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"I have lived for 40 years as a foreigner."
Interview with Frank Elstner,
Chairman of the European CIVIS Television Jury
Mr Elstner, you have taken on the chairmanship of the European CIVIS television jury once again this year. What particularly attracts you about this task?
I have lived for 40 years as a foreigner in another country and as a result have a very personal approach to the theme of multicultural coexistence. In Germany too we will have to adapt ourselves to immigration. The large political parties have now finally reached a compromise on this important question and I am pleased about that. The fact that television is also conscious of its social responsibility here and makes this responsibility public is important and I am delighted to support this. Of course, I am also pleased about the confidence shown in me with the chairmanship of the jury.
You have a lot of international experience with major TV productions at home and abroad. What can the media do for understanding between people of different cultures?
A great deal. They should inform and enlighten us. For example, they can make it extremely clear to us what happens on the European frontiers of the EU. I saw a television film last year which moved me very deeply. A film about the biggest ship disaster in the post-war period in the Mediterranean. 283 refugees from India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan drowned tragically only a couple of sea miles from the Sicilian coast and nobody took any notice. The people died without even an attempt being made to save them, abandoned by human traffickers during a storm in a dinghy that was much too small. The tragedy was hushed up even though the fishermen at this southernmost corner of Sicily for years have been picking up corpses or what was left of the people in their nets. One fisherman then broke the silence and two German reporters revealed the whole terrible accident. Their TV documentary left a big impression on me and others who saw it had similar feelings. We can make things happen if we handle the theme correctly. The documentary won the European CIVIS Media Prize in 2003.
You are well-known for your social involvement on behalf of the ARD Television Lottery as an ambassador of good deeds. As a leading TV presenter do you want to go public with other themes in future?
Everyone who works in a public profession, cannot reject such an important involvement in support of social coexistence. I am convinced that I can sensitize my audience to the theme of integration and dealing with minorities. In my television programme "Menschen der Woche" (People of the Week) for SWR, I take up themes of multicultural coexistence whenever I can.
The broadcasting companies in Europe already report extensively in their programmes about integration and cultural diversity. What do you wish for the future?
There are indeed many reports, also here in Germany. However, the theme is usually handled much too seriously. Repeatedly the moralist forefinger is waved. Anyone who looks around abroad also sees other forms: they handle the topic more casually. "The Kumars" for example - a comedy talk show from the BBC - shows how one can laugh with each other and not about each other. Here, stereotypes and clichés of different cultures are compared with each other very humorously. There dealing with the fellow citizen of a different origin is quite natural. The different is normal, so to speak. I would like to see something like that in our programmes: more lightness, also handling the theme of integration playfully.
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CIVIS - Nominations and prize-winners  |
2010 Berlin
2009 Berlin
2008 Ljubljana
2007 Berlin
2006 Berlin
2005 Strasbourg |
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