The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU), in collaboration with Televisi Republik Indonesia (TVRI), recently conducted a training programme to enhance the knowledge and skills of Indonesian broadcasters in preparation for the ABU Prizes 2024. 

The workshop, held from February 26 to 28 in Jakarta, saw 52 producers from national TV headquarters and TVRI regional stations benefiting from the expertise of professionals from media organisations such as NHK Japan and KBS Korea. The training covered a range of topics, from programme production techniques and the complexities of international festival submissions to the qualities of award-winning programmes. 

The participants gained insights from the documentary category winner of ABU Prizes 2023, “Discharged by Death,” presented by NHK Japan’s Senior Producers of Culture, Yuki Umehera, and Senior Producer of Welfare, Mano Shuichi. The participants also gained valuable insights into documentary filmmaking from the Executive Producer of KBS Korea, Lee Hyung-Gwan, who graciously shared his award-winning documentary “The Vicious Cycle of Child Abuse,” which secured the ABU Prizes News Reporting Category in 2022.  

The participants also had the opportunity to delve into the ABU Prizes Entertainment Category winner, “Journey of Chinese Art on The Scroll” from CMG/CCTV which was presented by Director of ABU Programming, Yasu Nagahata. He advised how to direct and organise entertainment programs effectively and explained the importance of exchanging perspectives and understanding in the production process.  

Hanizah Hamzah, Head of ABU TV, announced the timeline for the ABU Prizes 2024, and encouraged participants to submit their best work for consideration. 

TVRI world news reporter and producer, Shavira Juniar Talib, who was one of the participants, said: “I am truly grateful for the presence of Director of ABU Programming, Yasu Nagahata, and the Head of Television at ABU Programming Hanizah Hamzah, who actively encouraged us to pose questions to deepen our understanding of the documentary filmmaking process. Drawing from my passion for the broadcasting industry, interacting and engaging with the winners and the experts has been a rewarding experience for me.” 

Johan Setiawan, Head of the TVRI Training Center, thanked ABU for its support in organising the workshop. He stressed TVRI’s dedication to quality and expressed hope that the event would inspire producers to create content that appeals to international audiences. 

In 2023, TVRI received an award in the ABU Perspective category with their documentary “Green Hero”. This year, the public broadcaster aims to submit several programmes for consideration. 

The ABU Prizes are the most prestigious awards in the Asia-Pacific region, recognising the best in radio, television, and digital media content from member organisations.