Friday, October 05, 2012

Biggest-ever ABU General Assembly ready to welcome delegates

A record 660-plus delegates have signed up to attend this year’s ABU General Assembly, which starts in less than a week in Korea.

ABU General Secretary Dr Javad Mottaghi says he is very pleased with the response from the Union’s members, industry partners and international media organisations at a critical time for broadcasting.

And he praised the Korean hosts for their hard work in preparation for when the towering 63 Convention Center in Seoul opens its doors to delegates on 10 October.

Earlier this year Dr Mottaghi said to the region’s broadcasting industry that if the Asia-Pacific really was to be the heart of the 21st Century, it was vital for its broadcasters to provide the lifeblood for its advancement.

“The explosion of online offerings, mobile devices and social media have brought into question the whole basis of public service broadcasting as we have understood it for generations,” he said. “We all face these challenges and the ABU General Assembly and its associated events will provide an ideal common space for us to exchange experiences, share problems and work together on solutions.”

ABU President Dr Kim In-Kyu is also expected to tell delegates at the official opening ceremony that broadcasters stand on the precipice of a rapid digital transformation and that ABU members need to work together to meet the challenges ahead.

As well as dealing with the business of running an organisation representing more than 230 Asia-Pacific broadcasters, the 49th ABU General Assembly will host a series of special forums to discuss media issues as diverse as the challenges faced by public broadcasting, the future of journalism in a new media age and the role of women in media workplaces and on-screen.

Seoul will also host the inaugural ABU Radio and Television Song Festivals, which will be broadcast in countries around the world.

Information on the ABU General Assembly is available via: www.abu.org.my.

(Source : Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union)

No comments:

Post a Comment