The
European Audiovisual Observatory is an information service network
for the audiovisual profession. It was initiated by professional
media practitioners in conjunction with governmental authorities
to meet increasing information needs in the audiovisual sector.
These groups expressed a common commitment towards improved flow
and access to information, and towards more transparent information
related to the television, cinema and video sectors of the media
industries. The
observatory was set up to provide reliable information services,
and also to improve the infrastructure of information collection
and dissemination in Europe.
The
observatory was established in December l992, and currently thirty-three
European states and the European Commission are members. The observatory
was created under the auspices of Audiovisual Eureka, and functions
within the framework of the Council of Europe.
It
is a unique European public service organisation that provides information
services to the European television, cinema, video and new media
industries. In particular, the observatory serves the information
needs of the decision makers of production, broadcasting and distribution.
Public administrators, consultants and lawyers, researchers and
journalists needing information on the audiovisual sector are all
target user groups of its services.
The Observatory provides market and economic, legal, and practical
information relevant to audiovisual production and distribution.
It is a focal point of audiovisual information, that puts information
requesters in contact with the best information available. The observatory
brings together the diversity of audiovisual information, guides
information requesters to the best sources, and co-ordinates pan-European
work towards more transparent information.
The
observatory is a service organisation with three core-services.
These services provide rapid respond to daily information needs,
as well as to long term development needs for better data collection
methods. The Information Service Desk, handles individual requests
for information. It is desighed to answer questions quickly and
accurately. It covers all three information areas of the observatory:
market, legal and practical information.
The
Observatory prepares the following publications: an annual Statistical
Yearbook: Cinema, Television, Video and New Media in Europe;
a monthly journal, IRIS - Legal Observations of the European Audiovisual
Observatory; and a quarterly journal on the information sources
in the audiovisual sector, Sequentia.
The
observatory also coordinates work towards transparent European data.
It advises on questions relating to data collection and how to access
information sources. It organises expert workshops seeking improved
and more comparable European data in the audiovisual sector.
The
information services of the observatory are based on its network
of partners and correspondents. This co-operatively working network
currently includes 150 information providers and literally covers
greater Europe. It includes a large number of different information
providers: public and private research and information organisations,
universities, consultants, individual experts, ministries and administrations,
and regional network-organisation in the media field. By centrally
coordinating this multitude of sources, the Observatory gives access
to the most reliable and updated information on the European audiovisual
industry.
Partners
are information or research organisations, that have an established
track record of providing reliable information in the audiovisual
field, either on the European or global level. Each partner has
a specific responsibility or thematic area regarding information
collection and provision. Partners will also help the observatory
to perform its services. Partners also play an essential role in
assisting the observatory in its work towards transparency and harmonisation
of European audiovisual information.
Correspondent
organisations are professional information organisations, and they
complement and assist the observatory and its partners in collecting
information from the member States. Correspondent organisations
also advise on data collection, and on the accuracy and relevance
of the information from their specific country. In each member State,
there are different correspondents for legal, market and economic,
and practical information.
European
professional organisations are widely represented in the Advisory
Committee of the Observatory. Some of these organisations collect
and maintain databases from their own areas of interest in the audiovisual
sector. These organisations have also agreed to collaborate with
the observatory in collecting and providing the most reliable data
in their field of specialty.
-Ismo
Silvo
