The EBU’s Media Intelligence Service (MIS) will share insights into the future facing Europe’s public service media at a conference sponsored by associate member and Japanese broadcaster NHK in Tokyo 27–29 August.   

Dr. Roberto Suárez Candel,  who heads the EBU Media Intelligence Service and Senior Media Analyst Dr. David Fernández Quijada will address the three-day event, which has been organized in association with the Institute for Media and Communications Research, Keio University on behalf of RIPE, (Re-Visionary Interpretations of the Public Enterprise).

“Public service media in the Pacific region are experiencing many of the same challenges faced by Members here in Europe,” said Dr Suárez Candel. “RIPE is an initiative devoted to strengthening collaborative relations between media scholars and researchers studying PSM in historic, contemporary and comparative terms. We share these aims, and believe that through an understanding of the past and an analysis of the present, we can provide constructive insights into the future.”

The theme for the 7^th bi-annual conference is Public Service Media Across Boundaries. Topics for discussion include the growth of multinational media companies and their cross-boundary influences; cross-border channels; trade in formats and programming; development in technology and platforms, changing tastes and perceptions among audiences, and the influence of supranational instruments and agencies.

On the opening day, Dr Suárez Candel  will give the keynote “PSM in the 21^st Century”, which will include many of the findings of the Vision 2020 project. He will also participate in a panel discussion about PSM in the 21st Century.

“This is familiar territory to the EBU Community, which in 2013 launched  the ‘VISION2020 project’ – engaging more than 150 Members of the EBU community in developing a set of ‘big ideas’ and strategic recommendations to assist Europe’s public service media make wise strategic choices and adapt to the rapidly evolving media landscape,” he said. “We look forward to sharing these findings and returning with fresh ideas generated by our Asian counterparts.”

Later in the day, Hans Laroes, who chairs the EBU Values Taskforce, will discuss the role of public service media during situations of disaster. Dr. Fernández will chair the workgroup focused on PSM and convergence.