overseas channels rarely carry NHK; Phoenix Chinese; TVB8; coproduction with Channel One Russia to programmes from China. It's very TVB Galaxy; Yangguang Weishi; create a reality TV show during which a rare that you see content on TV5. member of the public will be chosen to travel to the International Space Station for the first overseas TV channels that is true Any further applicants may time ever. The EBU is looking to ink global or fair," he complained. "What we have a hard time of it. sponsorship deals for the series, which will want to see is other networks be filmed in Moscow. 3

Deputy General Secretary Serbia restricts media after assassination

Authorities in Serbia are calling on the domestic Marie – Paule Urban news media to behave "responsibly" under the state of emergency imposed after last week's assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic. Deputy Prime Minister Zarko Korac met with leaves CIRCOM Regional editors in chief this week and asked them to exercise caution in their coverage, to take full responsibility for their output, and not to report A farewell letter reviewing nine years rumours or analysis based on rumours for as long as of hard work in the Strasbourg office the state of emergency is in effect. Belgrade-based radio station Studio B, which can be heard across Dear colleagues and friends, half of Serbia, has stopped rebroadcasts of Serbian- As you may well know, I have been appointed as France 3 European Project Coordinator. language programmes by Radio Free Europe/Radio While this new function is being set up, allow me to tell you how much I appreciated, as Liberty and the Voice of America on both much as Head of International Relations at France 3 Alsace, as CIRCOM Regional Deputy television and radio. Broadcasts by CNN and other television news channels transmitted via satellite in Secretary General our sincere and efficient cooperation. major languages have not been affected. For hours You know the very active interest I always Conceived: Euro TV Regio, innovative, on the day of the assassination, domestic news outlets were forced to rely on foreign media reports showed in carrying out this role created in multicultural and multilingual channel and for news of Djindjic's death. State television RTS 1995 and my attachment to the spirit and obtain a prefeasibility study from the and even the private Beta news agency were unable vocation of CIRCOM Regional. I am very European Commission.Co-producing and to get official word about Djindjic's death for more proud of the achievements made during these exchanging programmes: by coordinating the than 2 hours and were merely quoting Western news agencies or rebroadcasting Western satellite 3 successive mandates, entrusted to me by participation of 6 CR East-European news broadcasts. the CR European Board even if, regretfully, countries for the Radio Canada-CIRTEF the last one had to be shortened by six coproduction, a series of 50 portraits (26’) 50 RAI top job filled months. I am also very happy for the et 1 monde, 3 special coproductions for 2001: confidence our partners have shown in me European Year of Languages, initiating the amid controversy during the past nine years: Channels, European collection of 7 documentaries of A former news director of the Italian state European Institutions and Regional 26’ Man and the Forest in partnership with broadcasting company RAI was made head of the Authorities. the Union des Sylviculteurs du Sud de company yesterday after another leading journalist turned the job down. Lucia Annunziata, nominated Nine years, nine years already! since the l’Europe. by the presidents of the two parliamentary houses, Deputy General Secretariat has been created Strengthening life – Long Training across is the senior news executive of the independent in Strasbourg and was entrusted to me thanks Europe: by organizing each year since news agency Ap.Biscom, and a former foreign correspondent for the newspapers Corriere della to the Directions of France 3 and France 3 November 2000 during the European Sera and La Repubblica. The decision 24 hours Alsace, the support of the Council of Europe, Parliament session a new CR European earlier of Paulo Mieli to decline the job because of European Commission and European Training seminar on Newsroom Management "political difficulties" sharpened the concern about Parliament, the City of Strasbourg, the with translation in English of the book the influence of the conservative prime minister and television tycoon, Silvio Berlusconi, on Italian Conseil General du Bas-Rhin and the Region Television News Report of B. Besse and D. broadcasting. Mr Mieli had been widely hailed as Alsace. Sedormeaux. the man able to rescue the company after its former Thanks to you all-and I do thank you all In brief, 3 consecutive constructive board resigned amid allegations that they had very warmly-we were able to establish mandates of 3 years each under the deliberately run the state service into the ground and systematically censored news in favour of Mr together close relations and to develop the presidency of the Norwegian Harald BOE Berlusconi. The issue of political influence has activities of this unique international (NRK Oslo 94-96), the Swiss Carlo Ranzi become more sensitive since Mr Berlusconi became audiovisual network of 376 public regional (TSI Lugano 96-99), the German Reimar prime minister because his empire includes Italy's three biggest television networks. TV stations from 38 European countries, to Allerdt (BR Munich 2000) and currently the make the vocation of this Cooperative Greek Lefty Kongalides (ERT3 Thessaloniki) Internationale de Recherche en matiere de with an intercultural link, East-West BBC axes 100 Communication registered since 1995 at the partnership with the General Secretaries: the website jobs

Court benefiting from the local Code of law Slovenian Boris Bergant (RTV Ljubljana BBCi, the new media division of the British better known 1995-2001) and the Croatian Marija Nemcic Broadcasting Corporation, is cutting around 100 Promoting Cooperation between our (HRT Zagreb). I wish my friend and jobs on its websites to pay for increased technical members and developing communication colleagues Hubert Schilling complete costs and the expansion of its interactive television services. The job cuts follow an extensive review of with new bilingual medium: newsletter, success. He will take over the current affairs the BBC's new media operation, which has grown booklet and film presentations, creation of a until the designation of a new Deputy massively over the past four years and attracted logo, generic and the CIRCOM Regional Secretary General, position France 3 criticism from the commercial sector for squeezing trophy, historical exhibition from the origine proposed him. out rival websites. The BBC head of new media, Ashley Highfield, has promised not to spend much in 1983 to nowadays, new crossborder Inspired by this fascinating European more than the £111.6m (164.3m euros) the category for the PRIX CR, launching of the audiovisual experience, I shall continue, in corporation spent in the last financial year. He has programme Europe by Satellite from the my new position, to plead in favour of the been forced to make the staff cuts to pay for European Commission with the 4-hour defense and portrayal of our cultures in all increased spending on its technical backbone and interactive TV activities. weekly broadcasting of our best programmes, their diversity and our values of Tolerance, BBCi's technical costs have also shot up as its campaign initiated by the Council of Europe Democracy, Solidarity and Humanism. website has become more and more popular and it All equal, all different, coast line CR Festival has introduced more audio and video elements. The Friendly Yours, cuts will come from the interactive factual and along with Brest 96, Charter: gateway to learning department responsible for websites Europe, the active participation of CIRCOM accompanying broadcast series, the main new Regional in our partners’ associations media department that handles the hugely ASITRA, CMCA,COPEAM, CORECOM, successful BBC.co.uk homepage, and the interactive radio and music arm, which develops CIRTEF, CTF, EEBA, MAT TV, URTI. Marie-Paule Urban sites for the BBC's radio stations.

4 Slovak TV cuts 1,200 Dr. Erhard Busek Award for better jobs due to chronic understanding in South East Europe budgetary problems The deadline for applications is June 15 Slovakia's state television broadcaster will dismiss The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is pleased to announce the Dr. 1,200 of its 2,000 employees by the end of this year due to chronic budgetary problems, Slovak Erhard Busek - SEEMO 2003 Award for Better Understanding in South East Europe. Television Director Richard Rybnicek announced This award is open to the nominees from South East Europe: Albania, Bosnia and last week. Presenting what he described as an Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Moldova, Former Yugoslav Republic "emergency" programme, Mr Rybnicek also said Slovak-produced programmes are to be drastically of Macedonia, Romania, Serbia- Montenegro, Kosovo and Slovenia. A written cut and Slovak Television will move some application for this award will be presented to a jury of seven persons appointed by operations out of its current building. Dismissal SEEMO. If no candidate receives a qualified majority, the award for that year will not notices will go out by end of June, he said. Mr Rybnicek said the redundancy measures will cost be granted. Material will not be returned, so please always send a copy of your CV, 250m crowns (6m euros) in severance pay but report, article, video, audiotape or CD. should save 224m crowns (5.4m euros) over one Sponsored by Dr. Erhard Busek, Special better understanding in South Eastern year, which amounts to about one-third of the cost of running the station. By 2004, Slovak Television will Coordinator of the Stability Pact, the 2.000 Europe. Latin was selected from among no longer depend on government funding and will Euro award will be given to a journalist, more than 400 nominations received by function solely on the basis of license fees and revenues it generates itself, Mr Rybnicek said. editor, media executive or person SEEMO. educating journalists in South East Europe, If someone knows of any person or US and Europe who, through the media, has promoted a organisation who would be a worthy climate of better understanding among recipient of the Dr. Erhard Busek - see different wars peoples in the region and worked toward SEEMO Award for Better Understanding ending minority problems, ethnic divisions, American audiences are seeing and reading about in South East Europe, please send the a different war than the rest of the world. The news racism, xenophobia etc. In 2002, the South application form to SEEMO at: coverage in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) SEEMO/IPI "Busek Award", Spiegelgasse reflects and defines the widening perception gap and its international jury chose the about the motives for this war. Americans, 2/29, 1010 Vienna, Austria, Tel: +43 1 513 meanwhile, are hearing commentary on military Croatian journalist Denis Latin as the 39 40, Fax: +43 1 512 90 15, E-mail: strategy and the human interest angles on soldier life recipient of the Dr. Erhard Busek - [email protected] The application in the desert. Some analysts say that because press SEEMO 2002 Award for Better ownership is less concentrated in Europe than in the form: www.seemo.at (Awards) The US, the European media are providing more Understanding in South East Europe, in deadline for applications for the Dr. Erhard perspectives than either the Arab or American recognition for outstanding efforts in Busek - SEEMO Award for Better outlets. In Frankfurt, for example, readers have access to 16 different German-language newspapers journalism, which contributed toward Understanding in South East Europe is: 15 - many of which present different vantage points, June 2003. which makes for a more lively and varied debate. European journalists also seem to ask different, more In Amsterdam, May 15-16 skeptical, questions about the war, often being the ones at White House and Pentagon press conferences to ask whether the invasion of Iraq has turned up any of the weapons of mass destruction that were used to Annual TV Meets the Web justify the invasion - even as their American counterparts repeatedly focus on such questions as whether Saddam Hussein is alive or dead. Media watchers say the European press has tended to be Seminar focus on digital more balanced than the US media in dealing with the war, in part because Europe is so much closer to the “Digital Media: The path to profitability” is Muslim world. the main topic of this year’s Annual TV Meets the Web Seminar, which will take place on 15- Truth is elusive 16 May, in the Royal Tropical Institute in central Amsterdam. The fifth in this series of in wartime seminars will bring together representatives of broadcast, media and entertainment companies, The media have faced difficulties establishing telecom operators, consumer electronic what is true in a war that is being fought as much in the press as it is on the battlefield. BBC director of manufacturers and IT solution vendors from news Richard Sambrook has admitted it is proving across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. difficult for correspondents in Iraq to distinguish the Expect to hear insightful keynote addresses, truth from false reports, after a series of media as well as specialty workshops which will help claims about the progress of coalition forces turned delegates understand the most pressing issues out to be premature. "Nobody including the media related to topics such as SMS television and its has the full picture of what's going on. Reporting the revenue streams, consumer ssales driven TV war is about putting together fragments of formats, multi platform programmes and their information. We're all trying to work out this jigsaw and what the overall picture is," Mr Sambrook said. revenues streams, retailers’ television of broadcasters, media and entertainment companies The Iraqi port city of Umm Qasr has been reported initiatives, broadcasters’ use of streaming video and content production companies, will present their as being taken by coalition forces more than nine and the negotiation of revenue-sharing deals most creative, multi-platform content concepts and times since Friday and Basra has been the subject of between consumer brands, content producers compete for the TV Meets the Web Excellence in further confusion after reports that Iraqi civilians and distributors. Digital Media Award. Winners will be announced at were involved an uprising Wednesday proved This year also marks the fifth anniversary of the event. If you wish to attend, visit premature. The British broadcaster has said that in the TV Meets the Web Seminar. To celebrate www.tvmeetstheweb.com/may2003 to register online. reporting the war it will state clearly when a report has come from just one source. "We have to be this landmark, Van Dusseldorp & Partners had You can also visit the site for updates on the completely transparent and clear with our audience, added a special feature to the event: a multi- programme and speakers, the participant list, and you to say 'this is what we've heard, we'll try to check it platform digital content showcase. Representatives can also sign up for free newsletters. out and do the best we can'," Mr Sambrook said. 5

CIRCOM Regional holds in Budapest BBC plans war Documentary Ethnic Minorities Seminar The BBC is planning the definitive televised record of war in Iraq, with a documentary featuring exclusive footage shot by camera crews going into action with in Budapest, April 28-May 2 British forces. Documentary crews from the UK broadcaster are already in the Gulf with units from the British army, navy and air force and are expected to The Ethnic Minorities Seminar to be held at MTV premises in Budapest, film front line action when the assault on Iraq begins. The BBC will also have cameras inside British April 28-May 2, is designed to increase an awareness of the problems and government offices at Whitehall and the country's possibilities facing managers, journalists and producers of TV stations, all armed forces HQ in Northwood, recording decisions members of CIRCOM REGIONAL, in dealing with ethnic minorities. taken behind the scenes by the prime minister Tony Blair, the defence secretary, Geoff Hoon, and military The problems include those facing SEMINAR SPEAKERS: chiefs. In order to gain such unprecedented access the BBC series producer, Neil Grant, has had to promise all journalists - racism, religious Arwel Ellis Owen, former Head of the armed forces that none of the footage shot by his sensitivities, even the vocabulary used Programmes, BBC Northern Ireland film crews, which could potentially give away important secrets about the joint UK and US military in news magazines. The possibilities and Editor News and Current Affairs, operation, will be broadcast on BBC news bulletins. include the enrichment of each BBC Wales Judit Klein, Hungarian The BBC has 17 production staff in the Gulf in total, national heritage through the mosaic National Organiser, CIRCOM with camera crews attached to several British military divisions. Mr Grant said he expected the documentary of minority cultures and the greater REGIONAL and Producer, MTV would eventually run to between three and six 60- diversity of programmes which follow (Hungary) Inger Etzler, Chairperson minute episodes. a higher profile of ethnic minorities. of EBU's Intercultural programme Seminars will be led by Arwel Ellis and Producer, SVT (Sweden) Erik US broadcaster Owen, a former Head of Programmes, Hogenboom, Executive Producer, targets Iraq

BBC Northern Ireland and former City Folk, EBU and Producer, NPS Radio Free Iraq is on the front lines of an escalating Editor, News and Current Affairs, (Holland) Lynne Polak, Project information war for the US-led invasion of Iraq. For 10 hours each day, David Newton and his staff of 18, most BBC Wales. He will conduct seminars Manager, EBU, Co-productions and of them Iraqis, send their version of the latest news on topics such as constructing a Exchanges Gunther Rautz, European from Prague to the people of Iraq via shortwave radio. Mr Newton was ambassador to Iraq from 1984 to 1988. multicultural broadcasting schedule, Academy of Minorities Gordana His current job, says the 67-year-old Newton, is to on minority language broadcasting as Stosic, Director-General, Macedonian provide the Iraqi people with the most accurate stories well as the use of digital TV and the Radio and TV (MRTV) FYRO possible so they can formulate their own opinions about the situation in their country. The station does that with internet in increasing ethnic minority Macedonia and formerly General a format of breaking news, weekly features, politics, output. Manager, AITV, Skopje culture and humor, he says. "We don't hide the fact that we are an American station, but we don't go on the air saying we are an American station," Newton says. "We come across essentially as an Iraqi station, which is our News World Conference mandate." RFI was created by former US President Bill Clinton in 1998 in response to escalating tensions in Dublin, Oct. 21 – 23 between Iraq and the United States and as a means of intensifying efforts to oust the country's leadership. The Iraqi government and some American media groups The Banff Television Foundation - one of have called the station a propaganda tool of the US, an the broadcasting world's most respected assertion Newton rejects. Newsweek magazine recently conference organisations - is joining forces quoted US government sources as saying that Iraqi with the management of News World agents may have targeted the Prague headquarters of International to produce the company's next RFI's parent group, RFE/RL, for attack if the US carries out an invasion of Iraq. major conference in Dublin. In a licensing deal that provides the world's premier news industry conference Turner says AOL with well-proven infrastructure, logistical Concern over support and a wealth of complementary should be dumped experience, the Canadian organization will AOL Time Warner's biggest shareholder Ted Turner satphone use manage marketing and management has reignited the debate over the future of the world's With the US military targeting satellite phone activities, allowing News World's existing biggest media company after saying the company might transmissions to locate Iraqi military commanders, UK team to concentrate on developing be better off without its troubled internet division, analysts worry calls from journalists and other programme content for the ninth annual America Online. Mr Turner also said he was likely to civilians could appear as beacons for bombers. The US News World conference and exhibition, at remain on the board when he steps down as vice military won't discuss how precisely it can track the Burlington Hotel, Dublin, between chairman in May. The outspoken media mogul, who people based on their satphone signals, and the October 21-23. claims to have personally lost billions of dollars as a satellite phone companies say they don't know. But The agreement adds News World to a result of the plummeting value of the company since the military and intelligence experts say US targeting merger in 2001, became the latest in a string of AOL technology is not just possible, it's getting better. "It's portfolio of Banff events that include the Time Warner executives to stand down earlier this year. just yet another thing journalists now have to take into prestigious Banff Television Festival and "I wonder whether being part of AOL Time Warner is account," said Kate Adie, a veteran war correspondent annual international conferences for history the best way," he said at a breakfast briefing organised for the BBC. US military officials have urged and science programme makers. by the New Yorker magazine. "I can't tell you one journalists and other foreign civilians to leave Iraq for As well as putting its weight behind the company that has had a foot placed in the old media their own safety. Iraq's information ministry estimates October event in Dublin, The Banff business that has been successful in the new media 300 foreign journalists remain in Baghdad. Major organization will also provide support to the business." In his interview, Mr Turner also sang verses satellite telephone providers have said they saw of the Cole Porter song Don't Fence Me In and third News World Asia conference, to be subscriptions and usage rise alongside the prospect of challenged fellow media veteran Rupert Murdoch to a a US invasion. On Tuesday, Inmarsat said it was held in Kuala Lumpur between May 30- fist fight. Through a spokesman, Mr Murdoch activating a fifth satellite to help ease congestion June 1. responded: "The last thing Ted needs these days is a caused, in part, by transmissions of news video. licking from me."

6 Truth is casualty Balkan Folk Festival set in the Iraq war

The head of BBC News Richard in Bulgaria’s Veliko Tarnovo Sambrook admitted that the pressure of filling 24-hours with news about the war "Euro Folk 2003" Music Television and Internet Products Festival and in Iraq had led to truth becoming one of "Veliko Tarnovo 2003" Television and Internet Music Market are on their the casualties. "The difficulty with a 24- way. Participating in the international jury are representatives of hour news channel is you're trying to televisions from Moscow, Tokyo, Rome, London, Dublin, Stockholm and work out live on air what's true and Nicosia. what isn't," he said. British veteran war correspondent Martin Bell also urged In the course of work, several new fest "Balkan Folk 2003" - Number the media to ensure claims were decisions emerged, which are as One Fest in Europe for traditional substantiated or risk becoming a follows: folk arts and four more propaganda tool of the military. "I think 1. It is not obligatory for the music TV international music festivals. Euro it's time we took a good look at our products to have subtitles in English Folk will be held from July 30 – journalists. Our news journalists on TV have been consistently reporting or Russian. It is sufficient the August 12 in Veliko Tarnovo. Six rumours that would have helped the application form to be accompanied more festivals will take place from allies as if they were fact," Bell said. "I by summary in English or Russian. May 1-26. think it's time for a great deal of caution 2. In connection with the letter of Mr. “The beauty and the energy of the and the old journalistic merit of Vladimir Spicer from the Croatian art of our ancestors are preserved scepticism," he added.

TV, the Organizing committee in the live performances of the decided the category "Folklore traditional folk arts. The News World products" to transform in 4 new combination between the categories:. contemporary television rescheduled o Folklore products /in general/; technologies with the live o Folk songs; performances could preserve the for October

o Folk dances; traditions in the minds of the News World - the most important o Folk customs. young generations and we stay gathering of the year for broadcast news 3. Each participant in "Euro Folk 2003" hopeful that with the combined journalists - has brought its 2003 event Music Television and Internet efforts of the deserving forward by a month to give delegates an Products Festival and "Veliko representatives from the early opportunity to review the state of the news industry in what will almost Tarnovo 2003" Television and European nations, this will certainly be the aftermath of war. The Internet Music Market can send become real”, says Iliyan Nikolov, ninth annual News World conference and his/hers own advertising materials, President of "Euro Folk 2003" exhibition, originally scheduled for late which will be propagated free of Musical Feasts and Chairman of November, will now take place at The charge together with the rest of the Stara Planina Fest "Balkan Folk": Burlington Hotel, Dublin, from October 21- 23. information materials. You can contact the festival at the All terms for participation are stated following address: 19 Christo Keegan attacks on www.eurofolk.tv. The application Botev Str. C.4, Veliko Tarnovo forms should have been submitted up 5000 PB 27, Bulgaria, tel. ‘abysmal’ to 31st March 2003. Simultaneously ++35962/621 541, fax with the stated television events, in ++35962/623 464, E-mail: war media

Veliko Tarnovo are held Stara Planina [email protected] The Daily Telegraph's veteran defence editor John Keegan said he supports "100 per cent" the accusation by the commander of the British forces Council of Europe in the Gulf that the UK media are "losing the plot" over the war in Iraq. Air Marshal Brian Burridge launched a launches portals in scathing attack on news programmes and newspapers in yesterday's Telegraph, accusing the media of turning the conflict into "reality TV", new language versions high on conjecture and low on analysis. While Mr Keegan praised reporters on As of March 28, portals in German, Italian and Russian can be the front line in Iraq, he expressed accessed on the Council of Europe website, together with portal scorn for those sitting in studios trying sections offering compilations of the documentary resources in over to make sense of events as they unfold, 30 European languages. and singled out Channel 4 News presenter Jon Snow as the worst “Thanks to our expansion on the Council’s activity by making the culprit. Nwspaper and broadcast news Web, we want to use the new whole of its documentary editors, including Sky News' Nick Pollard, Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan technologies to draw closer to the resources accessible in his native and Times foreign editor Bronwen 800 million European citizens,” language. Maddox; rounded on Air Marshal Secretary General Walter The Council of Europe on-line Burridge over his comments, saying the Schwimmer pointed out. He went visit portal: http://www.coe.int - British media was doing the best job it on to state the objective: putting Email: [email protected] can in difficult and dangerous the citizen at the centre of the circumstances. 7 Int’l Conference May 30: BBC takes its services on Cross-Media Service into the clear, dropping encryption Delivery in Santorini

The 1st International Conference on May 30th could be as significant a day for digital broadcasting in the UK as was the Cross-Media Service Delivery (CMSD) launch of digital satellite television itself. The reason is that May 30th is the date when Santorini, Greece, May 30-31st 2003 This the BBC takes its services into the clear using the saved cash to add the remaining event is being organized with the support of the European Commission IST Programme regional variations onto the Sky platform. within the framework of the project CONTESSA (Content Transformation Engine The in-the-clear transmissions are I'm prepared to enter the services menu of supporting Universal Access, possible because the Astra 2D satellite the Sky box. http://contessa.intranet.gr). has a number of transponders that are Talk of rival satellite packages, which The CMSD conference addresses a tightly focussed on the UK. That means surface every time someone squares up to constituency of researchers, technology that the sports and movie rights holders Sky, are clearly far fetched. There's nothing experts, electronic media publishers, digital who previously required the signal to be though to stop ITV doing the same when content providers, as well as e-business encrypted should be satisfied. Unlike it's contract comes up for renewal in companies, ISPs, network operators, Sweden's TV3, which had to encrypt its autumn 2004. When ITV first went on broadcasters, and multimedia equipment and software developers. High-level officials from signal a few years back, because a testing satellite a little over a year ago the prospect the European Commission and CEOs from station in Italy spuriously picked up of using Astra 2D's tight beams was key industrial players are invited as well. transmissions of Italian football. mentioned then. Furthermore, this conference is targeting Currently the BBC transmits the four so- If a deal can't be done we have the activities which will be developed in the FP6 called 'National Regions' for BBC One interesting possibility of the Radio Times IST second call of proposals on Cross-Media serving Scotland, Wales and Northern publishing the instructions on how to add content for Leisure and Entertainment. Ireland. The English version is the one for Other Channels into the Sky box - or any Participants will have the opportunity to meet London with the four largest regions only other box for that matter - the stock for with possible future partners and exchange ideas for proposals in this area. available during the regional opt-outs that channels broadcasting in the clear is For further information please consult the form a part of the Six O'clock News. The suddenly rising. There's around 60 of them web site: BBC's offer to Sky is to ensure that at the moment although about 30 are http://contessa.intranet.gr/Conference/ everyone receives the correct region shopping channels. CNN, Sky News and according to where they live. When you Cartoon Network's Boomerang are among GSTA conference press '101' you will get the correct version the more watchable. The BBC press of BBC One for your part of the world, but statement even mentioned the £30,000 in Glasgow, Sept. 20-24 only if BSkyB accepts the BBC offer. If all reputedly paid by CNN for its entry in the GSTA is a network of 360 organisations goes according to plan it will presumably Electronic Programme Guide. Exactly how that are involved with or interested in the be possible for this London resident to find this equates with postcode mapping for 15 giant screen film industry. An international out what's happening on BBC One East if English regions is unclear. association, GSTA holds an annual conference and trade show every September In Rovereto, Italy, Oct. 6-11 – the world’s largest, dedicated exclusively to giant screen film. Half of the industry’s focus is to meet lifelong learning missions through giant screen films using such topics as the International Festival of natural world and history from a larger context, wildlife, and the ocean environment. The GSTA 2003 International Conference & Trade Show will attract approximately 700 Archaeological Film delegates, including owners and operators of the majority of the world’s giant screen The Civic Museum of Rovereto, in conjunction with the magazine theatres, film makers, film distributors, equipment suppliers, and other interested “Archeologia Viva”, is organising the XIV International Festival of parties. Archaeological Film, which will take place in Rovereto, Oct. 6-11. • Conference: Register for the GSTA 2003 International Conference & Trade Show, The participation in the XIV Festival educational events. Sept. 20-24, Glasgow, Scotland is open to any film in the fields of All films selected for the Festival • Research: Enhance your understanding of archaeological, historical, can receive the “Città di Rovereto- the economics of the giant screen industry palethnological and anthropological Archeologia Viva” Prize given by the • Marketing: Promote your business through GSTA advertising, sponsorship, or trade research and to any documentary public to the most appreciated film. show aimed at preserving and valuing the Besides, films produced since 2000 • Film: Present and receive feedback on cultural heritage. can participate - if selected by a your new film, short film, fine cut, film in Because of the increasing number of Committee - in the VI competition progress, or film in development at the conference participants, a selection of "Paolo Orsi Prize". The theme • Resources: Network with professional the films to be shown during of this year’s competition is: peers from around the world; take advantage the Festival will be "The artistic expression in of “best practices” available to members; and necessary. Anyway, all the ancient times: figurative art, access a number of available directories • Publicaitons: Keep up-to-date on current works will be listed in the literature, poetry, theatre, industry and association issues through your museum data-bank. The music.." The VI “Paolo Orsi” Prize - member-benefit subscritpion to The Big Festival, in conjunction with the consisting of 5500 euro - will be Frame magazine Archeologia Viva, promotes awarded to the best film by an • Education: Participate in efforts to better understand the medium’s impact on lifelong and values the documentaries through international jury. The deadline for learning a variety of cultural, scientific and the entry form is April 30. 8 Poll suggests US media failure

Somehow, despite the US media's exhaustive Iraq coverage, a very large segment of the American public Newsletter #2 remained underinformed about key issues related to the Iraqi crisis. In a January poll, 44 per cent of By M. Nemcic, CR General Secretary respondents said they thought "most" or "some" of the September 11, 2001, hijackers were Iraqi citizens. Dear Colleagues, Only 17 per cent of those polled offered the correct 1. The 4 Questionnaires related to CIRCOM work As the period full of activities is fast approaching, I (Membership, Prix Circom, Training, Euromusica)I do answer: none. This was remarkable in light of the fact would like to inform you of what we have done so far and thank all those who returned the 4 filled-in that, in the weeks after the terrorist attacks, few what is of great importance to us in the forthcoming days. Questionnaires and I do ask those who still have not done Americans identified Iraqis among the culprits. So the

The Training - Out of five Trainings that are planned for that (Andres Psaila, PBS Malta, Angei Urreiztieta, level of awareness on this issue actually decreased as this year, two are finished already and with great success, RTVE, Anne Flinkkila, YLE, Maria Eugenia Baptista, time passed. In the same sample, 41 per cent said that too. RTP, Mikkjal Helmsdal SVF, Faroe, Pier Luigi Malesani, Iraq already possessed nuclear weapons, which not From March 3rd through March 7th 2003, the CR RAI, Sergei Erofeev, Russia, Tito Malaguerra, SRG and even the Bush administration claimed. Despite being Technical Training for cameramen was held in Zorica Kostovska, MRTV) to send the Questionnaires. far off base in crucial areas, 66 per cent of respondents Pinewood Studio with AVID sponsorship and thanks to This is particularly important, as the CR Secretariat claimed to have a "good understanding" of the would like to up-date the database until the Annual arguments for and against going to war with Iraq. Karol Cioma. Seven cameramen from Germany, Croatia, Bosnia and Hercegovina, France and UK, took part in the Conference.

Training. It is very important that some of them, thanks to 2. The Questionnaire: The Survey of Regional TV in Prix Europa in Berlin the knowledge they have got on the Training, will join us Europe for the Training for Young Journalists in Grado. So far we have received the filled-in Questionnaire from from Oct. 11 to 18

The Middle Management Seminar was held from Ahmed Hadzijamakovic, PBS BiH, Judit Klein, MTV, The 2003 Prix Europa will be held in Berlin, Oct. March 12th through March 15th 2003 in Zagreb, Kjell Jarle Hoyheim, NRK, Per-Ake Krook, SVT, Pierre 11-18. The registration deadline for nominations will sponsored by HRT and Thomson Foundation. Nineteen Couchard, RTBF, Piotr Borys, TVP, Roel Dijkhuis, RTV be July 1. More information is available on the web participants representing eight countries attended. Noord, Tim Johnson, TVSyd and Vladimir Spicer, HRT. site: www.prix-europa.info. Positive participation and feedback demonstrate that the I kindly ask the colleagues who have not returned the The Prix Europa is awarded to the best European needs were satisfactorily addressed. I would like to thank filled-in Questionnaire yet, to do it soonest possible, television and radio programmes with the aim of Roel Dijkhuis who this year again joined the Seminar as because we do need those data to prepare a Survey for the publicising them throughout Europe and supporting an excellent trainer. The themes and questions that were Conference. their distribution. Since television and radio are good addressed show how much needed such a Seminar is and 3. Annual Conference, Grado at overcoming borders, the also bear a responsibility I sincerely hope that we shall have the possibility to have - If you, or some one from your Television, wish to for bringing the nations of Europe together. This also such a Seminar next year, too. take part in a Workshop, please let us know. So far, the applies to their effective use of the Internet. Prix

The Ethnic Minorities Seminar is to be held from April participation of the very high and strong delegation of the Europa’s main concern is to promote the trademark 28th through May 2nd 2003 in Budapest. The Seminar is BBC (thanks to Anita Bhala) and of France 3 (grâce à “Made in Europe”. Needed is the mosaic of sponsored by CoE and hosted by Judit Klein. The Jean-Marie Belin) have been confirmed programme quality made up by our many cultures – Seminar is for the participants from all the CR countries - Please send your Accreditations ASAP (all the Forms but also needed is a vigorous exchange of programmes and those who have interest in Ethnic Minorities issues, are on the web.site) on the audio-visual market. For all their diverstity, the please register. - For the Grado Training we already have many peoples of Europe are relatives in one big family. applicants. However, if there is interest in your The Judging for Prix Circom will start this week in History has therefore given two tasks: Sinaia, Romania, thanks to the colleagues from Romanian Television for the Training, do apply, particularly if • To accept common destiny and learn solidarity Television and to Elena Spanily. The co-productions you have not applied so far. • To turn a continent of conflict into a continent of «Enlargement, the New Teenage Europe» and «The Last - The Grado Training will have a special two-day good neighbours Straight Line» are progressing very well, primarily thanks Workshop for Video Journalism. Information and Every year, Prix Europa invites the best television and to Tim Johnson and Peter Sauer. I do hope that we shall Application conditions for young journalists will radio productions – as well as their makers and have the opportunity to see some of these programmes in be sent shortly. managers-from all the countries in Europe to engage debate and competition. It wishes to be a forum both the course of the Annual Conference in Grado. With best regards,

for discussing the quality and future of programmes And now to the issues I need your help for: Marija Nemcic and for dialogue with those responsible for European media policy. Festivals, Workshops and more Circom Report

The “CIRCOM Report” is a monthly publication of around Europe and the world CIRCOM Regional, the European Association of Public Regional TV Stations-available on the CR Internet site and coming to CR member stations and - April 16: Brussels. Meeting of the European Commission. personnel either through E-mail or as an A4 size - April 16-17: Athens. The heads of state of the 10 countries due to join the EU next year are expected to sign printed newsletter, through the CR General Accession Treaties during a European Conference hosted by the Greek presidency. Secretariat from Zagreb. The French version of the - April 23: Brussels. Meeting of the European Commission. CIRCOM Report is conceived and published by the - April 24: Turkey. Eminent psychiatrist and human rights activist, Alp Ayan is due to appear in court charged with Strasbourg Secretariat with support from the Region excessive criticism of the authorities, in a case seen by some MEPs as a test of Turkey’s reforms of free speech Alsace, the Conseil General du Bas-Rhin and the and human rights, which are necessary before it can start negotiating EU entry. City of Strasbourg. - April 29-30: London. AIB- Association of International Broadcasters holds its 2nd annual conference and The “CIRCOM Report” is planned and edited in technology exhibition. Email: [email protected] www.aib.org.uk ERT3, Thessaloniki, Greece. - April 30: Brussels. Meeting of the European Commission. Production and Design: Eleni Masoura. Phone - May 1: Labour Day in many European countries. th (+302310) 299611-610 fax (+302310) 299655. E- - May 1-3: Cavtat-Dubrovnik, Croatia. The 10 “Copeam” conference of broadcasters from the Mediterranean region. This year’s theme is TV reporting of sustainable development subjects. Contact Giulio Gordano. mail: [email protected] [email protected] www.copeam.org All member stations are considered as potential - May 3: World Press Freedom Day. contributors for this publication, with stories about - May 5: Athens. Informal meeting of EU Environment ministers. new and innovative ideas, co-productions, - May 5-6: Brussels. EU Education Ministers meet. exchanges, modern technologies, etc. Especially - May 7: Brussels. Meeting of the European Commission. welcome are short stories and one-liners. - May 8: Brussels. EU Home Affairs Ministers meet. Eutelsat is the official CIRCOM Regional - May 11: Lithuania. Referendum on accession to the EU. sponsor. - May 12-13: Corfu. Informal meeting of EU Agriculture Ministers. - May 12-15: Strasbourg. European Parliament plenary session. - May 13: Strasbourg. Meeting of the European Commission. - May 13: Brussels. EU Finance Ministers meet.