URBEST

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URBEST is a communication project on (urban) best practices aiming at involving relevant stakeholders in a wide debate on socio-economic and technological innovation in urban regeneration areas. It brings together content providers (experts in urban issues, development agencies, networks of cities) and communication experts (TV producers and TV Channels). URBEST will organise a cycle of 9 months of TV programmes to be broadcast on a network of European TV Channels covering a population of 40 million Europeans. The TV programmes will have a common structure. They will show examples of European best practices on urban regeneration, compare them with the local situation and host a debate with local stakeholders. Exchange of information among TV Channels will run through an internet based information platform. TV programmes across Europe are expected to produce different debates reflecting local approaches. URBEST characterises openness (other media will be able to join during the project) and repeatability.

Description of work

URBEST will combine scientific content provided by experts in urban issues and the organisation of communication provided by TV producers and a network of European local/regional TV channels. The initial phase of the project will be devoted to the selection of relevant best practices examples and related research activities to be shown on TV programmes. The duration of the project will be about 24 months and will probably start in November of this year.

Role of the IIUE
The International Institute for the Urban Environment (IIUE) will be in charge of the methodology to be used in the selection of content for the broadcasting operations. IIUE will have a leading role in defining the themes and choosing the examples of best practice and related research. A network of experts in the different fields of urban regeneration will support IIUE with information and help find and select best practice examples, research strategies and scientific findings. The choice of cases will then serve as a basis to set up the TV programme schedule.

Role of Belgavox
The TV programme schedule will be the element on which Belgavox, in charge of communication management, will issue the detailed production plan and the detailed broadcasting plan. At the same time, Belgavox will be in charge of the installation of technical facilities and training of personnel of the TV Channels.
Production and broadcasting will take nine months. Production will start three months earlier than broadcasting in order to set up and fill the audio-visual database from which TV Channels will be able to select the best practices examples to be used in the programmes.
The database will be accessible via internet to all TV Channels involved and will guarantee delivery of audio-visual content according to broadcasting standards.
Management and dissemination will run during the 24 months duration of the project. Dissemination will be diversified on the basis of the different targeted categories (citizens, local administrations, experts in urban issues, media) and will aim at favouring the adoption of URBEST communication model to other actions aimed at the exchange of research experiences across Europe and based on the involvement of relevant stakeholders. The final phase of the project will be devoted to the impact assessment, which will be conducted by an independent company. This will provide fundamental data for further developments of the initiative after completion of the project.

Objectives

URBEST objectives are:
To broadcast 36 TV debates focusing on urban best practices on 6 European TV Channels; to involve relevant stakeholders in the debate; to enhance circulation of information on innovative experiences in an urban context among local governments, experts on urban issues, media and citizens; to constitute an open communication platform on urban issues for regional TV channels; to create a user-friendly database on urban best practice that can be accessed by administrations and media. On the longer term, URBEST aims are to develop a communication model based on the comparison of different urban experiences as reference scenarios for vision making and on the active involvement of citizens. URBEST intends to be the basis for further developments of communication actions based on a participative dynamic extended to a wide range of social actors.