MEDIA EXECUTIVES JOIN FORCES TO FIGHT AIDS AT MIPTV

 

NEW YORK, 28 February 2005 -- At the invitation of United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, chief executive officers from leading international media companies will meet in Cannes, France, as part of the UN-backed Global Media AIDS Initiative (GMAI).  The high-level event will take place on 12 April during MIPTV, the world’s audiovisual and digital content market.

The gathering comes 15 months after the Secretary-General brought together 22 media leaders at United Nations Headquarters in New York to focus attention on how their companies could contribute to the fight against AIDS.  The January 2004 meeting saw attending executives pledge their companies’ commitment and resources to raising public awareness and understanding about HIV/AIDS.  At the upcoming event, a score of new members will join the founders as the Initiative charts its future course.

According to Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization, as many as two thirds of the 45 million new HIV infections projected to occur worldwide over the next decade could be averted with more effective prevention and public education efforts.

“Television is an unparalleled medium for reaching people around the world, especially young people, who have a vital part to play in halting the spread of the epidemic”, says Secretary-General Annan.  “The commitment of media groups to joining the fight against HIV/AIDS is, therefore, of paramount importance.  By bringing industry leaders together at MIPTV, we can highlight the achievements of the Global Media AIDS Initiative, share new ideas and strategies for programming, and start transforming the Initiative into a truly global movement.”

The GMAI meeting takes place at MIPTV, which this year will celebrate the United Nations’ sixtieth anniversary and its forty-second year at the market.  In 2005, the United Nations will have its largest representation ever at MIPTV with 10 UN agencies participating.  The MIPTV will also feature a session where international television producers are being invited to pitch AIDS programming to a panel of selected broadcasters that will commission the two winning entries and provide development funding.

Note to Editors

The GMAI meeting of leading television executives will take place in the Hotel Majestic in Cannes on 12 April and will be followed by a photo call at noon and a press conference from 12:30 – 1 p.m. at the Majestic.  For organizational purposes, please confirm photographer and journalist attendance with:

Philippe Legall, Press Officer, MIPTV featuring MILIA, Paris, e-mail:  philippe.legall@reedmidem.com, tel.:  + 33 1 41 90 46 48, web site:  www.miptv.com.

Press contact:  Newton Kanhema, Information Officer, tel.:  +1 212 963 5602, e-mail:  kanhema@un.org.

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