World Television Day 2011

1996 the United Nations held the first World Television Forum, where leading media figures met under the auspices of the United Nations to discuss the growing significance of television in today's changing world and to consider how they might enhance their mutual cooperation.

The forum was held on 21 and 22 November, which is why the General Assembly decided to proclaim 21 November as World Television Day - to commemorate the date on which the first World Television Forum was held.

The celebration highlights how communications have become one of today's central international issues, not only for their relevance to the world economy, but also for their implications for social and cultural development. The celebration also underlines the ever-increasing demands faced by the United Nations to address the major issues facing humankind - and that television - as one of today's most powerful communications media, could play a role in presenting these issues to the world.

Additional links:

• Photoessay: History of the UN and Television - this photoessay depicts the history of the UN and television over the decades.
• International Telecommunication Union - the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technology issues; the global focal point for governments and the private sector in developing networks and services.
• Committee on Information - Established at the 34th session of the General Assembly; the Committee reviews UN Public Information Policies and Activities.
• UNifeed
  UNifeed enables news providers to cover important global issues by offering timely broadcast-quality video from throughout the UN system.
• UN in Action
  UN in ACTION, an award-winning television series, reports on the work of the UN and its Agencies around the world.
• 21st Century
  UNTV's series of news-magazine programmes puts a spotlight on the world's most underreported stories.
• TV Spots
  The UN and its Agencies produce TV spots of 30 to 60 seconds to highlight and raise awareness of various UN issues.
• UN Webcast
  Provides live webcast of UN meetings andv events
• UN on YouTube
  The United Nations Channel on YouTube features videos on a wide range of global topics including current news, peace and security, social and economic development, human rights and climate change.
• UN Video Archive