Statutes of International Public Television - INPUT
Preamble
Valid as of 11 September 2009
The members of International Public Television, a non-profit organization of public television programme makers and broadcasters, meeting in Budapest in September 11, 2009,
a. believing that public television and its variations, communicated through air, cable, internet and other technical forms, are media of communication and feeling responsible towards the public they serve as communicators;
b. joined by a mutual interest in the more effective use of these media to inform, enlighten and entertain, and dedicated to exploring their limits beyond the merely conventional and derivative;
c. believing that television is culture and generates culture in providing clearer insights into ourselves and better understanding of each other and our respective cultures;
d. considering the vital contribution of television in achieving understanding among peoples and to the progress of society;
e. considering that our common interest and responsibilities as communicators can be served through conferences and meetings among those who plan and create television programmes, providing them with the opportunity to view and analyze each other ́s work, to discuss programme rationales and to share ideas;
f. convinced of the need to create close ties within the profession and wanting to give a voice to makers of television in the public service;
g. considering the success and development of the International Public Television Screening Conferences and meetings;
h. persuaded of the need to provide the organization with a stability so as to guarantee its bases and objectives;
agreed as follows:
Background
A group of concerned television makers convened at the invitation of the Rockefeller Foundation and CIRCOM (Coopérative intemationale de recherche et d'action en matière de communication) in Bellagio, ltaly, in May 1977. The Bellagio meeting led to the creation of an International Steering Committee and the planning of International Public Television Conferences 1978 and 1979, hosted by RAI in Milan. At the Conference in Lecce, ltaly, in September 1979, an International Board was created. Since then INPUT has developed yearly Conferences with professional discussions of screened television programmes, as well as other international meetings and workshops about public television.
Chapter 1: The Association
Article 1.1: Founding and name
International Public Television is an international association of professionals in public television. The name International Public Television and the acronym INPUT both constitute the association’s official name.
Article 1.2: The nature of INPUT
INPUT is an international, cultural, non-profit and non-governmental organization for professionals that groups together individuals voluntarily associated with it by virtue of the statutes. The INPUT concept of public television and public service programming comprises all its variations whether communicated by air, cable, internet or other technical forms. INPUT does not have any political or commercial goals.
Article 1.3: INPUT Membership
Membership can be gained by professionals in public television and other individuals who support INPUT’s scope of activity and pay the standard annual membership fee.
Chapter 2: Scope of Activity
Article 2.1: Purpose of INPUT
The purpose of INPUT is: a. to promote the role of public service television as a driving force within society;
b. to secure an international programme discussion forum for television professionals in accomplishing their social, cultural, investigative and educational mission;
c. to promote among professionals a broad range of creativity, shared experience and information, in all aspects of public television.
Article 2.2: Means of action
To this end INPUT:
a. organizes the annual International Public Television Screening Conference (The Conference) for discussions about television programmes for the people who create them and others involved or interested in public television;
b. encourages, initiates and makes possible other meetings of television professionals who take seriously the project of quality television in the service of the public;
c. encourages the exchange and co-production of programmes; d. encourages regional activities by stimulating and helping conferences, workshops and seminars.
Article 2.3: Relations with television broadcasting organizations
INPUT maintains close relations with television broadcasting organizations and associates itself with them in the pursuit of common objectives.
Article 2.4: Relations with international television broadcasting organizations
INPUT maintains close relations with international television broadcasting organizations and associates itself with them in the pursuit of common objectives.
Article 2.5: Relations with other institutions
INPUT may develop and maintain relations with other institutions having convergent interests and pursuing common objectives. This includes relations and cooperation with independent producers’ organizations.
Chapter 3: The General Assembly
Article 3.1: Powers of the International Assembly
The International Assembly is the highest instance of INPUT. Its decisions are enforceable and are binding for all who operate under delegation of power from the International Assembly.
Article 3.2: Jurisdictions of the International Assembly
The International Assembly shall:
a. implement the objectives of INPUT at the annual Assembly meeting during the INPUT conference.
b. sanction the International Board’s annual report on operations of the previous calendar year;
c. sanction the International Board’s annual financial report of the previous calendar year;
d. elect members of the International Board for terms of up to four years.
Article 3.3: Composition of the International Assembly
The International Assembly is a body comprising:
a. INPUT Members who both have registered and paid the standard membership fee for the current year, and have registered as delegates for a minimum of two annual INPUT Conferences in the previous three years;
b. board members of the acting INPUT International Board.
Article 3.4: Admittance to the International Assembly meetings
The International Assembly decides which parties and individuals it will call in to its assembly meetings and points of agenda.
Article 3.5 Chairing the International Assembly meetings The International Board proposes a member to chair the meeting of the International Assembly.
Chapter 4: The International Board
Article 4.1: Powers of the International Board
The International Board is the second highest instance of INPUT. Its decisions are enforceable and are binding for all who operate under delegation of power from the International Board.
Article 4.2 Jurisdictions of the International Board
The International Board shall:
a. elect INPUT President, INPUT Secretary General and INPUT Treasurer;
b. report to the annual INPUT Assembly;
c. implement the objectives of INPUT as settled by the statutes and INPUT International Assembly;
d. strive to secure the funds to operate;
e. determine site, date, structure and themes of discussion for the annual INPUT Screening Conference;
f. invite organizations and professionals of public television to submit programmes to the Conference;
g. appoint INPUT National Coordinators (NC) responsible for organizing national selections of programmes for INPUT International Selection;
h. appoint INPUT Coordinator of National Coordinators (CNC);
i. appoint INPUT Head of International Selection and Shopstewards, responsible for organizing, presiding and directing the work of individuals in charge of selection of programmes for discussions at INPUT International Selection for the current INPUT Conference;
j. confirm the selection of Shopstewards nominated by the INPUT Head of International Selection and Shopstewards, i.e., those individuals who, under the mandate of the Head of International Selection and Shopstewards, shall select programmes to be screened and discussed at the INPUT Conference and produce texts for the INPUT Conference catalog and website;
k. appoint, if required, other individuals for special tasks and define their mandate and tenure;
l. adopt INPUT Members according to rules and praxis for INPUT membership;
m. call in as many representatives for associated activities as necessary;
n. sign agreements for cooperation with other institutions in order to help INPUT achieve its objectives;
o. set up, in a form it judges appropriate, rules of administrative procedure which, with the terms of the statutes, make possible the harmonious handling of INPUT’s day-to-day activities;
Article 4.3: Composition of the International Board
The International Board shall be comprised of a minimum of eleven and a maximum of fifteen Members: Members shall be professionals in television, or any person in the field of communications who shares the goals and objectives of INPUT who, in the opinion of the INPUT International Assembly, possesses the necessary requirements and skills to take an active part in furthering INPUT’s objectives and who proposes his/her candidacy for such purpose. Members are elected on an individual basis for their personal contribution to the development of INPUT. As a whole, the International Board shall endeavor to be representative of the world of public television with interest and attendance at INPUT Conferences.
Article 4.4: International Assembly’s election of the International Board
Board members shall be elected by the Members of the International Assembly present at the meeting and voting. The tenure shall be four years, starting and ending immediately after the respective Assembly meeting, except that the initial Boardmembers’ terms shall be staggered to allow the future election of one-fourth of the Board each year. A Board member can be re-elected after review by the Assembly.
Article 4.5: International Board’s election of the Presidium
The members of the International Board shall elect a Presidium consisting of President, Secretary General, and Treasurer, whose terms of office shall be maximum two years individually. The President can be re-elected only once for a maximum of four consecutive years as President, and is thereafter free to run for a new term as Board member, like others elected to the Board.
Article 4.6: Representatives as Associated Members and Observers
Institutions and organizations contributing significantly to INPUT’s objectives and goals can be invited by the Board to nominate one or more representatives to participate, without voting rights, in the work of the Board as Associated Members or Observers.
Article 4.7: The meetings of the International Board
Procedures concerning the meetings of the International Board:
a. the Board will meet in statutory meetings at a minimum of once at the end of the annual International Selection and once before and once after the INPUT conference;
b. the President convenes the Board’s meetings specifying the places and dates in conformity with the decisions taken at previous meetings. He/she sees to it that all members are informed;
c. The Board has the right to meet in executive session, that is behind closed doors;
d. the agendas of Board meetings are drawn up by the President and the Secretary General. Board members who wish to include items in the agenda should submit them to the President and the Secretary General as soon as possible. The Board shall approve its agenda at the beginning of the meeting;
e. the President guides and regulates the discussions at Board meetings;
f. Presence of a quorum consists of a minimum of five members of the Board;
g. the Secretary General lists the attendance, confirms the presence of a quorum and writes the minutes of the meetings; the minutes must be checked and signed by the President and two Board members and approved by the Board at the beginning of a following meeting;
h. a proposal can be put forward at the Board for discussion and/or decision without any need to be seconded by another Board member;
i. a Board decision is reached by simple majority of board members present (quorum);
j. a vote at the Board is taken by acclamation or, if requested by a member, by show of hands with or without counting; although at elections a vote is taken by acclamation or, if requested by a Board member, by show of hands with or without counting, or at the request of any member, by a secret ballot;
k. in case of a tie, the President may cast the deciding vote; although a tie in a secret ballot shall be settled by a draw of lots;
l. if a Board member is unable to take part in a Board meeting he/she is requested inform the President and the Secretary General of the fact. There shall be no proxy.
m. a Board member’s absence from more than one year of statutory board meetings shall be considered as an automatic resignation unless the Assembly specifically confirms the election of the Board member.
Article 4.8: The President
The President is the highest representative and authority of INPUT between the Board’s meetings. Her/his decisions must be communicated to the Board and be ratified at the next Board meeting. In addition to the prerogatives expressly attributed in other articles of the Statutes, the President shall represent INPUT actively in the world of media organizations, securing the future of INPUT generally.
Article 4.9: The Secretary General
The Secretary General reports to the Assembly and the Board; he/she is in charge of ensuring the general operations of current INPUT activities within the statutes and shall:
a. ensure that the Board’s decisions are implemented;
b. represent INPUT vis-à-vis third parties and on official occasions;
c. plan the Board’s meetings and ensure the secretarial services for them;
d. coordinate the main activities of INPUT;
e. submit reports on activities to the Board and prepare required reports on activities;
f. maintain liaison with Board members, keeping them informed of activities;
g. direct the INPUT website;
h. serve as liaison with international bodies of interest to INPUT;
i. maintain written and visual archives of INPUT;
j. within the mandate and responsibility of the approved budget, engage personnel and services for the Secretary General’s office.
Article 4.10: The Treasurer
The Treasurer reports to the Assembly and the Board; he/she is entrusted with safeguarding and accounting for all of INPUT’s monetary and non-monetary assets and:
a. serves as the primary Board member responsible for INPUT’s fiscal oversight; b. is responsible for full financial disclosure to the Board; c. manages revenue collection and disbursements; d. promotes returns from account resources;
e. is the primary liaison between the Board and any bank holding INPUT’s funds;
f. administers the admission process for INPUT members according to criteria set up by the International Board.
g. executes agreements between INPUT and Conference hosts concerning economic matters, conference fees and registration of delegates with access to the Conferences, catalog costs etc;
Article 4.11: The Head of International Selection and Shopstewards
The Head of International Selection and Shopstewards:
a. is appointed by the Board for a term of one or two years;
b. organizes, presides and directs the work of Shopstewards, i.e., those individuals in charge of selecting programmes at INPUT International Selection;
c. prepares as shopstewards coordinator in collaboration with the national coordinators (NCs) a list of skilled shopstewards for the upcoming Conference and suggests to the Board professionals to play leading roles at the screenings and discussions at the Conference;
d. reports to the Board.
Article 4.12: The Coordinator of National Coordinators
The Coordinator of National Coordinators (CNC): a. is elected by the National Coordinators (NCs) at the annual Conference for a two-year term; b. has access to the Board; c. shall communicate and voice the NCs’ views to the Board; d. reports and proposes new NCs to the Board; e. communicates regularly with NCs between Conferences; f. prepares and chairs meetings of NCs during the Conference; g. guides junior NCs;
Chapter 5: The National Coordinators
Article 5.1: The Nature and Activities of the National Coordinators
The National Coordinators (NC):
a. are approved by the Board;
b. represent programme makers of their nations;
c. shall have consultative status with the INPUT International Board;
d. shall select, collect and coordinate all national entries from his/her nation, hereby embracing all public broadcasters and programme makers in the national territory; the NCs combined choices form the principal pool of programmes from which final selection can be made for the next Conference;
e. maintain contacts and inform the Board of developments concerning public television within their respective nations that are of interest to the aims and philosophy of INPUT;
Chapter 6: INPUT Screening Conference
Article 6.1: The Nature and Activities of the Conference
The annual International Public Television Screening Conference is the main activity of INPUT. The purposes of the Conference, following Article 2.1 - 2.2, are:
a. professional discussions on public television programmes, including the practice of its craft and in all its variations, whether the programmes or programme materials have been communicated by air, cable, internet or other technical forms of communication;
b. to offer television professionals an opportunity to get to know and discuss what is being done outside one’s own cultural and national boundaries and discover new views, ideas and techniques;
c. to illustrate and analyze professional excellence as linked to the idea of service to the public; d. any other activities approved by the Board to meet the purposes of INPUT.
Article 6.2: Responsibility of the Board regarding the Conference
INPUT International Board:
a. defines the guidelines of the Conference;
b. ensures respect for the Conference’s basic objectives;
c. chooses the Host Organization;
d. approves the budget of the Conference;
e. decides the content of the Conference, INPUT sessions of screenings and discussions and other INPUT activities of the Conference;
f. chooses the individuals responsible for the content of the Conference, selection of programmes, organizing, producing and moderating the INPUT sessions and other INPUT activities, and defines their mandates;
g. evaluates the Conference
Article 6.3: The Host of the Conference
A public television organization or any other institution whose aim is to support public television by offering its hospitality to the annual Conference and by providing infrastructure. This organization acts as host to the INPUT Conference with responsibility for:
a. the practical organization of the Conference according to specifications agreed with the INPUT Board;
b. financing of these operations;
c. holding own meetings or social activities open for Conference delegates at times agreed with the INPUT Board.
Chapter 7: Administrative Provisions
Article 7.1: Language of work
For practical reasons, English is the working language of INPUT. Generous understanding of differences in speaking English is appreciated during Conference session discussions and during other INPUT meetings and activities. At an INPUT Conference the Host organization is free to offer interpretation facilities in one or more other languages in addition to English.
Article 7.2: Decisions by INPUT
If not otherwise explicitly regulated in the Statutes a decision by INPUT is in effect by simple majority.
Article 7.3: Continuity of executive authority
In the event that the Assembly and/or the Board, for whatever reasons, cannot hold their statutory meetings, the President, the Secretary General, the Treasurer and other available members of the Board, in that executive order, ensure the continuity of INPUT until it is possible to hold an Assembly meeting and/or Board meeting.
Article 7.4: Dissolution
INPUT can be dissolved by the Assembly on a proposal put forward by the Board. The proposal must be included in the agenda of the Board one year before the decision by the Board and afterward in the agenda of the Assembly one year before the decision by the Assembly. In both decisions a majority of two thirds of the votes of the Board members present and voting is required, abstention not being considered as a vote. After three years of total inactivity by the Board the executive authority of Article 7.3 can dissolve INPUT by correspondence.
Article 7.4.1: Upon dissolution, any assets of INPUT must be distributed to an organization established under the same law.
Article 7.5: Effect of Statutes
These statutes come into effect as of their adoption by the INPUT Assembly, though Article 3.3 comes into full effect from January 1st, 2010. The statutes can be changed by the INPUT Assembly on proposal by the INPUT Board. Between the Assembly meetings the Board may, if required, declare its interpretation of specific articles in the Statutes.
Adopted in Budapest, September 11th, 2009