[25.04.2008 first posted on silicon republic]
The European Commission is aiming to bring more coverage of EU affairs to citizens through multimedia platforms.

In a communication entitled ‘Communicating Europe through audiovisual media’, the Commission sets out proposals to create more TV, radio and multimedia channels for disseminating information.
It has proposed a network of TV stations to complement the network of radio stations launched on 1 April and will also increase the amount of raw audiovisual material it provides free to audiovisual media professionals.
The Commission will also increase its own production of videos to explain EU policies.
“One of the central objectives of our communication policy is to help develop a European public sphere and to empower citizens by giving them access to information. By supporting co-operation and exchange between broadcasters and offering free-of-charge audiovisual material, the Commission is trying to contribute to better information for citizens,” said Margot Wallström, vice-president for institutional relations and communication strategy, European Commission.
“Research shows that people want information on European issues which concern them and that they prefer to receive it through their favourite TV and radio stations and their favourite websites.
“There is also a demand for EU-produced audiovisual material. This is clear from the success of our channel on YouTube, http://youtube.com/eutube, which has had over 10 million video views since its launch in July 2007.”
Studies have shown that European citizens are not very well informed about the EU, although 64pc of them are interested in news about the EU, according to a Eurobarometer survey of March 2007.
In particular, the European Commission has proposed a number of measures to meet this need, which include developing a network of TV channels for launch in 2009-2010; increasing the Commission’s production of audiovisual content; improving distribution via different technological platforms such as EU Tube; and launching an online EU events calendar in June 2008 and promoting its use by professionals.
By Niall Byrne