On the eve of the European Week Against Racism four national television broadcasters today launched a campaign to raise awareness about issues surrounding racism in Ireland. The broadcasters: TV3; TG4; UTV and RTÉ have come together under the name broadcasters against racism.
The aim of the broadcasters against racism initiative is to create an education and awareness campaign across four television stations that will be enlightening and questioning. The campaign will air from 20 March 2004.
There will be eight individual television promos; two each from the four participating broadcasters with a variety of thought provoking messages. The promos will air across UTV; RTÉ One; RTÉ Network 2; TV3 and TG4 and each broadcaster will run all eight promos.
Cathal Goan, Director-General, RTÉ said: “The issue of racism touches everyone on the island of Ireland, and the combating of it is an important challenge as our society constantly changes and evolves. RTÉ, as Ireland’s public service broadcaster, believes that in harnessing the creativity and resources of this group of broadcasters, we can communicate a meaningful message in a very powerful way.”
Rick Hetherington, TV3 CEO said: “Racism in today's society can affect any of us. It is important that we as broadcasters, who uniquely communicate with the vast majority of Ireland's population on a daily basis, help all to understand what racism is and to stop it. The people of TV3 unreservedly support this major initiative of the television broadcasters in Ireland acting as one in aid of this most worthy cause.”
The four broadcasters first met to discuss this initiative in December 2003, and had a series of production meetings in Dublin and Belfast. The broadcasters were represented by, Beverley McGarvey, TV3; Mícheál Ó Meallaigh, TG4; Robert Lamrock, UTV and Donna Byrne, RTÉ. TV3 chaired the meetings.
TG4 Ceannasaí, Pól Ó Gallchóir, said that his channel was proud to be participating in the initiative. "TG4 is seen by many as a symbol of a new, more confident Ireland and we try to celebrate the multi-cultural dimension of society as part of our súil eile outlook," he said.
Alan Bremner, Director of Television, UTV said: “UTV is delighted to support this campaign to raise public awareness of European Week Against Racism. In recent weeks racist attacks and propaganda in Belfast have been in the news, so it’s timely that broadcasters against racism unites the indigenous broadcasters with a common purpose."
The group consulted with The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland and the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) in Dublin. The production commenced in February, and creative teams from each broadcaster completed the promos with internal resources. Trevor McCormick, UTV, created the artwork on the endboard, and the four broadcasters will use the same five-second end sting to pull the campaign together.
The Promos Are:
'See the world in colour' - TV3
Young children of different races are being educated together using colours creating a message of celebrating diversity.
'Open Doors' - TV3
The promo features doors slamming closed until one door stays open to reveal a lady smiling through. It aims to make people consider themselves - are you the kind of person who opens doors - or closes them?
‘Kids’ – TG4
Aims to prevent racist attitudes passing down through generations. Nurture should not colour nature.
‘Colours’ – TG4
Different comments relating to colour are introduced using a series of fun colourful linked animations without fully telling the viewer what the piece is about until the very end when a more specific comment relating to skin colour is introduced, teasing the viewer to sit up and take notice. Man's skin has many colours, but human blood is always red.
'Do you see a colour' – UTV
The aim of this promo is make people think about what they are actually thinking when they look at another person. Do they see a person or a colour?
'Reality of racist attacks' – UTV
This promo is a mixture of news headlines with audio from radio and television broadcasts North and South. The aim is to inform people about the reality of racist attacks that happen in Ireland - North and South.
‘Life in a box’ – RTÉ
Graphic images of a video game in progress with voice over and sound FX. Racial stereotyping can limit the possibility of achieving ones true potential.
‘Life would be boring...’ - RTÉ
Graphic images of rows of identical grey men, which become energised and transform into a diverse mass of human life. Human diversity is what makes us interesting as race. Our differences should be celebrated.
