BBC Brasil Celebrates 70 Years of Broadcasting

BBC Brasil celebrates its 70th anniversary by hosting four special debates in the cities of Brasília and São Paulo starting Wednesday 12 March 2008. Head of BBC Brasil, Rogério Simões, says: “BBC Brasil is 70, and I am very proud of how far we have come since 1938.

“Our aim has always been to help our audience understand the relevant issues behind the news and their consequences.

“In turn our audiences keep telling us that they see us as fresh, innovative and reliable broadcasters, connected to the world and with these debates we aim to prove these credentials once again.

“Our online operations go from strength to strength and in January 2008 we received 4.2 million visitors to bbcbrasil.com and from content on our Brazilian partner websites.

“We are also reaching new audiences with video on Bandeirantes TV and our radio output has a loyal listenership.

“We invite all our radio, online and TV audiences to engage with the debates.”

The BBC Brasil debates will discuss the following subjects:

The Giant Neighbour: Brazil and South America – 9.30am to 12.30pm (Brazil time) on Wednesday 12 March.

Speakers: Rogério Simões, Head of BBC Brasil; Jonathan Wheatley, Correspondent, Financial Times; Carlos Chirinos, Venezuela Correspondent, the BBC’s Spanish American service, BBC Mundo; Fernan Saguier, Columnist, La Nación; Professor Ricardo Seitenfus, Specialist in Mercosur trade agreement.

Journalism in the 21st Century: Objectivity and Subjectivity – 2.00pm to 4.30pm on Wednesday 12 March.

Speakers: Gary Duffy, the BBC’s São Paulo Correspondent; Mariza Tavares, Executive Director, CBN Radio Network.

Freedom of Speech: Limits of Journalism in the 21st Century – 10.30am to 12.30pm on Thursday 13 March.

Speakers: Sara Beck, Editor, Free to Speak season of programs marking the 75th anniversary of BBC World Service; Helena Chagas, Journalism Director, TV Brasil; Lucia Newman, Correspondent, Al-Jazeera; Mario Magalhães, Ombudsman, Folha de S. Paulo.

The New Journalism: Convergence and Interactivity – 2.00pm to 4.30pm on Thursday, 13 March.

Speakers: Pete Clifton, Head of Multimedia Editorial Development, BBC; Andrea Fornes, Executive Producer, MSN Brasil; Antonio Prada, Content Director, Terra; Marcia Menezes, Journalism Director, G1.

Source: BBC Press Office

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