Pope John Paul II often referred to the “structures of sin” that cause injustice. In his encyclical, Caritas in Veritate, Pope Benedict XVI speaks of the how social problems have been transformed into anthropological issues.
The recent Synod of Bishops, and the Pope himself, stressed the connection between deepening the Faith and expressing the Christian vision of humanity in the world through caritas, in practice and through a social and civil lifestyle.
I encourage you to adopt this theme in your own radio programming as a way to demonstrate the Christian approach to it and to illustrate the Church’s efforts to fight “against poverty”, not only with economic aid.
I believe this event could provide us with concrete collaborative opportunities between other Christian radios and Vatican Radio, with all its different language sections.
I would be grateful to hear your views on this matter and any suggestions you ma have regarding how we can work together.
Sincerely in Christ,
Andrzej Koprowski sj, RV
WHY POVERTY? IS A GROUND BREAKING,
CROSS-MEDIA EVENT, ONLINE AND ON TV,
USING FILMS TO GET PEOPLE TALKING
ABOUT POVERTY.
The announcement came on day two of MIPCOM, the entertainment content market forum underway in Cannes.
EUROVISION's Why Poverty? Day will take place on 29 November 2012 to support the issue of poverty, highlighted in the unprecedented global media project initiated by Steps International.
Steps with the BBC and DR (Danish Broadcasting Corporation) have commissioned award-winning film makers to make eight documentaries about poverty, and new and emerging talents to make around 30 short films. The films tell compelling and inspiring stories of people combating dire poverty.
The documentaries will be broadcast around the world in November through a unique combination of partnerships with broadcasters, digital media platforms and community organizations to over 70 national broadcasters.
EBU Director General Ingrid Deltenre says public service media (PSM) provide an essential platform for solidarity and diversity in programming. "Eurovision’s Why Poverty? Day illustrates the strengths of PSM. It brings together audiences from all aspects of society to debate fundamental issues affecting the economic and social situations that families face today.”
EUROVISION's Why Poverty? Day initiative was announced during a press attended by Anna Vasova, who is one of the project leaders.
“EUROVISION is proud to be associated with an unprecedented global media response tackling the issues around poverty," Ms Vasova said. "We have worked closely with EBU Members to ensure that PSM everywhere commit to the project.”
In addition to coordinating a special line-up of programmes, expert debates and educational events, EUROVISION will encourage its Members to participate in a day of themed programming on 29 November.
Why Poverty? is Steps’ third world-wide collaboration and follows the award winning successes of Why Democracy? (2007) and Steps for the Future (2001).
Eurovision Why Poverty day Thursday 29 November 2012
Update 16 October, Anna Vasova / Pierre Duret.
1. What are EBU members doing on the Theme day Thursday 29 November 2012?
. DR is organizing on Nov 29th a Major conference in Copenhagen with world thinkers and big names (Clinton, etc..) which will result in a live on tape debate in Copenhagen The debate may be offered to EBU members through the Eurovision Network
. ARTE, BBC DR, NPO, NRK, SVT, YLE - just to name the most important partners of the Why Poverty Project - will broadcast on TV one of the 8 long documentary films of the series, most of them in prime-time.
. Single projects are still being worked upon for the EBU Theme day: ERT is preparing a special concert which may also be offered to EBU members, BBC is organizing two major conferences (London + Johannesburg)...
2. What are EBU members doing around the Theme day?
November 2012 will see a range of broadcasters from across the globe uniting to launch one of the biggest factual coproductions of the decade so far.
Many of them will have a Theme week starting on December 25 or 26, based on four pillars:
. broadcast of the 8 long documentary films, or at least some of them on the biggest national channels on a daily basis
. Special attention will be paid to poverty issues in the day-to-day coverage in the news and-culture-news departments.
. Experts debates and discussions on national radio channels
. Streaming of the 30 short documentary films on the websites of Public Service Broadcasters
. Educational events in partnership with school TVs, schools and festivals in various countries
Some examples:
. Denmark / DR: all platform theme week starting Sunday 25 November
. Finland / YLE: TV Theme week from Nov. 26 to Dec. 2 + Radio Theme day on Nov. 27
. The Netherlands / NPO: all platform theme week between November 25 and December 2.
. Online games developed in common by DR, NRK and SVT will be made available
3. EBU Theme day and Why Poverty project: how do these work together?
. The Why Poverty project is an initiative of BBC, DR and Steps International which was conceived and started to get developed well before the idea of an EBU Theme Day. The EBU has helped the Why Poverty project in itself through the TV Development Fund and through a huge promotion effort which led to a very strong increase of the membership of the project (s. annex 2)
. Broadcasters involved in the Why Poverty project have a strong coordination in terms of production but a loose one in terms of programming. As a consequence, the overall broadcasting plans of members result in a "Why Poverty season" rather than in a single common day or week (s. annex 1).
. The EBU Theme Day has been conceived from the very start as a tool for supporting the Why Poverty project
. The EBU Theme Day is based on flexibility for members (as underlined by the TV Committee in February 2012) and on solidarity.
. Members can do a thematic day on their own without buying any films of the Why Poverty series.
. Members may use the Why Poverty logo at their convenience on the Thematic day, provided they take at least one of the elements the EBU will offer: the debate, the concert or whatever we will transmit on Nov. 29. (partners of the Why Poverty series, BBC included, will anyway use that logo.)
4. What is the EBU doing?
Current priorities:
. EBU will organise the adequate communication on the web, especially on the new collaborative Platform Jive
. EBU will hold a common Press Conference with BBC and DR during MIPCOM
. EBU will organise a presentation/screening in Brussels by Mid-November in coordination with Nicola Frank
. EBU will organise a transmission of some big common events: DR debate in Copenhagen, BBC debates in London and Johannesburg, special Concert in Greece... All these events are still to be confirmed.
. EBU will have the EBU logo / EBU anthem inserted in the EBU Transmission(s)
Ongoing activities:
. EBU gathered the information on what is being produced and will happen in different territories across
the membership (s. Annex below)
. The information has been and will further be circulated and shared among EBU members involved in the Why Poverty and the Theme Day.
. EBU is helping the initiators of Why Poverty to coordinate their websites specially with the focus on the Theme Day
. EBU has agreed with the executive producers upon the possibility to make the 8 long films available for a symbolic price to the members benefiting from the Solidarity Package (part of the special assistance project) provided they broadcast them during the Why Poverty Week and at least one of them on the Poverty day.
. The Why Poverty project team and the EBU are currently looking at possibilities to establish an emblematic_ shared moment to be aired on the Theme Day - brief, sharp and unique instant, that could be carried life through Eurovision network and connect all those participating in a strong symbolic bond . Other ideas are being discussed such as a promotion through a famous personality, or through a symbol.
ANNEX 1: Broadcasters' plans related to Why Poverty? as of 09/09 2012
(radio, TV, Internet)
. The Why poverty package consists of eight internationally commissioned 1-hour documentaries and 30 short films, a comprehensive online and mobile offer, and of an international outreach programme
(educational tools and initiatives...)
ARTE G.E.I.E / France & Germany
TV
. The films of the Why Poverty series will be aired on three days between Nov. 27 and 29
BBC / U.K. All platforms starting Sunday 25 November
TV
. BBC FOUR is the home of the WP films - with one of the titles playing on BBC ONE.
. BBC TWO are planning a two part presenter led piece looking at the underclass in the UK. BBC Newsnight, BBC TWO's flagship nightly current affairs show, have been approached to produce a debate.
. BBC THREE are planning a single documentary that looks at how poverty affects teenagers.
. BBC FOUR is the home of the WP films
. BBC World News are planning to show the 8 WP films, host a debate and produce episodes of Hard Talk which will also air on BBC News24.
. BBC World News: on the 30th August a BBC Why Poverty World Debate was recorded that will be broadcast on the 24/25th November on BBC World News. It was moderated by Zeinab Badawi who is their main anchor. The four panelists were Tony Blair, Vandana Shiva - an Environment and Social Justice Activist from India, Oby Ezekwesili - ex-VP of the World Bank and cabinet minister from Nigeria, and Moeletsi Mbeki, author of 'Architects of Poverty, SA Institute of International Affairs. Clips from the POOR US and LAND RUSH films were screened, and the debate covered many of the issues raised in the films. Arvinn Gadgil, the Norwegian Deputy Minister of International Development came specially from Oslo to participate in the debate, as well as others from across the continent.
. BBC World plans a big debate in Johannesburg about poverty, that could be distributed to all properly through a EBU feed.
. BBC Learning are looking to take versions of the WP films for use in schools.
. BBC Scotland have a single doc about poverty and drug abuse which they are considering playing as part of the season.
. BBC English Regions are developing plans to produce 12 authored documentary films (one from each English region) looking at different aspects of poverty in the UK.
. BBC Children's are considering versioning selected WP films for their audience.
Radio
. BBC Radio 3 will host a WP debate with a domestic theme during this year's Free Thinking Festival (Gateshead, November), which will be edited and broadcast on their Nightwaves strand. They have also commissioned a series of 15' talks for their "Essay" slot.
. BBC World Service Radio - English are looking at making radio versions of the WP films, hosting a phone in on "World Have Your Say" as well as some original programming. We are also approaching the Language Services.
. BBC Radio 4 - we are currently in discussion over a range of programming.
. BBC Online - we are currently putting together proposals for a BBC Website that both pulls together the programming across the season and includes some original content.
. Talks are being held w/ BBC Northern Ireland, BBC Wales, BBC Radios 1, 1Xtra, 2, SLive and Local Radio as well as individual programme strands across the BBC's platforms about other possible opportunities
CT / Czech RepublicPlans to join the season and the Theme day
TV
. Broadcasting 8 film
. News coverage and debates
. Producing local documentary project on single mothers
Internet
. Selection of shorts
CyBC / CyprusTV and radio week starting Monday 26 November
TV
.During week of November 26`h: broadcast of the eight long documentaries of "Why Poverty" series on the two channels (PIK1 and PIK2)
.On November 29`h, the current affair slot "Mazi sto PIK" will have a special programme on "Why Poverty" in Cyprus and in Europe.
Radio
On November 29th, CyBC will have a special radio programme and discussion on "Why Poverty" on its Radio channels (1St programme and 3`d programme).
DR / DenmarkAll platforms week starting Sunday 25 November
Official worldwide launch of the project in a common Conference DR - BBC- Steps International on 27 September at the UN Headquarters in New York in presence of H.R.H. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark
TV
. Launch of the WHY POVERTY week shooting off by Sunday 9aclock news followed be the film Stealing Africa doc and a debate.
. DR will allocate special slots to WHY POVERTY films Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, some in super primetime 8pm and some 10 pm after the news.
. Broadcast of the 8 long doc films (4 on DRI on prime time, 4 on DR2) + daily debates on DR 2 after each film
. DR also produces a National film about being poor seen from the children's point of view.
. Poverty will be discussed and illustrated through all genres (news, talk shows, fiction, entertainment)
. DR is organizing on Nov 29th a Major conference in Copenhagen with world thinkers and big names (Clinton, etc..) which will result in a live on tape debate in Copenhagen. May be offered to EBU members through EBU Network.
Radio
. DR Radio will do expert debates, dilemma plays and user generated content in addition to issue based content. Gender inequality, child mortality, tax evasion, education, etc
. Poverty will be discussed and reflected in many of the usual slots of the four main radio channels
Internet
. 30 short films on DR's website
. DR education online are developing games and content to target schools and high schools during that same week.
Other
. Public events such as Screenings at town halls with debate including politicians, a conference in DR's Concert hall, shows on the street, screenings in libraries all over the country, initiatives in schools, exhibitions of photos....
ERT / GreeceAll platforms starting 1s` November
1 - 24 November
. Broadcast on ET 1 (secondary channel) of international documentaries, in house productions from ERT's archives, investigative documentaries, theater plays and films between 18.00-24.00, with a different theme each week:
. "born poor" during the first week,
. "the chute" (countries or persons who shifted from opulence to bankruptcy)
. the "way out" (alternatives, proposed solutions)
All these programs will be preparing the audience for the Why Poverty Week
. Public screening of some of the 8 does in mid-november in the French Institute, followed by debates (tbc).
Why Poverty Week (25.11-2/12)
. on NET (primary channel) broadcast of the 8 long documentaries (one a day except on 29th), of some /or all of the 30 shorts, and of dedicated news items and talks shows.
. on ET1, broadcast of does and films , that share a positive point of view and suggesting a way out.
Why Poverty Day (29/11)
. Telemarathon for the soup kitchens and free meals for schoolchildren, in coordination with the Church and the Ministry of Education).
. Public Concert under the Acropolis, that, if successful, could be offered to EBU members as a common link for the Theme Day.
The Netherlands / NPOWeek between November 25 and December 2.
TV
12 different public broadcasters are making.' 1 different programs around the Why Poverty themes, of which 8 are the international documentaries.
The documentaries are programmed as follows:
· Sunday prime time 20.25 Poor us
· Monday Primetime 20.25 give us the money
· 23.00 education education
· Tuesday primetime 20.25 Solar Mamas
· 23.00 Stealing Africa
· Wednesday 23.00 Welcome to the world and Land Rush right after
· Friday Park Avenue
On tv there will be 23 different talkshows, consumers shows, youth tv, educational tv, a music show, history programs, science programs, fiction and ambassadors per day highlighting issues in the primetime talkshows.
RADIO
22 different radioshows, from povertyplaylists to discussions, from history to local stories, from science to vox populi, from background stories to experimental stories, from debates to politicians discussing poverty issues.
A supplement will be added to all the radio/tv guides in the Netherlands (1,5 million issues) all about why poverty.
Newspapers, magazines etc have been approached. There is a big press conference the 9th of October which will create more interest.
ONLINE:
VPRO is building the national and international website for Why Poverty
EVENTS:
IDFA: 3 films are selected for competition, the other 5 in reflecting images.
3 nights will be programmed with extended q and a's in tuschinski 1 (the biggest cinema)
On 22 November a mini festival with all the 8 films and shorts will take place in 2 different rooms during IDFA
25 November: a kick off day: In over 30 different places and locations in the city of Utrecht there will be activities such as theatre, workshops, lectures, games and debates. Including the 8 films.
During the whole week the film museum in Amsterdam will program old classics
about poverty like chaplin's the kid.
NRK Launches the week on 25 November
Still only planning - no decisions taken as yet; are in touch with both DR and SVT so as to share and develop ideas.
TV
. Will air the 8 films on NRK2 hopefully each day a film
. poverty will be a issue in the day-to-day coverage in the news and- culture/news departments
Radio
. NRK.no will play an important role
Internet
. plans in discussion
RAI TV week on RAI Storia End of November
. Will air the 8 films on RAI Storia
. RAI is currently also pre-producing a studio program that will, after each documentary, analyze the topic and refer to the situation in Italy.
RTS (Switzerland - French speaking)
. Will broadcast the film "Solar Mamas" from the Why Poverty series on RTS Deux in the slot "le doc" (21:40)
. On Thursday 29 November, the information magazine "Temps present" will be dedicated to Caritas Switzerland (prime time on the first Channel RTS UN, 20:10)
YLE / Finland Week from Nov. 26 to Dec. 2 + Radio Theme day on Nov. 27
TV
Yle TV2 will start "Why poverty?" with the Red Nose Day -show on Nov. 9.
The production has a wish to show some of the EBU short documents during the show.
. Broadcast of 7 long doc films on YLE1 betw. Nov. 26 and Dec.2;
. Broadcast of 1 long doc film on YLE Fem on Nov. 27
. Broadcast of the short films by all channels
. Poverty will be discussed and illustrated through daily news and current affairs programmmes.
Radio
. Radio "will pick up the theme during the day and make discussions around the topic"
. Special live talk show in the evening.
Internet
All the programmes with some articles will be tied up on Internet
www.yle.fi under the titel "Why poverty?" for easy reach.
Other
. Annual Christmas Charity raise for Finnish families with low income to start on Nov.16 on YLE1
. YLE Education will produce specific material, YLE Mediabus will visit schools and build up animations around poverty...
AND...
10 EBU broadcasters have been offered the possibility to get the Why Poverty series for a very low price providing they will air at least one of the films on the Eurovision's Why Poverty Day: TVR / Romania, TRM / Moldova, MKRTV / Macedonia, LRT/ Lithuania, LTV / Latvia, GPB / Georgia, BHRT / Bosnia Herzegovina, TVR / Belarus, ARMTV / Armenia, RTSH / Albania
And one example from outside of Eurovision
TV ONTARIO (Canada)
They will use the Why Poverty campaign as a theme that will stay alive (like a low-grade fever with occasional spikes in temperature) in their programming from September to the end of March 31.
TV
. Launch with three dots in the week of 25 November
. Spread the other 5 across the next couple of months to coincide with other editorial activities organized around poverty
EXAMPLE
. their current affairs program The Agenda will go on-the-road to do on-location shows about poverty issues around the province
. their half-hour book interview show, Allan Gregg in Conversation, will interview thinkers on poverty issues and also do a an online mini-series of interviews related to poverty issues
. TVO Kids is doing a Food Drive with Ontario food banks
.TVO Parents will be doing special content around poverty as it affects families, children and educational outcomes in Ontario
. their our lecture series Big Ideas will be taping lectures given by academics and speakers that study poverty for podcasts on iTunes
. 10 doc shorts about poverty in Ontario
. they have also commissioned some long-form dots so that we continue to explore poverty issues as a long-tail out of the Why Poverty campaign.
Internet
. creating an interactive website (fairly modest, likely) with special info-graphics, quizzes, income budget simulators, etc., that explore what it's like to live below the poverty line
Other
. public screening of a doc in a Toronto theatre
(these are just examples - there will be more)
ANNEX 2: Participants to Why Poverty?
Confirmed Broadcasters
ABC - Australia
Arte G.E.I.E. - Germany, France
BBC - U.K.
BBC World - over 180 countries
BNT - Bulgaria
Campus TV - Honduras
Canal 22 - Mexico
Canal U - Columbia
Colsecor - Argentina
CT - Czech Republic
CyBC - Cyprus
Doordarshan - India
DR - Denmark
Encuentro - Argentina
ERR - Estonia
ERT - Greece
e.tv - South Africa
Futura - Brazil
HRT - Croatia
Human - The Netherlands
IBA - Israel
Ikon - The Netherlands
Knowledge Network - Canada
MBC - 22 countries in the Middle East
MTV - Hungary
NHK - Japan
NRK - Norway
Nuevo Mundo - Canada
ORF - Austria
PBS - USA (through ITV S)
PTS - Taiwan
RAI - Italy
RTHK - Hong Kong
RTVSLO - Slovenia
RUV - Iceland
Senal Colombia - Columbia
SER TV - Panama
Sinart TV - Costa Rica
SRJTV - Mexico
SVT - Slovakia
SVT - Sweden
Telemedellin - Columbia
Tempo TV - Indonesia
TV3 - Catalonia, Spain
TV 10 Chiapas -Mexico
TV Ciudad - Uruguay
TV Cultura - Peru
TVO TV Ontario - Canada
TVP - Poland
Universidad del Valle - Columbia
VPRO - the Netherlands
VIVE TV - Venezuela
VTR - Chile
YLE - Finland
ZDF/Arte - Germany, France
Alrashid TV - Iraq
Alnahar TV - Egypt
Wattan TV - Palestine
Roya TV - Jordan
RTS - Switzerland
Broadcaster networks
EBU (European Broadcasting Union) - 74 member countries
TAL (Televisao America Latina) network
