October 2016 Newsletter

Welcome to IBT’s October newsletter with an update on our work and relevant news from the media industry.    (Download/Print this Newsletter)

New BBC Charter

The Government has now published the new BBC Charter. I’m delighted to report that we have been successful in securing the wording of the global purpose that we lobbied for. This means that ‘factual programmes’ will be included as well as news and current affairs. The new wording also commits the BBC to making international content that appeals to ‘all audiences’. We will be following this up later this month when we meet Charlotte Moore, the BBC Director of Content. I’d like to than all the CEOs of IBT member organisations who signed a joint letter in support of the new wording, which was sent to the Secretary of State at DCMS, the BBC Director General and the Chair of the BBC Trust.

 An introduction to virtual reality

Later this month, we will be holding our first training event on virtual reality (VR). It’s becoming an important tool for NGOs and many have successfully used it in their campaigning, communications and fundraising work. In this half day event, organised specially for IBT members, two VR experts, Mark Atkin and Tim Millen, will take us through all the key aspects of VR and how it can best be used by NGOs. They will look at the benefits for NGOs of using this new technology, how to make a VR documentary and the strengths and weaknesses of VR. We’ll also hear from Catherine Feltham who will talk about her own experience of making a VR film for WaterAid about a village in Nepal http://www.wateraid.org/uk/get-involved/virtual-reality The event will run from 9-2 on Friday October 21^st. Lunch will be provided. There are a few places left – If you’d like to come, register now via the IBT website.

Last month’s briefing – with ITV’s On Assignment

Last month we heard from the editors of ITV’s international current affairs strand, On Assignment. Natalie Fay, Executive Producer and Delilah Jeary, Series Producer told us how they decide which stories to commission and the kind of mix that works best for them. They encouraged IBT members to get in touch with story ideas for the monthly strand, which is made in house by ITN, with films presented by their main correspondents. A more detailed note about the briefing can be found on the members’ page of the IBT website.

Annual IBT dinner

Last month we also held our annual dinner for CEOs of IBT member organisations. The guest speaker was Jamie Angus, the Editor of the Today programme. Jamie spoke about his ambition to broaden the international agenda of Today and encouraged the CEOs present to get in touch if there were important stories that were being missed. We can’t publish details of Jamie’s speech as the event was held under Chatham House rules. However, we’ll be following it up with a briefing early next year with the Planning Editor of Today.

 Charity social media toolkit

Zoe Amar and David Evans have launched an online guide to social media – it’s aimed at small and large charities and has a wealth of useful and practical information on the best ways for charities to use social media.

http://landing.skillsplatform.org/charitysocialmediatoolkit/

Coming up

Film Africa – returns for another year this time showing 52 films from 22 African countries, October 28^th – November 6^th http://www.filmafrica.org.uk/

Speak Up on Climate Change – a week of action organized by the Climate Coalition, October 6^th-16^th http://www.theclimatecoalition.org/

Before the Flood – Leonardo Di Caprio’s documentary on climate change will be screened at the London Film Festival on October 15^th https://whatson.bfi.org.uk/lff/Online/default.asp?BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::permalink=beforetheflood&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=

Unreported World – the new series is back in its usual slot, Fridays at 7.30pm on Channel 4. This week’s episode is India’s Blind Dates. If you missed last week’s, Yemen – Britain’s Unseen War, it’s well worth watching http://www.channel4.com/programmes/unreported-world/

Best wishes

Mark

IBT’s mission is to use the media to further awareness and understanding of people’s lives in the developing world and the issues which affect them

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