EBU elects new board members for 2021-2022

By Vatican News staff writer

The world’s largest public service media association, the European Broadcasting Union, or EBU, on Friday elected 9 members to serve on its executive board.

The board members will serve a two-year term, and assist the EBU’s newly-appointed president, Delphine Ernotte Cunci of France Télévisions and vice-president Petr Dvořák of Czech TV.

New top management

Giacomo Ghisani, the Deputy Director of General Affairs of the Dicastery for Communication, was confirmed for a second term, in his role as the legal representative of Vatican Radio.

Speaking after his appointment, Mr. Ghisani said, “I believe this decision is a recognition of the work carried out by Vatican Radio, which is a founding member of the EBU. Through its broadcasts, Vatican Radio offers a true public service in favor of communities and the common good, which is particularly valuable during this pandemic.”

The other board members, who were elected at the 85th General Assembly of the EBU, include Thomas Bellut, Director General of ZDF (Germany), Cilla Benkö, Director General of SR (Sweden), Marcello Foa President of the Rai (Italy), Monika Garbačiauskaitė-Budrienė, of LRT (Lithuania), Sebastian Sergei Parker, Deputy Director General of Channel One (Russia), Gonçalo Reis, President and CEO of RTP (Portugal), Fran Unsworth, Director of |News and Current Affairs of the BBC, and Alexander Wrabetz, Director General of ORF (Austria).

Competence and geographical diversity

“I am pleased to have been able to bring together such a large amount of expertise and experience and to be able to maintain the balance of the geographical, economic and cultural diversity of EBU members in the composition of the new Board of Directors,” said President Ernotte Cunci. “For the first time, I am also proud to include 3 women on the Board. The new Board will take office on 1 January 2021, and will end its term of office at the end of December 2022.”

EBU broadcasters reach 1 billion people

The EBU—which this year celebrates its 70th anniversary and is the world's largest public service media association (PSM)—includes 115 broadcasters in 56 countries, with another 34 associate members in Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas.

The audience covered by EBU programs exceeds one billion people worldwide, with broadcasts in more than 160 languages.

Vatican Radio, as Mr. Ghisani mentioned, has been a founding member since 1950.