Seminar 'Television and its challenges': UNESCO emphasises that television programming must equitably reflect society’s voices

On Wednesday, 28 August, the seminar "Television and Its Challenges" took place at the Centro Cultural Palacio La Moneda. The event was organised by the National Television Council, in collaboration with UNESCO and the communication faculties of various universities in Chile.

Valtencir Mendes, Head of Education at UNESCO's Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, stated in his opening remarks, "Despite technological advancements, challenges remain in terms of representation and diversity on television. It is essential that programming equitably reflects the voices and experiences of all segments of our society. We know the willingness is there, but actions must be more effective, including from a gender perspective."

Rosa Devés, Rector of the University of Chile, also pointed out that currently, "there is a lack of educational content for children on free-to-air channels, although we recognise and celebrate the NTV channel, and this is despite the fact that children, along with the elderly, are among the age groups that most access television."

Throughout the day, attendees had the opportunity to participate in five panel discussions and four keynote presentations delivered by members of academia and representatives from the communications industry.

Among the panel discussions, notable participants included Carolina Altschwager, Chair of the Board of Canal 13; Susana García, Executive Director of TVN; Iñaki Vicente, Vice President and General Manager of Paramount Chile and CEO of Chilevisión; and Natalia Araya, President of the Regional Association of Television Channels (ARCATEL). Additionally, university professors from the University of Chile, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, University of La Frontera, Adolfo Ibáñez University, and University of the Andes took part.

In the keynote speeches, Spanish academic and MP Francisco Sierra Caballero presented "The Future of Television: Trends, Dilemmas, and Alternatives in the Fourth Industrial Revolution". He was accompanied by journalist Juan Carlos Valdivia with his talk "35 Years of TV: Past and Future"; filmmaker Alicia Scherson with "The University as a Creative Force for Television: From Canal 9 to UCHILE TV"; and influencer and content creator Marcelo Von Gierke, better known as Barón Von Vonstar.

Further information: https://cntv.cl/seminario-sobre-la-tv-y-sus-desafios-2024/