Maori Television Hosts Children and Media Symposium

7 November 2011

Maori Television Hosts Children and Media Symposium

Maori Television will host an international children’s media expert this Wednesday, 9 November, for a day focused on tamariki (children) and rangatahi (young people) and the media.

David Kleeman is President of the American Center for Children and Media, and is on the Advisory Board Chair to the international children's TV festival, Prix Jeunesse.

Kleeman has advised producers, broadcasters, government organisations and NGOs, undertaken research on children and public service media in the digital age, and is a renowned author on the subject of children and the media.

This Wednesday, he will chair a day’s ‘suitcase’ training for more than 70 television industry practitioners who create media for young people in New Zealand.

Suitcase training features screening and discussion of some of the most outstanding and innovative children’s programmes worldwide.

Maori Television general manager of programming Haunui Royal says the broadcaster is delighted to host David Kleeman.

“This is a rare opportunity for us to find out what resonates with children all around the world, and apply that learning to our programming and digital strategy for the future,” he says.

“As a public broadcaster we have a mandate to provide programmes for tamariki that inform, educate and entertain.

“We commission locally more than 200 hours per year, and spend about $6 million on local production for tamariki, as well as acquiring and re-versioning international content into te reo Maori.”

Maori Television is committed to providing quality programming for children and young people.

Maori Television has partnered with kura kaupapa to produce television content, with Te Wharekura o Rakaumangamanga in Huntly recently holding a workshop for students.

Mr Royal says because most Maori are under 35, it is even more important that the broadcaster understands the needs of a younger audience.

David Kleeman was brought to New Zealand by the Goethe Institute in association with ProductionShed TV, the New Zealand Film Archive and the Screen Production and Development Association (SPADA).

ENDS