Recent Conferences 2009


VLV Celebrates at BAFTA - 25 years of campaigning for the best in British Broadcasting

On Wednesday 7th October 2009 Voice of hte Listener & Viewer is celebrating its 25th  anniversary year at the glamorous Piccadilly headquarters of BAFTA.  VLV members award their own prizes every year for excellence in broadcasting; now VLV has asked hudnreds of broadcasters and programme makers to name their own favourites.  The results will be announced at BAFTA when extracts from the top 25 programmes are screened before an audience of television and radio starts, programme maskers and broadcasters and VLV members.   

Venue : BAFTA, Piccadilly, London W1

 


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VLV Ltd 7th AGM

Is to be held on Thursday 26th November 2009 (4pm - 5pm)

Venue : The Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1

 


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The Voice of the Listener & Viewer, The Media Society and YouGovStone present:
The Big Broadcasting Debate: Whats to Become of British Television?

With the imminent collapse of Britains commercial television system and the death rattle of public service broadcasting outside the BBC emanating from television sets nationwide, we ask you to weigh in on the future of broadcasting.  With the help of a specially commissioned YouGovStone survey of opinion leaders in many different fields Richard Lindley, Chairman of Voice of the Listener & Viewer, will guide his panel, and take your questions in The Big Broadcasting Debate: Whats to become of British Television?

Members of The Media Society and VLV will be given priority booking for this event. Members’ places are £17.50, guests’ places are £22.

For more information please email: Linda.Forbes@vlv.org.uk or telephone 01474 352835

Press Release

Venue : One Alfred Place, London WC1

 


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Visions of the Future: Scottish Broadcasting in the Digital Age

VLVs 18th Annual Scottish Conference

at the Netherbow Theatre (Scottish Storytelling Centre), Royal Mile, Edinburgh

The conference will ask a range of contributors - including broadcasters and regulators - to debate the Scottish current broadcasting climate and address the key issue of where Scottish broadcasting now goes in the light of policy and public debates of the past two years, and what the implications of those debates are for viewers and listeners.

Speakers include: Jeremy Peat, BBC Trust for Scotland

                              Bobby Hain, Managing Director for Broadcasting & Regulatory Affairs, STV

                              Donald Campbell, Chief Executive, MG Alba

                              Alan Stewart, Ofcom (Scotland)

                              Dave Rushton, Institute of Local Television

Conference Report:

Members gathered in Edinburgh on Tuesday 12th May to attend the 18th Annual Scottish Conference, which examined prospectives for future broadcasting development in Scotland. Guest speakers included Jeremy Peat, BBC Trust, Bobby Hain, STV, Donald Campbell, MG Alba, Alan Stewart, OFCOM, Dave Rushton, Institute of Local TV, John Ritchie, Black Diamond FM and Stewart Lochhead, Leith FM. In the first session, Jeremy Peat, Bobby Hain and Donald Campbell reviewed the current broadcasting environment in Scotland and likely key issues which will face broadcasters and policy makers in the next few years. Issues discussed included production targets for BBC Scotland, the start of the BBCs new digital Gaelic television service and its prospects for gaining access to Freeview after 2010 and the effects of the current economic downturn on regional news services. In the second session, Dave Rushton, John Ritchie and Stewart Lochhead examined the possibilities offered by local community radio and TV consortia. They argued that after many missed opportunities, policy makers and regulators now had a new chance to support local broadcasting initiatives, especially at a time when commercial radio and television channels were struggling to support local and regional news services. Alan Stewart also discussed OFCOMs work in Scotland, focusing on the second public service broadcasting review.

Venue : Netherbow Theatre (Scottish Storytelling Centre), Royal Mile, Edinburgh

 


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The End of Broadcasting As We Know It?

VLVs 26th Annual Spring Conference

Speakers: Michael Grade, Executive Director, ITV

                Colette Bowe, new Chairman, Ofcom

                Steve Hewlett, television journalist & consultant & present of Radio 4s weekly Media Show

                James Thickett, Director of Research & Market Intelligence, Ofcom

Chairs:      Peter Williams, independent television producer & former ITV This Week Reporter

                Roger Bolton, presenter of Radio 4s Feedback, and former editor of Panorama

                Tim Suter, former BBC executive and Founding Partner of Ofcom

 

Also, Presentation of VLVs 2008 Awards for Excellence in Broadcasting at 1.45pm by Sarah Montague sponsored by The Voice of the Listener Trust - Who won?

For more information please contact Linda Forbes on 01474 352835 or email Linda.Forbes@vlv.org.uk

Tickets:  VLV Members £30 excluding lunch and £42.50 including lunch; Corporates £184; Voluntary Organisations/Academics £92; Students £15 excluding lunch and £30 including lunch (all inclusive of VAT)

Programme

Venue : The Geological Society, Piccadilly, London W1

 


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Making the most of New Media

OFCOM and BT are supporting the conference which will have exhibits of ‘hands on’ technology including the latest voice activated computers.  These will appeal to those who are nervous about ‘mice’ and keyboards, but the emphasis on the day will be to show the rewards and benefits to be found once the technical barriers are broken.

The conference is on 1st April 2009 from 10.30am – 4.15pm at The New Connaught Rooms, 61-65 Great Queen Street, London WC2

Programme         Press Release

Venue : The New Connaught Rooms, 61-65 Great Queen Street, off Kingsway, London WC2

 


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Choice in Broadcasting: can quality be sustained? VLVs 25th Autumn Conference

Please note that the VLV AGM will follow the conference and be held from 4 - 5 PM

Tickets: Corporate £176.25 Voluntary Organisations £88.13 Students £15 (excluding lunch)  VLV Members £42.50 including lunch or £30 excluding lunch

Programme            

Venue : The Geological Society, Piccadilly, London W1

 


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Childrens Television: a glimmer of hope - VLVs 14th Annual Childrens Conference

Speakers include: Richard Deverell, Controller, BBC Childrens Programming; Nick Wilson, Director, Childrens Programmes, Five; Ed Vaizey, MP (Conservative) Shadow Secretary of State for Media, Culture and Sport; John Grogan, MP (Labour) Chair, All Party Committee on the BBC; Eleanor Updale, childrens author; Anna Home, Chair, Save Kids TV; representatives form the Liberal Democrats and Channel 4.

Tickets: Corporate £188 Voluntary Organisations £88.13 Students £30 VLV Members £45

Programme 

Venue : Connaught Rooms, London WC2

 


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Citizenship and Public Service Broadcasting - Held on 2nd October 2008

How do Ofcom and the BBC Trust see their Roles?

Find out on 2nd October at VLV’s conference ‘Citizenship and Broadcasting: putting the public into Public Service Broadcasting’ at Woburn House, Tavistock Square, London WC1, 2pm – 4pm.

 

Speakers include:  Philip Graf, Deputy Chair, Ofcom and Chair Ofcom’s Content Board;

                            Diane Coyle, BBC Trustee

Chair:                   Roy Greenslade, journalist and media commentator

 

Ofcom’s primary duty under the 2003 Communication Act is to ‘further the interests of citizens in communication matters’ and to ‘further the interests of consumers in communication markets, where possible by competition’.Ofcom’s Consumer Panel has championed the cause of the consumer in both the broadcasting and telecoms markets.Ofcom’s Content Board is responsible for ensuring that programmes serve the citizen’s interest, but what powers does the Board actually have in the face, for instance, of ITV’s desire to withdraw from many of its public service programme obligations?  And how has the Board performed to date? Ofcom is consulting on its role and performance in relation to citizenship and the deadline for responses is 8 October.  On 25 September Ofcom is also expected to launch Phase 2 of its consultation on its Review of Public Service Broadcasting.

Meantime, the BBC Trust is reviewing its public purposes which include the objective of ‘sustaining citizenship’ and how these are interpreted in its 27 service licences.

This conference will provide a rare opportunity for you to hear and question the key policy makers at first hand on these important issues.

Jon Snow will present VLV’s 2008 Student Essay Prizes at 1200 noon.

Prior to the conference at 12 noon, Jon Snow, the Channel 4 News anchor will present the prizes to the winners of VLV’s 2008 Student Essay Competition ‘Do Citizens and Consumers need different things from their communication environment, or is this a meaningless distinction? The winners in under graduate and post graduate categories will each receive a £500 cash prize kindly donated by Channel 4.  They and the two runners-up will also receive two week’s work experience with a leading independent producer.

Jon Snow to Launch VLV’s Silver Jubilee Appeal

Jon Snow will also launch VLV’s Silver Jubilee Appeal on 2nd October at 12.15pm.  VLV, originally founded as Voice of the Listener, held its inaugural meeting in London on 14 November 2003. Viewer was added to the name in 1991.  The organisation has since grown to become the leading advocate for listeners, viewers and new media users across all broadcasting issues.

Commenting, VLV Chair, Jocelyn Hay said “VLV has achieved an immense amount in its first 25 years, especially in putting the cause of the citizen and consumer in broadcasting on the map.  Now, the Jubilee Appeal which has a target of £30,000 over the next 12 months, is intended to help set VLV on a firm financial footing to meet the challenges of the future.  In the next five years new communication legislation will be needed with huge implications for the future of public service broadcasting, the BBC and Channel 4.” 

Due to an unforeseen commitment, Jon Snow was unable to launch VLVs Silver Jubilee Appeal. In his stead, Roger Graef kindly stepped in. More details.           

Venue : Woburn House, Tavistock Square, London WC1,

 


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The Future for Broadcast News in a Broadband/Digital Environment

Programme

Venue : The Royal Geological Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London SW1

 


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VLVs 17th Annual Scottish Conference

Broadcasting, Scotland and the Future

in association with the Scottish Broadcasting Commission, and the Universities of Stirling and Napier

Thursday, 1st May 2008 2pm

 

The keynote address was given by Blair Jenkins, Chair, Scottish Broadcasting Commission

Venue : Scottish Storytelling Centre, 45 High Street, Edinburgh

 


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VLVs 24th Annual Autumn Conference

Truth & Transparency In Broadcasting

Thursday, 29th November 2007  10.30am - 3.30pm,

 Programme

Venue : Royal National Hotel, London WC1

 


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VLV's Previous Conferences in 2006

VLV's Previous Conferences in 2005

VLV's Previous Conferences in 2004

Further information about the VLV International Conference 26-27th April 2004

Further information about conferences earlier than March 2004