What?
Who needs yet another broadcasting site?!

What, yet another broadcasting page? With so many excellent sites out there, on the web? Well, while surfing I noticed that, with the wealth of sites on every conceivable subject, some things were missing, just to name a few:

• The European point of view
• A list of books on the subject
• A list of schools
• Magazines about broadcasting

I am very busy - I don't have the time to write and collate lots of information. And there is nothing worse than a site with outdated, incomplete information. A waste of time for all. What I can do, is share some of the useful information I come across in my own searches.

I zeroed in on books and schools, simply because my son is thinking of becoming a cameraman. And the search for a school can be long and difficult (I have not come across a good one where we live, in Switzerland). Even though most universities have web sites, you sometimes have to dig through countless pages, before getting to the relevant department. Therefore, while compiling my own list, why not share it? While stocking up my own library, why not share some of the titles?

The point is also that not only young, aspiring broadcasters need to learn. Most fields in broadcasting evolve fast. Professionals have two choices: follow (preferably anticipate) the movement or become marginalized and fall by the wayside. We need to do more things, faster and better -  and the trend is not about to slow down. The need for permanent training is greater than ever. If you don't have the time to go back to school or the employer is too stingy to pay for seminars, books magazines and the advice of other professionals who have been there before, can help stay up to date.

Of course, speaking about broadcasting is too vague - there are hundreds of professions in broadcasting. My own background is in television news - particularly the international type (the preserve of the "foreign desk" and "foreign editors"). Although I have a decent grasp of technical matters, I prefer to write about the subjects I know in depth.

I am trying to include information relevant to Europeans - which seems to be scarce. I may expand the range of subjects as I progress - but the time available is the great limit.

I work with TV journalists every day. Every day, I wish that better training was available! Journalists (foreign desk!) who admit ignorance of geography, ignore spelling and grammar (even in their own language)... get tiresome in the long run. Pointing the young, aspiring broadcasters in the right direction, may make my life easier, eventually. In the meantime, the experienced ones should, perhaps, study an atlas and buy a spell checker (I certainly use mine: it's permanently on).

I'd like to hear from you - criticism, suggestions, contributions, are all welcome. This site is open to ideas and controversy.

Piotr
Geneva, Switzerland