Winnipeg to Host the World Indigenous Television Broadcasting Conference

MEDIA ADVISORY                                                                              

 WINNIPEG TO HOST THE WORLD INDIGENOUS  TELEVISION BROADCASTING CONFERENCE

 February  27,  2014, Winnipeg, Manitoba  –  Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN)  and the World Indigenous Television Broadcasters Network (WITBN) announced today  they  will  host the  World Indigenous Television Broadcasting Conference (WITBC) 2014, to be held June 19 to 23 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

“WITBC is a  significant event for  the development of  Indigenous media. This is one place where we are  inspired and motivated by sharing experiences and ideas,” said WITBN chairman Nils Johan Heatta. “Canada’s Indigenous Peoples play a critical role in the history of  the  Indigenous movement worldwide; APTN is in a leading role in the Indigenous broadcast media. We believe WITBC 2014 will  pave  the way to take our work and the international collaboration to the next level.”

KANATA 14 | WITBC will present concurrent workshop seminars and speaker presentations that highlight best practices and successes for Indigenous broadcasters in the areas of  journalism, programming, operations and digital media. The theme for this year’s event is “Breaking the Barriers”.

In addition to the workshops and conference speakers,  delegates  will  attend a gala dinner announcing the recipients of  the  second World  Indigenous Journalism Awards (WIJA). Furthermore, global delegates will partake in cultural events on June 21, which includes APTN’s Aboriginal Day Live & Celebration at The Forks, Winnipeg. All events and registration information can be found at www.witbc2014.com.

KEY EVENTS 

Indigenous broadcasters representing Australia, Canada,  Finland,  Hawai’i, Ireland, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Norway, Paraguay, Scotland, Sweden, Taiwan and Wales will be in attendance.

“As the world’s first national Aboriginal broadcaster, we are thrilled and proud to host this honourable event,” said Jean La Rose, APTN Chief Executive Officer. “Winnipeg is an energetic city and home to a significant Aboriginal population. Our country’s rich and  diverse Aboriginal culture is an integral part of our Canadian identity. What an incredible opportunity we have to shine a spotlight on our Peoples, our country and our programming!”

The fourth biennial Indigenous media event, KANATA 14 | WITBC will mark the first time the international event is held in Canada. New Zealand’s Māori Television hosted the first World Indigenous Television Broadcasting Conference in March 2008 that led to the establishment of the World Indigenous Television Broadcasters Network (WITBN). Taiwan Indigenous Television (Taiwan) and NRK Sápmi (Norway) hosted the second and third conferences, respectively.

Registration for the conference is now open and  more information  can be found at www.witbc2014.com.

ABOUT WITBN: 

Established in 2008, the World Indigenous Television Broadcasters Network (WITBN) is the first global alliance that aims to unify television broadcasters worldwide to retain and grow Indigenous languages and cultures. Their commitment is to preserve and promote the Indigenous languages and cultures through media networking, news and program sharing, and television broadcasting. In the spirit of sharing, WITBN’s mission is to develop collaborative relationships among Indigenous television broadcasters to create various media opportunities for their members and help nurture Indigenous media worldwide. Visit the website at www.WITBN.org

ABOUT APTN: 

September 1, 2013, marked  the 14-year anniversary of the launch of the first national Aboriginal television network in the world with programming by, for and about Aboriginal Peoples to share with all Canadians and viewers around the world. APTN is available in  approximately  10 million Canadian households and commercial establishments with cable, direct-to-home satellite, telco-delivered and fixed wireless television service providers. The network launched its high definition channel, APTN HD, in the spring of 2008. APTN does not receive government funding for operations but generates revenue through subscriber fees, advertising sales and strategic partnerships. APTN broadcasts programming with 56% offered in English, 16% in French and 28% in Aboriginal languages. For program schedule or for more information, please contact APTN at (204) 947-9331 or toll-free at 1-888-278-8862 (Canada), or visit the website at www.aptn.ca

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For further information about WITBN, contact:

Patagaw Talimalaw Secretary General  WITBN +47 452 03326 ptalimalaw@WITBN.org

For further information about APTN or image requests, contact:

Jacqueline Jubinville  Manager of Communications APTN   (204) 947-9331, ext. 339 jjubinville@aptn.ca