38
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ISSUE 1 2014
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THE CHANNEL
Melissa Bell is an International Correspondent for France 24.
After graduating from the University of Warwick in the UK, she
began her career as a journalist in 1996 in news wires, before
joining Granada TV in Manchester in 1999. She
then moved to the BBC as a Parliamentary
Reporter. In 2008, she joined France 24. As
international correspondent, she has worked
extensively from Africa, the Arab world, the
Americas and Asia, covering all the big stories
for France 24's French and English channels.
THE HOST
Faisal Abbas, Editor-in-Chief English online, Al Arabiya, UAE |
Daniel Adams, VP Business Development, Zefr, USA | Felix
Alvarez-Garmon, SVP LATAM, IMG, UK | Said Bacho, SVP EMEA,
Grass Valley, USA | Klaus Bergmann, Head of Int’l Relations,
Deutsche Welle, Germany | Dorothy Byrne, Head of News and
Current Affairs, Channel 4, UK | Naveen Chandra, Head of
International Business, Times TV Network, India | Linden Clark,
Manager, Radio New Zealand International, New Zealand | Eugen
Cojocariu, Director, Radio Romania International, Romania |
Nicholas Daly, Managing Director, Eutelsat UK, UK | Geraldine
Easter, Director of Programming and Acquisitions, Nine Network,
Australia | Evandro Figueira, Director of Production and
Operations, Bandsports, Brazil | David Finch, VP Business
Development, Mobiles Republic, France | Hugo Foulds, Director of
Communications EMEA, CNBC Europe, UK | Jeff Foulser,
Chairman, Sunset + Vine, UK | Angela Fung, Deputy Head of
Phoenix Chinese Channel, Phoenix Satellite TV, Hong Kong| Mihai
Gadea, CEO, Antena 3, Romania | Susan Gigli, COO, InterMedia,
USA | Fredrik Graesvik, Producer, TV2, Norway | Ibrahima
Guimba-Saidou, SVP Commercial Africa, SES, South Africa |
Mohamed Ali Harrath, CEO, Islam Channel, UK | Ryan Honter,
COO, Colombo Communications, Sri Lanka | Peter Horrocks,
Director, BBC Global News, UK | Carlson Huang, Vice Manager and
English Programme Host, RTI, Taiwan | Abubakar Jijiwa, Director
General, Voice of Nigeria, Nigeria | Richard Kastelein, Partner,
Agora Media, UK | Oleg Kupriyanov, Deputy Chairman International
Relations, Voice of Russia, Russia | François Laborie, CCO, Vizrt,
Norway| Ma Guoli, CEO and Managing Director, Infront Sports &
Media, China | John Maguire, Director of International
Development, France 24, France | Liz McParland, Commercial
Director Contribution, GlobeCast, France | Marcus Metzner, Head
Marketing & Communications, arvato Systems, Germany | Choy Lin
Mok, VP Network Programming and Promotions, Channel
NewsAsia, Singapore | Nurzhan Mukhamedzhanova, Chairman,
Kazakhstan TV and Radio Corp, Kazakhstan | Wangethi Mwangi,
Senior Consultant, African Media Initiative, Kenya | Eurishka
Nadesan, Current Affairs Producer and Senior Video Editor, eNews
Channel, South Africa | Alexey Nikolov, Managing Director, RT,
Russia | John Ogden, Network Director, The Spectrum Radio
Network, UK | Lindsey Oliver, International Commercial Director,
Bloomberg TV, UK | Nigel Parsons, CEO, TVC News, Nigeria |
Nenad Pejic, Chief Broadcast Operations Officer, RFE/RL, Czech
Republic | Anthony Rose, MD, Zeebox, UK | Vatche Sarkisian,
Director of Program Review, MBN (Alhurra/Radio Sawa), USA |
Arnaud Simon, MD Eurosport France and Director TV Content,
Eurosport, France | Simon Spanswick, CEO, AIB, UK | Deborah
Steele, Editor, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia |
Fedor Strizhkov, CEO, RTG TV, Russia | Amir Tajik, Production
Manager, Press TV, Iran | David Treadway, MD, WRN Broadcast,
UK | Jeff Trimble, Executive Director, Broadcasting Board of
Governors, USA | Arie Vered, Sales Director Africa, SatLink, Israel |
Robert Zaal, Director, Radio Netherlands Worldwide, The Netherlands
The AIBs 2013: 18 categories, 102 shortlisted entries.
Just how much knowledge, effort, talent, skill,
perseverance, suffering, heartbreak, courage, survival,
elation and triumph is hidden behind that three-digit
figure is difficult to comprehend, let alone describe. If
you had carried out the initial sifting and evaluating of
entries submitted in order to draw up the definitive
shortlist you would immediately understand what I mean
–
words and pictures being mightier than the sword, not
just telling stories but changing lives.
Media people, by nature of their profession, are
constantly exposed to the raw edge of what happens in
the world
–
which may somewhat blunt our sensitivity.
Yet what our fellow professionals do with that raw news
never ceases to amaze, particularly in our multi-
platform world. 2013, in that respect, was no exception.
Stories that we already knew, had heard and seen
covered from different angles by different channels still
managed to draw us in. ‘What is it about that report that
gets under our skin?’ we had to ask ourselves and admit
at the same time that analysing our own response is not
always a comfortable thing to do. With no topic taboo,
investigative journalism does not make for easy viewing.
It lays bare how unfathomable human nature is, and that
inhuman things exist in our midst that we didn’t know
and sometimes would rather not know. All the while,
while we as judges are sitting safely in our chairs,
reaching the edge of squeamish, the reporters are out
there, fully exposed. It takes a special type of person to
do that and I salute their determination and courage.
As in previous years, what made it ultimately bearable
and a positive experience to view and listen to all these
amazing programmes was the way producers had given
structure to the reality they covered or – in many cases –
uncovered. Sometimes the formula seemed unusual on
paper but as it turned out on viewing proved a stroke of
genius. Altogether, the programmes entered in the 2013
AIB International Media Excellence Awards took us to
the edge of our seats and imagination, entertained,
educated and inspired us. When the film clips were
shown of the finalists in the 18 AIBs categories there
was a hush in the room - there’s no doubt that the
content showcased was remarkable.
As a not-for-profit organisation, AIB cannot organise
these awards without the support and involvement of the
industry. So special thanks go to those media
professionals who served on the international judging
panel and gave their time and expertise so generously. I
also extend my particular thanks to our sponsors
–
RTG
TV and RUPTLY – for their generous support of the AIBs
in 2013. And I would like to thank our host for the
evening, Melissa Bell from France 24, for contributing to
make the AIBs 2013 a great experience.
THE JUDGES
THE 9
TH
ANNUAL AIBS
SIMON SPANSWICK CHIEF EXECUTIVE
AIBs
2013
