NEW YORK, 7 March 2007 – UNICEF and the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences today called for entries from broadcasters for the 2007 International Children’s Day of Broadcasting Award. The ICDB Award will go to the broadcaster whose programming best reflects the 2006 International Children’s Day of Broadcasting them, Unite for Children, and Unite Against AIDS, and who demonstrates an overall dedication to youth participation in media.
Radio broadcasters also are encouraged to submit their programs, as UNICEF will also be awarding the 2007 ICDB Award for Radio Excellence.
To be eligible for the ICDB Award, broadcasts must have taken place on or around Sunday, 10 December 2006 in conjunction with the 2006 International Children’s Day of Broadcasting. The deadline for entries is 18 May 2007. More information and entry forms can be found at www.unicef.org/icdb.
To encourage more youth participation in media throughout the year, the award judges will not only consider the quality of the work, but also will consider the commitment broadcasters make to engaging with youth on an ongoing basis.
“Children have the right to voice their opinions and broadcasters around the world are making that happen by getting youth voices on the air – not only during one day in December but throughout the year,” said Stephen Cassidy, chief of UNICEF’s Internet, Broadcast and Image Section. “We want to reward them for their dedication and commitment.”
Said Fred Cohen, Chairman of the International Academy, “We are immensely proud of our 16 year relationship with UNICEF through the ICDB Award. Not only does this special award recognize the finest contributions in children’s programming, but it serves as a beacon to furthering broadcasters’ commitment in helping improve children’s lives throughout the world.”
UNICEF also announced the theme for the upcoming 2007 International Children’s Day of Broadcasting: The World We Want. Five years ago, youth around the world met in New York to attend the Special Session for Children. The outcome of that meeting was the agenda “Building a World Fit for Children,” which laid out four main priorities: Promoting healthy lives; Providing quality education; Protecting children against abuse, exploitation and violence; and Combating HIV/AIDS. On the fifth anniversary of this agenda, how far have we come? Have these goals been achieved in your communities? What problems still exist? What suggestions do the youth have to solve them? What can be done to build a world for children?
UNICEF is calling on broadcasters, both television and radio, to participate in the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting on December 9, 2007 to highlight youth voices concerning the state of the world and their place in it. Participating broadcasters will be eligible to submit entries for the 2008 ICDB Award.
For the third year, the ICDB Award judging will take place in 8 regions with broadcasters eligible for prizes. Entries are due to UNICEF’s regional offices by May 18, 2007. The top-scoring television entry in each region will compete for the ICDB Award, to be presented at the International Emmy® Awards Gala, November 19, 2007 in New York. The top-scoring radio entry will become a finalist for the ICDB Award for Radio Excellence, to be presented at the ICDB Awards Breakfast in New York.
Information about regional judging and entry forms are now available at www.unicef.org/icdb.
Last year, the Award went to Teleradio Moldova for their program “Let’s Play!” Teleradio Moldovia was one of 6 regional ICDB prize winners, in addition to ATN Bangla (Bangladesh), RCN (Colombia), Gambia Radio and Television Services (Gambia), TVE (Spain) and Syrian Broadcast TV (Syria).
Established in 1991, the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting encourages broadcasters to produce programming by, with and for children. UNICEF and The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences jointly celebrate this initiative with the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting Award.