11 March 2015
Even before the public unveiling of their new locations services partnership, Reuters and TIMA were planning their live facilities provision for the 87th Academy Awards.
The physical set up, which commenced several days before the show, was culmination of weeks of planning and coordination between the Reuters bureau in Los Angeles, and staff in Washington DC and London from both Reuters and TIMA. The live camera was set up on a specially-constructed steel bridge over the red carpet on Hollywood Boulevard, near the entrance to the Dolby Theatre.
With Reuters-TIMA broadcasting live for clients in Europe as well as Latin America, it was essential to ensure that the transmission route’s working as planned. The substantial US fibre network meant that Reuters-TIMA didn’t need to hire its own satellite truck to broadcast from the Oscars. Clients who used the services for run-up broadcasts included a broadcaster from the Middle East and Polish Television who, with the nomination (and subsequent win) of Polish drama Ida, was closely watching the race for Foreign Language Film.
Rain on the day of the Oscars required event organisers to construct a temporary rain cover running the length of the red carpet, which threatened to block broadcasters’ view of the arrivals, but on the day of the show, the cover was removed. During the Oscars pre-show, Reuters-TIMA broadcast transmissions for clients in the Middle East, Poland, Japan and Argentina with the Reuters Video News team editing Oscars footage and writing scripts for the news service.
“I couldn’t have hoped for a more successful launch of our new partnership. Clients from all over the world booked with us and everything went smoothly. It feels like the months of planning, hiring and buying are now beginning to pay off – despite the rain,” said Tim Santhouse, Reuters Global Head of Video Products.
Reuters’ Martin Veal kept a diary detailing the challenges of settging up and executing the Reuters-TIMA Oscar coverage. Read it here.
19 January 2015
Komla Dumor received a posthumous AIB Founders award last year
The BBC has today launched the BBC World News Komla Dumor Award in honour of presenter Komla Dumor, who passed away a year ago, aged 41.
Komla was an exceptional Ghanaian broadcaster who in his short life made an extraordinary impact – in Ghana, in Africa and across the world – on Joy FM and at the BBC. He worked tirelessly to bring a more sophisticated African narrative to the world. In June 2012, he was named the presenter of Focus on Africa, the BBC’s first-ever dedicated daily TV news programme in English for African audiences, broadcast on BBC World News. He also interviewed a number of high-profile guests including Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Kofi Annan, Tony Blair and Africa’s wealthiest businessman, Aliko Dangote. He anchored live coverage of major global events including the death of Nelson Mandela and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. In 2013, the respected publication, New African, listed Dumor in its list of 100 most influential Africans.
Komla Dumor was the recipient of an AIB Founders award at the 2014 AIB Awards. The award was accepted by his widow, Kwansema Dumor at the AIB Awards ceremony in November of last year.
The BBC World News Komla Dumor Award is now open for applications and will be given to an outstanding individual living and working in Africa, who combines strong journalism skills and an exceptional talent in telling African stories, with the ambition and potential to become a star of the future.
The winner will be awarded the opportunity to gain skills and experience, working with teams across BBC News during a three month placement in London. They will have the chance to broadcast on TV, Radio and Online to the BBC’s audiences of 265 million across the world.
Solomon Mugera, BBC Africa Editor said: “Komla epitomised a new Africa; youthful, dynamic and enterprising. With his infectious enthusiasm, beaming smile and engaging personality he made the stories of a new Africa, good and bad, difficult to ignore. The BBC is committed to continuing Komla’s dedication to this continent with this award. We are searching for a rising star who displays exceptional talent, someone who embodies the spirit of Komla.”
Applications close on Monday 2nd February 2015 at 23.59GMT. For more information on how to apply, entry criteria, and terms and conditions visit bbc.com/komladumor.
The BBC World News Komla Dumor Award is supported by Standard Chartered.
19 November 2014
At the tenth annual AIBs held in London on 5 November, tribute was paid to BBC journalist and presenter Komla Dumor who died suddenly at the age of 41 in January 2014.
Komla’s widow, Kwansema, and BBC Director of World Service Group, Peter Horrocks, joined AIB chief executive Simon Spanswick who presented the special AIB Founders Award to Mrs Dumor.
Watch here.
AIBs 2014 – tribute to Komla Dumor from AIB London on Vimeo.
23 October 2014
AIB, the Association for International Broadcasting, will present a special posthumous Founders Award to the family of gifted BBC journalist, Komla Dumor, who died suddenly in January at the age of 41. The award will be given at the 10th annual AIB Awards on November 5 in London.
Born in Ghana in 1972, during his short career, Dumor had an extraordinary impact, epitomising a new Africa, one of success and hope. Through his compelling story telling he worked tirelessly to bring this narrative to the world.
In 1998, during a break in his studies, Dumor answered an ad for a job as a part-time reporter for Ghanaian local radio station Joy FM and quickly moved on to become presenter of Joy FM’s Super Morning Show. He was named Journalist of the Year by the Ghana Journalist Association.
In 2007, Dumor joined the BBC as host of Network Africa for the BBC World Service, moving on to The World Today programme, then Africa Business Report for BBC World News television.
In June 2012, he was named the presenter of Focus on Africa, the BBC’s first-ever dedicated daily TV news programme in English for African audiences, broadcast on BBC World News. He also interviewed a number of high-profile guests including Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Kofi Annan, Tony Blair and Africa’s wealthiest businessman, Aliko Dangote. He anchored live coverage of major global events including the death of Nelson Mandela and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
In 2013, the respected publication, New African, listed Dumor in its list of 100 most influential Africans.
Peter Horrocks, Director of the BBC World Service, said at the time of Dumor’s death, “Komla was a leading light of African journalism – committed to telling the story of Africa as it really is. Africa’s energy and enthusiasm seemed to shine through every story Komla told.”
And Dumor said on the launch of Focus on Africa in June 2012: “After decades of turmoil and uncertainty, a new Africa is emerging. The old stereotypes are being challenged and a new, compelling narrative is being written. I am incredibly excited to be part of a new programme that will provide solid coverage and analysis of Africa’s challenges and prospects.”
“AIB is delighted to be able to commemorate the life and work of this accomplished and respected journalist,” said Simon Spanswick, chief executive of the Association for International Broadcasting. “Komla was an inspiration to his BBC colleagues and respected by viewers and listeners across Africa. He is sorely missed across the media industry.”
The AIB Awards, taking place on November 5 at London’s LSO St. Luke’s, honor the highest achievements in factual content for TV, radio and online. Komla Dumor’s legacy of high-quality journalism and knowledge-sharing across borders represent the ideals AIB aims to foster as the world’s leading knowledge network for the global broadcast industry.
A limited number of tickets to the AIB Awards are still available. Guests are travelling from all over the world to share ideas and knowledge and reward the very best in factual programme making globally.
30 May 2014
At the request of AIB members and others in the international media industry, we are extending the closing date of this year’s AIBs.
Join entrants from around the world who have submitted their outstanding work to this year’s annual call for entries to global awards for best factual TV, radio and online broadcasting.
Download the AIBs 2014 entry booklet here with full details of how to enter.
There are awards for live journalism, current affairs and investigative documentaries, children’s factual programmes or series, science programmes or scientific coverage, live sports, short documentaries, online factual productions, creative features and international on-line talent for both TV and radio.
The revised closing date for entry to the awards is 8 August 2014.
We launched the AIBs 2014 at an event in London attended by past winners, along with key people from the international media industry.
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Even before the public unveiling of their new locations services partnership, Reuters and TIMA were planning their live facilities provision for the 87th Academy Awards.