6th May 2010
Welcome to IBT’s May newsletter with an update on our work and relevant news from the broadcasting industry.
Unreported World briefing
Earlier this week we held the latest in our series of briefings with commissioners. Siobhan Sinnerton, the series producer of Unreported World gave a detailed account of the sort of stories she’s looking for and introduced George Waldrum who will be taking over from her in June. Now is the perfect time to pitch ideas to them as they are currently researching stories for the next series. A briefing note on this event is available to IBT members. Our next briefing will be with Sky News. If there are any other commissioners you would like to hear from please let me know.
Young people’s research
We now have the interim findings for our young people’s research which will be published in September. The findings highlight the fact that, whilst young people are generally well informed about development and the wider world (mainly as a result of studying citizenship at school), this knowledge is not translated into engagement. There are a number of obstacles to engagement which the research highlights – for example the predominantly negative images which appear in the media put young people off. But the research does demonstrate that a number of volunteering initiatives like Platform 2 and Global Xchange have a huge impact. We‘re about to commission an online survey of young people, which will be published as part of the report. If there are any particular questions you’d like us to ask in the survey, please let me know.
Climate change event
Given recent indications that public scepticism on climate change may be growing, IBT will be co-hosting a panel discussion on this subject, as part of One World Media Week in June. We’ll be exploring exactly what role the media can play in engaging people. Confirmed speakers include Matt McGrath, the BBC’s environment correspondent, Ben Page, chief executive of Ipsos MORI and Thomas Schultz-Jagow, Oxfam’s Campaigns Director. The event will be chaired by Damian Carrington, the Guardian’s Environment Editor, and will take place at 6pm on Monday June 21st at the Guardian’s HQ in King’s Place. Invitations will go out shortly.
New report on Islamophobia
The European Muslim Research Centre has published a new piece of research examining Islamophobia in the UK and arguing that it contributes directly to violence against Muslim communities. The report blames the media for stereotyping Muslims. See www.thecordobafoundation.com for more details.
Children’s media summit
A major conference looking at the future of children’s television will take place on June 14-18 in Karlstad, Sweden. The conference will be attended by commissioners, producers, distributors, educators, researchers and others concerned about the future of media for children and young people. For further details see www.wskarlstad2010.se
IBT AGM – change of time
The IBT AGM will now take place at 5pm on Tuesday June 22nd at the Hub, King’s Cross. The One World Media Awards take place at nearby King’s Place at 6.45pm.
All the best
Mark