AFP reorganises for multimedia after landing German video contract

Dec 07, 2021 at 08:53 pm by admin


AFP has created a global multimedia news management team as part of a reorganisation of editorial departments.

The move follows a multi-year video contract with German news channel tagesschau24.

Global news director Phil Chetwynd says the aim is to strengthen coordination between editorial departments and to “create a truly multimedia team at the head of the agency”.

The global news management will now have four deputy directors whose responsibilities will include developing the agency’s content offer in all formats.

Juliette Hollier-Larousse, the agency’s video director, and Eric Baradat, until recently the North America photo chief, become deputy news directors. They will serve as the heads of their respective services with responsibility for strategic planning.

Hollier-Larousse will also lead the development of the agency’s audio (podcast) offer while Baradat will become responsible for graphics, documentation and data in addition to photo.

Philippe Onillon, the agency’s editorial careers development director, becomes deputy news director responsible for mobility and projects. Jean-Luc Bardet, who is director for France, retains his position as deputy news director.

Former AFP editor-in-chief Eric Wishart is appointed standards and ethics editor within the global news management.

Chetwynd says the new structure will greatly strengthen synergies between editorial departments. “Bringing together the service heads within one senior management team will enhance AFP’s capacity to offer integrated, multimedia production in its coverage of world events,” he said.

Creation of the position of standards and ethics editor “shows AFP’s commitment to maintaining the highest editorial standards in an increasingly complex media landscape”.

Marielle Eudes, the agency’s former photo director, is appointed director for special photo projects responsible for developing the commercialisation of AFP’s photo archives.

• Rolling German news channel tagesschau24 will take regular content from agency AFP under a new agreement effective from next month.

The deal sees the agency become a regular supplier of international video production for public television network ARD, one of Europe’s biggest audio-visual groups.

The Tagesschau daily news broadcast, tagesschau24 channel and website are covered by the new multi-year contract, which follows increasing cooperation on video. ARD’s nine regional TV chains get access to AFPTV’s global production, including live broadcasts from sites in 151 countries.

Content will also be accessible under a multi-year contract to multilingual channel Deutsche Welle.

AFPTV’s global clients include the BBC, RAI, Al-Jazeera and South Korean public television network KBS.

The agency has just been the best news agency at the Association for International Broadcasting awards for the second consecutive year, with Ethiopia reporter Solan Kolli taking the Rory Peck news award for coverage of the conflict in Tig


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