New impetus for European public service radio stations

VATICAN CITY - The 31st Radio Assembly, hosted this year by Radio France in Paris, has ended with the election of a new steering committee for European radio stations for the next two years. Among the summit's themes were artificial intelligence and young listeners.

In an era marked by fake news, international geopolitical tensions and polarisation within European countries, public service radio can play a vital role in defending democracy. This was unanimously underlined by participants at the 31st EBU Radio Assembly (European Broadcasting Union), the European Broadcasting Summit, which - at its Paris headquarters Radio France - radio stations from at least 33 countries participated. Among them was Vatican Radio, represented by Alessandro Gisotti, Deputy Editorial Director of Vatican Media.

During the event, members of the "Radio Committee", a body that coordinates strategies and initiatives within the EBU to strengthen the presence of radio in an increasingly fast-changing media environment, were elected. Sibyle Veil, Director General of the Radio France. Graham Ellis of the BBC and consultant to the Dicastery of the Holy See on communications was re-elected as Deputy Director. Other members include of the Radio Committee, who will serve for the next two years, includes Andrea Borgnino, head of the company's Rai Play Sound, who is serving his fourth term on the EBU body.

Of particular interest was artificial intelligence, focusing on sound and the possibilities offered by the use of synthetic voices, as well as a panel on music and its special relationship to radio. Currently, 60 % young Europeans consider music as their main interest, which opens up great opportunities for radio, as seen in the dramatic period of the pandemic and the subsequent closure. "During Covid," said Graham Ellis, longtime president of Prix Italia"the music was a great comfort to the people. Music brings people together, and that's because of Radio'.

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