NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS GROWING IMPACT OF TELEVISION ON DECISION-MAKING TO BE DISCUSSED AT UNITED NATIONS WORLD TELEVISION FORUM

Press Release

NOTE TO CORRESPONDENTS GROWING IMPACT OF TELEVISION ON DECISION-MAKING TO BE DISCUSSED AT UNITED NATIONS WORLD TELEVISION FORUM

Joint DPI/RAI Event to Be Held at Headquarters, 21-22 November

The United Nations World Television Forum, jointly organized by the Department of Public Information (DPI) with Italy's Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Radio-televisione Italiana (RAI), will be held at Headquarters on 21 and 22 November. The Forum is the first United Nations conference to bring together a large, diverse group of global broadcast leaders to examine the role of television in influencing decision-making and promoting international understanding.

Nearly 150 broadcasting personalities from every region of the world are scheduled to participate. The sessions will consist of brief panel presentations followed by a dialogue-format discussion. The themes of the presentations are "Television and globalization"; "Television and diversity in the global village"; and "Television and international affairs", with separate segments on "Global news: a two-way street?" and "Conflict and diplomacy". The final session, "Television and the future", will focus on the role of public broadcasters and television's power to build world understanding based on the principles of the United Nations Charter.

Four working papers have been prepared for the Forum by RAI, and copies will be available at the sessions.

"With the growing impact of television around the world, especially on decision-making, the goals of the Forum are very much in keeping with the goals of the Department of Public Information", said the Assistant-Secretary- General for Public Information, Samir Sanbar. "It is a way for the United Nations to act as a catalyst among communicators from diverse cultures; it strengthens the Department's partnerships with key media groups; and it helps the United Nations broaden its links to all constituents of civil society, including the private sector."

- 2 - Note No. 5388 19 November 1996

The World Television Forum will be formally opened at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 21 November, by Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the General Assembly President, Razali Ismail (Malaysia), and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Italy, Lamberto Dini.

On Thursday, the morning session will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and on Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 1.p.m. Afternoon sessions will be held from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Forum will take place in the Economic and Social Council Chamber.

Copies of the programme of the Forum are available on the racks in the third-floor press area.

* *** *