ICT-enhanced Public Service Broadcasting (ICT@PSB)

This initiative works to put ICTs in the hands of developing country PSBs. One of the project's intentions is to avoid the reproduction of conventional approaches and formats to development and social issues, and instead to explore new, challenging and creative ways of encouraging reflection and debate on development issues through innovative use of the audiovisual language. For that reason, a "call for proposals" was extended in an effort to stimulate submission of a variety of production genres, and to create geographical balance among the selections.

Films exploring the following themes were invited: human rights, peace, tolerance, fight against discrimination, the UN Millennium Development Goals (particularly poverty alleviation, gender equality and women's empowerment), freedom of expression and intercultural communication. UNESCO received around 200 production proposals under this initiative, and selected only 8. (To read about the selected proposals, click here).

A key strategy involves sharing the films produced through ICT@PSB with a broad audience. To that end, UNESCO will produce and distribute a series of audiovisual productions addressing the general public, but particularly adults between the ages of 20 to 35. The productions will be made available through the media, on DVD and online.

Human Rights, Conflict, Intercultural Communication, Technology.

According to UNESCO, "Public service broadcasting entails independence from state and commercial influences, while having the ability to examine important public issues by providing programmes that include public debate, cultural expressions and educational programming aside from light entertainment. It is also indispensible that public service broadcasting systems adapt to the rapidly-evolving information society, particularly in the integration of audiovisual, communication and information technologies."