AIBD: Profile

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Introduction

A UNESCO survey in 1967 indicated that training was the most important need for broadcast development in the Asia-Pacific region. It was felt that setting up a regional training Institute would help build capacity in developing countries. As a result, UNESCO established AIBD in 1977 as a UN project initially with 13 member countries. Funding came from voluntary Members' contribution, UNESCO and international communities.

Since its inception, training has been AIBD's main mandate. More than 25,000 broadcasters and media professionals have benefitted from various training programmes over the years. Some 1,500 broadcasters from 50 countries are currently being retrained through AIBD programmes each year.

Amendment to the Agreement Establishing the AIBD

In response to the changing media environment, the AIBD Governing Council developed a new Strategic Plan in order to introduce new Vision, Mission, and set of Objectives, to secure core funding, adopt a lean management, ensure the support of top professionals and improve AIBD's image with sponsors, donors and supporters. The New Strategic Plan, approved by the Council in 1998, amended the Agreement Establishing the AIBD and enabled the Institute to welcome new members from private channels, media, universities and NGOs.

Vision

To achieve a vibrant and cohesive electronic media environment in the Asia-Pacific region through policy and human resource development.

Mission

To encourage regional dialogue and cooperation in electronic media policy in the Asia-Pacific region.
To assist members in human resource development in the electronic media consistent with their developmental needs and assist them with media Consultancy.

Objectives

To promote media professionalism in electronic media in Asia and the Pacific region.
To provide an Asia-Pacific regional platform for dialogue in electronic media policies and development.
To encourage member countries to utilize the AIBD for consultancy in media matters.

AIBD offers various capacity building activities, consultancy services, conferences and seminars, training manuals and publications. It is mandated to:

Assist broadcasters in their region/countries in human resource development consistent with their development needs;
Establish strong international cooperation and collaboration and to encourage regional and international dialogue and cooperation in electronic media policy and to promote closer bilateral cooperation in the electronic media development and convergence;.
Orient bilateral cooperation with the view towards promotion of educational and development goals;
Create a network of collaborating institutions in the field of broadcasting development, training and research;
Promote a partnership between the public and the private sectors that encourages the most effective utilization of the resources allocated for electronic media development;
Promote electronic media management that encourages continuous human resource development;
To promote the idea and concept of Public Service Broadcasting.

Current Programmes:

1. 75 Training programs in the areas of ICT and new broadcasting technologies, broadcast archiving, newsroom management, audience research, conflict resolution and prevention, satellite communication course, children's programming, fictional and real violence in children's programmes, TV news production, media laws, investigative journalism, convergent journalism, ethics, and strategies for public service development programmes, and peace journalism. AIBD trains some 1,500 broadcasters each year in more than 50 countries.
2. 10 Regional and international conferences and seminars, among them, Asia Media Summit, Asia-Pacific and Europe Media Dialogue and international seminars on Media and Accountability, Media for Children, Media and Culture and awareness building activities related to HIV & AIDS.
3. Publications and CD-ROM productions to include manual on Reporting AIDS/HIV, manual on science journalism, manual for TV scriptwriters, "Broadcaster" newsletter and the production of interactive CD-ROMs for training of trainers.
4. TV Awards that includes the World Television Awards on Promoting Religious Understanding & Tolerance and Conflict Resolution.
5. Master's degree programmes on electronic media and communication.
6. 5 activities related to Advisory Services.

Memberships & Partnerships:

AIBD now has 43 full members in 26 Member Countries, 74 Affiliate Members and 48 International Partners. AIBD has close cooperation with several Broadcasting Unions/ Associations. Among them are the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ASBU), Southern African Broadcasting Association (SABA) and the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA).

UNESCO and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) - being permanent members of AIBD's Executive Board - play a key role in planning and executing many of the Institute's developmental activities. The Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung has also supported AIBD activities since its inception in 1977.

5 - Years Strategic Plan

AIBD's 5 - Year Action Plan from 2008 to 2012 was drafted and reviewed based on its Strategic Plan and the Bangkok Declaration. It provides emphasis on:

Globalization, Cultural Diversity, New Technologies, Public Service Broadcasting (Community Multimedia / Radio Center), Human Resource Development, Digitizing Audio and Video Archives, Peace Journalism and Conflict Resolution, Women and Gender issues, HIV AIDS, ITC and Education for All, local programs for children and program exchange.

Under its new strategic plan, AIBD is playing a more assertive role as a regional platform to encourage dialogue and cooperation in the electronic media policy of the Asia-Pacific region. It has launched the Asia Media Summit since 2004, considered one of Asia's premiere communication events, the Arab and Asia-Pacific Media Dialogue and the North America and Asia-Pacific Media Dialogue.

Director

Mr Yang Binyuan

Future Initiatives:

AIBD will undertake more initiatives to address the changes reshaping electronic media and the information and communication industries within and outside the region, among them, under-funding of public service broadcasting, commodification of news and information and commercialization of new information and communication technologies. It will pursue progressive media and information policies that stress accountability of various media systems and provide diversity of views.

AIBD will also conduct more programmes on how media can deal with social development issues such as poverty alleviation, HIV & AIDS, Cultural Diversity, good governance, ethnic and cultural conflicts and the empowerment of women, cultural minorities and disadvantaged groups through ICTs.

Lastly, AIBD will launch international Media Dialogues such as:

1. The Asia Media Summit held in Asia on an annual basis;
2. The 3rd Asia-Pacific and Europe Media Dialogue, October 2009 in Amsterdam;
3. The 1st Conference of the Heads of States on Information and Broadcasting in the Asia - Pacific region, September 2010, Vietnam;
4. The 4th Asia-Pacific and Europe Media Dialogue, 2011 in Europe.

AIBD Staff

For the list of AIBD staff, please see our Contacts Page.