Sarah Ward-Lilley, Vice-Chairperson of the News Committee,
and Jeff Dubin, EBU Head of News and Events (EBU)

EBU's 8th News Assembly unanimously approved the revision - the first in almost a decade of rules governing the Eurovision News Exchange (EVN).

The intention of this major revision is for the rules to better reflect the multi-platform, largely file-based world in which news is now produced.

The newly approved rules will come into force in 2014 following consultation with the Executive Board in December.

The new set of rules makes the Exchanges accessible to all three platforms, thus bringing them from linear broadcast world focus to multiplatform operations.

The rules have also increased distinctiveness of content for Members by the modification of the existing 2330  European non re-importation clause to 48 hours, and provide new incentives for Members to contribute their own domestic and foreign content, as well as live coverage and sourcing of user- generated content (UGC).

"The Values Translated: The Eurovision News Exchange Principles and Rules" will replace the "2004 Rules on Use of Eurovision News Material by Members and Non-Members" currently in force.

Ed Mulhall, EVN Rules Revision Project Leader, presents the key changes (EBU)

The basic aim of the new draft is to increase the value of the Exchange for its Members by reinforcing the guiding principles of reciprocity, solidarity and reliability.

These rules determine what news content can be exchanged and how it can be used, while providing contribution incentives, sanctions for violations and procedures for conflict resolution. The document anchors the News Exchange to the core public service media values adopted by the EBU membership in 2012.

The document is the result of several months’ work by an experts group* comprising News and Legal representatives from EBU Member organisations and the EBU. The project was led by Edward Mulhall, former RTE Managing Director of News & Current Affairs and a former member of the News Committee.