The EBU community elected its first Online Steering Committee at this year's plenary meeting in Dublin. The voting took place the night before the kick off of the inaugural Online Media Summit.

The new committee will be responsible for guiding the EBU's online and social media initiatives, including the Digital Innovation Networks and the Digital SkillsXchange.

Committee Chair Muirne Laffan, Managing Director of RTE Digital, said, "I am honoured to take up the position as Chair of the EBU Online Steering Committee. Across the digital community of EBU members, there is great scope for more collaboration and sharing of knowledge to accelerate the transfornation of Public Service Media in this digtial age. I am looking forward to driving this agenda along with my new committee colleagues." 

Members asked for a network of digital producers that could share as quickly as possible the best and most pertinent innovations EBU broadcasters are producing.

As a result, beginning in January, monthly reports based on feedback from online expert groups will be issued to ensure that Members are up to date.

Encouraging members to go digital

At the plenary meeting, the EBU's Media Director Jean Philip De Tender gave an insightful snapshot into the future of public service media consumers, saying that "exploring digital-first strategies and innovations are no longer optional - they are absolutely necessary if we are to reach audiences."

EBU Director of Communications and Public Affairs Guillaume Klossa presented the EBU's new big data initiative. He encouraged delegates to leverage the power of big data to not only reach audiences in the personalized way that they now expect, but to deliver indepth and meaningful news stories and programming. 

You can follow the EBU's Online Media Summit (22 October) on Twitter (#EBUonline). Presentations will be available on the event page afterwards.