Measuring the economic contribution of the audiovisual industry
The project aims at mapping the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)’s audiovisual industry and at identifying successful and innovative practices in the sector. The School of Journalism and Public Relations (SJPR) will explore the potential of the audiovisual industry to boost local and regional development by identifying the opportunities that digital technologies open up for the production and distribution of new audiovisual content. Priority will be given to encouraging and increasing the participation of women and young creators in the industry and enhancing business skills of self-employed producers, start-up businesses and entrepreneurs, as well as small- and medium-sized enterprises. The ultimate goal is to use the results to inform the forthcoming National Strategic Plan for the audiovisual Sector in FYROM.
The School of Journalism and Public Relations (SJPR) was founded in 2008 as a non-profit higher education institution with the mission of enhancing the quality of education in the fields of journalism, media, communication and public relations. It is an institution nationally recognized with high expertise and technical capacity in projects on the role of the audiovisual sector in sustainable development; it has, for example, prepared analytical and strategic documents to inform national cultural policies and development strategies. In 2011, the SJPR was appointed as the UNESCO Chair in Media, Dialogue and Mutual Understanding.
The audiovisual industry in FYROM is mapped and its potential to boost local and regional development is determined.
The ‘Guidelines for a Common Strategic Framework for the strengthening of the audiovisual industry in FYROM’, a comprehensive framework for the development of the audiovisual industry in FYROM is created.
A network of representatives from public institutions, civil society and cultural operators working in the audiovisual industry is established and awareness is raised about the potential of creative industries for social and economic development.
- Mapping the audiovisual creative industry in FYROM through questionnaires and interviews in collaboration with a team of experts and relevant stakeholders, including policy makers, creators, independent producers, distributors and experts.
- Holding a conference and conducting three training workshops in Skopje for 100 representatives from public institutions and the audiovisual industry, as well as independent producers and experts in the field, in order to debate the results of the mapping study, raise awareness about the project, create strategic alliances and foster new partnerships among key stakeholders.
- Publishing the ‘Guidelines for a Common Strategic Framework for the strengthening of the audiovisual industry in FYROM’ in Macedonian language and English, and distributing them among relevant institutions, cultural associations, and experts in hard copies and online for their consideration and action.
- Organizing a conference in Skopje for all stakeholders of the audiovisual industry from across the country and facilitating consultations, to debate and finalize the proposed draft Guidelines.
- Contributes to the introduction of cultural policies to promote the audiovisual industry in FYROM: both the mapping exercise and the public consultation process are instrumental in ensuring effective policy interventions to develop a competitive and dynamic local audiovisual industry.
- Strengthens local cultural industries: the mapping exercise and the networking activities that will contribute to the formulation of the National Strategic Plan will reveal the potential of the audiovisual industry to create jobs and promote confidence and social cohesion.
- Conclusions reached; there is a need for: a strategy for the audiovisual sector's development, encouraging educational programs, and for financial stimulation of the sector.
- Cross-sectorial networking activities were done Awareness raised about the importance of the audiovisual sector.
