Radio Conference EBU, i dolori della radio pubblica

E' in corso a Roma, anzi in Città del Vaticano presso la sede di Radio Vaticana, l'annuale conferenza delle emittenti pubbliche iscritte all'EBU. Quarantuno le nazioni rappresentate. Spero di avere qualche presentazione da condividere. L'argomento principale in discussione sono le sfide da affrontare per le emittenti finanziate con i soldi dei contribuenti.

Ieri nella capitale si è tenuta anche la conferenza stampa di presentazione dello studio radiofonico allestito presso lo Spazio Europa, punto informativo sulle iniziative dell'Unione aperto in centro, dietro i mercati traianei, sotto la gestione dell'Ufficio d'informazione per l'Italia del Parlamento europeo e della Rappresentanza in Italia della Commissione europea. «L'obiettivo dell'iniziativa è di contribuire a colmare il deficit di comunicazione sull'Europa nei media radiofonici italiani, con un servizio gratuito semplice, in totale libertà editoriale. «Il nuovo studio radio europeo,» si legge nel comunicato, «permetterà a tutte le emittenti radiofoniche che lo richiederanno di registrare, montare e trasmettere, in diretta o in differita, programmi e speciali che hanno come filo conduttore l'Unione europea, le sue politiche, programmi, finanziamenti e servizi per i suoi cittadini, nonché dibattiti, interviste di personalità ed esperti europei.» Sarebbe interessante capire se e quanto verrà utilizzata questa infrastruttura anche alla luce dei sentimenti non proprio europeisti espressi recentemente dalla maggioranza di governo...

17th EBU Radio Assembly to tackle the thornier issues facing Public Radio

Rome, 28 April 2011 - Broadcasters from 41 countries meet in Rome on the 28-29 April on the occasion of the 17th Annual Radio Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union, hosted by Radio Vaticana, a founding Member of the EBU.

This year's agenda concentrates on the challenges faced the EBU Radio community at a time when technological evolution accelerates, while funding slows down. Speakers and discussions will explore strategies to get the most out of new technologies and weather the financial crisis weighing so heavily on Public Radio. A special session on the final day will discuss how social media are turning the world upside down and how this is influencing journalists and newsrooms.

Among the speakers, delegates will listen to contributions from Doris Pack, President of the Culture and Education Committee of the European Parliament; Federico Lombardi, Director of the Holy See Press Office; Ingrid Deltenre, Director General of the EBU; Ben Hammersley, British internet technologist; and experts from different EBU Member organizations.

EBU Radio Director Raina Konstantinova said: "We are honoured to be invited for our 17th Radio Assembly by Vatican Radio, one of the oldest and best audience-connected Radios in the world. Today more people are listening to the Radio than at any time in the past decade, tuning in on many more different and accessible platforms. People and societies need public media for quality content, its independence of opinion, its plurality of information. More than ever before we need to be knowledgeable and united to sustain and develop Radio further as the real voice of the people."

The Assembly brings together around 140 leading figures from more than 50 broadcasters, at what is widely acknowledged as the public service Radio forum for discussing the challenges and opportunities facing the medium.

The EBU Radio Assembly delegates will also elect a new Radio Committee on Friday, April 29, the closing day. After the Radio Assembly closes, on Saturday 30 April, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI will receive the delegates at a special audience at his Castel Gandolfo residence, together with the EBU President and Director General.

The last time this happened was in 1991, when Pope Jean-Paul II gave a special audience to the then EBU President and Director General, who had been attending that year's 42nd EBU General Assembly, also hosted by Radio Vaticana.

Radio Vaticana was set up in 1931 by the 'Father of Radio' Guglielmo Marconi, and celebrates its 80th anniversary this year.